Double mindedness is certainly causing a great degree of instability in this Country. On one hand, as a people we say we want peace in our homes and on our streets, we all on some level hope for a bright future for the next generation, and although probably unconscious to many, we are all yearning for the kind of leadership, civic, religious, political, that would move us once more to a collective sense of purpose and renewed patriotism. Yet on the other hand, we revere those things that do not in the least benefit these noble longings, rendering our behavior paradoxical at times.
We like “beating the system” whether that means getting away without paying adequate customs duty or receiving proceeds from illegal activity. We are also more attracted to those things that do not make for peace: confrontation, “sassy-ness” of mouth and spirit, and the condition of “not letting anyone run over us.” And we prefer style over substance any day when it comes to leadership personalities. These are the things which so many of us have been tricked into believing represents strength, when in actuality they are in direct contradiction to the characteristics and philosophies needed to move our Country forward.
When the Free National Movement assumed Government in 1992 its first order of business was to finish off what it started during its election campaign. It wasn’t enough to vilify/demonize, humiliate, and defeat Sir Lynden and the Progressive Liberal Party. So just after top hat and scissor tails came off, after the pageantry of swearing in, that FNM Government led by the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham launched a multi-million dollar Commission of Inquiry. It was an exercise which at the end of the day proved nothing. However, it consolidated the pervasive idea that the “Father” of the modern Bahamas and his team were gangsters from hell who did nothing good for their Country. And, it sealed the notion that Government and politics in The Bahamas is for the wicked few – fueling the apathy and self hatred of our youth whose potential heroes were transformed in a matter of days into public enemies.
Life holds no sanctity in the eyes of so many of our young sons because politicians whether out of anger, pain or revenge, tore away the decency and honor of good men, their perceived enemies. We entered and possibly lost this battle against violence “spiritually” some time ago, when internal and external powerful forces with lots of money, found the formula to encourage un-reconciled men to put personal un-forgiveness above the patriotic duty of upholding the beauty and legacy of the foundation of our people. Our children then only know the stories of treachery, deceit and failure which have been sung louder than the songs of victory, pride, unity, and “how we got over!” And so, our young sons pull real triggers in this new age because they have been socialized in an atmosphere where their Governmental leaders set the tone and engaged in a kind of violence which assassinated/murdered the character and spirit of heroes, and by extension wiped out a meaningful and inspirational part of modern Bahamian heritage.
For the past few weeks in the House of Assembly, through the debate on the Appropriation Bills, some members of this new FNM Government in true FNM fashion, sought to engage in the same kind of senseless violence perpetrated against the Bahamian spirit through the Commission of Inquiry. Thankfully, the Christie led PLP held good ground and very little damage, if any was done. But in an age where we are almost in a state of crisis as a people with even an economy which recently has lost its “equilibrium” we need a Government that will take a time out from playing destructive politics and by action, not words, lead us into a state of peace, reconciliation, ingenuity, and purpose. This is no time for double-mindedness – we cannot speak of peace while allowing our behavior to breed discord. We must see and work towards ending the paradox.
We like “beating the system” whether that means getting away without paying adequate customs duty or receiving proceeds from illegal activity. We are also more attracted to those things that do not make for peace: confrontation, “sassy-ness” of mouth and spirit, and the condition of “not letting anyone run over us.” And we prefer style over substance any day when it comes to leadership personalities. These are the things which so many of us have been tricked into believing represents strength, when in actuality they are in direct contradiction to the characteristics and philosophies needed to move our Country forward.
When the Free National Movement assumed Government in 1992 its first order of business was to finish off what it started during its election campaign. It wasn’t enough to vilify/demonize, humiliate, and defeat Sir Lynden and the Progressive Liberal Party. So just after top hat and scissor tails came off, after the pageantry of swearing in, that FNM Government led by the Rt. Hon. Hubert Ingraham launched a multi-million dollar Commission of Inquiry. It was an exercise which at the end of the day proved nothing. However, it consolidated the pervasive idea that the “Father” of the modern Bahamas and his team were gangsters from hell who did nothing good for their Country. And, it sealed the notion that Government and politics in The Bahamas is for the wicked few – fueling the apathy and self hatred of our youth whose potential heroes were transformed in a matter of days into public enemies.
Life holds no sanctity in the eyes of so many of our young sons because politicians whether out of anger, pain or revenge, tore away the decency and honor of good men, their perceived enemies. We entered and possibly lost this battle against violence “spiritually” some time ago, when internal and external powerful forces with lots of money, found the formula to encourage un-reconciled men to put personal un-forgiveness above the patriotic duty of upholding the beauty and legacy of the foundation of our people. Our children then only know the stories of treachery, deceit and failure which have been sung louder than the songs of victory, pride, unity, and “how we got over!” And so, our young sons pull real triggers in this new age because they have been socialized in an atmosphere where their Governmental leaders set the tone and engaged in a kind of violence which assassinated/murdered the character and spirit of heroes, and by extension wiped out a meaningful and inspirational part of modern Bahamian heritage.
For the past few weeks in the House of Assembly, through the debate on the Appropriation Bills, some members of this new FNM Government in true FNM fashion, sought to engage in the same kind of senseless violence perpetrated against the Bahamian spirit through the Commission of Inquiry. Thankfully, the Christie led PLP held good ground and very little damage, if any was done. But in an age where we are almost in a state of crisis as a people with even an economy which recently has lost its “equilibrium” we need a Government that will take a time out from playing destructive politics and by action, not words, lead us into a state of peace, reconciliation, ingenuity, and purpose. This is no time for double-mindedness – we cannot speak of peace while allowing our behavior to breed discord. We must see and work towards ending the paradox.
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