Two most brief lecturettes today as senior years muse on values and virtues lost, providing origins and causes for our socio-national decline.
Generations past, perhaps through love understanding, religion and/or fear, appreciated and demonstrated respect. Frankly Speaking, upon considerable reflection, I have concluded that the British colonial influence, inclusive of slavery and indentureship, imbued much older generations with the understanding, sometimes dire need for that behaviour deemed as respect. Reasons were/are obvious. Of course, other cultures which arrived here had their own value-systems in which the concept of respect had to be present.
I am submitting that this issue of respect – actually the absolute lack of it – is one of the bases of the deterioration of our societal order and quality of life these days.
Types of respect…
For this Brief we define respect to mean high continuous regard for an individual, an office, a quality. That “quality” may include status, achievement, heroism, selflessness, a role-model consistency. Respect is a strongly-held deferential esteem.
For me, respect is often earned. From subordinate to peer, persons, groups, communities, even a nation should exchange high regard for their fellows and compatriots. Also, it is basic that self-respect breeds respect from others.
Respect is often easily given to deserving mothers, seniors, bosses, officials, benefactors and those who served selflessly or heroically. But why this obvious lack and abandonment of respect these days? No more regard for our police, our national symbols and anthem, our doctors and teachers, our seniors?
Some reason for the decline
Frankly Speaking, it is my own opinion that too many of our more popular “churches” do not now boast shepherds worthy of their gone-astray flocks. Even the use of the Holy Books slips into second place, perhaps oblivion, when the young exit the Houses of “their” Gods. I feel too that today’s parents are younger, more challenged and distracted. Parenthood and parenting are never their strong points. In these cases only the natural parent-child bond can harbour love and respect from the offspring.
The latter circumstances, replete with the aggression of poverty and need, even shame and no self-esteem, enter the schools. The younger female teachers are seldom a match for today’s school-men and school-women. Nurses might attract some respect from patients and patients’ relatives. Obvious reasons.
We know by now why the modern Guyanese policeman attracts little or no respect. He knew of the low pay when he signed up. Was it just a job he needed? Or to give service? Or to take advantage of available runnings? The Constable knows of indiscretions at the top. The rot is there. To stay? Internally or externally, where can respect be for this vital force?
The very top! Institutions jeopardized
After Independence, when political considerations made some citizens not respect the Anthem and other national officers and symbols, our very patriotism was called into question. National institutions, the respect for them, could have crumbled! Better sense prevailed for no nation can exist, properly, without institutional law, order, standards and heritage. There is a required behaviour known as functional respect, whereby we are required to respect the office, status or function of someone, even if and when we care not one hoot for that individual.
How relevant that ought to be these days! The national barrel has rotten mangoes from the top. Real or perceived, corruption, immorality, grossness, everything negative emanates from some corridors of power. Role Models? Earned Respect? Give me a break!
However hard-put we are to demonstrate any level of respect for them, let’s remember our institutions, our national legacy. If we rise above their vulgarity our institutions will outlive even their extended impositions. Discuss…
Whither our civil society?
I disagree that “Civil Society” is just a mere buzz-word these days. I do sense a determined resolve by Guyanese citizens to represent themselves and their causes in between periodic elections. Is it not painfully, manifestly obvious that those you-all elect to manage national enterprise in your interest are falling short?
I’ve appreciated before that I fully understand the cynicism and indifference amongst our older folk who are hearing again this “talk” of CSO’s and NGO’s. they know of past ineffectiveness, compromise and “fronting” for political interests. I’ve also defended the long-standing, traditional NGO’s. Never throw out the good baby with the bad bathwater!
There is a move afoot to mobilise all local CSO’s/NGO’s into a structured Collective Voice for Civil Society to be even more empowered under the Guyana Constitution’s Article 13. So desireable! Yet I must introduce certain peculiar realities from our Caribbean Community Context.
Last October we were told by the Caribbean Council that “the voice of Caribbean Civil Society has been coming to the fore in ways that challenge or bypass politicians, the political class and traditional politics”. David Jessop, illustrates how ”Belizeans, working with an international network of lawyers halted the offshore search for oil; in the Bahamas, local and US-based groups have raised serious questions about the treatment of prisoners…” the Jamaica Environmental Trust and other Jamaican CSO’s have challenged certain Chinese mega-millions investments.
In Grenada and Suriname, in the Dominican Republic, their Civil Society Movements are alive, alert and activist. In Suriname there is a great example of CSO/government co-operation. But guess what? The 2002 Caricom Civil Society Charter still does not seem to have any legal standing! I shall research this further for next week’s column, but leave two considerations related to why I feel empowerment of people’s inclusion can’t be turned back by officialdom.
One: besides realizing that the two groups need each other for democracy to be genuine, sensible governments know of the International Donor Institutions new tripod dispensation, with Civil Society being one pillar. Two: believe Jessop when he says that “the tribalism of Caribbean Party politics holds less and less appeal to never generations”.
They are now “accustomed, through satellite television to observing other ways of conducting their lives. Their concern is how to remove the sense of alienation that exists among many under the age of thirty five, and about how to find new ways to participate in society”.
Ponder please…
*1) The two General Secretaries, like too many Ministers seem so dismissive. Is it the stress and pressures of advancing age? Even Comrade Oscar is now so short.
*2) PNC congresses now evoke a queer but welcome nostalgia in me. Will these elections be free, fair and transparent, Aubrey?
*3) Will any “Party” benefit from this weekend’s CPL, T-20 tournament round at the Stadium?
‘Til next week!
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
