This is in response to the call by Maureen Webber and others for the repeal of the buggery law. The call comes against reports of violence against homosexuals.

The general issue of violence in the Jamaican society is in fact a shameful one. All persons, including homosexuals, are entitled to the benefit of the protection of the law. Thus, one approach could be to call for the more effective enforcement of the law in respect of all categories of affected persons.

Unnatural

The reason for maintaining the buggery law is simply to keep what is unnatural from becoming accepted, for tolerance in one generation becomes acceptance in the following generation(s). The law was put there at a time when society, as a whole, seemed clearer about matters of right and wrong. Repeal the law and there will be nothing to prevent this unnatural form of behaviour from becoming accepted.

Persons who would wish to read more elegant reasoning for the retention of this law could read an article by Assistant Professor Yvonne Lee of the National University of Singapore published in 2008 in the Singapore Journal of Legal Studies under the heading 'Don't Ever Take a Fence Down Until You Know the Reason It was Put Up' at law.nus.edu.sg/sjls/articles/SJLS-Dec-2008-347.pdf.

Sexual love

However, that is not to say that all is well with our sexual mores as a people. I share Ms Webber's pain about fathers who will not maintain their children. We have also refused to accept the marriage union as being the preferred mode for the expression of sexual love and for raising children. This has resulted in over 80 per cent of our children being born out of wedlock, feeding the problem of lack of guidance for our children, lack of financial maintenance for them and the desire for abortions as a means of solving problems, some of which we have inflicted on ourselves because of a lack of restraint. Is there any connection between our unstable family life and our high crime rate?

Unacceptable

We need to continue to view homosexual behaviour as being unacceptable and so I commend the Government for its approach to the problem, but the society should go the full extent of upholding marriage. Let's maintain the one without neglecting the other.

I am, etc.,

S. RICHARDS

Kingston 10