Have the chickens come home to roost?

Shelleyan Lewars, Guest Columnist

The recent report concerning non-traditional high schools and criminal proclivity has exposed and corroborated inherent failings in our society.

Expectedly, the findings have hit a raw nerve, and understandably so. But if we are to put emotions aside momentarily, the hard, cold truths would be revealed. Fact is we have been failing our youths, from the airwaves to church pews, and the chickens are surely coming home to roost.

The foisting of decrepit values and degeneracy which we euphemistically classify as art and self-expression is complicating the problem. What is the intent and purpose of debasing dance moves such as the latest craze dubbed the 'walk like a dog'?

We feed our children paradoxes when we accord hero-like worship to individuals of questionable repute by protesting on their behalf and shielding them from the hands of the very justice we call for so vociferously. Immorality is being sanctioned when the dissonance is even being echoed in the hallowed halls of Parliament and the pulpit.

Artistes releasing or conveniently leaking videos and photographs of their nakedness and bedroom antics into the public domain under cover of disclaimers and viewer-discretion advisories are downright hypocritical. Of course, the artistes want these productions to be seen, but the reality that 'viewers' will take affront should be expected.

Encouraging errant attitudes

Proclaiming your charitable offerings as the basis for which to excuse the self-centred affront is another poor paradoxical display confusing our youth. Parents encourage errant attitudes and behaviours in their children when they overlook or laugh at their 'little' shenanigans and defend their deviance through confrontations and beat-downs where not even teachers are spared. A Tony Rebel anthem reminds us: "Be careful what we teach the little children."

Vapid rhymes, sexual debauchery, misogyny, murder and mayhem strung over intoxicating beats are destructive art forms, whether we agree or not.

Shouldn't the artistic right be called upon to be responsible, conscientious and responsive to the urgency to help fix our country? Couldn't the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment join forces with the Ministry of National Security and the wider media-entertainment fraternity to convene a trial period of 'clean music' to weigh the effect on the nation's psyche? Such a move would settle all arguments, and the blame for whom or what is responsible for the downward spiral of your youths would be deservedly cast.

It is to be reminded that the school is an extension of the overall dynamic of moulding and developing productive and morally upright citizens. The value chain begins at the home. Indeed, the study by the JCF was necessary, but again, we are a people who love to shift blame.

Imagine the collective sighs of relief after the revelation that only a 'certain group of schools' are producing 'certain types of individuals', but this report, if we as a nation are not completely devoid of our consciences, should elicit wide-scale introspection, not condemnation.

How have I - or you - contributed to the decay?

Shelleyan Lewars is a blogger. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and shellewars@gmail.com.