THE EDITOR, Madam:I CAN recall as if it were yesterday, while sitting in a Government-owned library, that I was abruptly forced to focus my attention on a few schoolboys being verbally assaulted by a worker. His mannerisms showed a lack of appreciation as to where he was working, yet, his attitude was not uncommon to the society in which he lives.
A taxi man barks at passengers and potential passengers. A secretary remarks rudely to a customer waiting to make a transaction. Young men make vulgar comments as ladies pass by. The incidents go on and on. But have you ever wondered why the society is so aggressive?
Despite the discipline we have acquired in school, it would appear that all that we have learned was only theory, for in the practical world it becomes impractical. If you tuned into our last election you would have noticed that the two runners-up were verbally crucifying one another on national TV. Yet instead of standing aghast at the seemingly appalling and inexcusable behaviour, the mass of crowd laughed and applauded as if entertained by comics.
Now I ask a question? Is the behaviour adopted from top to bottom, or bottom up? Are the leaders then, responsible through their decorum, for the attitudes of the people, or were they simply the offspring of an on-going culture? I cast not a stone at anyone in this letter but if I can awaken the conscience of even one individual so that he/she will be polite in mannerism to another then my letter would not have been in vain.
I am, etc.,
SHAUN BROOKS
E-mail: Sabrooks007@hotmail.com
New Kingston, JA
Via Go-Jamaica
