These are interesting times we live in, because people take sides, especially politically and can sometimes be non-objective or refuse to admit publicly that there is a difference between the two political parties as it relates to our national interests and developmental goals.
Listening to guests on a particular popular talk show expressing the view that this present government has done nothing to enhance our development saddens me. There is one school of thought that suggests that the last administration was wasteful and had plenty of grand ideas, but little where it came to implementation. You hear negative comments on the status of crime and the lack of employment opportunities, but no mention of the many interventions or new ideas that they have implemented.
Efforts as it relates to the diversity in education seem to be not worthy of praise, the Grant and Loan opportunities that exist especially for young people seem to be of no importance. The improvement in wages, especially for the average employee, or the better payment for retired persons, all seem to be none relevant. The many scholarships offered and given to the many students seem also not to be seen as an opportunity or improvement. I tend to wonder if the former regime did or assisted in these areas, if it would not have been considered a plus. I am baffled and sometimes wonder what we claim to be development and progress and what exactly do we classify as development or progress, and if it is only one party that can or should deliver.
Can you tell me if the other islands in the region are doing better than we are? Is the crime situation only on the rise in our country? Are we, as parents, playing our part in dealing with the negative behavior of our children? Is money the only objective of living? Is being ungodly the way of life we should embrace? Is same sex relationships what we aspire to see as progress? Is manual labor not a means to survival?
Are we patterning our life on foreign values? Can we not see that not eating what we grow is not healthy and the fast-food culture is detrimental to our progress and our future?
Who among us is responsible for setting the rules? Who gives the directives? And who are the profiteers some of us make our Gods? Who will set positive values in motion for the benefit of the upcoming generation? Who will guide us progressively? Who is truthful and who is bluffing?
The times we live in are trying times; the nation needs guidance and not constant criticism — especially from those who don’t contribute in any way but do the most talking. Any government will always fall short because the task of nation building is difficult, but if we don’t appreciate the present positive and progressive efforts, how can we progress?
Should we always be hoping for better and ignoring the present? Can’t we not sense the bluff and the scams? Can we not detect all the wolves in sheep clothing?
Despite all our education and enlightenment and current information available today, why aren’t we more creative and productive? Can’t we be more analytical and not-so-easily persuaded?
We seem unable to deal with love, we rather choose hate and deceit. We all seem to want to be millionaires, get rich by any means, ignore the efforts of past pioneers, and replace it with thugs and sinful people.
I may be glad that I am on my way out of this continuing mess, but I pity the next generation as the future seems so uncertain.
As a people, we were once enslaved physically, but now the shackles are on our brains, positive developments are going on in certain parts of the world, but for us we rather stay stagnated, and blame the system and not ourselves and keep believing in grand ideas rather than participate in the necessary changes one-by-one.
And we believe everything we hear, especially if it comes from a so-called professional or a so-called qualified person, who are simply fully brainwashed scholars. Humble opinions do not seem to count anymore, as we seek high-cost consultants for expensive advice, from everyone else but ourselves.
Remember: there’s nothing new under the sun and we ought not to reinvent the wheel, but from humble minds can come progress.
And please, I beg you Dear Reader, to be aware of flashing mirrors and empty vessels.