Thomas Phinemann, Contributor
'Man Enough for the Times', theme of The Gleaner-sponsored men's conference at the Emmanuel Apostolic Church on Saturday, September 27, high-lighted the critical crossroads Jamaica has reached.
Despite the relentless and untiring sacrifice of positive, productive men in this society, the crises afflicting the nation raise questions, if those efforts are enough.
Answers to the following three major questions could play a crucial role in defining the way ahead:
What will we be doing between now and the next conference?
How can we sustain the momentum?
Can we take the message to our churches, communities, schools, youth clubs and street corners?
Extend influence
The gang phenomenon that has taken over our schools and communities is a clear indication that our boys have no problem with commitment. Our task is to get more of them to commit to mores and goals that promote self-actualisation and the upliftment of their communities.
How do we do that?
Men need to extend their sphere of influence by adopting com-munity schools and establishing relationships with boys there.
Some of us would have to take more than one boy under our wings.
Mentorship involves knowing how their schoolwork is pro-gressing, and what they do before and after school. We cannot wait any longer. If we can save our boys, we can save our nation.
No one said that this is easy. We know there are a number of church-affiliated schools. These churches can go even further by sharing the strategies that work in model schools with other institutions grappling with violence and other forms of indiscipline.
No break
We cannot take a break from our task of rescuing our boys. We cannot afford to get weary in well-doing. Criminals don't seem to get weary with wrongdoing. And when some do, others are there to pick up the slack.
To be agents of change, Jamaica's men must be willing and ready to do more than talk, even if truth-telling draws stares when we do so outside the confines of our perceived 'safe spaces'.
It's more popular to continue to turn a blind eye to the greedy and power-hungry among us, so much easier to look the other way when we see people doing the wrong thing.
Adult males must take charge of their homes and keep boys off the streets, engaging them rather in activities that will keep them positive and focused on their goals despite the many distractions.
Transformation
Do we know what's happening in our neighbourhood, or is it none of our business? Are we cowering in fear?
This is not an invitation for martyrdom. It is a call for us to be wise while we face the reality that we have allowed too many of our boys to stray, and we need to find creative ways of reining them in. Our very lives depend on it.
These boys and young men who are wreaking havoc on our land are not from outer space. They live in our homes and communities. We interact with them at one time or another.
Together, we are powerful, indomitable and invincible. We can rescue our communities and our nation from the pain and suffering that the constant bloodletting brings. Let last Saturday's men's conference be a catalyst for transformation of how we relate to each other.
Let's have the zeal and resolve to be man enough to lead our nation back to respect for life, and the rule of law.
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