Garth RattrayTHERE IS no doubt that freedom within a society such as ours makes us susceptible to the evils of democracy: greed, corruption, injustice, social inequities, crime and violence.
I visited Cuba some time ago and felt completely safe while on the streets late at night. I was however aware that communism made all that possible. Almost anyone can be forced to work in the canefields if the need should arise.
A DISCIPLINED SOCIETY
There are innumerable security personnel dressed in various uniforms and others in plainclothes all over the country. It is a disciplined society with limited privileges and little upward mobility unless one has the right official connection or job. That relatively crime-free society costs the people their personal freedom. Certainly there must be another way.
Freedom comes with a price tag and throughout history many societies have been willing to suffer "acceptable losses" (the eggs that are broken to make the proverbial omelette).
On the face of it the acceptable losses appear to come almost exclusively from the ranks of the poor and to some extent the middle class. The upper class and politicians rarely suffer these losses (of life and liberty). However, on deeper observation anyone can see that in fact everyone loses because crime and violence affect every aspect of our nationhood.
If we all practice personal and social responsibility, discipline and sacrifice we can keep the cost of freedom to a minimum. The rest of the world once viewed Jamaica as a veritable paradise, the quintessence of tranquillity, safety, amiability, innocence and pristine beauty. But we weren't willing to "pay" for the maintenance of our paradise. Now we are renowned for our ridiculously high murder rate, levels of crime, crass indiscipline, illicit drug trade, poverty and human rights violations.
BRITISH RULE
Many of the older folk blame our fall from grace on Independence. They say that we were not ready and would be far better of if we were still under British rule with their discipline and social programmes. But I take the view that the progressive implosion of our society is due to inadequate social engineering resulting in a dependency on dons and politicians, indiscipline, greed and the collapse of the family unit.
The other day I happened to pass two young cops as they stopped a taxi. One policeman (with his M-16 assault rifle slung across his chest) appeared relaxed but his companion stood behind the cover of the driver-side door and meticulously observed the taxi driver alight from his vehicle. He had a nervous intense stare and his right hand hovered near his sidearm. He was obviously aware that seven of his colleagues have been killed since January 2004.
My mind went back to the days of the gas riots when a policeman sweated profusely in the air-conditioned office as he related to me that he didn't mind dying for his country but not over foolishness (his words). The police are paying a high price for our freedom and safety so we must concomitantly see to the social ills that spawn the mess that we are in today. I truly believe that many policemen become corrupt because they see this as the means of gaining adequate compensation for endangering their lives for a system already steeped in corruption and depravity at the highest levels.
TRUE FREEDOM
Our society is not as free as some believe, in fact we don't have enough freedom because true freedom means freedom for everyone and not just a few. Many Jamaicans remain enslaved by poverty, ignorance, politics, the gang culture and frustration. We need antenatal care and birthing centres to be inundated with counsellors, social workers and after-care nurses who will go into homes and monitor the physical, mental, psychological, social and educational health of our children (our future functional citizens).
EDUCATION
We need to educate our prisoners spiritually, academically and vocationally and so reduce recidivism.
We need more and better schools, jobs and social programmes to prevent crime. We must stop depending on prisons, guns and security personnel to fight it. Until then we will all remain prisoners of fear within a fearful society.
Dr Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.
