Editorial

Criminals are people too

Sunday, September 05, 2010

THE diary of Mr Cedric Murray, the wanted gunman who led the Stone Crusher gang before the police killed him last month is instructive, albeit sensational.

That is why we are publishing the details of it.

For it is our hope that those of us with the tendency to behave as if criminality is a senseless phenomenon that can be eliminated by brute force as opposed to a rational engagement of the country’s social apparatus and justice system, will rethink their position on reading it.

According to Friday’s and today’s editions, Mr Murray, aka ‘Doggie’ was a lonely, bitter individual who hated the police and politicians to the death.

But he wasn’t the sub-human monster that so many supposed him to be.

As the diary indicates, he was subject to the same emotions that are commonplace to the rest of us.

In addition to the hate, he felt love for life and his woman; envy of the freedom with which others lived and to which he had — by reason of his chosen lifestyle — no access; joy at the birth of his son and sympathy and concern for his stepdaughter.

That at least is indicative that somewhere within the madness beats the heart of a man who might, under different circumstances, have turned out differently.

The loyalty that he demonstrated towards Mr Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, the alleged drug and gun-runner, might — under different circumstances — have been otherwise employed.

This is where our ability, as a society, to understand the antecedents of people like Mr Murray becomes critical.

For, as this space pointed out on Thursday, the failure on the part of the many parents in this society to just be there for their children is slowly but surely condemning the country to death.

As long as we continue to produce children for whom we cannot care; as long as we continue to turn a blind eye to those who, through no fault of their own, are growing up without the benefit of parental love, we are going to be plagued by criminals like Mr Murray. It doesn’t matter how many police we employ to kill them out. Until we take the issue of responsible parenting seriously, we are going to have problems at every level. Mr Murray wrote about no less than seven children in his diary. What is to become of them, now that he’s gone? Would their fates be any brighter had he been alive today? It is easy, indeed tempting, to rush to judgement on Mr Murray and the many, many others who are pulling the triggers of the guns that snuff out life on a daily basis in this country. However, as the crime statistics for the past seven decades indicate, this doesn’t really help. Nothing, short of a return to the days when a village took seriously its responsibility to raise all its children will suffice. Mr Murray, unfortunately, missed the boat. Let’s not leave his, or anyone else’s children behind.

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COMMENTS (17)

sheila duffy
9/19/2010

Your points are well presented and I most wholeheartedly agree that under different circumstances Mr. Murray would have not only been employed, but a positive contributor to his country. Issues of parenting in a balanced world can be visited.; in this world of Jamaica it becomes secondary. Ability to support oneself and one's children is the issue. There exists a human need for self esteem and the ability to put food on the table. Next, education becomes critical. These for the future of JA.

Peter Sparks
9/15/2010

@Jacqueline Samms.... I know that person Dr. Ben Carson! He's proof that it's not where you are from, it's what you choose to do with your life!

Peter Sparks
9/15/2010

What kindda foolishness is dis'? Criminals don't "accidentally" commit a crime! They intentionally do what they do- and have no regards for the hurt they inflict on thoers! Someone works hard only ot have their valuables stolen- criminals get a damn job!

Sonja Boyne
9/13/2010

People are born human, but when they allow their morals, and respect for life to so badly degrade, they have allowed themselves to become brute beasts. They become cancerous and must be either separated or erradicated from the general society. What they sow, is what they reap. Separating the issues, let us now look at ways we can help prevent them from reaching such a degenerate state.

Jacqueline Samms
9/12/2010

The ones that bring or assist/facilitates drugs and guns in Jamaica are responsible for the destruction of the lives of these guys and their victims.

PL BOGLE
9/6/2010

@alex Ford No one is saying that criminal must not face justice or they must be forgiven or in other words they should not pay for their crime. Yes of course they have to face the consequences once the crime is committed but we must also pursue ways to prevent them from becoming the harden criminals that they have become.

howie J
9/6/2010

Just recently this editorial referred to gunmen as “beasts” and I was a bit disappointed because I expected better from the Editor. I understand that many are frustrated by the crime situations, but like most problems crimes also have its roots. We can either go around venting emotionally in ignorance or try, with patience, to understand where it all began and try to fix it in a logical and compassionate way. Humans need guidance, reassurances, smiles, encouragement and love to blossom into caring confident citizens.
Burning Spear asked, “Where is your love Jamaica?”

alex Ford
9/6/2010

yes editorial, we know criminals are people too. Are you forgetting that the criminals are the ones who last month killed 8 person's from two families? Should we hug them up and say they were just having a little emotional downturn and we must love them cause they are human? Bull! They should pay for their actions. If you killed senselessly, they inturn should be killed. No rehabilitation for them!

Jacqueline Samms
9/6/2010

There's a neuro surgeon(one of the best) in the US who not only was raised by a single mother in poverty but she couldn't read. Today he and his brother are up- right citizens. Most Jamaicans are raised in poverty but most of us are not murderers".Criminals are people too' doesn't make sense, it's their actions that they're being condemn for

Beresford Davidson
9/5/2010

As a man you and your child's mother must be on one page. You cannot bring children in this world and leave them up to the streets nor can you over protect them. You as parents must define a balance and work daily at it. Drug over use is also part of the landscape with bad influence in general; parents must develop a sound strategy to deal with these challenges daily. It after umpteen years situation unfolds and family fell apart you can take comfort in the fact that you tried against all odds. Life sometimes appeared to be unfair but remember life is a journey and what appears to be unjust may be a just denouement for a far or near future of your life’s journey. We are all human with something to talk about dreams to fulfill.

PL BOGLE
9/5/2010

Dear editor I support your decision in publishing the diary of Mr Cedric Murray. Based on the comments ive read many wont rethink their position but thats okay knowledge is power. "Except the lord build the house they labour in vain that build it:except the lord keep the city the watchman waketh but in vain"

george watson
9/5/2010

I wonder what circumsances could have made "Doggie" turn out differently. The man was just a mad dog freak of nature, who was programmed to kill.
On another matter, couldn't the police operate a web site where the photographs of criminals are posted on a permanent bases?
Too oten we hear of JB wanted by the police followed by description which could be applicable to thousands of people.
Even when they appear in the media people do not keep these newspapers. We have to keep ahead of them.

Duncan Bertram
9/5/2010

So what the editor is saying then, is that, the SOE is not the best option to deal with young people with emotional problems such as doggy's. Jah Cure( a rehabilitated man) sings " babylon nuh build great man, dem only kill great man". Who is babylon? Is it the corrupt police, the corrupt politician or overall corrupt society that drives youths to a life of crime because opportunities are not provided for them to explore a positive life? God bless the parents who are able to show children love.

christopher Isaacs
9/5/2010

The editorial's sojourn to Damascus is laughfable at best. Every Killer is a criminal but it is not every criminal that is a killer and had the editorial headline been; "Killers are people too;" would it have invited similar conotations? I certainly did not think that killers and murderers were void of emotions, in fact quite the contrary, because I have always believed that if our women were more empowered, crime would be lessened. Gun and women are most important in criminal lives.

Winston G
9/5/2010

Food for thought.
As long as we reject the Bible and the laws of God, there will be many more Cedric Murrays. Many of us want Christ to be Saviour, few of us want Him to be Lord. We want God's protection and provision, but we don't what His laws. Whether we like it or not, our social problems are a symptom of the rejection of God's laws. Many unwanted children? "Thou shalt not commit adultery." High murder rate? "Thou shalt not kill".

N Manley Blythe
9/5/2010

No Sah! Before you tell me that it is broken homes that is producing these terrorists, I need you to tell me how many politicians came from broken homes.
Dog is a product of an environment created and facilitated by inept and corrupt politicians who are themselves products of well adjusted homes.
The village you speak of does not exist! It was destroyed by inept corrupt politicians!
James Moss-Solomon resigned in protest of inept corrupt politicians' governance!
The chicken or the egg? First?

Brooklyn Jamaican
9/5/2010

There is no indication that he was born hungry or without love. Poverty may be one driving force for some people in crime but its minimal. Some people just 'born bad". He keeps reffering to his anger which got him into trouble. I grew up with some of these sort of guys, ill tempered, own way, want to bully. Some grow out of it, for some its training for a life of crime. Stop making excuses. Even in wealthy countries there are gruesome criminals, some from wealthy families.

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