Social scientists who study these things will probably tell us that the graffiti, slangs and clothing fashions of a people say a whole lot about the cultural cohesion of their society. It seems logical that things scribbled on walls in the dark of night, sayings and catch phrases that become commonly used, and clothing patterns that become the popular “style and fashion”, all give clues about how people are thinking, what’s on their minds, what is important to them, and how they feel about themselves and about others.
We don’t have many expert social scientists in Belize; or at least they are not talking much. But that doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t figure out solutions to our problems. Indeed, through our various media, especially the newspapers and even more so, radio, individual citizens are throwing in their “2 cents” and giving some serious analysis and proposed approaches for solving our number one problem right now. And for once, our number one problem is not Guatemala. It is crime. (Swine flu has become a major concern, but it is not a real problem here yet.)
Belizeans are always ready to speak out in defense of Belize once the topic raised is the unfounded Guatemalan claim. But on a day-to-day living basis, right now the major problem affecting everyone’s sense of safety and wellbeing is crime — escalating crime and violence, and a seriously challenged justice system.
With all the failings of our justice system, though, the majority of voices, it seems, have acknowledged that any real solution has to begin at the source, the breeding ground for the growing army of criminals – our legions of disenchanted, unemployed and thus idle youth, many with a feeling of being left out, being left behind, neglected, often hungry, and as often angry, and thus a perfect recruitment base for gangs and individuals well-established in crime.
But how did we get here, and how can we “get back”?
Under the “great” Ronald Reagan, President of the United States in most of the 1980’s, there were a number of things happening concurrently that started the ball rolling downhill for Belize. While there were raging wars in Central America (Nicaragua’s “Contra” war and civil wars in Salvador and Guatemala), crack cocaine invaded Belize, even while refugee immigration to Belize increased by leaps and bounds. “Amnesty” was introduced, and for a while this program aided Belizean emigration to the U.S., an effective safety valve for unemployed young Belizeans.
So a huge social problem was being spawned in Belize — rampant crack addiction among the local population, at the same time that massive immigration to Belize from Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala was taking place. Asian immigration then joined the fray, with the implementation of the “Economic Citizenship Program”.
But the safety release valve – Belizean emigration to the United States, which was facilitated by the amnesty program, was quickly closed.
Soon, the chickens were coming home to roost, the pressure began building up among our young population, until there is now near chaos in the “fowl cub” (coop).
Some young men started “sagging” as crack addiction wasted their bodies, and soon others took it and made it the new clothing fashion. All our youths began sagging, some trousers miraculously staying up even though the waistband was down at their butts. Coupled with this aspect of the drug culture was our youths’ espousal of the anti-education fad of some American TV- promoted hip-hop artists whose rise to fame was aided by their badge of honor – a drug- dealing and/or violent past.
Dropouts increased, especially among the Afro element of our young population, as young men already struggling in the education system found an easy “cop out” in emulating their “rude boy” and “Death Row” heroes; like “sour grapes”, to some of them education was no longer compatible with manhood.
As the early stages of the crime tsunami began to be felt 15-20 years ago, the word in the streets was, “dehn boy no happy”. It was a simple way of saying: no jobs, no opportunities, rising prices, amnesty done and no safety valve to the States, while many new refugees appeared to be benefiting from the U.N. refugee program.
In other words, an increasing number of youths were reaching a point where frustration had reached the level of despair, and then desperation, spiked with some jealousy of the newcomers, soon led to coldhearted, antisocial behavior.
Nowadays, it’s not easy (start your visa application with a non-refundable deposit of U.S. $131) for an unemployed young man to run to the States. In fact, the exodus is underway in reverse, as many seasoned criminals are among the deportees sent back home to us, with little hope of legally returning to Uncle Sam.
Gangs are now everywhere, and the step from drugs to guns to robberies is now easily made, as crimes of violence become more and more ruthless. Nevertheless, the step into the “get rich quick or die trying” drug world still appeals to our legions of disenchanted young men, who see no other way out of their economic predicament.
The problem is so big, the situation seems so irredeemable, that many Belizeans have remarked for years now, that “Belize gaan!” They are referring to the once peaceful, courteous, warm and loving community we used to have in Belize. Now it is all gone, and each day people face apprehension and worry that the violence and robbery epidemic will reach their doorsteps.
What can we do?
Where can we as citizens make a difference? Where do we start?
The prevailing perception is that some/many politicians are “tief”; some/many policemen are “crooked”; some/many church/school managements are “heartless”; some/many businessmen are “greedy and selfish”; some monopoly utilities are “chancing us”; etc, etc.
But where can we as citizens start to make a difference, to start to turn back the tide of violence and crime, for the sake of our children, ourselves and our older folks?
Some radio callers and newspaper letter writers have been echoing a simple call, a call that is as ancient as it is new, as cliché as it is real. Yes, it may sound like a “wild call”, but it still “cannot be denied.” The message is simple: “Show some love.” “Let your love light shine.”
If we would all stop and think about it, we would realize that the vast majority of Belizeans are still a warm, friendly and loving people. But many of us are afraid. Some of us have become fearful and tentative to the point of being reluctant to show our natural feelings of concern and caring for others, especially for strangers, our community’s children and our young people.
We just all need to “show some love,” like we used to do. “Hope we be no more strangers.” “Hail the man, that’s your brother on the street.” You’d be surprised to see how many minds inclined to crime could be turned if we started a wave of love to wash all over our troubled land.
It is very disheartening to hear our most popular and generous businessman, Mr. Pitterson, had even his place of business robbed. He, of all people, does not deserve that, after showing so much love to his community.
But don’t be fooled into believing that he is on the wrong track. Just think for a moment – who knows the situation of the young culprits? How many others have failed to make an impact on them when they had the chance? Did any of us grab the opportunity when it presented itself to show them some love and caring? Just by being kind and showing some concern and giving some assistance when asked, however small, it might have made a difference; it might have changed a young man’s mind from doing wrong, just thinking that somebody cared.
Some of us talk about lazy people, and crack heads, and beggars; but what is a dollar nowadays, to you who have a job? For a hungry, unemployed, desperate soul, it could be manna from heaven. And before you can begin to give advice and counsel, you have to win the youth’s confidence. That’s what the drug dealers do.
“Spare the rod, and spoil the child.” Justice must still be done, and our police and the courts have their job to do in dealing with the terrible scourge of crime. But we need jobs for our unemployed, and food for the hungry. In the meantime, we, meaning all of us citizens, have to start doing our part at the source, before they turn to crime; we must rekindle the spirit to “show some love” to those same would-be criminals at every opportunity. “The pleasure is mine,” our old folks used to say, when being thanked for an act of kindness.
Belize is depending on us, especially our little children. Like the ripple in a calm lake, each of our little drops of love will spread outwards; and before you know it, the love will be everywhere in Belize again. Nobody must starve! Everybody must eat! We will bring back our beautiful Belize, the Jewel of the Caribbean, of Central America, and of the world. Peace and love, brothers and sisters.