Commentary

The 'bawl out'

"WHO SEY BIG man don't cry?" the deejay asks. It is a question that is answered on page three of yesterday's STAR, as a man perceived to be a tough "don of dons", Zekes, is seen crying.

Not for a woman, but for peace.

The Christian community may have had a 'bawl out', but this is the real crying time. They are not the tears of a weak man ­ by reputation alone Zekes and the people of Matthews Lane are well able to defend themselves. They seem to be the tears of a person who is just tired of seeing people around him die.

As Zekes said, "in a war nobody wins. There can never be a winner and those days are over".

Well said.

These are uneasy political times. The leadership of both the PNP and the JLP will change - and sooner than later. Old allegiances have a way of going adrift with those who made them and there is absolutely no guarantee that those who followed a particular leader will support his or her successor.

It is in this context that Zekes' plea for peace, as well as the corresponding speech against war from Tivoli Gardens, should be seen. These two communities have 'big talk' in the respective political parties that they support and it is not inconceivable that a war between them could change the balance of whoever is the future Prime Minister of Jamaica.

Zekes knows what will happen if a war breaks out and he cries for the possible mayhem. Let us hope that we are sensible enough to not have to cry after the fact.