You can be a 'hero' too

The path of least resistance is always the easiest to follow, but it's not always the best path. When a river in spate takes the path of least resistance, it can spell utter disaster for anyone and anything in the way. When people take the path of least resistance, it can have far-reaching ramifications and adversely affect our entire society.

It does not take heroism, bravery, intelligence, skill or anything positive to take up a gun to rob and/or shoot innocent and usually unarmed men, women and children. All it takes is a tight grip, the ability to point and a functioning first finger.

On the other hand, it takes discipline, determination, hard work and a positive vision of the future to seek out opportunities, an education - academic or vocational - and steer clear of criminality.

It doesn't take maturity, responsible behaviour, concern for the future of self and others or stability to produce offspring. Many so-called parents perform mechanical copulation, and biology does the rest in bringing another human being into the world. Conversely, it takes thoughtfulness, a sense of safety, responsibility and care for the welfare of everyone concerned to father or mother a child. Our country has many children, but relatively few bona fide parents.

It doesn't take positive attributes and moral choices like honesty and integrity to commit unethical behaviour. It's easy to fall in line and procure or accept bribes. It's simple to go with the flow but, in doing so, it spreads corruption like a malevolent and toxic ripple across our country. This undermines the moral fibre of our society. It defeats every effort at building a safe, secure and productive nation.

It doesn't take drive and determination to simply turn up for a job and go through the workday with minimum effort to avoid getting fired and continue earning a living. However, that sort of attitude will never build a strong country; it will produce a mediocre society bereft of the innovation, impetus and productivity needed to move us forward.

Passion necessary

It doesn't take integrity or patriotism to use politics and political parties as the means to a self-serving end. It takes love of country and true selflessness to use politics the way that it was meant to be used - as the vehicle to place advocates and managers in positions of trust where they can serve their country efficiently.

Just recently, the minister of justice, Mr Delroy Chuck, bemoaned the "formidable level of corruption in the country's legal system ... ." Minister Chuck was addressing the graduation exercise at the Norman Manley Law School at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He was quoted as saying, "There is corruption within the court and the justice system, where the police have been paid to say they cannot find a witness, or persons have been paid to have documents destroyed - amongst many other things."

When corruption becomes so rampant that it has invaded our halls of justice, it has achieved crisis proportions. Jamaicans need to realise that every citizen from every stratum of society and in every sphere of endeavour needs to play his/her part to lift up our little nation, but it will take hard work. The path to success is never easy. Nothing worth having ever is.

Every year, only a very few outstanding and deserving individuals are bestowed national honours or awards. However, I know of many other Jamaicans who are equally outstanding and deserving but are never recognised for their good deeds, dedication, patriotism and quiet but invaluable contribution to our nation. These people never take the path of least resistance; they epitomise what we would like every citizen to be.

Whether or not your sacrifices, hard work and good deeds are ever acknowledged publicly, your contribution to Jamaica - by avoiding the path of least resistance - will make you a 'hero' to a grateful nation.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.