Good cometh out of evil

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Among the Jamaicans of eminent worth, all of whom were beneficiaries of the esteemed Rhodes Scholarship, are:

• Hon Delroy Chuck

• Rev Ronnie Thwaites

• Dr Trevor Munroe

• Dr Stephen Vasciannie

Decades have passed since these men earned their doctoral degrees and established themselves as admirable product samples of the Rhodes Scholarship pursued at the renowned Oxford University.

The article ‘Rhodes bad, but ...’ in the Observer, Monday, June 22, 2020, referred to the above-mentioned men as supporting the call for Cecil Rhodes’ statue to be removed from public view because of his inhumane deeds.

It is therefore surprising to me that only in the year 2020 that these men seem to realise the brute of a man Cecil Rhodes was reputed to be. Didn’t they know about his iniquities before they applied for and received the scholarship in his name?

When in the past did they speak out about his atrocities? Or is it merely out of shamefacedness in response to the Black Lives Matter protests, along with the call by others to relocate or demolish his statue?

Knowledge acquired is invaluable, intangible and irreversible. But do they regret pursuing their Oxford University education on a reputable scholarship named after Cecil Rhodes?

It seems irrelevant whether or not they regret being inheritors of such an award. Their benefit should be seen as good coming out of bad. And that is exactly how it should be; wherever possible, the proceeds of evil doings or intentions should be used for the benefit of humanity. In my view, that is a manifestation of good triumphing over evil.

“... what you meant for evil, God meant it for good ...” Genesis 50:20.

PETER A.P. GORDON