THE EDITOR, Sir:
WHO BROUGHT up these youngsters to be criminals? Who is responsible for the crime wave that is sweeping across our beloved island? Everyone you speak to has an answer to these questions. I feel we are ALL responsible.
Our children learn as toddlers that when Mummy or Daddy says "NO!", all you have to do is continue and he/she will get tired and you will have your way. They see Mummy and Daddy lie about the ages of their children; cheat on their taxes; disobey the law and claim they have to feed and send their children to school as the reason for doing so; bring home their company's property(stealing); buy the answers to test papers; take them to school late; 'cuss off' teachers who scold them; pay somebody to 'pass the car' and use their wealth in possession or connections to beat the system. The bar dividing right from wrong keeps shifting and, at times, it is not even there.
They learn that the law is not for them. It is just for the unlucky ones. Just watch parents as they deal with the 'laws' of the home. How many children are punished when they break these 'laws'? Look at how the parents, teachers, coaches and others deal with the 'laws' of the school. The children break these laws and you hear about the rights of the child, the ministry has to intervene, graduations are cancelled because of injunctions and the child learns that you do not have to be punished when you do wrong.
'EXTRA' LESSONS
They watch as we destroy the roads in the name of protest; they see us defend those with illegal guns, saying they are defending their communities; they hear us cry out for justice when we mean revenge; they listen to their minister of religion praising God for allowing him/her to bring in goods without paying the required duty at the airport.
They see the justices of the peace write glowing letters of recommendations for people they do not know. Their parents get letters from companies saying they are employed there when they are not. Again, they learn, it is not whether you committed the crime or not, it is whether you can beat the system.
I could go on and on. What lessons have YOUR children learnt from you? What lessons are you teaching the nation's children? We are ALL responsible for what is happening today.
I am, etc.,
CYNTHIA P. COOKE
P.O. Box 527
Kingston 6
