C. Roy ReynoldsONE OF the defining features of this age is a lack of civility, which itself arises from many things as well as gives rise to many things. Its outward manifestation in borishness, in case you haven't noticed, is not a feature of only the Jamaican society, but notably the American society as well.
Anyone who doubts this is invited to consider three situations that occurred in that country's public life recently. Case number one: The wife of the sitting President on a trip to the Middle East gave a traditional greeting to the wife of PLO leader Arafat, an act of common courtesy, and all hell broke loose.
Suddenly, there was a campaign suggesting all sorts of anti-Semitic sentiments. Her opponent for the New York Senate seat fanned the flames. Until, that is, a photograph showing him pleasantly greeting Mr. Arafat was published.
Then President Clinton himself got into some hot water for having shook the hand of Fidel Castro during an encounter at the UN Millennium conference in New York. The hate-mongers were almost frothing at the mouth in true mad dog style. It is uncomfortable and disconcerting to contemplate that these members of a modern society cannot make the simple distinction between an act of civility and some dark intent.
Yet history records that even in war we have been capable of acts of civility. Consider the situation during World War One when soldiers of the contending armies, mired in trench warfare, suspended hostilities at Christmas, shared a cup of cheer and even indulged in sport activity before resuming their effort to kill each other.
In Jamaica today the situation is the same. Everybody seems to be vying to see who can be most rude and crude. Even journalists who traditionally refrained from direct attacks on each other, and depended on erudition and creativity to elicit favourable comparison, have become savage and feral.
In our situation I wonder if the apparent death of some of the underpinning of traditional civility is not at least partially responsible for our departure from decorum.
When I went to elementary school an important subject was 'Civics'. It was not a subject that could directly help one to make a living later, but it instead gave a sort of national leavening to one's character, to appreciate one's country. You could say it helped to foster patriotism, a concept which regrettably has also been debased by the growing incivility.
How often have you heard pretenders to learning declare: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel?" A borrowed statement which means exactly what it says, but which is so frequently given a sinister twist to suggest that it is a slur on patriotism. Implicit in it is the recognition that the scoundrel is so despicable that he would seek refuge by despoiling even so noble a concept. Then, of course our situation, is made the worse because of the neglect of institutions such as scouting, cadet force, literate and debating society and Students Christian Movement most of which figured in the extra-curricular activities in years gone by. And let me not forget the 4-H Movement.
I remember the days when students inter and intra school debates were intellectual and theatrical exercises and not a rehearsal for crude political afterlife. We learnt not only how to research and marshall contending arguments but to deliver in true theatrical form, lowering and increasing voice tone, and even employing the dramatic device of the aside.
Force majeure
Today the schools 'debates' I have been exposed to seem to be mere clubs with which to beat each other; mere histrionics depending more on force majeure for effect than on logical and reasoned presentation.
Institutions such as Scouting and the 4-H Club seemed to have gone out of style.
I can remember the days when the Scouts' Doncaster headquarters was a Kingston landmark. Later the occasion of a Scouts Jamboree at Up-Park Camp was considered so important that I was detailed to do a daily complete page for The Star on activities there.
4-H Clubs were once a prime factor in moulding young lives as well as imparting useful skills to the young. Schools such as Merl Grove in the Corporate Area had vibrant branches and I can never forget my personal experiences when as a student of the Jamaica School of Agriculture I was assigned to oversee a club at the Alpha Children's Home on South Camp Road. It was a learning process for me and I hope some of the students as well.
But all these things seemed to have vanished, replaced by incivility and selfishness. It seems to me that in our great leap forward (apology to the Chinese and Mao) we have forgotten to learn from civilising elements and have instead lapsed into feral attavism! A pity!
C. Roy Reynolds is a freelance journalist.
