Transitional Times

“Young people around the world are experiencing great and excruciating change. Never before in recorded history have such drastic changes occurred in such a short period of time. In our lifetimes we have moved from an industrial-agricultural era to a technological era that demands a high level of skill, and in a time when our economic institutions seem to encourage the isolation of individuals and families.”

The problems and violence which involve young people in all communities of The Bahamas call for a focus by all leaders in the society for systems of change and a commitment to helping the whole person and his community. The children in Nassau Village, like those in Kemp Road and Bain Town are trying to grow up and be the social animals that all human beings are, without many of the necessary supports.

In this article, we localize comments by an Attorney appearing in the Phoenix Gazette.We contend, as this lawyer did, that the most common image of violent gang shooting too often overlooks the violence in our bedrooms, living rooms and boardrooms.Interpersonal and institutional violence degrades and injures thousands of children, women and the elderly.

Interpersonal violence includes prenatal abuse, child abuse, corporal punishment, gender violence, sexual assault, elderly abuse, racial and ethnic violence, violence against homosexuals, murder, assault, burglary, etc.

Many Bahamians are now aware that the unprecedented violence against and by young black males is poisoning society as a whole. And most people still see violence as largely a criminal justice concern when, in fact, it is also a complicated public health, mental health, economic, social and cultural condition.

Escalating violence in The Bahamas should not signify that the Bahamas is alone in this issue.Headlines scream all around the Caribbean, across Europe, the United States and the rest of the world as violence soar.

Reports from authorities in cities around the world reveal that the largest cities are becoming the epicenter of insecurity and conflict. The reasons they give for this, is of course, the escalating concentration of wealth, information, and people in big cities. However, this movement has not included community as a way of dealing with the human side of the equation, so therefore, the scale in which these cities are built and developed does not lend itself to behaving like villages or neighbourhoods where people can have relationships with each other.Because of the concentration of wealth and poverty on the two extremes, a collision of values, of relationships, and of security appears to be developing.

Various barriers do not allow for communication between groups that are different. Instead, there is concentration on social relationships almost completely with groups that are alike, thus causing conflict, misunderstanding, inability to communicate, fear, and fear of the unknown, as well as the desire to take from those who do not have because they cannot afford to maintain themselves in cities.

Many experts see the growth of a global economy, the worldwide drug trade, and the critical role played by new technology as the culprits.People who are poor and without specific skills become surplus. They are not needed for the growth and development of this worldwide economy.

In the final analysis, what we are looking for in The Bahamas are cures.But, from Europe, there comes the conclusion that there are no specific cures; that they, as we, are trying various kinds of projects, policies, and grassroots attempts to stem the tide of urban violence and trying to bring some kind of rational relationship back to people and the environment in which they live.It seems likely that this growing economic gap of disproportional scale relative to income, knowledge, skills, etc., is only going to widen, and it is somewhere in that gap that the whole of civilization could be plunged if we do not begin immediately to find some way to create the context wherein public kinship and communication between people in society can take place.

Youth violence is not subsiding and crime in general is increasing in the Bahamas. Communities throughout the nation feel extremely insecure. Part of this, is that, economically, these are transitional times that we live in.

Also, we have Politicians who are appeasing some individual in communities and are getting in the way of police.While individuals and groups in our society more than ever need to be closer together because of traumatic experiences, when crimes are committed, they should be reported and the police should be allowed to do their work without political interference.

Alcoholism, unwanted pregnancies and crime all are climbing among young populations around the world.These are signs that there is a need for understanding of the issues and comprehensive planning for youth to successfully come into their own as contributing individuals in the society.They must have a chance to envision a future.This chance is the best gift that this generation can give its offspring.

We need to refocus our sights on what violence is, how we create community, and what the consequence are if we fail.