Garth Rattray | National Day of Mourning for all victims needed

I was pleased to see a flyer advertising the recent National Day of Mourning. It was initiated by “The Custodes of Jamaica in collaboration with the Justices of the Peace, in partnership with The Jamaica Teachers’ Association, The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, The Parenting Association, The National Neighbourhood Watch Movement, The National Child’s Month Committee, The Jamaica Umbrella Group of Churches and other stakeholders”.

The day was inspired by the brutal killing of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe. It was meant to highlight solemnity, solidarity, and social unity against the killing of our children. Our little island home is beset by a multiplicity of ills, including the wanton taking of many human lives, of all ages. Most Jamaicans cringe whenever horrific murders take place. The barbarism seems to be boundless.

No matter how much our heads spin and stomachs turn, the national effect of the vile, macabre acts only lasts for days or weeks, then hapless victims become the latest statistic until another killing supplants them. We go through the cycle of disbelief, horror, disgust, distress, RIP for the victims, thoughts and prayers for the loved ones left behind repeatedly.

Emotional damage

We experience the horror vicariously, but we consciously limit the emotional damage that we sustain with the loss of every single life. We experience sadness briefly, then resume our daily routines because we must go on until another one of us is chosen for termination by ever-lurking predators who not only benefit in several ways from, but also revel in our demise. Consequently, as a nation, we are severely traumatised but not able to adequately commiserate and mourn with the innumerable individuals, families and communities affected by murderers.

We need an annual National Day of Mourning for all victims. Whenever someone deemed worthy passes away, we have a National Day of Mourning with flags flown at half mast, solemnity, and a day of many speeches and condolences. Surely, taken together, the lives of our many victims are worthy too. They deserve to be collectively remembered and honoured in some tangible way. Perfunctory press releases and the occasional visit to the bereaved families cannot suffice. Our society owes them much more for failing to protect them.

Funeral ceremonies are not for the benefit of the dearly departed, they are for the ones that are still alive. Similarly, a National Day of Mourning for all victims would be for the rest of us that still breathe God’s air. It would allow our tortured citizenry to grieve collectively and symbolise our appreciation for the gravity of our situation. It would demonstrate that we are aware that the lives that were lost were not without some purpose. It would provide solace and support the ones who deeply mourn the victims and were impacted by the tragedy.

Allow us to pause

A National Day of Mourning for all victims would allow us to pause and reflect on our rolls as citizens, and to consider how we can make Jamaica a safer place. It would elevate the individual killings to the national level … and those that somehow escaped the notice of the mainstream media would be brought into the light. It would humanise the victims portrayed by the cold, hard figures stated on the books. It would show the killers that the lives that they took, and families that they destroyed are important to this nation. Hopefully, it would also give them cause to think on their future actions, and to realise that they may be creating martyrs instead of duppies.

The National Day of Mourning for all victims should be an annual event. It would be more effective if it were held on a weekday. It should be near to the end of the year so that the long list of names and ages of those killed during that year can be read on air. No permission for entertainment events should be granted for that day, and citizens should be asked to refrain from house parties and loud music in vehicles. Sober music should be played on the airwaves and, all flags should be flown at half mast.

The newspapers stated that the recent National Day of Mourning was meant to encourage citizens to participate in the day, possibly take part in devotionals, remembrance services in homes, workplaces, churches, and schools, and private or small group prayer vigils. It was intended for persons to have individual or group moments of silence. People were to turn on headlights, wear black, and church bells could be tolled at noon. A day for all murder victims would be similar.

The National Day of Mourning for all victims should be a solemn day representative of the respect due to our brothers, sisters, and children murdered by criminals. It should begin with several religions and denominations coming together to offer prayers, solace, and encouragement to our entire nation. The family members of the victims, including those who were injured and survived, should be offered special attention. Impact statements from the relatives of the murder victims and from survivors of attacks by criminals should be read intermittently throughout the day.

Our nation needs to heal. We need to demonstrate our resolve to stamp out criminality. We need to show the criminals that our entire nation cares about those whom they have wronged. An annual National Day of Mourning for all victims is long overdue.

- Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com