Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Our Readers' Opinions
February 10, 2006

There is a howling ‘HOLLOW’ within!

With songs of praise and shouts of acclamation the world over, the name Professor Wang echoed in my head like a beating drum. This brilliant South Korean cloning scientist had achieved a landmark break-through in stem cell research. With the real possibility, at long last, of finding a cure for dreaded diseases like diabetes and cancer, I bubbled over with eager expectation. Indeed, Professor Wang’s accomplishment took possession of our hearts everywhere.{{more}}

But Then!

The news broke like an earthquake. The so called “break-through” was a fake. It was unbelievable as Professor Wang’s research and scholarship were acknowledged to be a continuous exercise of a ready and perfect obedience to academic excellence and the attendant ethics. Now at the very pinnacle of fame and esteem he stands out disgraced and humiliated.

Why?

Although there is something of the Scribe and Pharisee in all of us, finesse in cheating is fast becoming a virtue to be cherished. To be found out is the sin and embarrassment. The unrelenting search for stardom and instant recognition has produced forced-ripe imposters who refine and spread their synthetic vices as if they are values.

Not alone

In the world of sport, drug taking has reached epidemic proportions. It is who can use the better drug. That is what the competitive edge is all about. So just to be a hero or heroine the conscience is put to sleep and the director of conduct becomes the falsity within. So too in the fields of business, the trades, the professions, the church and in everyday “flesh and blood” real life, cheating is on the rise.

Story of Gertrude

One is reminded of the story of Gertrude in Andre Gide’s “Pastoral Symphony”. Gertrude was born blind and became attached to people in her blindness. When later in life she got sight through an operation, she made two remarkable discoveries. One was the extraordinary beauty of nature; the other was the misery and deceit of humankind. Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” probably says it all, “Lord, what fools these mortals be.”

Civics

Yesteryear, civics was a subject on the curriculum of primary schools. The early moulding power of education instilled values of honour, dignity and decency to oneself, others and country. The old-time Gazettes when advertising for a headteacher required a person who could mould the pupils spiritually, culturally, morally, aesthetically, socially, physically and academically. That was the charge but no longer now. We now set our mores, values and standards according to what the majority decrees. The inviolable core standards of discipline, hard work and decency, among others, are ravaged and savaged for there is no ultimate foundation in ethics.

True source

The true source of our power springs from own strengths – at least so we think. On a closer examination, despite our great accomplishments in the spheres of science, technology, business and sport among others, there is a howling “HOLLOW” within. You and I owe it to ourselves to check ourselves -the sooner the better!

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Front Page
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    A fire that destroyed a multi-family complex in Richland Park over the weekend has left at least 12 people homeless, including a 23-year-old mother of...
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Front Page
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has responded to reports by the United States administration that its military had carried out the bombing of a boa...
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Front Page
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Police investigators on Union Island are said to be looking into the “disappearance” of building materials that were sent to the Southern Grenadine Is...
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Front Page
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    by Grace Francis After sharing a small space for over a year, children and teachers at the Fitz Hughes Early Childhood Centre went into brand new prem...
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Front Page
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Several secondary schools and special needs institutions across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have received $5,000 donations towards meals for s...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    News
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    News
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is leading a delegation to the East African country of Ethiopia; the delegation left the state on Wednesday, Septe...
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    News
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The modern port in Kingstown is expected to be handed over to the government just before this country celebrates its 46th anniversary of political ind...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok