The descent into indiscipline

LLOYD B SMITH

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

"The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted." — Psalm 12, verse 8

These days, I often feel like a fool or undoubtedly am looked upon by numerous Jamaicans as an incurable idiot. Why? Because I always, deliberately and feverishly, try to remain on the right side of the law. I also try as best as I can to remain disciplined and orderly in public places. If I am driving and I come upon a red light and I am the only one in sight, I still wait for the green, even when some moron suddenly comes up behind me, toots his horn violently, hisses his teeth, drives round me and goes through the red light. I guess he mumbles to himself as he speeds past me, "Damn fool!"

Yes, in Jamaica these days you are a damn fool if you are a disciplined, law-abiding citizen that believes in the rule of law and seeks to follow assiduously the tenets of good discipline. As the People's National Party's Dr Peter Phillips has been quoted ad nauseam, in Jamaica the man who plays by the rules gets shafted. Frankly, I am tired of being shafted! Are you?

Some years ago, a distressed young woman on Perkins On Line, told the iconoclastic talk-show host Mutty Perkins that in Jamaica it is good to be bad. In other words, when you are bad you are admired, you go places, doors open for you and in short you can become king of the hill or queen of the ball. Who says the humblest calf gets the most milk? Not in Ja. That poor calf is likely to starve to death.

It is well known that Jamaicans do not like to form lines, yet when they go abroad they easily conform to that universally accepted mode of behaviour. But in Jamaica, no problem, mon. Anything goes. Where else in the world do motorists flash their lights to warn other speeding motorists that there are cops around the corner waiting with a speed radar?

For too long in this country we have rewarded good for evil and evil for good. And in this vein, our politicians are the main culprits, because over the years they have extolled indiscipline, corruption, illegality and disorderliness as a way of life.

The usual excuse about poverty and lack of opportunity, though acceptable to some extent, is ultimately an indictment against our elected representatives since 1962 when we attained political independence but are yet to attain economic independence. The harsh truth is that as they get richer the country gets poorer. Isn't there something blatantly wrong with that scenario? The descendants of Marcus Garvey and Sam Sharpe, the former who admonished us to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery and the latter who said he would rather die on yonder gallows than live in slavery, are for the most part still in the cane piece, while the elected men and women who give them the occasional one-day bellyful which will never fatten "mawga cow", cavort in the Great House playing "backra massa".

Even as we celebrate the many trials and triumphs of our National Heroes and Heroine, it is my view that if any of them were around today they would hang their heads in shame and weep for Jamaica, land we love. They would see a country in which there are very few Jamaicans who are prepared to die for what they believe in as they did; they would see a nation that lacks persistent patriotism, a national characteristic that comes to the fore only when a Usain Bolt or the Reggae Boyz perform creditably on the international stage; they would see a nation in which among the chief law breakers are our law makers.

An elderly woman beckoned to me the other day in order to share with me something significant. She bemoaned the fact that Jamaica had descended into so much indiscipline and she declared that she was ashamed to be a Jamaican. Then she dropped a bombshell. She had recently reprimanded her gardener cum handyman for telling her a lie, and his terse response was, "Den Miss, if bigger than me can tell lie and get away wid it, a nuh nutten!"

"O my God, Mr Smith," she lamented, "where is this country heading?"

If we want this country to head in the right direction, then we have to begin by bringing back discipline in the society. Bring back discipline in the schools, in the workplace, in public spaces, in Parliament, in the police force, in the churches, in sports, in entertainment, in ourselves. This can only be achieved through the process of zero tolerance and most important, leadership by example which is so sadly lacking today.

Contractor General Greg Christie, Commissioner of Customs Danville Walker, Jamaicans For Justice Executive Director Dr Carolyn Jones and Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington are some among other dedicated and disciplined Jamaicans who are on the right track. In the final analysis, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller must step aside if they are not prepared to lead by discipline. Enough said.

lloydbsmith@hotmail.com

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COMMENTS (19)

Rupert Robotham
10/22/2010

I agree with George Watson. I myself thought that the JLP was a party of discipline; it used to be under Seaga, like him or not. But this Golding Government is worst than the Wiemar Republic that succeeded Kaiser Wilhelm when it comes on to discipline. The inmates are running the asylum and the wardens have become the inmates. Good good, the very hooligans we find in the streets are saying things are out of control. We scarcely have a government. I thought Portia was bad; Bruce is worse!

george watson
10/20/2010

One of the reasons I was reluctant to vote at the last election, was my perception that the PNP had not been tough enough on indiscipline. I felt that if indiscipline were cauterized, crime would spiral down. I felt that they needed to be punished for this omission. I don't care what supporters of this govt. say, I along with many others of my ilk, felt that the PNP had become complacent in 18-1/2 years and secretly hoped that the JLP would win so either did not vote or voted for them, because of this. How else would they have won?
We didn't expect a turnaround overnight, but we certainly thought that Mr. Golding would have shown us some blueprint for doing the job, but like all the other promises they have fallen flat.

Elli Deedo
10/19/2010

Discipline in Schools?"; I've spoken to Perkins on line about this very same Subject, here you are, saying the similiar. I've read where Students in several Schools were thought how to use Condoms just recently; If you ask any of those Students to read the light Meter, they cant; I've proven this, but they know's which Condoms are stronger. There are several causes for crime in our Society, and not mainly the cause of un-employment. A Generation without Moral integrity have no prosperous future

Elli Deedo
10/19/2010

Those who have read the Cuban light bulb trial, will understand that discipline and integrity have become a history; and those of us who have recognized this very important branch of human characteristic, must maintain it. We've seen a Government official representing corruption in the Bulb trial, he is asking for the trial to be thrown out when a act of corruption was committed. Where is the integrity amongst our leaders?) Jamaica have become a fossilized inorganic form of society. very sad:

Anancy Bedward
10/19/2010

@Lloyd B, "Where else in the world do motorists flash their lights to warn other speeding motorists that there are cops around the corner waiting with a speed radar?"
.
We do it here in Toronto and it is perfectly legal despite what metro's finest and the OPP would have motorists believe. No LB, the practice is not unique to Yaad.

Paul Gentles
10/19/2010

We quote the Bible so freely whilst living like the Pharisees.Daily we walk by our brothers in need,where is our heart?
When we learn to love thy neighbour we will be a better people.When even politicians with highly questionable characters also quote the Bible one can see the low value attached by people these days.
You have a platform to expose and bring to light ills of the society - use it and stop preaching.

howie J
10/19/2010

Behaviors are dictated by beliefs. Corrupt beliefs lead to corrupt and anti-social behaviours.Your self-hating history is at the heart of your problems.
There are differences between root cause of problems and symptoms. The longer you wait to solve a problem the more that problem multiplies into other problems, so that after some time you start to blame the resulting problems instead of the main problem. Most Jamaicans are not diametrical thinkers, so they believe only what they see, hear, touch and feel. Thinking is very hard work in this society. Our so-called geniuses are nothing more than rote-learners.

howie J
10/19/2010

Excellent piece of literature.
Yesterday, I saw a campus newspaper with a topic which reads “SHAC: Come get your head checked.” It went on to explain the importance of mental health check-ups as a way to succeed in life. The aim was to check for depression, generalized anxiety, post-traumatic stress and bipolar illnesses.
Jamaica is a madhouse and it needs a lot of attention. There are just too many people looking at shadows and mistaking them for reality in this country.

Sherman Escoffery
10/19/2010

Lloyd we talk about zero tolerance but that only seem to apply to people without power. I think that for any changes to take place it has to start at the top, When we see politicians, upper ranked policemen, and big businessmen paying for their misdeeds, then ppl will start taking rules & laws seriously. As long as we have The current Prime Minister in power, then any talk about justice & rule of law is just that, Talk!

baerie guy
10/19/2010

The descent into the abyss of indisciplne stems from greed,corruption and erosion of moral codes.Coupled with lack of respect for laws,people and socially accepted norms of behaviour.Ignorance, immediate self gratification and animalistic behaviour displays itself in politics,finance,entertainment and even religion.Once rules are abused society becomes a jungle where its everyone for themselves.The end product lawlessness expessed in rapes,murders,robberies,intimidation,etc evident in Ja today.

Barry Brown
10/19/2010

My simplistic solutions is to make the laws have more teeth and hold ppl accountable...you think if more big names and MPs (politicians) were being charged and sent to jail, attitudes would not change...our laws & punishment are a joke...so no one fears being caught or brought to light. In our near 50yrs of running ourselves, only ONE MP has ever gone to jail!!!!, now tell me this, are we the most uncorrupted nation to have such a distinction? Oh, who betting Kern gets off???

Nejeeper KNG
10/19/2010

Politics and the way it have been conducted is a big contributing factor to our decline as a society. What we are dealing with Dons “im run d place” have been cultivated and grown through politics. Mr. Golding came into power with d garrison mentality which creates the MPP issue. The JLPNP parties have been depending on garrison politics to win election and as a result these flaws in representation have damage us as a society. Look at how poverty stricken the garrisons are. Poverty brings crime.

Ann Smith
10/19/2010

I agree with what you wrote. The reader below asked "How do you change this?" I would like to add that change is a complex propositIon; has to be addressed from many angles & simultaneously.
To answer the question one must ask: What causes indiscipline? That can be narrowly pinned down to anger & fraustration.Then look at the underlying causative factors of anger & fraustration:POVERTY! it is the major causative factor.Focus on eliminating poverty.How? - not enough space here & other barriers.

David Armstrong
10/19/2010

Yes indeed the PM and the Opposition Leader should step aside if they cannot tackle the serious social problems that are crippling the country. In these extraordinary times when barbaric criminals roam the island slaughtering people and even police at will extraordinary actions are needed. Both leaders lack the courage and fortitude to implement such measures. What kind of leaders are they when they conduct the affairs of the country as if everything is normal and clearly it is not.

David Armstrong
10/19/2010

Mr. Smith you hit the nail on the head in your statement “…our politicians are the main culprits, because over the years they have extolled indiscipline, corruption, illegality and disorderliness as a way of life.” I just posted a comment to today’s editorial because the editor failed to include the actions of politicians as a major cause to crime and all the social problems plaguing the country. There is no doubt that garrison politics breed and influences crime corruption, and indiscipline. And because this vile quasi-political process is sanctioned by the political leaders they are afraid to cut its umbilical cord.

Hotta Fire
10/19/2010

Lloyd B u were correct up to ur final point. It is not Bruce and Portia, it is Bruce. Portia is leading impeccably for the last 3yrs. Except 4 being railroaded by trafigura, her record of discipline has been nothing short of perfect. Part of the problem is that we fear to be called bias when we speak the truth, but this is one man who will not put Golding and Sista P in the same boat. heads can be laid on the block for Portia above all others. She should be the leader of the nation, the PMOJ.

Jaye Stone
10/19/2010

Correction: Dr. Carolyn GOMES.
The media also needs to be more responsible. They have so much power to shape society, but have allowed the illiterate in the society to shape them.
Another point: the cell phone companies should stop registering phones that have been reported stolen. They do have that power because each phone has a unique fingerprint, but the truth is that they're only interested in new sales.
Citizens need to start making demands. Your silence is compliance.

Wharf Dawg
10/19/2010

Lack of sophistication and training at the highest levels of leadership leads to lying. Any good leader knows that the day you lose the trust of those you lead is the day you are no longer effective. They also know that any example you set is likely to be the template by which others live, except in cases of tyrannical rule. Bruce and his penny section have lowered the already very low bar of civil society and we will all live to regret it.

Jay Brown
10/19/2010

I could not have said it any better, true words.
So how do we change the game ?

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The descent into indiscipline