Hello Mi Neighbour: Away with dirty politics!

 

Hello mi neighbour! What kind of politics do we practise in Jamdown? Formal politics, informal politics, party politics or dirty politics? Broadly speaking, politics is about organising, influencing, and controlling other people. This involves the use of vested power to control and make decisions on behalf of a group, a community or a state. Where decisions are made on behalf of a country, formal politics is at play. Informal politics refers to how we protect, interact and influence one another on a daily basis. Hope I got that right.

However far the imagination may stretch, no one can imagine a world without politics. Talk about chaos! The very thing which has caused untold pain, misery, suffering and bloodshed in our world is the very thing used across the globe to stabilise and organise populations while fostering peace among nations and across borders. Oh politics! And why this dichotomy? There is good politics and bad politics!

Good and bad politics are practised everywhere. Most political parties in the modern era practise bad (dirty) politics while on the hustings. Whatever it takes to embarrass and degrade the opposing parties is used by those involved. Included in the mix are lies, slander, libel and even forgery. It's laughable that even though these potential acts of criminality are on display during a political campaign, the losing candidates rarely pursue legal actions against their opponents because they are all guilty of the same misdemeanour. 'Pat caan cus kettle'.

Despite politicians' claim about the country's interest at heart, most people know that it's more about personal enrichment and political affiliation. Oh yes, that's a no-brainer. When a politician passes a bill that is beneficial to his political party or his political career but harmful to the people ... he is practising 'party politics'. "Party politics refer to actions or political behaviours motivated by what is best or right for the political party, rather than for the people."

 

REAL DILEMMA

 

And here is the real dilemma: even though politics has played such a pivotal role in the development/advancement of our country, just take a glance at the destruction it has caused. One party does something, the other party undoes it precious time, money and energy down the drain. And what option do we have as a nation? Vote them in, vote them out, vote them in ... and the cycle continues. So here is the very simple solution: let's agree to have one party run the country for eight years then turn it over to the other party for the next eight years, etc. By so doing, there'll be no political rivalry. Where there is no rivalry, cooperation thrives! What a day that would be! Jamaica on the road to progress and prosperity! And what does it take to achieve this? Love. 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength ... and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself". No more dirty politics!

In the spirit of love for neighbour and good politics, I ask that you remember someone from the list below. Remember also to befriend everyone, you don't know who you will need. Godspeed.

 

Thanks for helping

 

1. Norman, St James, for donation of a bed and table.

2. Faith, St Andrew, for offering clothing and school bag.

3. Sherine, St Andrew, for offering clothing to a neighbour.

4. Neighbour, St Mary, for offering clothing to neighbours.

Opportunities for helping

Neighbour, asking neighbours for a serger to make runners to help maintain family.

Rita, St Catherine, in a very tight spot at the moment ... asking for a bed and a stove.

Neighbour, St James, lost sewing machine in fire ... asking neighbours for a another to help make a living.

Latoya, St Catherine, unemployed mother of five asking neighbours for a stove and a television.

Neighbour, single mother of three, asking neighbours for 10 sheets of zinc and six sheets of plywood to help build a little house

- To help, please call 334-8165, 884-3866, 299-3412 or deposit to acct #351044276 NCB. (Bank routing #: JNCBJMKX) or send donations to Hello Neighbour c/o 53 Half-Way Tree Road, Kingston 10; email  helloneighbour@yahoo.com.