Dear Editor,
The Jamaican coat of arms was thrown back into the national spotlight recently, albeit briefly. This resulting from Bishop Rowan Edwards taking some umbrage with the national symbol’s current form and substance.
The coat of arms, which bears the images of a crocodile, the nation’s motto and two indigenous (Taino) inhabitants, among other things, no doubt has its fair share of colonial genes embedded. This notwithstanding, the coat of arms, has come to represent various things to various generations of Jamaicans. I think it’s fair to say that violence is not among those diverse representations.
I respect the contribution made by the goodly bishop, and I stand by his right to free speech; however, I totally disagree with his stated position. The truth exists that there are many other things within our culture which inspires and nourishes crime and violence, examples of our music and socialisation can be listed, but the coat of arms is not to be named among them.
This national symbol is perhaps one of, if not the last known symbol which pays regards to the earliest settlers of our country and notes the contributions they made. If changing its substance is a means to tackling crime, then we might as well change the national motto as well, for we certainly haven’t been living as if we are truly “one”.
Noel Matherson
noelmatherson@gmail.com
The Jamaican coat of arms was thrown back into the national spotlight recently, albeit briefly. This resulting from Bishop Rowan Edwards taking some umbrage with the national symbol’s current form and substance.
The coat of arms, which bears the images of a crocodile, the nation’s motto and two indigenous (Taino) inhabitants, among other things, no doubt has its fair share of colonial genes embedded. This notwithstanding, the coat of arms, has come to represent various things to various generations of Jamaicans. I think it’s fair to say that violence is not among those diverse representations.
I respect the contribution made by the goodly bishop, and I stand by his right to free speech; however, I totally disagree with his stated position. The truth exists that there are many other things within our culture which inspires and nourishes crime and violence, examples of our music and socialisation can be listed, but the coat of arms is not to be named among them.
This national symbol is perhaps one of, if not the last known symbol which pays regards to the earliest settlers of our country and notes the contributions they made. If changing its substance is a means to tackling crime, then we might as well change the national motto as well, for we certainly haven’t been living as if we are truly “one”.
Noel Matherson
noelmatherson@gmail.com