The Bahama Journal Editorial:

On occasion, time seems to be rushing by; and for sure, as it does, we sometimes get the impression that most of our people have consigned themselves to roles as mere spectators to this passing scene.

Happily and mercifully, there are people –albeit a tiny minority – who see themselves as agents of change and social transformation.

These are the ones who are convinced that, they have a God to love, a nation to build and neighbors who must be loved by them as much as they love themselves.

And yet again, we are today absolutely convinced that it is people such as these who might also be described and depicted as folk who are engaged in the perfection of love.

The late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was –as he lived and as he died –a most interesting exemplar of this kind of life; and that he died the death as a Christian martyr speaks volumes about the extent to which his life mirrored and imitated that of Jesus Christ.

And so, even though King died young – and even while he was assassinated - there is today world-wide recognition of the fact that, this great Black man packed a lot of living and a dray-load of service in the short ministry that was fated to be his.

As we now recall, that call to service as a pastor and freedom-fighter covered a mere thirteen years [from 1955 to 1968].

And as we today recognize so very well, King played a pivotal role in bringing to fruition the Negro’s centuries’ long protest and demand for full citizenship in the land of their birth.

For his efforts, King received not only death threats, but also lived long enough to win a Nobel Peace Prize and to prick his nation’s moral conscience as regards certain very large matters involving war and peace.

That this Christian leader was fated to be martyred in the United States of America [the land he loved] remains a story for the ages and one for all human beings who dare say that, they too are Christians.

As regards this man’s service, struggle and sacrifice, we affirm that thirty three years ago, King made a point that is today still relevant as the world rouses itself to help a Haiti that is down on its knees, with Port-au-Prince in ruins, hundreds of thousands dead and an ocean of despair engulfing millions of others, at home and abroad.

As King noted, “…Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies. This call for a world-wide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men…”

As summed up in first epistle of Saint John: Let us love one another; for love is God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. If we love one another God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

This is the living word of God.

Even now, each and every Bahamian has within their own heart capacity sufficient to help others who are like minded to walk in the manner of this great Christian.

They can do so when they help themselves and others; and for sure, when they do so honestly, faithfully and fully.

Clearly, then, Haiti’s people continue to beckon and they continue to cry out in their distress; and clearly, then, the Haitian tragedy also illuminates the fact that there are people who –like the Good Samaritan on the Jericho Road- who have taken out time and who have gone to some lengths to help the Haitian people.

And yet again, as in the same parable concerning the good Samaritan, some other Bahamians have taken time out to – as it were – blame the victim; thus that canard about Haiti being a cursed place inhabited by people fated to be punished.

We will have none of this.

As far as we are concerned, this is as good a moment as any for Bahamians – especially those whose lives are suffused with faith – to come on over and help their fellow-human beings who merely happen to be Haitian or of Haitian extraction.

And as clearly, Haitians and others who live in Haiti’s Diaspora would know by now that they have their work already cut out for them – they are called to help re-build their shattered homeland.

We too [ especially the ones who chat so very incessantly about coming over to help; and who –like Nehemiah- now know that there is a wall that is to be built by each and every one of us.

 All else would be for naught.

January 18, 2011

The Bahama Journal Editorial

Caribbean Blog International