REMEMBER LIU XIAOBO

A speaker on a morning talk show suggested that 9/11 and the past decade had involved a confrontation with Islam. Although that may appear true to some extent, I feel that there is a deeper confrontation at the base of our present crises. As an historian I see a deep conflict between past and present, on many levels, in which many look back to an idealised past which represents to them all that is wrong with the present. Instead of learning from humanity's past struggles and errors they want to do the impossible thing - go back to a past which essentially only exists in their own minds. This perception seems to exist equally among Islamic extremists who would resurrect a time when Islamic civilization was humanity's advance guard and Fundamentalist Evangelicals who want to go back to a world which fits their viewpoints, which they seem to think existed at some point in the past. But of course the two things that cannot be done with the past are to return to it, or change it. For human beings time moves only in one direction; we are constantly moving into a new and unknown future, which will demand new thinking and new solutions. We must learn what the past can teach, but understand that we face challenges that no previous generation has faced

email to PNP official

I see that the PNP is planning protest demonstrations; what possible effect that can have I cannot imagine, except possibly if things go wrong getting somebody killed. I have never been very impressed with the value of such activities, except in very specific circumstances, like the collapse of the Communist regimes in Europe 20 years ago. Our present situation is so dire, world-wide, that the only useful activities will be those which bring people together - national governments perhaps; the encouragement of individuals, groups and communities to work on our own solutions to our particular problems in our specific circumstances. Unfortunately the PNP, which had so many years of opportunity, almost entirely failed, or perhaps refused, to tackle the challenges we have faced for a generation at least, and are now far more severe.

Do you have work groups on population policy, alternative energy, local manufacturing, agriculture (some signs of awakening here?), education? That is what is needed not political grandstanding, and I think that the intelligence of Jamaicans would be under-rated - as usual - if the politicians assume that they can still be taken in by such politicking.

I certainly agree that the new taxes seem very badly thought out, but that is what we have come to expect from politicians of all stripes. To me it seems cynical 'politics as usual' to take this short-sighted and dangerous policy of risking stirring up serious trouble for and among the ordinary Jamaican people who have been in essence abandoned by both parties. Events in other countries warn of societies spiraling out of control.

I just have to hope the fundamental good sense of the people wins through, and that there are no disasters. These are some of the most dangerous times in my life-time; having been born during the Great Depression, lived through WWII, the Cold War, and the '70s in Jamaica, I know that what we are experiencing now is something of a different order - one of the great turning points in human history. Those who aspire to lead in such times must rise above the old ways.

Perhaps we should take the air crash during the night as a warning!

posted comment on Scientific American

I am sure that the developments in human life on the planet over the last 3 centuries, especially the enormous increase in population, have had drastic impacts on the environment, climate change being only one of those impacts. While people quibble about the details of climate change, those changes and all the others, continue to grow and threaten human life as we have come to expect to live it. Over-fishing, rain-forest destruction, garbage, chemical pollution, are some of the serious issues apart from the possible impacts of global warming. Unless, or until, human beings understand that we are merely one, relatively unimportant, part of a vast system, which has no particular interest ( being anthropomorphic!) in our survival, we will probably continue to dig our own graves. Without a fundamental change in our understanding of our situation, I doubt that we can avoid disasters ahead; I fear for my grandchildren and their children.
Joy Lumsden

Thirty years ago I wrote letters to the press and tried to make my voice heard, but since then I have turned to other things. Perhaps now, when time is getting increasingly short, I should try again to voice my views.