“A general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.” This quote from Samuel Adams, one of the United States’s founding fathers can also be applied right here in Jamaica.

For the last 60 years of Independence, Jamaica has struggled in the departments of behaviour and discipline, from the bubbles at the top to the masses at the bottom. If a society is to function at an optimal state, it must have order; otherwise, it will sludge along, at best, in mediocrity or, at worst, it will implode. This deficit in our general mentality rears its ugly head in corruption, whether by siphoning off money to one buying his licence, skipping the line, or just having the general lack of respect for any rules. But it doesn’t stop there, having a decadent mentality can also cause problems at home, at school, and in the workplace, thus causing a net negative for the wider society, which is evident in crime, politics, and lifestyle choices.

Crime is no doubt the most detrimental aspect of life in Jamaica for the last 50 years. This is rooted in a foundation of corruption and political tribalism. In recent years it has morphed into a rather sophisticated group of organisations that participate in extortion, killing, and drug trafficking, to say the least. Many people in our nation actually support and benefit from organised crime — whether directly or indirectly. It’s common knowledge that they may even assist criminals by covering up evidence, looking out for authorities, pretending as if the dons are innocent men, and even obstructing police from conducting arrests. This practice of criminal protection and enabling has been permeating our society for decades and is done by both genders of all age groups.

When all the layers are peeled back one comes to realise that an entire criminal infrastructure has been developed and operates 24/7, 365. They have also developed ways to deter people from doing good, hence the “informa fi dead” mentality. This is when an individual would rather bring information to the don instead of to the proper authorities or worse, flat out condemn or threaten someone if they even think of informing the police or any official authority in any given environment.

Additionally, they not only have the tools to deter individuals, but also those to reinforce their school of thought. It is well known that many prominent dancehall artiste songs contain themes about drugs, gun man lyrics, scamming, anti-authority rhetoric, and more. However, some say that this kind of music does not cause crime and they would be right, but it is a reinforcement tool, especially for younger people who might not know better because they never had guidance, a proper upbringing, or the willpower to resist. Studies at both the American Psychological Association and the University College Birmingham show that music can have negative influences with the latter study mentioning how social media can also play a big part in its spread. Our tribal politics of the past must also take much of the blame.

We have a complicated relationship with politics in this country, although many of our leaders have worked tirelessly to improve the nation from well before we gained Independence 60 years ago. We have had many dark periods that have truly stunted all forms of development. I find myself imagining how far Jamaica would be if we didn’t have such a potent appetite for tribal politics and an insatiable taste for corruption infused in our general psyche. Both the 1970s and 1990s had some positives but were mostly net negatives for Jamaica and as a result many suffered.

However, in recent years, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has come out publicly and said that he is anti-garrison and does not support this kind of politics. We have seen a reduction in corruption and tribal politics in the last 20 years, but much improvement is still needed. In countries that have consistent improvements, voters don’t just sit by or vote blindly, they take action and are actively involved in their politics, which keeps the political parties on their toes.

In the 21st century we cannot afford to be diehard loyalists; instead, we must be logical and objective voters that hold the people we elect to a high standard. The minute Jamaica commits to this rather than being politically apathetic or blindly loyal is when the nation will truly improve. Some would perhaps say that this all stems from the household and family.

Many say the family is the bedrock of society and that most behaviour originates from there. I would agree with them; the family has an important part to play in any nation and must be protected and nurtured at all cost. Maybe that’s why Jamaica is so dysfunctional on many levels, we are undisciplined and have violent tendencies, far greater than the average country. This is evidenced by the fact that we have more homicides per capita than nations officially at war, but that isn’t the only example, there are more, such as reckless driving, stabbing someone because he stepped on your shoe, reprisal killings, playing extremely loud music in unsuitable areas, and no respect for authority and people who have a different perspective from us. If you don’t believe me, just observe what goes on in any busy area in Jamaica.

Make no mistake, this does not apply to every Jamaican, but it encompasses a large number, and the aforementioned behaviour has been proudly accepted in our culture and social discourse.

Many families aren’t well adjusted, especially because of the “gyal inna bungle” mentality that has pervaded our society and has been promoted for decades. It is completely untenable for this practice to continue; most men cannot have over 10 babymothers and care for them properly — that is, the ones who even try. We need to promote discipline and proper family planning if we truly want to see an improved nation in the long term.

Another crisis I’d say we have on our hands is that the children of Jamaica have no filter. There used to be a time when people would censor certain things from children, but nowadays, a child could be walking to school and see dead bodies on the road, thus becoming desensitised to death. There are several videos of children drinking alcohol, smoking, reciting the lyrics to a “gun tune” before they can even read and write. How do we expect them to grow up well adjusted and contribute to society when they are exposed to such decadence daily. Many grow and see these things as the norm, thus enforcing the vicious cycle.

Culture is dynamic and changes naturally, I’m sure we can agree that our behaviour 50 years ago was not the same as it is currently. If we take discipline seriously, clearly separate right from wrong, and enforce laws, we’ll be well on our way. This can be done by taking on people from different walks of life and fleshing out several problems. Interventions, such as Project Star, a social and economic transformation initiative aimed at facilitating a whole of society, collaborative, evidence-based approach to sustained violence prevention for communities across Jamaica, are aimed at achieving this objective.

In conclusion, just because some types of behaviour and attitudes are a deemed to be a part of our culture doesn’t mean they should be retained. The mindset of the people is arguably the most important aspect of a nation. Behaviour that is sustainable and not self-destructive should be upheld within all spaces. Currently, there are far too many children in adult bodies in this nation. I believe once the Jamaican mind is strong we can be formidable and achieve many of our national development goals in a shorter time frame.

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