Violence, historically, has been part of the culture of many societies. Because of this we must never overlook the role of entertainment when it comes to dealing with the emerging trends of violent behaviour among youths.There are many in T&T who cannot separate reality from entertainment. Somehow the North American and Jamaican ghetto-type culture always manages to influence, overpower and dominate the mindset of people who believe that they should follow this path instead of the one of true progress.
This is all happening because we have never really taught our past and present generations to think independently and to ask all the critical questions that would prevent them from being influenced and misled by the violence that emerges from entertainment and negative ideology. We have a generation of people who, rather than think logically and use common sense to decide their way forward, seek to emulate violent behaviour because it seems fashionable.
In short, we need to start developing a nation of people who can think independently, who can examine and criticise their own actions, something we find in the developed world.Young people are constantly bombarded with music, television shows, cinema, plays and video games that preach and glorify violence and sexuality. These have a powerful influence on their thoughts.Violence as a form of entertainment is nothing new to human civilisation. History is filled with examples of human beings slaying each other, or some deadly beasts in an arena filled with blood and gore. Crime entertainment is big business.
Society seems fascinated with violence. The electronic digital age has given youngsters the ability to kill, shoot and mutilate through video games, something the generation of the 1970s never had. Sadly, few in this Third World society can separate reality from the violence created through the mediums of movies, music, games and television.A whole societal approach is needed to change the culture of violence in schools. Unless the entire society gets on board we will always have children straying and going down the wrong path. We need the parents who push violence down their children's throats and encourage violence at school to stop doing that. It's simple as that.
There are parents who encourage their youngsters to become bullies and go about terrorising others in schools. These errant youngsters are not only limited to the children of the criminal elements or lower class, but extend as well to the spoiled children of society's upper class, who feel they can get away with anything.Unless all parents come on board and make the conscious decision to redesign the next generation, we are really spinning top in mud.
Adrian Boodan
Chaguanas