LETTER OF THE DAY - Stop whining, innovate!

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WE ARE a nation of whiners and I say this with love and respect for my fellow Jamaicans. I am a current affairs junkie. I monitor the media on a daily basis. I read all the print news, listen to and watch the various talk shows.

Listening to the radio talk shows on a daily basis has led me to the conclusion that we are a bunch of whiners. I am so weary of us complaining all the time about our problems. While it is understandable that sometimes we need to share our grouses in an effort to unburden, I am of the belief that invention comes out of necessity. Thus, if you find yourself in a bind, be creative, 'tun yuh han an' mek fashion'. Everybody has their individual crosses to bear.

We need to stop blaming our neighbours, bad-minded people, the government, slavery and slave mentality, etc, for all our problems. I would never dare try to discount or discredit a good education, but the millionaires and billionaires of the world, even here in Jamaica, don't all have world-class education; they were not all born with gold or silver spoons in their mouths. You know what they have in common? They are not whiners!

Wallowing in self-pity

There are many rags-to-riches stories in Jamaica. Those individuals create opportunities out of their problems, rather than complain about them. They persevere rather than give up, they exercise their brains to find ways to make it, not wallow in self-pity.

There is no place in this world for quitters and whiners. The sooner we realise that and stop living to complain, the better off we will all be.

I am, etc.,

Elizabeth Russell

Kingston 6

lizzi.russell@gmail.com