Gordon Robinson | It’s our fault!

The old year ended, as it began, with vulgar scenes of violence.

Video circulated on social media showed a 14-year-old girl being attacked and brutalised in Clarendon by a female mob. Acting Senior Superintendent of Police, Carlos Russell, said “The genesis of this incident would have been (sigh; was it?) from a love triangle, and although the 14-year-old was not a part of this love triangle, she has a family member who is involved and, as such, she was targeted. Actions like these are despicable and it can’t be that grown persons who are supposed to be setting examples for the younger ones are the persons that are involved in beating a child”

Also despicable, in my opinion, were the bystanders, also supposed to be setting examples for younger ones, who preferred to film the incident rather than intervene.

Twidda was all agog with Jamaicans’ favourite pastime namely finger pointing. Some Twidderites said politicians were to blame. Politicians said parents were to blame. Every commentator agreed somebody else or some other group (not themselves) was to blame.

The truth is all society is to blame for our children’s miseducation that inculcates anti-social tendencies for life.

Children learn what they live

Children live what they learn

Teach them the way to love in their hearts

they will find love in the world

Nobody is born violent. Violence becomes a habit if, everywhere a child looks, the child sees violence. If parents’ disagreements routinely become violent there’s a good chance it’s a technique handed down from generation to generation. The child becomes a beneficiary of generational gift.

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.

If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.

If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.

When that child goes to school, if he/she is bullied, beaten and/or ridiculed for appearance, proclivity or identity, he/she learns violence in word and deed is how to deal with differences. If teachers aren’t allowed to enforce school rules across the board for fear of violent retaliation or media ridicule, the child learns that rules, including rules against violence, are mere guidelines. If, when the child looks to national leaders for examples of options to violence, he/she instead sees more violence in political critique; in interpersonal conflict; from politically connected gangs; in parliamentary conduct; by security forces as response to criminal violence; he/she learns violence is the only effective option.

So, yes, it’s politicians’ fault. Yes, it’s parents’ fault. It’s our education system’s fault. It’s OUR fault!

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.

If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.

No amount of draconian legislation can ameliorate Jamaica’s crisis of violence. If we begin today to educate our children in tolerance, fairness, equality and justice regardless of race, creed, religion, sex or gender identity, there’s a chance that, in a generation, society can significantly reduce violent incidents like the Clarendon attack. Every day we delay due to political expediency adds exponentially more days of habitual violent dysfunction to Jamaican society. THAT’S politicians’ fault!

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship

he learns to find love in the world.

The Church is equally to blame. It uses fear of eternal damnation by God to teach moral righteousness. But fear is the purpose of violence so to teach by fear is to be a violence producer. What’s worse is the Church insists the same God who would gladly send us to burn in Hell if we “sin” allegedly “loves” us. Then it asks us for money! Really? Seriously?

So I endorse Deacon Peter’s frank, honest critique (January 5; New Year, really old problems):

“Two hundred-plus years of Christian missionary activity have produced a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world. For a nation reputedly having more churches per square mile than anywhere else on the planet, we are quite a violent place, using guns, knives, machetes, chairs, sticks, spatulas, tamarind switches, and our bare hands!”

Children Live what they learn was recorded by Les Crane for his 1971 Desiderata album but was originally a poem by Dorothy Law Nolte.

Peace and Love.`

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com