As the year 2010 comes to a close, I’d like to draw our attention upon the values we have placed; mainly upon the meanings behind our local traditions and social customs. Take for instance the celebration of Christmas. We live in a Christian nation wherein our constitutional rights and common laws are structured predominately upon Christian values.
The principle of love one toward another; the value of life; the respect of self and property combined with respect for others and their properties are all basic lessens’ taught to us as children… in various public and private schools, and in homes throughout our Bahamaland. The golden rule “it is better to give than to receive” can be quoted by any five years old, at the drop of a hat. That these strong principles and values are being taught is good news for any growing nation.
When we combine strong moral values within our culture and tradition, it complements the makeup of our people, and lends to straightening the social fabric. The fact that these principles and values are not being enforced, backup by an equally strong parental discipline system and community planning makes for a recipe for disaster. Without constant monitoring, a single household will eventually collapse upon itself, taking the wider community and nation down with it.
To date, local statistics puts the murder rate at 94 souls for the year. There is record unemployment and more Bahamians are expected to lose their jobs; a deep recessive time when the government treasury is almost depleted of funds and owes billions to international banks. Indeed, 2010 have certainly proven its’ self to be a tumultuous year for all concerned.
And, as we close this year with our traditional Christmas celebrations, we are remained on every side that many of our brothers and sisters are still in distressed. Those, whom have stood tall with us, in good times, have succumbed to the recession and are fallen by the wayside. It maybe the time for being jolly and bright but many are not. A time when we all gather to feast with our families and friends; to eat, drink and be merry, but misfortune makes it extremely difficult to spread joy among the members of your own household… let alone your neighbor.
Seemingly, this Christmas has become a time for coveting our neighbors’ property; their cars, their jobs and money, and not a thought is placed upon the noble virtue of doing onto others as you would they do onto you. Seemingly, The Christmas spirit has been taken captive by demons of greed and jealousy in our Christian nation; where even the pennies collected towards helping innocent and needing children, within our communities, are taken away by false spirits and conniving gringes.
The value of life apparently hinge upon whether the economy is stable or not, and if the economy is bad the natural expectation falls within stealing the property of our brothers and/or sisters; wherein taking the life of your neighbor involves more pride than taking a job to feed ones’ own family. The meaning of the Christmas being commercialized through the years by corporate greed, had influenced many over time, giving us a sense that the ends do justify the means; that how we gain or succeed in life, though insignificant, carries more value than hard work and fair play.
Regardless of the obstructions to justice and routine conflicts we face daily, the strong traditional principles and moral values taught to us as children ought to have kicked in, to guide us along a straight and narrow path. However, the more we remind ourselves of our high moral and Christian standards; the more we get reminded of our lack thereof.
Not to mention that Christians where never taught, within the original religious text, to celebrate the winter solstice (the darkest time of the calendar year), and despite being warned, by their god, never to hue down trees to be placed in homes and decorated with ornaments; this custom and tradition, celebration to the sun god, became the most popular of them all among those practicing Christianity. Further to adapt pagan and heathenish rituals, customs, practices and traditions to support one of Christendom’s holiest of days… the birth of their lord and savior, is by far the most insane and incomprehensible act of blasphemy. Is there any wonder why so many individuals in society are deeply confused?
So the questions remain to be answered; where is the Christmas spirit among our predominately Christian society? Where is the peace on earth and goodwill toward all men? Where’s the natural compassion shared one toward another? Where is the love??
and,
