Fr. Richard Ho Lung, Contributor The days are gone when decency, kindness, heroism are traits seen or regarded as admirable in our island or anywhere in the first world. The feisty and outrageous person, the ego-centred and totally autonomous individual are the so-called heroes or heroines of our age. Virtue is considered old fashioned; vicious scandal and hyper-criticism are considered modern. We are in a period of darkness when everyone is on his own and right is considered wrong and wrong, right. We have lost Christ as the centre of our universe, and God as the Master of all. Thus we are like sheep that have gone astray.
Day in and day out, and most nights, gunshots echo through my wake and sleep. It is no longer surprising; it is what is expected. Gunshots signal hatred, the intention to kill and that has become commonplace. The only other sounds I seem to hear is the devil music with their satanic lyrics: cynicism, curse words, violent sentiments, and some times chaotic and meaningless words are belched out of the ghetto boxes. There are screams every now and then and the cries of a child being violently beaten.
Surprisingly the heartfelt gospel singing still rings out in our world of darkness. The other night at 3:00 a.m. I was awakened by the voices of young men singing songs to the Lord, marching through the streets. It penetrated the Brothers and myself like the song of angels that descended from heaven to earth to bring peace and goodwill to all men.
When will we understand that culture has to do with behaviour, decency and customs that are civilised and humane, heroic and self-sacrificing? When will we learn that culture is not external appearances - the way we look, the way we speak and the food we eat? Rather culture comes from the soul; the humane and spiritual values that make us overcome the lower passions and the animal drive towards self-preservation over everyone and everything else.
Can we not see that a people are truly cultured who can overcome ego concerns for the good of others - the nation and our fellowmen? Talent and great achievement should not be directed to self-exultation and personal pride but for the service of humanity, nationally and internationally.
At present we have a passionate nation that seems to be hurling itself towards self-destruction. We are a blind nation, not so concerned about truth, but about self. Our political culture is not about service of others or nation above partisan politics. Our economy is a pretence-portraying equanimity and steadiness while selling out all our companies, bailing out the wealthy who are bankrupt, and over-taxing to death every aspect and corner of our daily lives. Education, in the meanwhile, has been a hysterical attempt to keep down criminal activity among our young and to chastise teachers who are downcast and very much ready to leave our shores.
Christ must be at the centre of Jamaica if we are to cultivate a decent, self-respecting and respectful people. Yesterday wherever we went Jamaicans were regarded as strong and brave, intelligent and hardworking. Christ in our history has meant kindness and gentleness, laughter and a deep sense of community. Jesus at the centre of our lives contributed a foundation and a point of reference for all that we did and said. It dictated behaviour and a set of dos and don'ts, right and wrong. There was a sense of conscience; there was a sense of fair play. Respect for one another, for nature, for language, for our bodies, for our minds, for our neighbour ruled our lives.
That we are primarily a black nation and of Afro-descent is important; but that is not enough to give us a soul. The soul's only true content is God, in our case it is Christ.
Christ is the foundation of our culture. It has to remain the foundation otherwise, what have we got? Talent, energy, and our passionate nature must be shaped and formed and informed by the presence of goodness, greatness, and self-sacrifice - all of which, are important if we are to be a great and civilised nation.
This is not an arbitrary matter. Unless we adopt an attitude of self-sacrificing love for our country and our people, we will become a selfish and individualistic people ready to destroy others so we will live: the opposite of which is to lay down our lives for our friends.
It is said that a country's civilisation is judged by the way we treat the least or poorest of our citizens. Among the rich and powerful little can be said for how our poor and forgotten are treated. Little can be said moreover as to their maintenance of law and order, morals and a sense of justice.
Rather than being cultural and a deeply spiritual people as I know we are, rather than being an ascetic and yet a passionate people, Jamaicans are regarded as a tricky and suspicious people. We are humiliated wherever we go.
I know this is not the true Jamaica. I say this without any intention to evangelise: Jamaica will continue to be lost and adrift until we find Christ at the centre of our lives once again. Only then will our music regain its coherence and soul, only then will there be honour, dignity and respect for one another, only then will laughter and light, respect and trust be restored to this country of ours, which God has given so much so abundantly.
Fr. Richard Ho Lung is founder and leader of the Missionaries of the Poor.
