This first portion of today’s offering will be noticeably brief, moralistic (?) and, hopefully, pointed. All from a personal perspective, of course.
Not always meant to attract your agreement but to provoke your own consideration, perhaps conclusions, on the issue raised.
Don’t even bother with dictionary definitions of “evil”. Among my meanings for this point of view would be – – mischief, wickedness, criminal and executive lawlessness, criminality, thievery, corruption, nepotism, and banditry – you get the idea!?
Simply, simplistically (?) I am positing herein today, that despite the presence and appearances of Guyana’s 1000 pastors, prophets, evangelists, disciples and priests, evil has overwhelmed that which is good and lawful. Not yet to national catastrophe or anarchy, but enough to have polluted the moral, or (potentially moral bloodstream of Guyana’s current generation (aged 16 to 56.) Oh, and yes, the situation is the same outside of our borders. But we live here.
Manifestations of Evil…
Normally, evil represents that which is bad, harmful, and even sinful. Dark forces and mischievous minds unleash evil at various levels, from home to nation.
These days however, evil is not always harmful/perpetrators benefit from wrongdoings and evil in a society where the new moral “values” determine that wrong could be, and is made out to be right! Younger minds simply cannot now grasp any difference between right and wrong.
Evil-doing is: scheming to cheat, con, rob, injure or kill for gain – or revenge; evil is a person – teacher, nurse, policeman, lawyer, doctor, businessperson, politician, sportsman – any person, cheating and defrauding others, resulting in pain, lasting loss, death. It is now institutionalized corruption which enriches a few and pauperizes most of us. And what passes for “the church” is powerless to defeat the thousands of devils – practitioners of daily evil. Because, partly, there is also fundamental break-down of home and parenting.
Eternal hope still somehow mingles with my pessimism. Perhaps I’ll return to why after being a bit judgmental about evil’s triumph all around us.
Here – and elsewhere
If you believe in such concepts, Satan, Lucifer, the devil has to be smiling. Manifestations of his success (evil) now abound.
Look around our own resource-rich but under-developed land. Simply honesty, justice and the rule of law are taking a battering. Some of the older generation has joined the young whose role-models are the rich, successful dons and bandits. Illegality fuels economic projects, cultural undertakings, even sport. Satan ensures that upright “religious” people buy from Drug Lords enterprises. Satan’s evil laughs at the good old spiritual leader and the cosmetic pastor.
In Suriname, thousands disregarded Desi Bouterse’s past excesses in executions and “revolutionary” overthrow of the then democracy. In Jamaica Bruce Golding cannot any longer point his fingers to other leaders whom he thinks associate with murderous bandits. Secret evil has compromised him, as “the people” embrace the Dudus who shared his blood money with them. Evil dictates that those Jamaicans see nothing wrong with banditry. Their poverty compromises that which is right!
Look, let me hastily conclude. Consider my foregoing notes. Then tell me somehow – is not evil in triumph because today’s soul and spirituality are compromised? Overwhelmed? Discuss.
An AFC Manifesto
More than six decades ago Adult Suffrage was won. All inhabitants of the B.G. colony over 21 of any class or disposition were finally able to vote; to elect representatives to govern; to manage their economy and its resources. (Cheddi Jagan welcomed that right!)
Now, I am betraying the forefathers’ struggle and achievement. I no longer vote for any dude (s) at our national elections. I’ve had it with all of them – the few well-meaning and the numerous pretenders! (But please, you, dear readers, go exercise your hard-won civil right, your franchise, choose/elect some bloke you bring yourself to believe in, in this blighted land.)
That’s why you may even consider just a few elements of my AFC Manifesto. “A-F-C”? Allan Fenty and Company (Party!) But seriously, here are ——- broad areas my AFC would tackle.
Like all of the other “Parties” the Fenty-led AFC would review economic management of (non-Carbon) resources e.g. diversification in agriculture would complement rice and sugar. Just what other agri products do the international markets need? Where can Guyanese plant them? The Education system, even as it teaches fine arts, literature and romantic things for the spirit will also be wedded to economic needs. What knowledge and skills do the industries, new investments and national programmes need? Manufacturers will sit with education to plan Tec-voc curricula and programmes.
New legislation my AFC would pass includes penalizing passengers who do not insist that drivers slow down and not overload; a new law would empower the State, after relatives are either not found or found to be caring less, to remove street people to newly built Rehab homes in rural and hinterland locations. There the hundreds of pavement-dwellers will be medically-treated often, will farm and do other productive work to contribute to their upkeep and that of nearby host communities; will be released back into supervised stays in society after determined periods.
Seasoned, convicted criminals will experience hard labour – – again to be compulsorily productive and gun crimes will attract no less than 10 years.
Hold on! The fore-going is just indicative of what my own “AFC” will do. We will not set up a Truth Commission but will use new laws to neutralize both convicted and suspected organized crime leaders. Contact the Fenty-led AFC leader for more in this Manifesto. To bother with the “current incumbents” will be to do worse! Right?
For your consideration…
*1) OP’s Prem Misir has rushed off congratulations to Trinidad’s new PM Kamla. (She actually put Jack Warner in government! Government and FIFA!?) I’m puzzled as to why our RHO Corbin has not congratulated Suriname’s Desi Bouterse as yet!
*2) Could Golding appoint any top official in Tivoli Gardens without approval from Dudus? Talk about Mexico City and Rio…
*3) Glorify the gun – then die by it.
*4) Paul Slowe bows out of the Police Force today. If ever he was even suspected of executive mischief or evil, I missed it. To me, Frankly Speaking, an upright top cop is making a statutory but premature departure. The executive evil–doers must be glad. Congrats for a job well done Sir. You gave it your best shot – more accurate and honest than most.
*5) Has the upright, probing mind of Mr. Christopher Ram responded to the Guyana Times letter of Tuesday, June 10, 2010 as yet?
*6) SASOD invites you to celebrate love – in all its diversity.
*7) See you at Boxing at Guyana’s new “MGM Grand” tomorrow right.
‘Til next week.
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo com)
