Doing the right thing, cost it what it will

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

THERE is a cost to doing wrong and a cost to doing the right thing, and we believe from observation that few people are willing to incur the personal cost of doing the right thing. Too many of us opt for what seems to make us better off, even if it is wrong.

It is a precious few who are willing to do the right thing, cost it what it will. This very exclusive group rarely includes politicians. So when a politician takes a stand on an issue which is right and could have serious personal cost, then he/she must be commended.

Dr Peter Phillips, former minister of national security, has been the subject of threatening graffiti because he has raised concerns about how the Government is handling the US request for the extradition of Mr Christopher 'Dudus' Coke. Whether his position is right or wrong he has had the courage to speak his mind. This is a duty incumbent on him as a member of parliament and his right as a citizen.

He is well-placed to speak on extradition matters, given his long tenure as security minister during the PNP Government of Mr P J Patterson. The fact that he accepted the personal danger of the security portfolio does not make it easy as a family man to do what he thinks is right, despite threats.

The threshold of personal danger has to be crossed by each and every one of us if we are to lead a full life in a society with one of the highest murder rates in the world. It is only when a sufficient majority of the citizens of Jamaica take the stand for right, cost it what it will, that citizens will triumph over criminals.

It cannot be left to the police to make the ultimate sacrifice, if necessary. Those who express admiration for Dr Carolyn Gomes but remain passive, only make her crusade more difficult for her. Those of us who, by our silence, are complicit, make it more difficult for the courageous Mr Greg Christie to do his job.

We all cannot be heroes or heroines, but if the majority of us are cowards with embalmed consciences then we create an environment in which a ruthless minority imposes a reign of tyranny on all of us. If too many of us opt for responsibility for self and loved ones in preference to exercising our responsibility for the society, then we are all in jeopardy. This is how the Nazis came to power.

It is not good enough to mind our own business, because that will not guarantee that we can enjoy the individual rights to which we are entitled. As Martin Luther King Jr said, injustice anywhere endangers justice everywhere. Freedom and peace require eternal vigilance. They have to be defended and protected all the while, everywhere, every time by all of us.

As mere mortals, we may not all be able to rise to the commandment of loving our neighbour as ourselves, but we can all be concerned about our neighbours because what happens to our neighbour can happen to us. Let us be the keeper of our neighbour's safety and security. Let us do for the security of others as we would do for the security of ourselves and our loved ones. We will all be safer and more secure for it.

Admittedly, we cannot all do what Dr Phillips, Dr Gomes and Mr Christie are doing, but we can stand behind them and let them know that they have our support and appreciation for what they are doing on our behalf. Let us also commend the thousands of unsung Jamaican heroes who every day accept the cost of doing the right thing and pay the price.

Let us create the mass psychology of doing right. The cause needs all of us now.

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COMMENTS (14)

Tom Stroke
4/23/2010

george watson,
I hope this water down response get posted.
Did you know that the courts do not make laws? Did you know that it is the parliament that make laws of which Dr Phillips is a member years before and after Janice Allen's killing? Did you know that justice can come in the form of an apology? Please direct me to an apology to Janice family by Dr Phillips or his then government. Would it be OK with you if your child was shot down in the streets the way Janice was? Look at the manner in which you dismiss the Green Bay killings. Don't you think they deserver justice? george watson, where is your morals? better yet where is your soul? You are exhibiting a high degree of contempt for poor jamaicans. As Sizzla said in one of his songs "Be humble and wise"

george watson
4/21/2010

Tom Stroke why can't you understand that it is the courts which decides these things. What did you expect Dr. Phillips to do? And since Dr. Phillips didn't do anything, as you expected him to, then why hasn't the present minister of national security done something since they took office?
It is better for one to close his mouth and be thought of stupid than to open their mouths and remove all doubts.
Like another person who said Dudley Thompson was minister of national security when Green Bay happened.. What has that got to do with anything? Shortly after Mr. Golding came to power the police went into TG and killed some people. Are you suggesting that he had anything to do with that?
Incidentally have you heard of them making that same mistake again....going into Tivoli again, I mean?
It cost a commissioner of police his job.

4/21/2010

Do you people know who in the JLP was referred to as the Min of War.
Watch how you castigate Dr. P.

Brad Kerr
4/21/2010

@ Brooklyn Jamaican.. I concur with your assesment of Dr. Gomes. The lady is only looking out for herself. She should not try to change the double jepoardy precedent just to score a victory. The observer surely must see this was a wrong on her part.. All Jamaicans must stand up for what is right and the decisions of the court should not be dragged in qustion, because this one LADY did not things her way. Justice should also be to the defendant.. not just the state. Againg my sympathies to the Allen Family, but the whole Jamaica benefits because Dr. Gomes lost this one. Again I say she does not always stand up for what is right. She stand up for what serves her purpose or cause.

Winston G
4/21/2010

I just so wish that the Observer would allow readers to comment on the CARTOONS. They are so brutally funny at times. Of course they send serious messages. Some persons disagree. Others agree. I would love to read readers comments on them. By the way, many times I find the comments more interesting than some articles, reports and columns.

Winston G
4/21/2010

If Dr. Peter Phillips is GENUINELY concerned, as he says he is, then he IS doing the RIGHT thing with a right motive.
If he is doing it for personal political advantage (something that would not surprise me), he is doing the RIGHT thing for the wrong reason.
Hmm. The common denominator here is "RIGHT". In that case, keep on doing the RIGHT thing, Dr. Phillips.

Brooklyn Jamaican
4/21/2010

Mr Observer alwasy selectively deletes those comments that criticizes its favorites.. I cannot recapture all my thoughts, but I will say again that DR Gomes has never come out against teh killing of cops or even infants and pregnant women.
The police are not perfect but they are in a high stress job, and all she does is agitate and place them under pressure whenever something allegedly bad happens under their watch.
She has now gotten so bold that she now has the gall to challenge decisions of the courts in the streets.

Tom Stroke
4/21/2010

Trying to equate Dr. Phillips to the caliger of Dr Gomes and Mr. Christie is just plain disingenuous. He is clearly not in their class especially Dr Gomes. Dr Phillips was security minister when a policeman bullet killed Janice Allen, what did he do about it?. Today, what has he done to get justice for Janice's family?

Michael Moyston
4/21/2010

Mr.Editor I understand your desire to try and help the nation find a way out of the lawless quagmire and I commend you for this effort, however, those who have been part of the problem, will never be part of the solution.
Part of the problem is that those who would still attempt to lead us have squandered their moral authority.
Lest you forget, in 2001,Peter phillips was a senior member of the then PNP Govt, that embarrased itself, when three of their ministers made a public display of their principles and character when they attended the funeral of a notorious don and community leader and sat in the front row and made the comrade salute!
Phillips is also well known for having said, "Those who play by the rules get shafted".
To ask me to stand behind such men and the organizations that they represent, which are perceived to be behind much of the violence and corruption that has plagued Jamaica for four decades, is an insult to my memory, dignity and character.

JA Cynic
4/21/2010

Some will not do the right thing and are willing to pay the political price.
Sounds familiar?
JA Cynic

John Smith
4/21/2010

Best editorial yet, and I notice a clarifcation of the "thickening plot" editorial on "moral authority to speak." Here you're seeing right into the moral issue of what is largely wrong with JA. Remember Douglas Chambers - though even his reputation wasn't fully above board. It is a sad story - question is how we can change our mindsets. How?

D Ranks
4/21/2010

To whom are you exactly directing this plea to? In communities that have area leaders or dons the residence become dependent on them for a myriad of things for their daily lives. School uniforms, books, pens, pencils, shoes and lunch money. It is how they are kept loyal. The Dons and area leaders fill in for government, doing exactly what the government should be doing. Do you really expect them to bite the hands that feed them? If these people you are talking to are the middle class and the rich they are well secured; count how many of them have died as compared to the multitude of those from areas like Water House or August Town. Maybe if government try, just a little bit, to fix their lot, address their issues just one iota, their dependencies on gangs, dons and so called area leaders would be whittled away and we could expect from them what you are calling for. In them lies the soultion for what ails us. It is them who shoots and who are dying.

george watson
4/21/2010

And your newspaper really believes it is doing the right thing by its cartoon today? I tell you, the Observer is the most biased newspaper that was ever published in Jamaica. You just couldn't wait to try to equate the DUDUs and the MPP scandal with something so PCJ has come at the right time for you, although as far as I can see nobody in the PNP is involved.
Sometimes when I am reading your newspaper I wonder if it is the "Voice."
Publish if you want. You have not published several although I am scrupulous in abiding by your guidelines, so I don't see why you should make an exception here.

Paul Lewis
4/21/2010

An average Jamaican living within this lawless society should be considered heroic. HavIing a situation where the Establishment ie, Gov't., Police, Politicians are in bed with criminal elements basically working against the welfare of the citizenry. We would like to be more bold with our opposition, however an unarmed, defenceless Nation can only cower and whisper in fear while our Rights are being trampled on. A lonely voice of objection being shouted from the Garrisons is like a candle in a Hurricane...this is set amongst a Culture of Gangster worship and incivility.

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Doing the right thing, cost it what it will