Listen to the Dons, they understand much more than credited.

It is about time the Dons in Jamaica were asked their opinion. The garrison Dons are the same men and women who have cared for their communities purchasing among other things water, food, shelter, clothing, and medicine. They are the same leaders that community members look to when afraid or anxious. Several of the Dons are more reliable than the often ludicrous and dishonest Jamaican Police. One is hesitant to contact the police, after all probabilities indicate involvement in engineering Jamaica’s internationally noted crime levels. The Police are also unreliable. They may or may not turn up when called for assistance. It is easier to contact the Don in the village; his allegiance is more loyal, more predictable. He tells the thieves to bring back your things. If your family member is murdered you legally contact the Police, for fairness, you contact the Don. For payment, the police will ‘handle’ the matter. The Don will handle the matter for justice and allegiance.
A brief look at the individuals that built respectability for Scotland shows the same fiefdoms, civil war, civil disobedience, and eventual meeting of the minds. We are coming out of a British system, look at the history, and understand why Jamaica is in a state of unrest. We have worthy tropical judges in British powdered wigs, dockets that disappear for payment and although the law says no, prisoners deemed guilty will face execution in prison. Who is responsible? The Dons have proven to be unafraid, tenacious, determined, and clear thinkers with allies. Jamaica, whether we like it or not, is in social upheaval, poised for revolution of literally stupid and unrewarding governmental systems.
Not all Dons are good. Some are just the usual strain of corruption visible in any field. Some just think they are Dons. There are some however, that are well educated. They understand international relations and diplomacy, economics, income production and the all-important security and well-being of their communities. Forget the soft, bigmouth microphone-waving politician. They have proved puffy and self-indulgent, money begging incompetents, shouting Colonial “Order” and sowing the disorder of unreliable rusty water, not enough food, poor shelters, sewage lined and bloody drainage bad roads, dust bunny attacked electrical systems, and inadequate education.
After you ask the Dons about security issues, ask them about agriculture, ask them about global marketing, transportation, and economic development. Discuss low rates of productivity, inadequate investment capital, regional free trade groups, inadequate communication systems, and Jamaica’s dependency, and vulnerability to foreign forces. The Dons are a separatist movement with the same concerns that face us all, health, education, and welfare of Jamaica’s citizens. Many of them will face disgrace and die in their efforts, but who knows maybe one day, they will get a statue in Emancipation Park, a government holiday in their name, and their faces on more worthy coinage of our homeland. It is time for Jamaicans to take back Jamaica and rebuild our name as decent people with active, well-thought out, implemented, enforced, and sustainable interests. Listen to the Dons, they understand much more than credited. This is a solution to some of Jamaica’s embarrassing difficulties.

Collected Commentary -Burden of change in role models' hands

Jamaica Gleaner Online
Burden of change in role models' handspublished: Thursday September 4, 2008
Thomas Phinemann, Contributor

As human beings, we have the capacity to achieve outstanding opposites - fame and glory on one hand, and shame, grief and pain on the other. We always have the power of choice.
It is obvious that some of us were not caught up in the euphoria of Olympic glory which propelled people from all walks of life to forget our differences and celebrate our achievements as a nation. Some men continued to rob others of a gift that they cannot give or use to better themselves - the gift of life.
Some will argue that this is nothing new. We all know that. The question is, are we willing to accept this as a way of life? The truth is that some of us have accepted this as the norm. This is why it continues.
Philosophical arguments may relieve the minds of the intellec-tuals among us but, as pragmatists, we ask what we can do to make a difference. But I declare that the murder rate continues to climb, not because of what we are doing or not doing. It continues to rise because most of us are complacent or indifferent. While murderers are intoxicated with boldness, much of civic society is hobbled by frustration and fearfulness.
There is no panacea, as we all know. However, the police can only deal with policing matters. Civilians have a role to play. This is not new information. This is repeated with the hope that repetition will reinforce the point and that it will resonate wider.
Many males are making a difference in men's groups and various civic and religious organisations, but we are not making the impact we should.
Jamaica's men must urgently break the cycle of apathy among them. Some are numb. The pain and loss of loved ones render us incapacitated. But we are not helpless.
Take a stand
We need to take a stand for the sake of the nation's children. As men, we have a duty to teach them that life is sacred. The higher the murder rate, the more urgent and challenging the lesson becomes. Those of us who believe that life is sacred need to be more vocal. We have to keep telling our children that taking another person's life is never the way to settle a dispute or to vent anger, despite the current trends of ego-satiating confrontations among males. Speaking up and speaking out is the least that we can do. Silence is unacceptable.
Fathers and father figures should remind children, especially our boys who are most vulnerable, that we always have choices. We are responsible for our actions.
As the school term gets into full gear, I hope we prepared our children, not only physically, but mentally, psychologically, spiritually, emotionally and socially.
Finally, we must not ignore the power of association. We lead by example, by choosing our acquaintances. We can teach our children to select friends who share common values. As men, let us band together to influence our boys to do good, despite the prevalence of evil.
Can 'a few good men' turn the tide of social decay in Jamaica? Email your views to columns@gleanerjm.com.Copyright Jamaica-Gleaner.com http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080904/news/news4.html