Wendel Abel - I AM WHAT I THINK IN THIS article we explore factors that impact our national psyche. Jamaica has tremendous potential, aptly demonstrated in many areas. However, to date we have not been able to harness our potential to achieve full economic growth and address the menacing problem of crime and violence.
Lack of a clear sense of vision
As a nation, we still have not clearly established a sense of national identity and a collective sense of vision. We need to articulate clearly who it is and what it is to be a Jamaican and to establish a clear, uncontradictory value system. Let us restore confidence and faith and affirm our worth and belief in ourselves as a people. This is part of the challenge of good leadership and a vibrant civil society.
A culture of greed and
selfishness
We should not make the culture of greed and selfishness overtake us. Too many of us are satisfied with achieving for ourselves even at the expense of the entire country. Too many Jamaicans are locked out of the opportunity structure of this society through lack of education, unemployment and poverty and therefore do not feel a sense of belonging. We need to balance our self-concern with the concerns of others and the common good. Those of us
who have more should make a conscious effort to give and volunteer more.
Lack of strong and exemplary
leadership
Our religious and political leaders have failed us miserably. Good leadership inspires and leads by example. Too many of our politicians are inconsistent and self serving, very often putting narrow partisan, political interest above that of the
country.
As we grapple with this current wave of crime and violence, we are aware that many of our leaders are aligned to gun lords and drug dons but we have not established clear codes of conduct and are not able to hold them accountable. We need leadership that is honest, truthful, and consistent and that will lead by example. A leadership will put the good of the country above self-serving interest and narrow political agenda.
A culture of scapegoating
Our national pastime is that of finger pointing and blaming. We blame the government, we blame the businessmen and we blame the poor. Scapegoating is a way of shifting responsibility so that one does not have to assume personal responsibility.
We will never be able to tackle the problems of this nation until we all begin to take responsibility, individually and collectively. Let us all begin to assume responsibility and acknowledge our role in the present crisis, whether it is in littering the streets, a failure to pay our taxes or a failure to carry out our civic duties.
A culture of denial
Any country with the long period of economic stagnation or sustained high levels of violence as we are, must be in a state of crisis. Denial is a common yet ineffective coping strategy and it delays constructive confrontation with our problem. The government needs to admit to the crisis in the economy and in the security of this nation, this will facilitate the mobilisation of our people to address these intractable problems.
Celebrating the positives,
rejecting the negatives
We focus too much on the negatives and discount the positives. For good mental health, we must strike the balance. Reframing or redefining the meaning of something is a way of changing how we look at a situation. To those in media, positions of influence, as well as those of us who will call relatives and friends and speak only of the negatives that occur in this country, let us try to balance the perspective. Let us celebrate more of the positives.
Jamaica is like a battered woman in a state of self-denial, everyone around and within is participating in the destruction of her self-image and psyche. Let us all acknowledge that she is in a state of crisis and assume responsibility for her recovery.
Dr. Wendel Abel is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Senior Lecturer, University of the West Indies.
