Dear Editor,
The easiest thing for us to do is to blame others for our failures, some even have the audacity to attribute their success to their own making. History, however, is yet to identify a single human being who acheived success without assistance.
This country, Jamaica, is so blessed: ideal climatic conditions; perfectly located; talented, friendly, caring, bright people. We have, however, deteriorated socially and economically with an escalating crime rate, high
rate of corruption, political divisiveness, and for 50 years post-Independence we have experienced unsatisfactory governments.
Something must have gone awry. There is no need to point fingers and assign blame to any particular sector, but each of us must do a serious self-examination to identify our own shortcomings:
Have you ever been offered, or accepted a bribe?
Have you lied on any form?
Do you honestly believe you should be a member of the country's security force?
Do you underpay your employees and withhold taxes?
Do you overcharge your customers who happen to be in the lower-income bracket?
Do you have proper permission to operate a business in a residential community?
Are you in the profession because you like it or you just want something to hold on to?
Do you use your cell phone while driving, display road rage?
Do you often buy movies, music, videos, etc, knowing it's a breach of copyright laws.
Have you ever lied to get a job, promotion, good grades, contracts, to be a political candidate?
Do you wish you were born in another country?
Do you put your country before party politics?
Would you tell the country the truth about blunders in your administration if it would shorten your tenure in office?
Have you named the wrong person as your child's father?
Do you perform your job effectively with satisfactory dedication?
Do you use your status to impose your ideas on others and to malign people you don't like
If you were asked to give up 35-hours' pay to help the less fortunate, would you?
Have you gained your riches by dishonest means?
Do you feel happy making a lot of money, although your product is harmful to others?
Have you used your position for avaricious gain or for sexual exploitation?
Have you ever made a wrong decision that caused innocent people to be punished?
We all have, in our own way, contributed to the state of the country, and sometimes overlook the part we play in the grand scheme of things. Let us start the 52nd year of Independence on a positive note as we accept responsibility for the last
51 years.
Tony Miles
tonymiles1940@gmail.com
We're all responsible
-->
The easiest thing for us to do is to blame others for our failures, some even have the audacity to attribute their success to their own making. History, however, is yet to identify a single human being who acheived success without assistance.
This country, Jamaica, is so blessed: ideal climatic conditions; perfectly located; talented, friendly, caring, bright people. We have, however, deteriorated socially and economically with an escalating crime rate, high
rate of corruption, political divisiveness, and for 50 years post-Independence we have experienced unsatisfactory governments.
Something must have gone awry. There is no need to point fingers and assign blame to any particular sector, but each of us must do a serious self-examination to identify our own shortcomings:
Have you ever been offered, or accepted a bribe?
Have you lied on any form?
Do you honestly believe you should be a member of the country's security force?
Do you underpay your employees and withhold taxes?
Do you overcharge your customers who happen to be in the lower-income bracket?
Do you have proper permission to operate a business in a residential community?
Are you in the profession because you like it or you just want something to hold on to?
Do you use your cell phone while driving, display road rage?
Do you often buy movies, music, videos, etc, knowing it's a breach of copyright laws.
Have you ever lied to get a job, promotion, good grades, contracts, to be a political candidate?
Do you wish you were born in another country?
Do you put your country before party politics?
Would you tell the country the truth about blunders in your administration if it would shorten your tenure in office?
Have you named the wrong person as your child's father?
Do you perform your job effectively with satisfactory dedication?
Do you use your status to impose your ideas on others and to malign people you don't like
If you were asked to give up 35-hours' pay to help the less fortunate, would you?
Have you gained your riches by dishonest means?
Do you feel happy making a lot of money, although your product is harmful to others?
Have you used your position for avaricious gain or for sexual exploitation?
Have you ever made a wrong decision that caused innocent people to be punished?
We all have, in our own way, contributed to the state of the country, and sometimes overlook the part we play in the grand scheme of things. Let us start the 52nd year of Independence on a positive note as we accept responsibility for the last
51 years.
Tony Miles
tonymiles1940@gmail.com
We're all responsible
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