The buzz online was about bullying, a brawl and the beach this past week.
Our NATIONNews and Facebook readers were on the ball, sharing their views.
When one of the teenage boys who was caught on cellcam bullying another came out and issued a public apology to the boy, readers applauded the move.
Tanya Forde said: “I hope that the victim of this bullying incident can also dust off and move on as easily as you say you are anxiously hoping to do.”
Marva Marshall: “I do not know this young fellow but it is good to see his mother helping him take corrective action. I believe that this experience can help him move forward and benefit positively and tremendously. Many of us have done things we are not proud of yet have gotten over our mistakes.”
Yogi: “I’m sorry. How many times have I heard this? . . . I would take it that he is truly sorry and will learn from this incident, and will never again in his life bully anyone. He should be given a chance to move on with his life and education. What happened to the other boys who were involved in the incident? Have they gotten away without apologizing or any kind of punishment? This bothers me deeply.”
When the final basketball game between Barbados and Jamaica at the 2011 UWI Games ended up in a brawl, readers were also quick to voice their disappointment. For them, it was an issue that also spoke to Caribbean unity – or in this case, the lack of it.
Cat Luck: “How did we get here? It is so disturbing to see ‘Caribbean unity’ dissolve so swiftly – and in a place where I imagined that would be people taking the high road. This looks so bad! Thank God cooler heads prevailed.”
Ricky Harris: “What a shame. Hope this doesn’t affect the rest of the games. What happened to sports bringing opposing players together in the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship?”
Readers also commented on some of the beach ills discussed by National Conservation Commission officials and beach vendors. The plan is to rid the beaches of these problems, which include drug peddling and the sale of alcohol. The move was welcomed by many.
Dennis Howell: “My family had a reunion in Barbados July 1988. While we were hanging out at the beach, my brothers and I were approached by two local ‘brothers’ who wanted to sell ‘ganja’ or ‘crack’. I was very surprised by their boldness. We didn’t expect that type of bold solicitation there on the island. It was like being back home in Brooklyn.”
As I close, I also want to invite our online readers to join us on Wednesday night at 7:30 for the second in the NATION Talkback series on the issue of The Rising Cost of Health Care.
Join us and TALK BACK.
