Women, it's up to you to make us better men

By Paul Bonnick, Contributor

AT THE risk of being castigated by the men of my beloved country, I dare say that women are the foundation on which men are built.
The Summit of Jamaican men (and other such gatherings) are trying to achieve the same objectives, that is, to transform men into responsible, productive beings who respect themselves and others (inclusive of needs, feelings, etc.).

No disrespect, but men aren't suitable candidates for the job.

Centuries ago, and even closer, in my mother's and grandmothers' time, women (whether or not they were mothers) were the ones who instilled values in the children. Therefore, in those days one would never hear a woman say, for example: "My man haffi bring money cum gi mi layta, even if im haffi tek it from a bwoy, 'cause mi a go bling bling later and mi haffi look good."

Or: "My dawta nuh fi cum married nuh man weh a wok a Stevenson construction, she mus married a rich man."

These statements often incite the young ladies (soon-to-be women/mothers) not to give the time of day to a man who is not in a high-paying job. It also tells the young lad that he has to get a "career" that will make him rich if he intends to get the girl. These "careers" are often borne out of lawlessness, and defies everything that goes against sound education, hard work and determination.

Most nowadays-mothers don't teach their boys how to wash their clothes, clean the bathroom, their bedroom (and even the living room), and to cook. They "allow them to be boys" or to "enjoy their childhood" while they employ a helper or have their daughters do such chores, or they do it themselves. So when the lad is at a ripe age to learn responsibility, accountability, goodness and wholesomeness from the primary source, he doesn't. It therefore makes the job of the man more difficult to instil these values in them.

Women, I believe, should concentrate on doing the things that they do best (at least one of) that is instilling virtues into the children of today instead of fighting for their "independence" and "equalness with men" because it is only then that men will be forced to look within themselves and begin to do and be better persons for themselves, their families, communities and country.

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