The report of the armed and aggravated robbery at a day care centre in Aranguez exemplifies the predicament of this society, as the criminals tighten the stranglehold in which they have us.
It was bold, in broad daylight, unconscionable and uncaring for our helpless babies, the society of the future. On the day and period set aside for women and females at every stage of their lives, the criminals were completely unconcerned about such recognition of half the society.
Reportedly, two young men, one armed with a gun, felt no compunction about terrorising a lone woman caring for babies. In the process, they inflicted psychological trauma on the seven small children, who reportedly clung to their caregiver, sufficiently aware that the bandits were not playing hide-and-seek with their gun and could cause harm to her and them.
These men of warped minds could not care less about the humanity of a woman taking care of children; they went to take what was not theirs, that which they did not spend one hour labouring for, and that was that.
Mercifully, no physical harm came to the caregiver and the seven flowers of our nation. But that was only accidental. In such situations, it has occurred that one innocent wrong move by a victim triggered these unworthy misfits into firing their weapons; alternatively brutalising an adult, even a child.
Another dastardly feature of this particular crime was the unseen mob boss on the phone directing his/her hitmen.
From the reportage of the incident, the criminal on the phone seemed familiar with the surroundings of the day care centre and something about where valuables were kept.
If that be the case, it raises the issue of trust. Could it have been that someone associated in some way with the caregiver and the operations of the centre was associated in some manner with the crime?
If that be so, how low could that person have crawled?
What kind of people are being bred and nurtured in this society in which friendship now seems to mean nothing?
Deeply affected too will be the parents of the children who, having found a place of love and care for their babies, while they seek to make a living to take care of their families, can be rattled by this act of brutality by two thugs and their cohort.
The nature of criminals nurtured and operating in this society tells us something about ourselves as a people. Thankfully though, there are many who are still attempting to make something of this place called “home.”
We cannot lump the burden of today’s criminals and their criminality on one person, the Commissioner of Police, and the policing work which admittedly has to become far more focused and efficient. We, all of us as people and institutions, have to reflect on how we have contributed in one way or the other to the warped and soulless minds of the young criminals; and most importantly, how to reform those individuals to end the production-line of such “haters.”