Today I’ll appeal to even my regular readers – as well as the curious casuals – to bear with this brief Sunday–School/Bible –lesson– like “lesson” intended to capture the element of the concepts implicit in my wordy lead caption.
Conflict – can be of various varieties – physical, mental, cultural, leading to somethings lasting division but all born of “clashes between (disagreeable, sometimes irreconcilable) hostile or opposing elements, ideas, or forces.”
Mankind’s greed is usually the catalyst for many large–scale conflicts. Historical, cultural, even geographic or ethnic factors influence a craving for land, other wealth, expansionist power. Older men – elders, politicians, leaders – then send younger ones to war!
In home and community conflicts may be ignited over the most trivial. Or what is significant or worthy to some party. Personal familiar or tribal honour can also fuel conflict. At an adult Education (“Drop-Out”) programme I attempted to teach and counsel (in Campbellville) a few years ago, I used to challenge impatient teenagers to discuss how they would resolve some home or street “Conflicts”. Their depressed, non–role–model backgrounds determined that violent remedies were their first choice to solve disagreements and related challenges.
It was serious “fun” trying to teach them stages to simple conflict resolution.
Tolerance: now what is that to the current Guyanese generation? Do our places of worship, family (guidance) structures or education system offer our youth instruction on patience, understanding; how to indulge or sympathise with differing views? Exhibitions of “gross ignorance” resulting in abuse, injury, murder again point to deficiencies here.
You might guess by now that I’m indicating areas for study and tuition, guidance and counselling in our society. Starting with the very young, their parents and guardians. I won’t even impose my brief exposure to Educational Psychology in the context of the Behavioural Sciences, but would leave it to our scores of behaviour psychologists, whilst advocating simple, down–to–earth, moralistic remedies in home, school and work–place.
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Resolution – clubs
and courts
In my good old blighted Guyana we try, however cosmetically, to pursue some noble initiatives to resolve conflicts – when parents, head–teachers and pastors fail.
Whatever happened to the non–courtroom facility, wherein attorneys and clients would have discussed, negotiated and settled issues out of court but by and with legal, binding effect? Still going okay? Educate me please. Mutual, sincere agreements, after all, are the basis for lasting, personal solutions to contention.
A few years ago I read of an Indo–Guyanese Welfare activist taking her “classes” smack dab in the middle of a village. At some popular home or other space. I’m all for pre-emptive Social Workers, friendly police and Community security to spend quality time in the village and street pubs, pools bars and liquor restaurants. These are places of recreation and/or relaxation; even creativity. But numerous conflicts are born in the clubs, concerts or nearby. Think of five ways to assist friendly, law–abiding proprietors to use their spaces to promote enjoyment, replete with peace and care for others – alcohol, nicotine, or not.
So much for my indicative advisories. Now let the academics and professionals expand and -expound.
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Emancipation: “Black
business”?
My weekly “miniature Emancipation series” continues today. Recall my first two weeks of historian David Arthur Granger’s 1998 Presentation. Now there he was last Sunday! Our Historian – President in similar mode! He has already been quoted so I merely repeat this line: “Some people do not like to take risks… but unless you change the economy; unless we create people who are entrepreneurs, manufacturers, we will always be victims of people who make decisions for us…”
I developed the habit during the 23 years of this man–in–the–street column for asking “whither black business” every other February or August I challenged Afro–Guyanese to overcome the historical and contemporary reasons for abandoning commerce and manufacturing and resume – even along with their beloved professions and “uniform” – the business of participating in business. I gave up!
Twenty years ago, Gerald Willabus and two others started a business monthly newspaper. One of their first features explored the “reasons” that beset Black Business. See if you agree with their “findings”.
Reasons, Dilemmas Which beset “Black Business”:
* Afro-Guyanese did not enjoy any business-tradition, in that their forebears were never in formal business – meaning the production of goods and services, merchandising, importation, exportation or the large-scale whole-sale or retail trade.
* Quoting Biblical injunction about the camel and the rich man and Heaven’s gate, the researchers found that Afro-Guyanese “culture” with its Christian religious background never emphasized the Acquisition of Wealth as a principal goal of life.
* Lack of track-record by the few bold, ambitious Blacks, did not usually attract loans from the local financial institutions.
* Wrong choice of business enterprise also thwarted risks by banks. And Afro-applicants hardly possessed collateral for assistance.
* History, consumerism and lack of profit motive hampered management skills.
* The researchers also concluded that Afro-Guyanese also suffered from their (then) lack of the concept of “Family Business” and effort, so the complementary concept of handing-down the business to the next generation was/is notably absent. Both divisiveness and the lack of constructive competition within the Black Community also hampered success.
But imagine, the elements of rabid and rampant governmental discrimination, even racism and executive corruption, withering taxation and electricity costs, along with land distribution were not mentioned in that research of twenty years ago. Discuss.
Until…
- Robust, constructive national debate is healthy for the democracy but must government respond to every allegation or contention by a bitter opposition? I leave the budget to others.
- Conduct surprise police raids and searches for guns and knives at entertainment centres. Let Human Rights complain after.
- The more Jagdeo is bashed, the more his young susceptible “fans” and those who gained from his rein will gather round him – in open or silent, secret hero–worship.
- How is the International Convention Centre – now named after President Chung – managed these days?
- I won’t be there but that will be our delegation and colours in Haiti next week–end.
Do us proud!
`Til next week.
(Comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
