Brutality is not love, or discipline

May 30, 2026 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists

Dem Boys Seh…

(Kaieteur News) – Dem boys seh growing up in Guyana used to be like military training without the salary and pension. Yuh couldn’t blink too hard before some parent, auntie, granny or random neighbour decide that yuh need ‘discipline.’ And discipline in them days mean licks first, questions never.

Some parents used to beat children with belt, guava stick, extension cord and one famous weapon called ‘anything close by.’ Dem boys seh one man get lash with a plastic chair till the chair break and then get another set of licks because he ‘damage furniture.’

And after all that, people does wonder why some adults walking around with more anger than a pressure cooker.

The tragedy is that plenty parents honestly believe that brutality is love because brutality was what they receive growing up. Their mother beat them. Their father cuss them till their self-esteem disappear like salary after payday. So now they carrying the same poison forward like family inheritance.

Dem boys remember the story from years ago at St. Stanislaus when one father march into the school and publicly flog he son in front the entire school. Some people clap and say, “That is good discipline.” But humiliation ain’t discipline. Public shame ain’t parenting. A child skin does heal quicker than he mind.

That poor boy grow into a man carrying a chip on he shoulder big enough to pave Sheriff Street. People does watch the man behaviour and call him arrogant, difficult and unlikeable. But dem boys seh sometimes yuh got to ask not only “What wrong with this person?” but also “What happen to this person?”

A child who grow up hearing only rage eventually learn rage as language. A child who get licks for every mistake eventually believe violence is normal communication. Then society shocked when these same children become abusive spouses, aggressive parents and hostile citizens.

The cycle does continue because too many people still confusing fear with respect. If a child trembling every time you enter a room, that ain’t respect. That is survival instinct.

And until we break that chain of violence, Guyana will continue producing generations of bruised children who eventually grow into bruised adults.

Talk half. Leff half.

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brutality, Dem Boys Seh, military training, salary and pension

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