BASSETERRE, St.Kitts,July 12, 2011 - The murders that have been taking place in our society are lamentable. It reflects a breakdown in law and order, but more importantly it is indicative of a collapse of the love that we have for each other. Hearts have grown cold and consciences 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, acquaintance or co-worker is murdered in cold blood.
Additionally, there is an increasing glamourization of the culture of death 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 never die”—these are just some of the utterances 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 that is wreaking so much havoc and grief on communities, families and on 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 this 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 role of parenting seriously. There are stories of parents who shield their children who are involved in gangs, who harbour guns in their homes and who it appears are afraid to instruct their children in the right way.
These parents are the ones who hold their heads and bellies and bawl when their children are gunned down. Yet, elaborate funerals are held for their slain children, who are gone too soon, while they are canonized.
A culture of life will come about when forgiveness, respect and tolerance become a way of life. Nowadays, young men going to church are regarded as soft and those who sit on the block smoking marijuana all day are referred to as thugs.
The church as a fundamental agent of socialization teaches the values of love, forgiveness, respect and tolerance for each other. These are the values that are missing from the lives of too many of our young people. Young people should be encouraged to go to church and to join positive groups in the community.
In the schools, troubled young people must 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 that we 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.
A culture of life requires that the government of the day continues to pursue effective strategies and policies to arrest the enigmatic crime problem, so that all citizens, residents and tourists can feel safe and free from the fear of terrorists.
A culture of life would come about when we are courageous enough to speak out and demonstrate our disgust and outrage at the murderous crime situation that threatens to destroy the development of our twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis: two islands, one paradise. In the face of such tragedy, we must not be indifferent or allow fear to cripple us.
We cannot afford to continue down murder lane, where thuggery seems to be the order of the day. Life is sacred and must be respected at all times. If we lose this concept of 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 that it should be in some case the one, and in some the other”.
Let us promote a culture of life!
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