For some strange reason this story was just one too many on this topic, and the standard lines for these stories - “but like many inner-city killings, residents were tight-lipped when questioned by reporters” and “the despondent woman shook uncontrollably as members of her church consoled her behind the police yellow tape” were the straw(s) that broke the camel’s back.
My ire with church leaders stems from their failure to galvanize their congregation to be more pro-active on violence in Jamaica. They far spend too much time on mundane issues such as homosexuality and gambling, and are extremely lax with action against the violence ripping apart the island nation.
I cannot help but compare Jamaican church leaders to the Taliban rulers of Afghanistan. The Taliban were more pre-occupied with enforcing 7th century Moslem ideology on the Afghan people rather than focus on common-sense issues such as better living conditions for their people. Members of the regime went around publicly punishing Afghans, banning such normal day-to-day activities such as kite flying, clapping at sport events, and even forbade men from shaving. However, they encouraged their people to participate in violence as a way to get a message across to the world, and turned a blind eye to innocent civilians being killed during Taliban “sanctioned” suicide bombings and other such (supposed) tactical moves.
Sounds familiar? Jamaican churches – very vocal on gambling, homosexuality but deafening silent on the violence ripping apart the country.
To them, supposed morals are more important than human lives.
Where is the physical outrage and indignation by the Jamaican churches on the killings? Why not immediately demand a public prayer vigil by the occupants of the affected area each time such violence happens?
Where are the public marches and peaceful protests in the inner cities?
Where are the public condemnation and grief by church leaders in the papers and other media?
Where are the liturgies and lectures at the pulpit demanding that their congregation stop defending their friends and relatives with sealed lips when violence occurs?
Give a small gathering a rumor that four men are having dinner and throw in that they may be “battymen” and the townspeople are up in arms within minutes ready to remove that perceived threat. (Click here for full report.)
Mention legalizing gambling in the hotels and the damnation of the churches rain on all, whipping their congregations into a frenzy of outcry and ignorance.
But kill over 600 people in less than six months and…silence and indifference
Where is the bible-thumping now?
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