Friday, August 22, 2008

Dear Editor,

Words can't express the sheer joy and gut feelings we on the other side of the Atlantic have on the feats by Jamaicans at the Olympics.

"Up you mighty people!" The key achievers for Team Jamaica are mostly from poor backgrounds. Why are those settings still in Jamaica? Why do we have unnecessary killings? The words of Shelly-Ann Fraser's mother resonate: "...the gunman, I am talking to you... put down the gun". It is past time now, it is now "Bolt o'clock" as a blogger said on the BBC website, we as a nation must seize the day. Yes, have the parties, have the bashment, have the passa passa, even two, but never forget that there is a tomorrow, and a tomorrow can only be in accordance with what we do and make of today.

Many of us in the diaspora are angry at racist and snide remarks made by commentators on the British and American media who are simply jealous and who have never achieved what we did. One example, an English commentator and others said Bolt was too extravagant in his celebration and was beating his chest before he crossed the finish line. I think they should consider that a winner celebrates when he knows he has won by the measure he has set and the standards and bar he has raised, not just by the world standard.

We see Bolt's achievement as epitomising the struggles of our people by throwing off the shackles of man's expectations or British or American standards and slavery. When an English footballer scores a goal what does he do? Does he walk calmly over to the other side and shake their hands and say, "Sorry, mate"? No, he will run and jump and rip his shirt off and will sometimes go into the audience and behave in a celebratory way, and we all love it - no one complains. What is their problem with Usain? Jealousy and just plain "bad mind".

Amid the feel-good factor, there is a sense of hope. I see in the papers that gas prices are falling, and this I hope will trickle down to every sector, just as how costs on practically everything escalated when oil prices went up.

I leave Jamaicans with the words of a favourite saying which I have changed, when people say, "The sky is the limit" I say, "The sky is the start". Jamaicans, go beyond the skies. Your compatriots all over the world salute you and stand by you at this time, as there is more gold to mine.

Sylbourne Sydial
London, England
Sylbsyd2000@yahoo.co.uk