By T. Coreentje Phipps-Benjamin Part 1 The worst has happened in our federation.” No longer can the scourge of criminal activity prevalent among some of our nation’s youth be regarded as merely random acts.” Many of our young people are settling differences by taking the lives of their peers.” In fact, the hardcore consequences of life in prison, the loss of freedom, possible death by a tight noose around the neck, separation from family and friends, or even utter public condemnation is seemingly not enough of a deterrent to shun the war-like mentality and behavior of quite a number of our society’s youth.” Suddenly, we have become a nation of beasts.” “Touch my stuff, I will kill you!” Say stuff I don’t like to hear, I will murder you!” Do to me what I oppose, I will wipe you from the face of planet earth; at least before you get the opportunity to do the same to me”. Indeed, we have seen the worst in our youth.” We have seen -by our federation’s standards- mass deletion of lives at the hands of violence.” Today, we need no more proof of how extreme some of our misguided youths can be.” We have seen it all.” We have asked the Why’s, the How’s, the When’s and the Where’s with regard to crime.” Now, in unison, citizens ask, What Next? Unfortunately, many of our youths slipped through the cracks right before our very eyes, primarily because many of our nation’s adults may have very well failed them.” Our youths pushed, and they pushed, and they pushed the envelope to see how much more we would allow them to get away with.” And oh yes, many of us accepted the bait.” We allowed them to be our “confidant”, to “wear the pants” in our homes, to talk back to us, to intrude while adults were in conversation or without waiting their turn.” We allowed them to demand every electronic gadget, clothing, or shoes advertised on television or in the store, knowing full well we could ill-afford these things.” We have indebted ourselves, only to become victims of the weakened dollar, with a twisted objective to keep up with and surpass the Jones’s. “Many of our children have observed our plight, and couldn’t care less.” Still they pushed us.” In the process, we surrendered too much of our parental responsibilities.” So now we wonder, What Next? By the same token, many of our federation’s parents have been model citizens in raring their children.” Many have gone above and beyond basic parenting standards to nurture their children to become productive members of society.” Yet, the fangs of society’s crime beast have viciously bitten some of our young people, depriving them of all rational thought.” Those parents who have worked diligently and have done everything positive to keep their children on a steadfast path are at a loss that their work may have been in vain.” Peer pressure and outright defiance have gotten the best of their children despite a structured and disciplined upbringing.” In disgrace and sheer turmoil, these parents wonder, What Next? What Next Starts With Us As our world has changed, so too have we changed, nonetheless, the one desire for peace is still highly sought after.” Out of many powerful stories that speak to what individuals desire most, one supersedes all others; the desire to live in a peaceful world.” However, if our society’s adults cannot live it, how on earth can we possibly teach it to our youth?” The worst has happened; yes!” We all feel hopeless; yes!” But our nation has to recover; YES!” You see, we talk a lot about how our societies “used to be”.” We point fingers at what might have caused our societal decay.” Yet we fail to realize how each of us can combine our efforts to literally fix it.” Yes fix it! Consider for a moment that no matter how remarkable our brand new car holds up, no matter how many years that valuable Hitachi television worked, no matter how elegantly those two inch heeled stilettos strut across the streets of Basseterre or Charlestown, at some point, we either had these “prized” possessions repaired or replaced all together.” Interestingly, the same analogy can be drawn from our society.” People evolve; some of us for the better, and unfortunately, some of us for the worse.” However, like the car that begins to patter putter across the village, the bulky “analog only” Hitachi television set with the fuzzy lines across the screen, or the incredibly stylish two-inch heeled shoes that clack, clacks with every stride symbolizing the need to be resoled, so too when our communities are challenged, we get off our rear and “do something”.” We work feverishly to devise methods aimed at resolving the problems our communities face, and we formulate substantive measures geared at restoring hope for those whose lives seem to be spiraling out of control.” We recognize that problems abound around us and can inch close enough to us to become “our” problems.” In fact, we realize that when the crime drum beats in the homes of our neighbors, the crime dance is well on its way to our doorsteps. Despite the wide array of negative reasons that can be offered as to why some of our federation’s youth will stop at nothing to take the lives of those who have offended them, there is light at the end of the tunnel.” There is hope beyond what the eyes can see.” After all, where there is life, there must be hope.” Determining what next requires more than a commitment to counting the number of our murdered merely to seek political mileage.” It requires an approach that focuses less on laying blame wholly at the feet of our politicians, our parents, our schools, our churches, our community organizations, our regional neighbors, or even our world.” What next is a call for each of us, no matter who we are, to stand a few feet away from a mirror, stare deep and long at the reflection that stares back, and challenge that reflection with a simple question.” “What can I do to make my village, my community, my federation, my world a better place?”” It matters not who you are, where you reside, or what you do for a living.” What matters is the positive contribution you can offer to make our islands safe.” In your search, you will find that the opportunities are endless. Offer Something Positive While those in key positions will re-examine the federation’s laws geared at addressing the very sensitive issue of crime, we as citizens are charged to become part of the solution.” In our proclaimed love of country, the blaming and finger pointing must be eliminated from the equation.” Take it upon yourself to research one of the many youth programs/organizations that exist on both islands with a view to assist our nation’s youth.” Offer your time or hard earned money to one or more of these programs, such as Project Strong, the Police Boys Club, the Boys Brigades, The 4H Club, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides/Brownies, public library, community churches or any other community group.” Follow through to ensure that your contributions are going directly to the cause you support.” In addition, reach out to the schools you attended, or those your children currently attend.” Inquire about pooling resources with former classmates or parents to support a particular program at the school, such as math, science, art, dance and music, poetry, etc.” Alliances with colleagues create a sense of camaraderie and can promote effective fund raising opportunities for the institution.” Visits to the schools also excite the children and help to confirm the commitment of past students to their schools. For those citizens who reside abroad, vow NEVER to return to the federation without scheduling one day to either visit a school, a day care, or any facility that houses our nation’s young people.” Mentor a child and create a fresh start in the once glorified pen-pal world.” Call it your “keyboard-pal” world and establish new relationships with the technologically savvy children of our federation.” It does not matter where you reside.” Today, technology has made it so much easier to stay in touch.” Offer something positive. Don’t be afraid to lend a helping hand to your neighbor’s child who you very well know is challenged.” If you cannot help, or hav
e reservations about helping, reach out to those in authority who can impact that child or family’s life.” The child across the way for whom we feel no obligation to reach out to is the same child who may very well become a menace to society so much so that you one day wish you had uttered a kind word to that child or his parents. The challenge to make things better on our islands will not be easy, because we are all different with unique personalities.” Interestingly though, we aspire for essentially the same basic things: the desire to be happy in an environment that is free and peaceful.” Unrealistic?” It is actually as practical as each of us want it to be.” Offer something positive.
