Dear Editors,

The “informer fi dead” culture is right on target. Despite shouts of protest and exaltations for people to tell what they saw and heard, the informer is most likely to be brutally cut down rather than the violent assailants.

In fact, these “witnesses” will not be protected, and others engaged at the scene will always have a story in defence of wrongful aggressors. Thus, the people, innately wise, endorse that silence. And they are right: “Informer if dead.” If you do speak out against injustice you will be punished and wounded.

This is not only in the domain of the so-called visual ghettos, but it also flourishes even on pulpits.

Witnesses risk their lives with noble and lofty ideas of changing corruption — not so easy my friend. It appears nothing can be unruffled and stymied. It is best not to dwell on or relive in memory evil acts. The brain just cannot take that post-traumatic stress disorder. People move on. “Oh, that murder was a long time ago, last week.”

An autopilot “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” exists. The three wise monkeys — Mizaru, Kikazaru, Iwazaru — indeed. In Jamaica we have a fourth — “nuh know nuh evil”. Evil for many does not exist. It is not even nine-day talk. They are numb with indifference.

Life will go on whether or not you intervene. If you intervene you will be a dead lion, so it is much better to live, like a live dog, because, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise.” (Proverbs 17: 28)

Ul Jem

jem.ul@yahoo.com