OUR YOUNG MEN SHOULD BE EMPOWERED

Oct 15, 2015 Editorial, Features / Columnists

In Guyana, our young people are in trouble of becoming a lost generation. The government has to take decisive action to address the crisis facing youths in general and young men in particular. It is obvious that many young men are falling through the cracks.
For some unclear reason, they are steadily retreating from the mainstream of social and political life where traditionally they have had a strong presence. Today, a number of young men seem to be quite content to exist on the fringes of society in a subculture defined by gangs, drugs, violence and crime.
For many, liming in the streets seems preferable to getting a good education or finding gainful employment. Selling or taking drugs, engaging in gunfights, armed robberies and murders and other lawless acts seem to be a normal way of life. The instant stardom which they earn from crime is celebrated among their friends.
This issue speaks to a complex and deep-seated problem that stems from their social upbringing in the home, school, church or their environment and requires urgent government involvement to fix the problem. Ignoring it will be to society’s ultimate detriment. Appropriate solutions must be found.
The socialization of young men in Guyana is probably at the root of their problems. Today’s young men are brought up in the same traditional manner as their fathers and grandfathers. They believe that to be a man means to be strong. Being strong, from a man’s perspective, is not associated with openly expressing emotions or feelings, such as crying in public or seeking help for problems. To many, such behaviour is seen as a reflection of weakness because it is more associated with women.
Men are supposed to internalize their feelings and bear whatever pain they are experiencing and go about their daily chores with a façade that suggest everything is okay. When those whosuppress their feelings eventually breakdown; it is sometimes with deadly consequences not only for them-selves but, unfortunately sometimes, for their spouses, partners and others.
From an education perspective, schools and other learning institutions have to change the way youths are being taught. These educational institutions have the ultimate responsibility to help change the youths from what is considered the norm and well-being of everyone. They have to develop a comprehensive set of targeted programmes that are clearly needed to help the young men to cope more effectively with their feelings or emotions and, by so doing, rescue them from the destructive path of drugs, murders and armed robbery.
They must inculcate in young men that they should not conceal or suppress their emotions and while it is okay for them to be strong; it is also okay for them to show their emotions and cry in publicif necessary.
For several years now, the ability of young men in Guyana to cope with the challenges of society has been deteriorating but no one paid attention until it became a crisis. The warning, obviously, was not taken seriously enough by the powers that be. As the trend continued, they retreated and the country is now faced with the ghastly results of crime, violence, murders and rapes.
Despite having imperfections, most young men in Guyana are generally decent citizens. However, it is the behaviour of a steadily growing minority of young men that is cause for concern and is tarnishing the image of the majority and the country.
They deserve the compassion and support of all to help them turn their lives around for the better. Many have gotten lost along the way andbecame vulnerable and have turned to crime and illegal drugs, others have joined the “for hire murder gangs”in the hope of becoming rich.
Anyone in the country who is serious about crime should not stand idly by and allow our young men to fall by the wayside. We must educate and empower them.

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