"The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who remain neutral in times of great moral conflict."

Above is a famous quote from the late, Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929-April 4, 1968). He is a man many of our children should learn about and maintain a high level of respect for. I highlight this quote because of the wide span of debates which purveys moral conflict in Jamaica today.

One of the most recent examples being Dr Kevin Harvey's attempt to persuade the government to decriminalise homosexuality. An earlier case was the drastic move by the Broadcasting Commission to unwaveringly put a ban on certain types of songs in the media. Both cases have resulted in moral conflict within the society.

I would say, "Moral conflict has been the driving force for all debates in history." The most successful debate to overcome a moral conflict is the move to abolish slavery. What can we do to overcome the current moral conflicts we are facing now in Jamaica?

I do think that the Ministry of Education and the ministry with responsibility for culture have to be more actively involved in preserving the morals of our society. We could do better with more television programmes directed at teaching children about the land we love and the morals the country is trying to maintain.

I applaud Prime Minister Bruce Golding for his unerring course to maintain criminalisation of homosexual acts. Even though the prime minister declared the stance of the country against such acts, the debate still continued and is ongoing amongst some within our society. I wish to highlight to those activists wanting the decriminalisation of gays and prostitutes that, legal or illegal, most Jamaicans attitude towards gays will not and will never change.

I am etc.,

Conrad

kirkper@yahoo.com

Kingston