Am I My Brother's Keeper? Do We Care?

Sarpong, Justice.

Events of the past few days have brought me to reality that, as human beings, our behaviour is something we ought to improve upon. About a month ago, I posted in this forum the passing away of one of our forum brothers by name, Eric Tando as I used to know him but popularly known as PEE JONAS.

PEE JONAS funeral was held on Saturday Feb, 6th at Arlington, Texas and it attracted one of the largest mourners ever witnessed in the Dallas, Fort Worth Metroplex in recent years, that should have been a consolation to those who loved him in life that, Pee was loved when he was alive, but was he?

Pee Jonas family is a prominent one in Kumasi and in his fifty one years in life, he enjoyed the benefits of coming from a prominent family, at least when he was in Ghana before moving to USA in 1980 to attend M.I.T in Boston. Along the way, Pee, who was tall and big guy ballooned to a dangerous proportion with its attendant health risks. A nice, friendly and jovial guy, Pee became something of an outcast in the Ghanaian community and was most part shunned by the so called Christians who pontificate piously about their Religion while condmning Moslems and other Religions.

Where were Pee Jonas Christian brothers and Sisters when his weight were hovering between 450 to 500 pounds and needed their help? He was a member of the Pentecostal Church. As a community, couldn't we have helped Pee Jonas to eat healthy and assist him through friendly advice to watch his weight and made sure he was getting the medicine he needed and taking it? Where was the Old Students Association of Opoku Ware Secondary School which he was a member? Did they check on him if his bills were being paid and he was eating properly when he was laid off from his work most likely due to his weight which made it impossible for him to even wear a shoe to work? The last time I saw this guy about a year ago, I could tell his vital organs were failing because his feet had swollen to the size of soccer ball. Where was his immediate family some of whom are in the New York and New Jersey area? All of us, including me who could have assist our dear brother ought to bow our heads in shame when we could have helped. It is not like we all didn't realise the impending demise of Pee due to his weight.

I know some People might find this as none of my business since I am not a family member or a close friend but as a diasporian and a former school mate of this guy, I am really saddened we all failed him miserably when we could have saved his life if we have intervened early. How did somebody who seemed to have nobody in life have this kind of funeral that befits a King? Where were all these People when he needed help? Do we just love funerals as People? People came from all corners of United States, London, Canada and other European countries to attend Pee's funeral. A lot of money donated to help the family which could have helped Pee in life, "ABUSUA DO FUNU AMPA"

Now Pee Jonas body is being flown home (Ghana) to be interred, who ever thought Papa Jonas would be laid to rest in Ghana when he was abandoned in life? In death, Pee Jonas is being treated like a King while he lived a life of a Pauper. What kind of People are we? This is not an indictment of his family but somebody might have realised a funeral in Ghana is going to attract a large number of mourners and "NSAA"(contributions of money) so the body should be flown home after a large contributions from Ghanaians in the Metroplex. The old students Association of Opoku Ware contributed $2,300, their arch Rivals, Prempeh College Old Students Association in the Metroplex also contributed $2,300 to help the family defray some of the cost of Pee Jonas funeral. Some of the large sums of money collected at Pee Jonas funeral could have helped when he was alife, but I bet we could all have come up with excuses if this brother has sought our help when he was alife. Are we our brother's keeper?

As Christians, we all have to render accounts of our lives on this earth to God in future and when God asks us, "Did you feed me when I was hungry? Did you clothe me when I was cold? Did you shelter me when I needed a place to lay my head?" Are we ready to answer our Saviour? Are we our brother's keeper?

My brothers and Sisters in Christ, let's pause for a minute in our daily hactic lives and help our neighbors, because as we do for our neighbors, so we do for God. Pee Jonas death has given me a lot to reflect about. The material things we are accumulating left and right are not worth anything when it takes prominence over our moral values of caring for others. Pee Jonas went too soon all due to the neglect of our community because we are too busy trying to be like the Jones.Are we our brother's keeper?

May Pee Jonas soul find Peace in the bossom of our Lord, and may the rest of us be our brother's keeper henceforth.

Justice Sarpong,

Houston, Texas.