Preposterous proposalSenator Norman Grant cannot be taken seriously. It is agreeable that 16 year olds should be politically educated. But to suggest that the franchise to vote be extended to the 60 per cent of arguably functional illiterates in Jamaica is going much too far.
Mr. Grant's preposterous proposal should never receive the hospitality of our imagination. For, if it comes to pass, we can expect to see these kids as chairmen of parish councils, Members of Parliament, and arguably (by a long shot), prime ministers. What next? Can we expect to see inmates running our asylums?
- Rannie A. Manning,Silver Spring, M.D.
There are no ghostsDespite some 60 years of exposure to accounts of the existence of ghosts (from the childhood stories of vacation in rural Jamaica through to the adolescent encounter with accounts in literature - e.g., Judaeo-Christian Old Testament, Shakespeare, de Maupassant), I was, until fairly recently, still unsure whether or not I believed in ghosts.
I am, however, pretty sure now that there is, in fact, absolutely no such thing as ghosts. If there were, late National Hero, Norman Manley, would surely be causing the current leadership of his once, great People's National Party, sleepless nights. And he would show us the signs.
- Dinesh Heppsingh,Kingston 10.
What aboutfamily life?Thanks very much for the picture of Courtney White, his wife Hannah-Kay along with their daughters, which was on the front page of your edition of June 18. It was a breath of fresh air to see a married man with his wife and children on your front page. The deliberateness of marriage along with the avowed intention of permanence and faithfulness, still has a lot going for it when it comes to creating stability in a society.
With elections drawing closer, maybe it's the appropriate time to ask the two political leaders, along with the candidates, of their specific plans - if elected - to improve the structure and quality of family life in Jamaica.
- S. Richards, Kingston 10.
