The Editor, Sir:

Much has been written and said about the accomplishments of Usain Bolt, young Jamaican track and field champion, perhaps far too much given his youth and the ultimate significance of his accomplishments. In any case, when such achievements do take place, some of us do often quietly begin to ask ourselves what is the real meaning of such accomplishments.

With all the attention and rewards heaped upon such heroes, are we putting our priorities, that is, society's emphasis upon competitiveness and personal success, above what are far more important goals that we as individuals and as nations should strive to reach?

In fact, the reality is that regardless of how many youth spend their time trying to emulate Bolt and others like him, very few of the tens of thousands who try will ever actually reach such a zenith. Would it not be far better if all those young souls could learn a lesson that spoke of involvement within their own communities and the establishing of a safer, more upright, and more prosperous Jamaica, one not so lost in the love of success, fame, money and power, seeking that it cannot free itself from poverty, crime and corruption?

Seizing the opportunity

At the same time, let us not forget that much has been done, but is so seldom noticed nor remembered, long after such great accomplishments have passed into history. Many more have profited from associating the man with their product or service, in most cases where little or no association is at all legitimate. Indeed, today, long after their times of glory have passed, many of our greatest sports heroes become little more than commodities, raw materials it would seem, to be exploited like any other. Look at the lesson that teaches and ask yourselves is that what such successes are finally worth?

Moreover, and with all that often superficial glory, most such heroes survive the rest of their lives, unscathed by the ravages of such attention. Most go on unblemished by the personal catastrophes of self-indulgence, scandal and corruption, while others rise far only to fall even farther from grace and the flourish of our accolades. Dare we ask ourselves what will happen if such disasters befall the young hero of whom we speak? What will such honours and accomplishments eventually mean to a child and to history itself, if such heroes fail badly in the rest of their lives? And when will we, if we ever do, finally realise we may not really be teaching the right lesson by so highly and so inordinately praising the significance of their example?

I am, etc.,

ED MCKOY

mmhobo48@juno.com

Bokeelia, Florida