Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
A MORAL REVOLUTION NEEDED
Crime, violence in schools, high school drop-outs, indiscipline and indecency in society have led many to conclude that we have lost our social and spiritual conscience and our inner sense of what is right or wrong.
Everyone should be concerned about the progressive disintegration, tribal politicization and continued fragmentation of society. Some will argue that it is the legacy of our political history that is haunting us today.
Others believe that there are no alternatives to liberate ourselves from the corrupt, dishonest, and immorality which are causing society to collapse.
Our children should not be subjected to such negative culture which could destroy them. We must inculcate in them a true Guyanese culture of fairness, respect, decency, morality, love for God and humanity, spiritual sensitivity, and a proper sense of societal values.
Teachings at school, at home and at church must foster among the youth, self-awareness, confidence and an understanding of the world, as well as spiritual and moral values. We must teach our children to develop a set of values, principles and beliefs to inform their perspective on life and their behaviour in society.
Our children must be able to, through introspection and critical thinking, defend their beliefs, challenge unfairness and all that would constrain their personal growth. They should be able to disassociate themselves from the indecent political culture and the destructive social order that exist today and instead focus on themselves as decent human beings with values and a purpose. They must reject poverty, aggression, greed, injustice, the narrowness of vision and all forms of discrimination present in society today. They must replace hopelessness with hope, inspiration and self-expression.
There is an intense need for self-expression and inspiration among the oppressed in the country in order for them to survive extreme exploitation, oppression, poverty and racism. Since it may be difficult to change the mindset and thoughts of adults, we must ensure that our children and youth have the kind of self-expression and skill-sets to overcome the negative attitudes and practices that exist in society.
They must know that they can make history consciously through hard work and honesty and have the faith to believe that anything can be achieved if they put their minds and hearts to it.
As adults, we have been inspired by our foreparents to do the right thing but many did not pass it on to our children. We have lost our social and spiritual conscience; that inner sense of what is right or wrong in one’s conduct or motives toward the right action.
We must let go of that complex ethical-immoral principle that inhibits our actions or thoughts from doing the right thing. It is a conscience that cannot be cordoned off with yellow tape or be policed with men in uniform or arrested.
We need a moral revolution in Guyana to make us conscious of our inner feelings to do what is right for the country and our fellow brothers and sisters. But it would not happen by writing articles, preaching sermons at church pulpits or doing nothing at all. It will take real effort for us to step-up and make it happen.
It will be a long walk to achieve this moral revolution. However, it is a walk worth taking. It is one that will require courage, tenacity and political will, and on the journey, we must remember what Nelson Mandela said:
“I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that, after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.”
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