THE EDITOR, Sir:THE CONTINUOUS disproportion of crimes being committed in our community by young males and the comments by some well-meaning people, prompted me to write this letter.
I believe what we are observing is the result of a process and not a process in itself. We need to instil in our young people what a wonderful world we are living in and the great future potential.
There are those who contend that the lack of involvement in the church is partly to be blamed for the problem. I say, it is the interpretation and the practice of their beliefs, which do not instil the beauty of our current world and a good future, that have failed so many of our people. Given the fact that the church has been the cornerstone and centre of influence of the black community from birth, does it not stand to reason they have failed miserably?
SUB-CONSCIOUS EFFECT
The negative messages painted by religious leaders and their followers about the awful world we are living in, and the bleak future, filter into the sub-conscious mind and create images of hopelessness. The result, based on the number of churches springing up in our community with the corresponding escalating crime situation cause me to paraphrase: "The operation was a success, however the patient died."
The churches foster an escape-from-reality mentality in our young people. The thrust is, we need to escape by going through a conversion, from bad to good. The negative messages paint vivid gloomy pictures of the world and promise us our just rewards in heaven.
THE OMISSION OF RATIONALE
The dichotomy is that when a few of those converts or believers achieve any measure of success they credit their successes to being blessed or given talents, further sending messages that in order to be successful you need to be blessed. The opposite of being blessed is being cursed. Are the ones committing crimes cursed? Why is success associated with blessing, and not with the ability to identify or create opportunities, planned work and worked plans.
The messages of punishment and rewards, based on fear, dressed up as gospel, is being fed from the pulpits so as to desensitise the minds not to think rationally. It is nothing but mind control by a few in order to have power and control over the many.
Since what we are experiencing is the result of a process, could it be that our core belief system is a psychological contributing factor to crime, because it does not give us hope of living fruitful and happy lives on earth with boundless future prospects?
I am, etc.,
HEADLEY SQUIRE
headleyca@yahoo.ca
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Via Go-Jamaica
