Dear Editor,

Had it been Abraham instead of Abram, Sarah instead of Sarai, or Elijah instead of Elisha, there could have been cause. They existed, and it takes thought to put them in their proper place. But…Absalam instead of Absalom? The former neither appeared nor existed anywhere in the

Bible until the judges ofTelevision Jamaica‘s (TVJ)Schools’ Challenge Quiz (SCQ) called him into existence, in their studios, during the quarter-final between Campion College and Kingston College (KC). And so they did, because at no time did Kingston College utter the name Absalam in their response to that now decisive, and divisive, question.

I have conducted my unbiased survey with folks far removed from our Jamaican

SCQ culture – just in the event my ears were failing me. No, my ears were not failing me. As if that error were not enough,TVJ has taken a firm stance and used its contrived Absalam as springboard, and indeed platform, to wreak havoc almost akin to Absalom himself in biblical times. Because, in its self-willed vein and stubbornness to listen to reason,TVJ is trying to kill the hopes of many KC students based on its draconian two-year ban.

Then, to add insult to injury, a former KC quiz coach decides to voice his personal opinion on the very obvious simulacrum of order and fairness on social media, and

TVJ decides to take KC to task. The station took exception to the fact that he had free speech — not to mention an opinion of his own.TVJ wanted him muzzled and KC found guilty by association.

When KC advised them that the coach in question was no longer associated with the team, they wanted to know why they had not been apprised. In other words, why weren’t they invited to the public flogging and why haven’t you disassociated yourself from the coach? This, probably, would demonstrate penitence and offer public penance. And maybe, just maybe, KC would be in a better place.

Good sense has to prevail, but so far it has not.

TVJ is sticking to its guns; strutting, while destroying the hopes and aspirations of KC youngsters who labour with pride to represent the winningest team inSCQ history.

I am not asking that KC be adjudged the winner and the ban lifted. That is the right thing to do, but it would be too easy. Furthermore, it is asking too much, because there is so much to undo, fix, and explain. Any public reversal is hard – especially when an entity is shamelessly self-willed. What

TVJ needs to do, however, is go back to the original recording and recognise that Absalam did not exist until the station introduced it into public forum. That is where it began: that is where the fixing should begin to right their wrongs and free KC.

That is where

TVJ needs to man up and admit they made a mistake, and not perpetuate it. When will good sense prevail? I cannot help but wonder what Absalom’s brother, the wise King Solomon, would have done to right this awful wrong.

Esmond K Scott

keelo50@bellsouth.net