Clean family viewing

CONGRATS TO TVJ for producing the excellent family-oriented programme, Schools' Challenge Quiz. It is in its 36th season and still going strong and better than the years before. Thumbs up! It is one of the best educational programmes on local television.

The new set is all that and more. The theme, music and backdrop all depict the true spirit of Schools' Challenge Quiz. This is what the viewers have been longing to see. It looks comfortable enough for the challengers to relax and do their thing in style.

Hey, did you check out the new chairs? Awesome! They look soft and relaxing.

Well, the host is also well taken care of, but won't she become too relaxed? Something to look at. Standing has always been the quizmaster's style of hosting from the days of Dennis Hall and the other veterans in the business.

There was an obvious problem in the first matches of the 2005 preliminary round of Schools' Challenge Quiz. The players knew what they were doing, but were they well-trained? Some questions they missed were just shocking. For example, in what year was the coat of arms given to Jamaica? Ans. 1661.

On a more positive side, this year looks very competitive. Congrats to last week's
winners.

* André Roumell, Northern Caribbean University

@@@@@

A passionate love story

A DAY without you is like lying on my back with an ancient soldier pushing a sword into my heart, inch by inch. There is nothing I can do, but slowly
perish as the pain of my heart overwhelms me. I'm dying and only you are on my mind. Oh how I love you and wish I could hold you once more.

Through the pain, I reminisce on good times past. Our first kiss, our last, the great times we spent together and the fun we had. Just then the soldier says, "You will die a slow and painful death!"

I think. Then there is hope! You will save me and mend the hole he has made in my heart. You will destroy him for me, for you are the protector of my heart. You are my soul mate.

Woe be unto him when my earth angel returns, for this soldier's name is fear and he tries to put doubt in my heart. My angel shall slay him, rid me of all my fears, remove doubt and vanquish all evil from the sanctuary of our love.

Alas! Like hail, so rains fire and brimstone as my love approaches. Fear becomes fearful as in the distance the wings of my phoenix appear. With the sound of her voice, Fear is dismissed and love reins.

Oh my sweet angel, how I long for your kiss. Mend me and make love to me once more. For with your presence come the songs of angels and glory.

I shall love you forever; you saved me! Now we shall enjoy each other's company until once more I will be caught by fear, but next time I will be too strong for him, for our love has grown on a massive scale.

To: That special person, S.A.Y., a.k.a. Sashie

* Anthony Williams, University of the West Indies

@@@@@

A plea for the future

What does the future have in store?
What does Jamaica have hidden behind its doors?
Can it be any worse than that of today?
Can it bring any more dismay?
Impossible, you might say,
Though there is no such thing,
To come are many more days,
Who knows the dangers they bring?
Could it be worse?
This may be the first of several mis-happenings,
That is why it is time to start fighting.
We can no longer be laid-back,
Waiting too late to attack.
For all we will have is 'what ifs'
From this no one benefits.
It is said that the leaders of this revolution,
Are found in the young generation.
For this comment,
I have total resentment.
With the nation's present authority,
I have no pity.
For these are the same persons who for everything blame us,
With them I am in total disgust.
We are accused of increasing the crime, imprisonment, death and AIDS rate.
I will not plead our innocence for some of these are factual,
I beg of you for a minute, try and be practical.
Would any of these rates have been increased,
If dangerous materials had not been put in our reach?
Things we thought were only found in foreign lands,
Have reached our dear island.
We can no longer be blind to these crucial undertakings,
We need to open our eyes and start the ground-breaking.
The e rection of a strong union between the nation's citizens and their leaders, is desperately needed,
If not, the hope for a better society will be greatly impeded.
The first step to this,
Is nothing less and nothing more than mutual respect.
For in the Most High's sight, we are equals,
If we do not acknowledge this, we shall experience great falls.
We need to stop accusing each other, for everyone is to blame,
We need to get our act together and put our minds in the right frame.
Though this plan might seem like the proper way to go about,
It is up to our leaders for it to be carried out.
Yes, my generation is willing to see it through,
'We learn from the best; we learn from you'.
So to our leaders I say, "Are you brave enough to go the right way?"

* Lori-Ann Miller, 15, Hampton High School

@@@@@

Man, or woman?

WHEN WAS the last time you looked at what young men are doing to themselves? When did the lines between male and female fashion become so blurred?

There was always the question of how some of our ladies got into the clothing they wore, but it seems some of the men got impatient waiting for an answer and decided to find out for themselves.

I mean, really, have you seen some of these so-called fashions? Picture this and I kid you not ­ a long-sleeved floral 'V' neck blouse, tight stretch jeans cut short at the ankles, creamed hair, uncountable earrings ­ male or female? Give up? This was actually a guy standing proudly at a bus stop in Kingston.

Ladies, you need to stop lending your clothes to your boyfriends. Is this a case of whatever you can do, I can do better?

Ladies, don't think the guys are the only ones doing the clothes swapping. It is now becoming increasingly difficult to identify some women from a distance.

The next applies to both males and females: what type of fashion could require you to remove the natural pigment from your skin? Have you ever heard that black is beauty?

It is quite a sight in the mornings to see some of my fellow teenagers having to hide from the sun. But seriously, though, bleaching thins the upper layer of the skin. This means that if, God forbid, you should require stitches, there is nothing to hold them in.

So let me congratulate all my dark-skinned sisters who are confident enough to stay that way. It is good that over the past four years, Jamaica has become a much more liberal country as many things that were once taboo are now the norm. However, let's not take it too far.

Gentlemen, fashion is not a competition, not with the opposite sex at least, and even if it were, in my opinion, it is not one that we should win.

* Jason Loton, 18