THE EDITOR, Sir:DISCUSSION ABOUT the senseless killings in our country has been eclipsed only by the talk about the drive-by shooting of 'One Order' Don 'Bubba' and the alleged connection between the criminal elements in Spanish Town and a certain high-profile political figure.
These discussions have left me with three clear conclusions. One is that the problems in our nation cannot be addressed with a 'business as usual' approach, which we seem so prone to adopt. The concern about the escalating murder rate, which is inextricably linked to problem with our boys and men, needs to be addressed with radically new and creative strategies.
A NATIONAL DISCUSSION
That is why I believe the time has come to engage in a national discussion about interventions such as programmes of 'rites of passage' for boys to help them in their transition to manhood. Such programmes if undertaken at various levels such as schools, churches, and youth clubs could provide a setting in which most boys are exposed to some kind of guidance and instruction about manhood and a positive male identity.
A second thing that is clear to me is that part of the root of the problem is spiritual. Many people in past decades experienced greater poverty than most of the poor in our society today. Yet there was never this level of inhumanity, corruption, greed and laziness. Social programmes, on their own, cannot arrest the decay of values and uproot the spiritual forces of evil that seem hell-bent on keeping us in bondage. That is why I want to support an initiative by a number of concerned pastors to call the nation to a season of spiritual-warfare prayer beginning on Emancipation Day. Spiritual problems require spiritual solutions and that is why prayer is important.
Beyond this season, churches will have to become more serious about active involvement in social transformation as an integral part of our mission because 'faith without works is dead'. There is a time to pray and there is a time for other forms of action.
A third thing is the need for increased accountability among our political leaders. They must take greater responsibility for their actions that are wrong or unwise. Where they persist in forming alliances with criminals and evil, we the people of this country must send a clear message that we are tired of the 'alms-house behaviour'.
I am, etc.,
DAVE HAZLE (Rev. Dr.)
davehazle@hotmail.com
Kingston
