The Editor, Sir:

THE DAYS of valour and nobility have escaped us, haven't they? Older folks love to talk about the good ol' days, back when there was peace, love and unity worldwide. Stories tell of back when wars were fought for justice, not personal gain; back when it was honourable and somewhat safe to stand up for what was right. Those days are now long gone with the wind. The world itself has been clasped in a vice of terrorism, where the good guys finish last, and the villain vanquishes the hero. The story is no longer happily ever after.

Picture of terrorism

When the average Joe thinks of terrorism, he thinks of suicide bombers, hijacked airplanes, religious radicals and faraway lands. When I think of terrorism, I think of cruel people controlling the weak through fear and pain. I think of men like Robert Mugabe, shunting democracy and the will of the Zimbabwean people with a bloodied iron fist, grinding would-be heroes like Morgan Tsvangirai into the dust. Even then, that's still far away and I am only saddened for those people. What is most fearful is that terrorism in its coldest sense exists here in Jamaica - my homeland.

When I think terrorism, I feel it closer to home; tales of armed gunmen shooting down an honest man - a man like Douglas Chambers who had vowed to clean up corruption from a bus system that was for the people of Jamaica. This he did despite no personal gain and risk to life and personal endeavours. Threatened in broad daylight in front of televised cameras and then executed in full view of witnesses, is the most blatant terrorism to take place. Such spineless cowards!

similarity to Harare

When I think of terrorism, I am reminded of foreign volunteers being robbed at gunpoint in a place of safety - a refuge for the blind. These victims will never again see our Jamaica in an innocent light but with similarity to a street in Harare.

Terrorism is here in Jamaica. Gang leaders, don man, One Order, Klansman, and whatever else they call themselves, are all terrorists. Terrorism is intimidation, power installed by cowards suffering from mental putrefaction, and until we stop letting terrorists, in any form or creed, continue to intimidate us, our stories will continue to play out like tragedies, over and over, again and again.

I am, etc.,

PETER-JOHN GENTLES

fakegaara@hotmail.com