Rowley cries shame

Briskly following Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s outcry of “shame” upon the “three able-bodied, gun-toting men” who wickedly robbed and tied up Fr Clyde Harvey last Tuesday, many commentators express worry over the reckless shamelessness of so many young men today.

Added Dr Rowley: “These miscreants have parents and I hope that somewhere in this country there are a few parents who are hanging their heads in shame over what more they might have done.” A society is as lawless as its citizens are shameless. This requirement of “feeling shame for doing something wrong” is a key element in reducing crime and delinquency.

Forgiveness without contrition or shame is ineffective, especially in restorative justice and rehabilitation programmes. Being sorry and ashamed for wrong-doing must come before forgiveness if change is the objective. That is why for example, Catholics have an Act of Contrition to earn forgiveness for sins.

Shame is a mental prophylactic.

Its moral power is to restrain.

Examples: One youth says, “I am ashamed to do it.” Another: “I am ashamed I did it.”Another: “I will be ashamed if they catch me doing it.” On the dark side, a youth says, “Come let us do it, nobody will know.” Shame emerges from a good conscience. In building a democratic society, there are critical social and state institutions. The key social institutions to shape good conscience, that is, to inculcate values of respect, lawfulness, shame for wrong-doing are firstly, the family; secondly, the church, and thirdly, the school.

The key state institutions to maintain law, order and justice are the police and the courts.

Government and parliament, of course, create the laws and systems.

So why have shamelessness and lawlessness become so? Taking a priestly view, Fr Harvey said: “Some would tell you just look at them as little black boys who should go to hell. Those who are currently bleeding the society will get there before them.” Yes Father, there are many corrupt, shameless ones, adults, prospering in untouchable zones.

Why you think so many are lawlessly throwing rubbish all over the place and still without the required dustbins and effective litter wardens? Why you think a young man could go in broad daylight, without any mask, and shoot down people? Why you think lawless vendors now prepared to fight police officers? Shamelessness.

Why you think so much inefficiency and incompetence can be regularly exposed at Joint Select Committee meetings, and it continues to be business as usual? Our culture of lawlessness is inspired by shamelessness – both poisonous to the soul of the nation.

And right-thinking citizens must understand that the sociological and institutional roots of crime and delinquency began years ago. It is naive to expect solutions tomorrow. The toxic twins – shamelessness and lawlessness – grew slowly. Reduction can come from law enforcement that supports a combined and phased social, educational and legislative programme.

If you think another law alone will help cure such things tomorrow, you might be mistaken.

Shamelessness is immune to the law. In fact, it sometimes makes an ass of the law.

Check out how many laws have been already made in parliament - and yet corruption and tiefing thrive. Even with that package of bank forms.

A few years ago I was given details about kickbacks in one particular ministry such that will give you an education in corruption.

The 1962 promises continue to suffer from corruption, even from some who went to university.

The Land Settlement Agency will tell you that hundreds of people, already with houses, now rush to install structures on state land, expecting the promised regularisation.

If shamelessness and lawlessness are rewarded – even by public policy – what do you expect? The challenge now is for Dr Rowley, the Opposition and Parliament to use courage and authority to pull this country back, with some focus on the growing number of shameless, reckless young men and their parents. As my friend, Ferdie Fereira advised, country first, party after.

L e t ’s h e l p save our “shamel e s s ” y ou n g m e n f r o m t h ems e l v e s now.