Frog seh wat is joke fi yuh a death to mi

Devon Dick, Contributor

LAST WEEK, it was confirmed that 46-year-old nurse Jacintha Saldanha had committed suicide in the nurses' quarters at King Edward VII Hospital in London, leaving behind a husband and two children. Saldanha took the prank call from two Australian disc jockeys who impersonated the Queen of England and Jamaica.The nurse apparently did not find it funny and, as the Jamaican proverb says, 'Frog seh wat is joke fi yuh a death to mi'.

It behoves us to be careful what we say to people.And an important element of a joke is that it should not be at the expense of someone else, and even the subject of the joke should be able to enjoy it.A joke should never be intended to belittle, offend or demean anyone. It ought to have a humorous intention. It ought to be amusing and be able to generate laughter. It should always be to see the funny side of events, and perhaps the best joke is when we laugh at ourselves. It should be a guiding principle for pranksters, comedians and Oral Tracey on TVJ's Sports Commentary.

DON'T BLAME THE DJs

It is tragic that a prank call and its effects ended in the suicide of this nurse.However, we should never be quick to claim that the disc jockeys caused the death.The reasons for suicide are many and complex.It is possible that this could have happened to another nurse and the reaction would not have been to commit suicide. Another person could have thought it would be more important to be alive for her husband and children and face the ridicule.

Suicide continues to baffle humankind in terms of the reason(s) persons end their own lives. One of the earliest studies done on the subject was by French sociologist Emile Durkheim, who concluded that suicides were more rampant when social conditions were unfavourable. It is also believed that people commit suicide when they feel that life no longer has any meaning and there is no purpose to their lives. Some persons terminate their lives because of old age, mental suffering, financial problems and unremitting depression. The overriding feeling is that they cannot cope with the challenges of life and feel that suicide is a better option.During the period of slavery in the West Indies, some of the enslaved committed suicide rather than endure the indignity of slavery. For them, death was a better option and a courageous action. It could be based on the belief that, since there is life after death, then the expected afterlife is better than slavery.

A STIGMA ATTACHED

Then there are suicide bombers who, apparently, will commit suicide for the greater good. In addition, they expect great rewards in the next life.

There is a stigma attached to suicide, hence it took a week for officialdom to associate her death with suicide.This stigma could be traced to Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus and who eventually committed suicide. Our attitude towards suicide should be more understanding in the Christian Church; giving more support to the bereaved family, including making the church building available for funeral services for persons who have committed suicide. There was a time when the funeral service for a suicide victim could not have been held in a church, but that is slowly changing. Which member of the clergy would want to deny nurse Saldanha rites in a church and the family the comforts of the Christian faith?

Suicide is difficult and we should be slow in condemning and casting blame.

Rev Devon Dick, PhD, is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church in St Andrew. He is author of 'From Rebellion to Riot' and 'The Cross and the Machete'. Send comments to columns@gleanerjm.com