The Editor, Sir:

I find Ian Boyne to be a remarkably good role model for young Jamaican men like myself today. I respect his views on many issues but in his recent Sunday Gleaner column, 'China's threat to freedom' he spends considerable time and effort pointing his finger at China for their obvious displeasure at the United States' decision to award their Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama.

Boyne then proceeds to put the U.S. on a pedestal, talking about that nation's "commitment to democracy and liberty."

I am in utter shock and disbelief that a man of Boyne's calibre would neglect to remind the Jamaican people of George W. Bush's notorious 'victory' over Al Gore in 2000 when the state of Florida, a Caribbean Diaspora stronghold, mysteriously changed from a blue to red state during the vote tallies. How's that for democracy?

Dare we recall the civil rights movements of roughly half a century ago? I find myself wondering how many countries bestowed honours on Malcolm X or Martin Luther King Jr.? If any, how happy would the U.S. have been about that? The fact is the U.S. committed a fundamental international relations blunder.

Lest you get the wrong impression, I also believe the Dalai Lama is worthy of acclaim, but in these delicate nuclear times the last thing our North American neighbour needs to do is interfere in the domestic affairs of another nation, not to mention an emer-ging superpower.

A line has been crossed and they continue to show their incompetence in their bid to police the world. China has every right to be upset.

I am, etc.,

GAVIN HUTCHINSON

Gavin876@gmail.com

Washington Boulevard

Kingston 20.