Dear Editor,

One of my grandchildren was on radio recently telling the host why he will not vote. I cringed as I heard him repeat the old mule tune that he is not inspired by any of the two parties. He thinks politicians are a bunch of jokers and thieves, both parties are involved in corruption and, more than all, he and his friends are not interested in the noisy, horn-blowing, screaming-in-the-microphone election exercise.

On public radio he told the host about ballot box stuffing and how acquaintances of his had been paid to vote.

My children and their 12 children were trained to be loyal to their country, to participate in community activities, and to take the national pledge seriously.

I called ‘Mr Public Speaker’, after he called the radio station to give his views, and the other four grandchildren who plan not to vote. I asked them if the example of the national heroes was to sit back and criticise everything that came their way, or take action. I asked them what if Herb McKenley and Arthur Wint sat down and whined about the poor state of athletics in their country, would they have powered us to world fame. I didn’t give them a chance to open their mouths, but flung names like George Headley and Michael Holding, who didn’t even think about cheques when they made the cricket world fear their team.

I agree that crime is worse than it was in my day, and the dollar has gone to the dogs, but my grandchildren have far better educational and social opportunities than I and my siblings had, and I told them so and appealed to their loyalty to country. I told them to take down the big posters of Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce they had on their walls and give them back to me. Those world-class gold medallists never sat back and complained like ‘spoiled fish’ about people not being inspiring enough but, like true winners, they went out there and brought glory to Jamaica.

I was vexed with them. They were taught loyalty to country and I expect them to exercise the right to vote even though things are tough. Two of them glared at me and muttered something about common human rights, but I stood my old ground. I told them — like motivating track stars — “On your mark, get set, go!” They were glad to see the back of me and hurried away, but I didn’t care. It is their duty to vote. This is their country.

Nearly all the undecided young people associate themselves with the top athletes, and my other grandchildren and I are making posters which read: “On your mark, get set, go…and vote.

Mills Blake

veronica_carnegie@cwjamaica.com