Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof (Proverbs 18:21).

So spoke Solomon, regarded as one of the wisest men that ever lived.

We are a nation in deep crisis - that, I think, is accepted by all thinking people. The monster of crime and violence threatens to devour the society. The economic storm clouds are ominous while indiscipline and social disorder run rampant across the island. There seemingly is no end in sight.

But I submit to you that equally destructive and death-dealing to this beautiful country is the power of the tongue. This country needs a respite from negative lambasting day in and day out, morning, noon and night - emanating from the electronic and print media. We are talking ourselves into death without knowing it.

Democratic rights

One is well aware of our democratic rights, but to use democracy as a licence to root up and pull down without any positive suggestion to find solutions is, in my judgement, either idiotic or tribalistic. For example, any discussion on the state of the Jamaican economy at this time that conveniently ignores the global crisis is, to say the least, dishonest and cannot be taken seriously - be those persons PhDs or economists on the level of Greenspan.

Some of our talk-show hosts are tired and need to be retired. Some are blatantly tribal and need to consider the harm they are doing.

I was flabbergasted by one of our veterans in the talk business adding a new programme to his long hours on the airwaves, pompously labelled as 'Ask me anything', but to be fair, this is one of the more helpful of the new and growing species of 'talkers'.

But speaking as a pastor of some 40 years, the most egregious are those who hide behind the pulpit but are vicious in the art of tribal and divisive rhetoric. Thank God, they are at present a very small minority, but their ability to influence a new and upcoming generation must not by any means be underestimated by the Church.

I am, etc.,

Rev Dr LLOYD SPENCER

Kingston 19