Crime TheNation'sPride7
Crime, The Nation’s Pride
By Janice S Ramkissoon
31st October 2010
Part 7
Conclusion
Reading through the ‘Editor’s Letters’ sections, I am no longer angry with the perpetrators of crimes. Instead, I am angry at the system of mis-education that exists in our society. My heart weeps when I read these pages and realise the terror that sweeps the nation I call home. I know as an individual I cannot do much to help the situation. But I realise that the knowledge I now have, I need to pass on; educating my peers and encouraging others to educate our youth so we can have a better future, if not for this, then for the next generation.
I no longer wonder how these young ladies give these men such credit and allow these men to use and abuse them. Why? Because I now know that the root of this problem is much deeper than we could imagine and it will take a lot to instil self-esteem and confidence in these ladies, for them to understand that there is a better way. It will take hard work to help them come to the place where their dependency is on God instead of man, for their daily supply of needs.
The young women in question have low self-worth and so being abused has become acceptable. There’s domestic violence which they do nothing about as they feel powerless and in no way empowered to do otherwise or they feel ‘di lickkle money what coming in wi stop’. Prostitution is justified as a way of life just to make ends meet – similar to its counterpart in drug dealing and abuse. We are so angry that we often get confused, turning that anger towards one another and bringing to life escalating crime waves. We have lost respect for our elders and for each other. What we have forgotten is that we can all succeed if we HELP each other to LOOSE the CHAINS OF BONDAGE.
Though our ancestors would be ashamed seeing the wave of crimes now being reported world-wide but specifically speaking of Jamaica, they would equally be ashamed of those of us who know better and can contribute to the process of improvement, yet we sit back, shake our heads in disgust and do nothing.
Crime and the trickle down effect may not be on our doorsteps or in our immediate family but we all have a responsibility to contribute in maintaining what our fore-parents fought and died for. The education needed, can be done outside of mainstream schooling, and we hold the key. Let us release [get rid of] the spirit of selfishness and use the key to open doors that can help our loved ones and others further afield.
© Janice S Ramkissoon, 2008
'Crime, the Nation's Pride'
