The senseless murders and shootings taking place in our society have been cause for lament. They reflect a breakdown in law and order, but more seriously they are indicative of a collapse of the love that we have for each other. Hearts have grown cold andconsciences have become dead—it is pathetic.
In the face of all this pathology, there seems to be a growing sense of indifference—until it strikes close to home: a friend, family member, acquaintance orco-worker is murdered in cold blood.
Additionally, there is an increasing glamourization of the culture of death that is seen in the graffiti on walls and the insensitive display of coffins with corpses in music videos.
“Rest in peace ma niggas”; “see you at the crossroads ma homies”; “gangsters neverdie”—these are just some of the statements made by affiliated friends of the deceased; most of them between the ages of 15 and 25.
Yet, there is not enough reflection and action to change this culture of death thatis wreaking so much havoc on our country, causing grief in communities, families and the entire country.
What we need now more than ever is to promote a culture of life in our homes, schools, institutions and society at large.
A culture of death engenders intimidation, fear, disrespect, revenge, darkness, hatred, malice and indifference, whereas a culture of life promulgates respect, light, love, concern, forgiveness, hope, compassion and faith.
It is not impossible for us to transform from the growing culture of death to a culture of life. However, this radical transformation calls for every man, woman and child to join in the fight against the powers of darkness.
A culture of life will come about when parents take their parenting role seriously. There are stories of parents who shield their children who are involved in gangs from the police, who harbour guns in their homes and who appears to be afraid to instruct their children when they are going down the wrong road. These same parents are the ones who hold their heads and bellies and bawl when their children are gunned down and canonize them with elaborate funerals.
A culture of life will come about when forgiveness, respect and tolerance become a way of life. Nowadays, young people going to church are regarded as weak while those who sit on the block involved in idle behaviour all day are thought of as chic.
The church as a fundamental agent of socialization teaches the values of love, forgiveness, respect and tolerance that we should have for each other. These values nowadaysare too often missing from the lives of many of our young people. Young people shouldbe encouraged to go to church and to join positive groups in the community.
In schools, troubled young people should be sought out and offered help, and conflict resolution must be an integral part of the curriculum.
A culture of life demands that we do not be held captives by fear but break the conspiracy of silence about what we know to trusted authorities. If we do not, the murderers will continue to terrorize our streets, hold our country to ransom and glorify in their bloodletting.
We cannot afford to continue down death lane, where thuggery is the order of theday. Life is sacred and must be respected at all times. If we lose this conceptof the sacredness of life as a society, we are engaging in self- defeat and self-destruction.
Malcolm Muggeridge, an English journalist, once said: “this life in us, however it flickers or fiercely burns, is still a divine flame which no man dare presume to put out, be his motives never so humane and enlightened. To suppose otherwise is to countenance a death wish. Either life is always and in all circumstances sacred, or intrinsically of no account; it is inconceivable thatit should be in some case the one, and in some the other”.
Let us promote a culture of life!
