Dear Editor,

A few years ago, I heard a popular radio personality announce on air that he won’t ever forget the stunning picture of Ursula Andress emerging from the sea in the James Bond movie Dr No screened here some 50 years ago. No doubt, Lisa Hanna’s famous photo of 2014 will be evoking similar sentiments from the not-so-young men of tomorrow if the published comments of those of today are anything to go by.

But what does that photo and our reaction to it have to say about our values and attitude as a people? And what is the message being sent to our young people?

On that fateful day, Hanna reportedly took her son to the beach and he captured a striking picture of his mom. Nothing unusual or abnormal about that. Even the most zealous of prudes happening on the scene at that time would be hard-pressed to find a reasonable basis on which to accuse the minister of any impropriety.

However, Hanna had the context changed completely the moment she shared the image of herself with the whole human race. At that moment, she was no longer on the beach, she had transported herself to the private space of every computer-using and newspaper-reading member of the public. She could now be freely ogled by all and sundry, including the tablet-toting youth for whom she has ministerial responsibility. That was the defining moment that exposed Hanna as an adult who needed to grow up, as a minister who was revelling in form rather than substance. After all, if our prime minister or any other minister had done that, everybody would still be calling for their resignation.

As unfortunate and disappointing as this act of indiscretion was, however, it was nothing compared to the ensuing spectacle of fully grown men and highly placed knights in shining armour conveniently missing the point and falling over themselves to rescue from criticism the dainty damsel in distress. Support for the minister was overwhelming and the criticisms mercilessly ridiculed. “Den wha dem expec’ har fi wear pon di beach… business suit?” or words to the effect, “Can’t they look beyond the bikini and see that she is no shrinking violet? She does her work!”

And so it came to pass that in the grand finale to this enthralling drama, it was Fr Richard Ho Lung, the most strident of the critics, who was sent running for cover. It was felt that his attention-grabbing, hyperbolic intervention was just too much.

It was of no consequence, of course, that the language employed by Ho Lung was much less damning than that used by Jesus of Nazareth Himself. The arrows came fast and furious as Ho Lung was called into question for every sin committed by every member of the Catholic clergy AD. There was even a suggestion that he should apologise to the minister.

Nobody is above criticism, of course — not our ministers of government and certainly not our ministers of religion. But that a person like Fr Ho Lung, who has devoted his life to the service of our social outcasts and the poorest, could be so easily vilified for expressing moral outrage on any issue does not say much for our values and attitudes as a nation.

The problem is that after paying lip service to this topic of values and attitude we have yet to define exactly what it is we are talking about or seeking to promote. If we have, it has been a well-kept secret.

Much clearer, though, is the instant message to our young people. If you are sufficiently gifted with a certain brand of beauty, and you know how to market it, you need not then detain yourself with minor issues of morality and self-esteem. Regrettably, it is a message already received by far too many.

Olive Nelson

Kingston 20