We have discarded the old culture

THE EDITOR: It is strange how we adults are afraid to put the blame for the present crime situation where it should be laid, since we would have to admit to no longer respecting or remembering all that was taught to us as children, in order to ensure that it was passed on to the children of today.

What has happened to all the adults who grew up knowing how to be poor but honest? It has become so normal to associate poverty with criminal behaviour, that we now accept and believe that the poor should be dishonest. It should be no surprise that some people now use their poverty to justify their actions. It is disgraceful, a stupid mistake however to accept this as a legitimate argument from the criminals in our society. “Honesty is the best policy” was seen, heard and repeated as children by today’s adults. From primary school to college this sign was posted on the wall for all to see so it became an important part of our nature. As children, we imitated what we saw, so if as adults we now find today’s children dishonest, then we should examine the examples we have been setting. Ethics today seem to revolve around lawyers who can find the necessary loophole to convert untruths to truths.

When smart lawyers defend and secure the release of dishonest persons the only result can be an increase in crime and criminal activity in the society. “An honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay” is no longer the norm; since many employed adults who have jobs refuse to do the required work, and depend on their union to protect them from the consequences. In like manner many employers refuse to provide the required wages for work done. In a society where exploitation of each other is not openly condemned then respect for each other will deteriorate. In this environment lawlessness related to larceny will steadily increase. It should be no surprise that when crimes of fraud and corruption at the highest levels increase, kidnapping at the lower levels will also increase. When children today are not afraid to become robbers to have footwear valued one thousand dollars, society has failed to teach them “never to hang your hat where your hand can’t reach.”

Adults must show children by example how to live contentedly and happily within their means. What signals are we as adults sending by making our children feel that their self-esteem will be elevated because we have provided them with “brands” we adults can ill afford? It would be better for society if we show the children how to be poor, honest and clean. As we discard the old culture to embrace the new, we refuse to accept that we adults as the product of the old culture are quite a good product. The product of the so called new culture, as we can observe from the behaviour of the children and young adults in some countries is not what we desire for our Trinbagonian society. We know that our past was not mythical, and if we are horrified by the present increase in our crime rate we must pass on what we have been taught to our children in order to rebuild the moral fabric of our society. Only when there is an increase in the level of the social conscience in the society will there be a decrease in the level of crime in society.

KENNY SINGH
Woodbrook