Crime and or corruption are so entwined with the development of our Country, The Bahamas, that we really cannot seriously ever address it. We have, as biblical language would describe it, “been born in sin and shaped in iniquity.” Aside from the more major instances of ship wrecking, bootlegging and rum running, the drug trade and money laundering, you will find today that even the most sanctimonious among us are on their way to the “satellite man” because their illegal feed has been “hit” or out of necessity, even “Granny” is breaking some traffic laws in Nassau just to make it home. So when the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham says, “Indeed, we need to develop a zero-tolerance level for crime – all crime – including petty crime…” does this mean that as the leader of the Free National Movement and Prime Minister of our Nation, he will see to it that no more votes are procured through the inducement of money and gifts during general elections?
What we can address is violence. The big question we must find the will to ask ourselves is “Why are we all so angry?” I know it to be more important to some members of the Governing Free National Movement to, by all means and any means, lock away as many of our Black fathers, brothers and sons, as opposed to committing more resources to restorative programmes and measures designed to get at the root cause of our societal dysfunctions. But how long before we understand that the violence exhibited by the young frustrated Black youth who finds his power in a gun or knife, is not very different from the violence exhibited by even some of our so-called leaders, whose power is in governmental and ministerial privileges conferred upon them. While it is not illegal to publicly embarrass or change the quality of life of someone by publicly firing them as part of one’s victory speech, and while it is not illegal to steal bread from the mouths of the innocent through victimization, all of these acts of violence contribute to the overall breakdown of our society because someone has inappropriately and mercilessly exercised momentary power over another. And in many cases this has been the behavior of choice because so many of us are naturally so very angry – with life.
Indeed, we need to develop a zero-tolerance level for violence – all violence. It would be better for our Prime Minister to lead the charge in this regard. Its really a losing battle if he does not. Out there in the streets, in our schools even in our homes, it isn’t some proverbial “rabbit” who has the proverbial “gun.” Out here, the guns are real! And just as it is almost impossible to reason with some House of Assembly representative who has abandoned all civility and common decency on a Wednesday afternoon, it is almost impossible to convince our young people to choose kinder, gentler methods of conflict resolution.
The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham however, holds a special power. His style and rough demeanor has resonated with and in so many thousands of angry Bahamians who needed a poster boy for revenge. He can inspire at least 48% of the voting population to choose peace as a way of life by merely telling them to or through leading by example. No better person then to launch a successful national anti-violence as an anti-crime movement, which would capture the words of that most instructive song, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” No doubt ‘Funky D’ or some other artist can do a remake of the song to make it more relevant to Bahamian times, “Let there be peace in The Bahamas and let it begin in the HIP (Hubert Ingraham Party).”
What’s peace without laughter?
What we can address is violence. The big question we must find the will to ask ourselves is “Why are we all so angry?” I know it to be more important to some members of the Governing Free National Movement to, by all means and any means, lock away as many of our Black fathers, brothers and sons, as opposed to committing more resources to restorative programmes and measures designed to get at the root cause of our societal dysfunctions. But how long before we understand that the violence exhibited by the young frustrated Black youth who finds his power in a gun or knife, is not very different from the violence exhibited by even some of our so-called leaders, whose power is in governmental and ministerial privileges conferred upon them. While it is not illegal to publicly embarrass or change the quality of life of someone by publicly firing them as part of one’s victory speech, and while it is not illegal to steal bread from the mouths of the innocent through victimization, all of these acts of violence contribute to the overall breakdown of our society because someone has inappropriately and mercilessly exercised momentary power over another. And in many cases this has been the behavior of choice because so many of us are naturally so very angry – with life.
Indeed, we need to develop a zero-tolerance level for violence – all violence. It would be better for our Prime Minister to lead the charge in this regard. Its really a losing battle if he does not. Out there in the streets, in our schools even in our homes, it isn’t some proverbial “rabbit” who has the proverbial “gun.” Out here, the guns are real! And just as it is almost impossible to reason with some House of Assembly representative who has abandoned all civility and common decency on a Wednesday afternoon, it is almost impossible to convince our young people to choose kinder, gentler methods of conflict resolution.
The Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham however, holds a special power. His style and rough demeanor has resonated with and in so many thousands of angry Bahamians who needed a poster boy for revenge. He can inspire at least 48% of the voting population to choose peace as a way of life by merely telling them to or through leading by example. No better person then to launch a successful national anti-violence as an anti-crime movement, which would capture the words of that most instructive song, “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” No doubt ‘Funky D’ or some other artist can do a remake of the song to make it more relevant to Bahamian times, “Let there be peace in The Bahamas and let it begin in the HIP (Hubert Ingraham Party).”
What’s peace without laughter?
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