Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:10 AM
Jul 12, 2015 Editorial
For far too long, our children have been going astray and no one seems to care or know how to bring them back. Now that we have a change of government that is moving Guyana forward in the right direction, we need to save them and teach them to know the creator.Without some form of religious upbringing, our children are likely to be condemned to a life of misery. We have to sow seeds of respect, hard work, honesty, gratitude and love for country and for one another very early for the future well-being of our children and the nation or else we are doomed. If the plight of children is ignored, many of them will join gangs and become criminals in order to survive and bolster their self-esteem among peers. Image and self-worth mean a lot to children. Be that as it may, we must not allow our children to go astray.
It was not too long ago when children were taught and encouraged to act and behave like children. They were nurtured in good habits and proper public behavior by their parents, teachers and elders in their respective communities. They were taught to respect themselves and others, especially their elders and other people’s property. Many grew up in the fear of the Almighty in anticipation of being a decent adult by doing adult things. They were not exposed to illegal drugs or unearthly behavior but instead were instilled with the notion that religion was not only needed but was necessary for their upbringing.And indeed the effort has to go beyond escorting them to a church, mosque, synagogue, temple or mandir, but rather to a spiritual being.Irrespective of one’s religion or ethnicity, there must be a genuine effort by the elders in society to teach and empower children to do the right thing. The Constitution of Guyana does not allow for discrimination against race or religion of any kind.
The regular if not daily connection with the Creator by children should be ofa natural construct, encouraged and fostered by their parents, teachers and role models, not to mention their spiritual leaders.But the truth is, in today’s technological world, internet, cell phones and cable television have exposed children from a very young age to all manner of ill-suited conversations, habits, music and sex in both content and flavor. What is even worse is that some parents and guardians have allowed their children to look at all manner of adult entertainment, including pornography on television. This has confused the minds of the young as to what is right or wrong in society, affected their spiritual development and has caused them not to know their true role and purpose in society.
Furthermore, it does not help when some parents, elders and the supposedly more educated in society seem to believe that the growing misconduct among children is just a fad, and that like many other things in vogue, it will fade away with time. This is not true because the fact is more youths are involved in criminal activities and gangs today than ever before in the history of Guyana, and with greater intensity and morbidity despite all the advances in education, religious teachings and career development opportunities.
However, it should be noted that educational and religious institutions are only good to the extent that their achievements both within and without are valued and celebrated not only by children but by parents, guardians and by society as a whole. And while some would criticize and speak out against those institutions, the teachings, practice and conduct of these learning institutions must reflect the norms of society, caring enough to encourage positive relationships and develop sound students’ self-esteem.
It is the responsibility of the APNU+AFC Coalition government to make sure that the welfare and development of youths rise above all other interests, and that their care and proper guidance be at the center of all government policies and societal interactions. If children are neglected by those who should instead be mentoring them, they will definitely go astray. Simply put, the future of children lies to a great extent with the government but more so in the hands of their parents, teachers, spiritual and community leaders. This has been the case from the beginning of time.
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