Dear Editor,

I refer to Vincent T Rose’s letter, “We need more young people like Kemesha Kelly”, which was published in your newspaper last Friday. Like Mr Rose, I commend Miss Kelly for her demonstration of basic humanity.

Over the years I have observed a hardening of our society. There is a general lack of consideration or kindness towards others. We are so busy “hustling” we no longer observe basic courtesy or even offer a helping hand to someone in need.

Our children, more particularly those being raised in poverty, are being brought up in a hostile environment and are themselves becoming so aggressive at a tender age that it is cause for concern. Many of these children, not having been exposed to love, kindness or tenderness, grow up to become heartless criminals or inconsiderate and uncaring adults who have no regard for the elderly, handicapped or otherwise less fortunate in our society.

Then we bawl about the crime rate and look to the government for the solution, and the government in turn dismisses commissioners of police as if they hold “the solution” to a societal problem.

A part of the solution to the problem lies with the individual members of the society. We need to go back to the days when the society raised the child. All adults have a responsibility to the wider society to correct (not physically or verbally abuse) any child who demonstrates antisocial behaviour. Basic courtesies like saying “Please”, “Thank you” and “Excuse me, please” must be encouraged. The adults in our society need to stop assuming that our children who misbehave are hopeless. Many of them have never been told what is the correct thing to do or say.

Maybe I am naïve but I believe in the power of random acts of kindness. Certainly, there are many charitable organisations doing their part in this regard, but my approach is somewhat different. When the recipient knows who the giver is, the tendency is for the recipient to demonstrate gratitude to the giver. However, if the recipient receives a gift from a total stranger whose message is, “All I ask in return is that you be kind to all the persons you can because you don’t know who has been so kind to you,” chances are the recipient will in turn be kind to someone else.

Kindness costs nothing but has the potential to multiply one hundred-fold. Imagine what would happen if every Jamaican were to act like Kemesha Kelly and be our brother’s keeper. I challenge you to practise one random act of kindness whenever you can to a total stranger or someone who cannot repay you.

Nya Wright

Kingston