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Joe,
We're now hearing that there were more involved. At least 20. I don't know exactly where they were when all of this was going on. What we've heard is that one of them stood outside when the little girl met a fiery death. He has something very special coming to him, I'm sure. I hope he can handle it when it comes home to roost.
They do say write what you know, so I guess I'm doing the right thing. Thanks for your continued readership. 
posted by
word.smith
on October 9, 2005 at 4:15 PM
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Krisles, thanks for your insightful comments.
fear only has to be faced to lose its power. This is oh, so true. I wish I'd apply that to my spiritual life. Thanks for that little gem. Too often, we hold such power in our hands and don't even know it.
posted by
word.smith
on October 9, 2005 at 4:12 PM
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Wow!
Thank you for sharing this story! It is truly alarming!!
I can't imagine the evil that resides inside of the four men who murdered this family. I hope they find their own personal hell that they deserve.
Your blog has become a favorite of mine. I like it because it rarely strays from a cleverly defined boundary--Life in Jamaica.
posted by
Joe_Love
on October 8, 2005 at 10:22 PM
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word.smith
Such an excellent and powerful post. It is such a mystery that people, especially the women you speak of, don't realize the power they have....and that fear only has to be faced to lose its power.
posted by
Krisles
on October 8, 2005 at 9:56 PM
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Fiona,
Most of us don't realize the power that groups carry. I suppose it is easier to look the other way and pretend that what is happening doesn't affect us.
posted by
word.smith
on October 8, 2005 at 9:44 AM
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Cass,
It happens here way too frequently.
posted by
word.smith
on October 8, 2005 at 9:43 AM
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That is really sick
They should make the punishment fit the crime if they ever find those animals. Burn them alive. As you said, it's the community's silence that allows them to get away with it. If the whole community stands up to these "people", they wouldn't get away with it.
posted by
fionajean
on October 8, 2005 at 3:37 AM
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That is a horrible story. I can't imagine ever being so scared of someone that I wouldn't inform on those who torture and kill others, but I know it happens.
posted by
Ca88andra
on October 7, 2005 at 11:46 PM
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Sassy, many of us are a little bewildered
about this incident and a lot sickened.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 6:55 PM
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Thanks, Rhia
That's what gives us all hope, I suppose, that for all the bad, the good manage to balance things out.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 6:36 PM
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The very fact
that you've written about it, and have elicited all these responses, is helping maintain the balance between good and evil. Keep it up!
posted by
Rhiannon1
on October 7, 2005 at 6:27 PM
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Thanks for reading Jo.
What we are needing right now are some good, positive vibes.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 5:47 PM
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That is sickening
Mankind has become a strange breed that I just don't understand anymore.
posted by
Sherri_G
on October 7, 2005 at 5:46 PM
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Thanks Quirky,
I'll hug my son close and think about all that is good about my homeland.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 5:45 PM
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Thanks for reading Malcolm.
It's like we're now playing how low can you go on this island. 
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 5:44 PM
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Subtle Energy
would be your most powerful response?
I can resonate with what you have written,
Jo
posted by
brisbane_artist
on October 7, 2005 at 3:33 PM
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word.--
that is really scary, no wonder you are frightened. take care of yourself, and I hope you have a nice weekend.
posted by
Julia.
on October 7, 2005 at 1:38 PM
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Well written post
So much so that the very horror of it is with me and, I'm sure, so many others.
posted by
malcolm
on October 7, 2005 at 12:44 PM
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Katray, it's very frightening.
And each day I wonder what's next.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 8:09 AM
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Offbeats,
I don't think any sane individual would understand.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 8:05 AM
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Symphony, it is.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 8:05 AM
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Ms. Vision,
There is no justification, but you can be sure they do try to find a good reason for what they do.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 8:04 AM
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Your angst flows through every sentence Word
How very tragic and frightening.
posted by
Katray2
on October 7, 2005 at 7:58 AM
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Telly,
Barbaric is right. I also hope that something good comes out of this tragedy.
posted by
word.smith
on October 7, 2005 at 7:47 AM
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Word
This is so very sad.. I don't understand the lack of conscious on any side. I hope they get the people who did this savage act!
posted by
Offy
on October 7, 2005 at 7:02 AM
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Wow how terrible.....awful.
I don't know what else to say
posted by
_Symphony_
on October 7, 2005 at 6:38 AM
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unbelievable
The cruelty of this act is very sad. Its incomprehensible that people knowingly commit such acts and that they justify horrendous acts with terms like reprisals and gang rituals
posted by
MsVision
on October 7, 2005 at 6:22 AM
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How horrible and barbaric! I've always felt that if you do not prevent a terrible thing -- and you have the power to help -- then you are just as guilty as the perpetrator. I hope that this hideous crime creates enough of an outrage to crack down on such barbarism.
posted by
telynor
on October 6, 2005 at 10:26 PM
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Those are words that describe the situation well, Argus.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 7:25 PM
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The people who can make the difference
are too busy fighting for political mileage to do anything to quell these tragedies.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 7:24 PM
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word, chilling and horrible situation!!
posted by
ARGUS
on October 6, 2005 at 7:24 PM
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Wordsmith...horror & tragedy!! Yet, solutions escape us.
posted by
reasons
on October 6, 2005 at 7:06 PM
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Mspickles,
I hope so as well.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 7:02 PM
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Poet, sometimes the depth we sink to is unbelievable.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 7:01 PM
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NewYorker,
Scary is a good way to describe what is happening. And pulling weeds is a good analogy. Misguided young men seem to love the life of a killer, never mind the fact that they usually don't live past the age of 25 and the younger they are the hungrier they seem to be for blood. When you listen to people who have been held up it is always the youngest one in the pack who is urging that the victim be wasted. Until we find a way to show our people that hard work and education are the way to a brighter future, we'll be on the same downward spiral we face today. These young men do not want to know that there is no easy money and that killing people is not the answer. Thank God that the majority of us are trying to do right.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 7:00 PM
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Aria,
I wonder what has happened to cause us to become so full of hate and evil. I hate to admit it, but with us it always seems to be that the minority makes life miserable for the majority. What is in control of Jamaica now as I see it is a pervasive greed. Greed for drugs, guns and money. Ever since serious trafficking started, we have seen people murdered in ways that we have never seen before. The things that happen these days are what I only used to see on cable tv.
A huge part of the problem is protection money that business people are paying to criminals. They do not seem to understand that those funds are what is used to buy guns and ammunition to rob and kill the citizenry. I really wish we'd wake up and get a life. Thanks for your good wishes. This island sure does need a serious turn around.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 6:55 PM
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Spitfire, I hope the get them too.
Already, the police have hit a roadblock. Seems people's mouths have been zippered shut since this happened yesterday morning. The police are now appealing for help from the citizens. I hope this won't be a case of same old same old after the ray of hope I felt this morning.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 6:49 PM
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Libertine, it is.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 6:46 PM
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how awful! i hope some justice is made
posted by
littlemspickles
on October 6, 2005 at 6:37 PM
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so sad
The Bible says "the heart is deceitful and desparately wicked" Yes sometimes it is......
posted by
poetjpb
on October 6, 2005 at 6:00 PM
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my Lord
I thought these things only happened in the Mafia- ruled areas of Southern Italy. Unfortunately here in Sicily silence means consent, too. Sometimes someone does speak up but then that person gets treated like someone with the plague. It's like trying to pull out weeds - for every one you pull out three will grow back. It's scary sometimes.
posted by
NewYorker_in_Sicily
on October 6, 2005 at 4:18 PM
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Word-I am so sorry to hear that. I applaud these people for standing up to the bullies. Why people are so evil? Who is in control in Jamaica? Is it the government or the criminals? People need to protest against violence else no one will be saved. Take care of yourself. You're in my prayers.
posted by
Aria4
on October 6, 2005 at 4:03 PM
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Word,
How awful. You're right, it is a problem when families protect and hide the criminal. It just adds to the cycle. I hope they find those 4 sons of bitches and fry 'em.
posted by
SpitFire70
on October 6, 2005 at 3:39 PM
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God, how horribly depressing...
posted by
Holy_Grail
on October 6, 2005 at 2:42 PM
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Avant-Garde
It is getting to the point where people are frustrated with these sort of happenings. They cry for police protection and when the police show up, they refuse to tell them anything. It is my hope that they will have the courage to do what needs to be done to change their situation.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 2:23 PM
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Mia,
Our consolation is that there are some of us who try to do the right thing.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 2:16 PM
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Riverside,
Thanks for visiting. Do come back!
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 2:14 PM
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word.smith
that is a very sad story. there are so many of them now. i think that people are fed up with this kind of behavior, though. the more it is exposed, the more it will not be tolerated.
posted by
avant-garde
on October 6, 2005 at 1:49 PM
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word.smith
strange world we live in...ugly too sometimes...I think we are all sinking
posted by
MiaElla
on October 6, 2005 at 12:38 PM
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hey word, nice toread you.......
posted by
Riverside
on October 6, 2005 at 11:47 AM
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Straight,
Yes, at least there is something happening to give hope.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 11:46 AM
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It is, Tissi. It is.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 11:44 AM
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Thanks, Masky.
Now that you've mentioned it, I ought to be giving thanks as well that things like that don't happen where I live. Although I live miles and miles away, it is still too close for comfort. Still, I hope and pray for brighter days.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 11:44 AM
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MayB, that's right.
You never know when the spillover is going to hit you. They do migrate to other neighbourhoods to hide out for a time, once the police come calling and curfews are enforced.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 11:39 AM
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Jacenta,
I think they're consciences have been long dead and the cocaine they take and they can find a way to justify the things that they do.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 11:37 AM
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Yes they do Tapsel
And the cycle is continued because of that.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 11:36 AM
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What you are saying is something I totally identify and agree with
The good thing really is that the neighbours are speaking up. We really need to cling to that silver lining
posted by
Straightforward
on October 6, 2005 at 9:05 AM
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word.smith
how tragic
posted by
TissiBlake
on October 6, 2005 at 7:54 AM
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Word...true tragedies. Such horrid, vile presentations of anger,
hate, hostility, and mutilation. I appreciate you sharing the stories and the link. It certainly makes me appreciate the safety of my own home and an appreciation of where I come from. Blessings, friend.
posted by
Masky
on October 6, 2005 at 7:34 AM
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it's particularly distressing when it's in your midst
posted by
Azur
on October 6, 2005 at 6:25 AM
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word.smith,
I cannot comprehend how anyone could do such devastating things and yet live with themselves, knowing what grief they have caused.
posted by
jacentaOld
on October 6, 2005 at 6:19 AM
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word.smith, what horrible incidents you speak of. It is unthinkable that people protect these men but, I know that it goes on. .
posted by
TAPS.
on October 6, 2005 at 6:14 AM
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Hammock,
Everytime you think you've seen the worst there is....
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 6:12 AM
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The world is a sad, sad place.
posted by
Hammock_Noweilz
on October 6, 2005 at 6:10 AM
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JoJo, I'll never understand it either.
Except to say that I do know that some of them get 'coked-up' before they go on their rampages.
posted by
word.smith
on October 6, 2005 at 6:09 AM
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word smith
Wow, that is horrible. It is so amazing to me that there are people in the world that are capable of doing such things. I just don't understand.
posted by
jojostar
on October 6, 2005 at 5:59 AM
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