Failing to Plan

A couple days ago the band of merry men who lead our nation made a decision to refuse entry and deny a work permit to popular dancehall artist Vybz Kartel who was scheduled to perform here on 30 April -  sighting their moral obligation and in the best interest of the youth of our nation. In recent months similar action has been taken by Barbados, Grenada and Guyana. All arguing the same point, the music is misogynistic (maybe I don't understand the meaning of the word, but is treating a woman like a sex object the same as hating a woman), promotes violence etc; the usual rhetoric.

In my opinion it would not be an understatment if it were said that the actions of these leaders seem to be the desperate attempts of drowning men clutching at straws (these actions as a result of their inability to arrest the situation with our "youth gone wild") . Let's for one moment forget about the artist and their music who have found themselves to be the latest political football and welcomed distraction (at least by the politians) from addressing the real issues. What programs/initiatives have the governments of the day put in place to engage youth? Where are the social safety nets? Are the current social safety nets, programs, initiatives (scant as they are) functioning effectively and efficiently? I can go on with the questions but what's the point.

Youth have been a political football for years, with each successive administration stating their care and concern for the youth - recognising the importance of the youth to the future prosperity of the country, blah blah blah. With little to no tangible evidence of their benevolence - their masterful plans to right the wrongs which have contributed to the destructive behaviour of our youth.

Ultimately the youth look to the adults for guidance - we fail miserable in that department, then we compound it by blaming them. Really. Does the buck stop with the youth? Did they make the society what it is or did we? We were here first right. Seemingly we as adults had no part to play it how things are now. I'm no saint, don't get me wrong - but that does not prevent me from pointing a young person in the right direction, from accepting and admitting my flaws and urging them to be better than me. Each generation is suppose to improve on the foundation set by the last, if our foundation is weak then what do we expect the youth to build upon.

The objectification of women and violent lyrics did not start with the Vybz Kartel or Movado - there was plenty of it when I was a teenager. But my parents showed me right from wrong, and put enough, love, time and effort into my growing up to be who I am today (even though I made some adjustments to their lessons over the years) that the thought of doing anything that would bring them shame was all I needed not to engage in that activity (I will admit however, I had a few very mischievous moments they know nothing about - thankfully I was never caught). My point is we can't allow artist to usurp our authority when raising our children - we can not neglect them leaving a void and when an unsavory element steps in to fill that void we begin to complain.

Give the youth the tools they need to make the right decisions (accepting that they will still make mistakes - to err is to be human) and there will be little or no need to get on our imaginary moral high horses and make absurd pronouncements.