Can both political parties show unity?

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am writing with reference to the article, ‘If you live inna glass house don’t throw stones’, published in The Gleaner on November 30.

I concur that both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP ) are equally guilty of making racist, demeaning remarks. There is a need for a national conversation on race, ethnicity and class.

Toxic political talk and mockery of slavery undermine the foundations of our country. It is time to heal our country, enhance cultural integration, and help the citizens talk about racial integration in their communities in a positive way.

The electorate will only believe the debate is sincere if the two senior members of the JLP and the PNP who are involved in making the demeaning racist remarks, and mockery of slavery, take the first step to heal our country.

If the conversation takes place, the two senior members of the parties could make them public declarations that “we are not altar boys. Our behaviours are not entirely admirable or blameless. So we take full responsible for our error in judgement.”

This could be done at some public space, and the chair of the national conversation would simultaneously read the proposal to both members, and both members would repeat the proposal.

This takes courage to make the declaration, but this is the only way people will believe the debate is for real, and that the members want to unite the parties and heal the country.

Dedication and perseverance

Great things take time; patience is a virtue; and slow and steady wins the race. Anything is considered worthwhile requires dedication and perseverance. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; or it takes time to build something substantial.

Finally, get to work. Do the people’s business, heal the country, unite the parties, and build something substantial.

The national conversation is very important. Racism is frequently described as a relatively modern concept, evolving “during the European age of imperialism, transformed by capitalism, and the Atlantic slave trade, of which it was a major driving force”. This belongs in the past; and so should the mockery of slavery in a skit.

In 1978, Bob Marley had a One Love Peace Concert and during his performance, he summoned on stage then party leaders, then Prime Minister Michael Manley of the PNP and his political opponent Edward Seaga of the JLP.

Both leaders came on stage, clasped their hands in the air, with Bob Marley bringing together the hands of the leaders.

CARGILL KELLY