As I sit and ponder on our society today, and look at the rising murder rate, the lack of discipline of our school children, the numerous child abuse cases as well as domestic violence cases, I wonder when did we become so complacent. When did all these crimes become second nature to us instead of mad outrage due to the degradation of our society?
Several years ago just the word murder brought shock to our Trinidad but today we can walk past a dead body and think nothing of it. We move on to our next task so clouded in our own lives without thinking about the life that was snuffed out, probably saying: "He must have been in a gang." But what if he was not?
When do we as a people start seeing others as humans and not just another casualty? Today there is an uproar because of the murder of Dana, but what about the other people who have left life unrecognised? Why aren't the police fighting diligently to find their killers?
It takes a village to raise a child and a community to improve a nation. We have to go back to that time when we cared for each other; we have to separate ourselves from the racism, the "genderism," the greed and selfishness that have ruled our country over the years.Bring back the instrument of family. We need to bring back a time when one feels safe to walk the streets to window shop and our children can go to the river/beaches feeling safe and comfortable.
We need to go back to being Trinidadian instead of Indians and Africans. We continue to choose all the negative values of the Americans. Let us set examples for our children which they can be proud off. Let us be the majority instead of the minority.
Victoria Chung
via e-mail