Dear Editor,
Two letters published in SN, namely, ‘Cultural industries sustain the identity of the nation’ (May 4) by Mr Barrington Braithwaite, and the other ‘Why are Deonarine and Fudadin waiting for visas?’ (May 9) by Mr Wesley Kirton about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ought to be looked at in tandem for us to realise the deep impact of the decadence which has come upon our society and has accelerated in the last two decades. Eloquence and sophistication have been cast aside. The fallout has had a deep impact on the social fabric resulting in a dilution of values – values which were held dear as being critical to a quality of life which our parents enjoyed not so long ago, and who visited social disgrace on those who ran afoul of accepted decency.
Both Messrs Braithwaite and Kirton are perhaps unaware of the fact that there is at present a lack of appreciation for the more serious aspects of the performing arts as existed in the heyday of the Theatre Guild. In the field of foreign affairs, LFS Burnham’s background, charisma and good taste enabled him to recognize those attributes which made for good ambassadors and diplomatic personages. In this regard, Editor, I recall making a suggestion at a United National Association of Guyana meeting some years ago in connection with a matter of fundraising for the association when I suggested that we should hold a ball. Present at that meeting were two former justices and an esteemed former foreign minister. The Chairman of the meeting in response to my suggestion asked very succinctly, “Who is going to attend?” Such a reply speaks volumes with regard to the absence of those in the society who would want to grace such an event with their presence.
But we are reminded that in Guyana we do not have ‘coming out’ parties or debutante balls. Lorrie Alexander some years ago in observing the lack of education and basic general knowledge exhibited at a contest at the National Cultural Centre had recognized the need for having finishing schools for our young women. The Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the Young Men‘s Christian Association (YMCA) no longer have the financial and human resources to play the roles they did in the development of our youths that they played some years ago, when young people were taught, among other beneficial things, self respect and deportment. There are women who came through the high school system at Enterprise High who were taught lawn tennis at the YWCA. The Dorcas Club and 4H Clubs also played their part in helping mould our youths to make a beneficial contribution to society. We wonder why so many of our womenfolk are the victims of physical and domestic abuse. One of the main causes is a lack of self-esteem which has caused many of them to succumb to the wiles of any sweet-talking Tom, Dick and Harry, especially those who are able to flaunt money. On accepting this largesse they are then considered to be the property of the donor, lock, stock and barrel. If there is any demonstration on their part of independence or an attempt to elevate themselves, such is met with veiled threats and subsequent physical abuse in several cases, sometimes ending in death of the weaker sex.
As opposed to the pedagogues of old, mainly males, bedecked in suits and ties, and a modern female with a strict and disciplined manner, there are those who are now failing along with their staffs to take a firm handle on the indiscipline in student bodies and to hold themselves up as models of propriety.
The Ministry of Culture has failed the youths miserably in terms of an infusion of activities which lend to suavity, eloquence and character development. There are no competitions for the composition of music like the Legend of Kaieteur for three pianists, or serious theatrical plays. In the public area there is no headlining of grants given by commercial entities to the Scouts and Girl Guides, YMCA or YWCA.
I suspect activities associated with those organisations do not attract clientele from an environment which is conducive to the consumption of alcohol and resultant ‘bacchanal’ and debauchery, not to mention the accompanying lewd music. The gyrations and lyrics at these events contribute in no small measure to the confrontational and violent attitude of participants, which is transplanted to the home, school and transport arenas. There are no dancehall role models. Thus the crudity of ‘I is’ ‘Don’t tek worries’ ‘me and you ok’ the ok repetition, ‘ya peeping’ are all expressions which have entered the vocabulary of our nationals at large. No longer is there a stigma attached to persons using such speech forms as being unworthy of your company, even by those expected to have some decorum. The warnings which our parents gave us four or five decades ago of ‘know your place,’ ‘don’t fly past your nest,’ ‘don’t pass your mark’ no longer apply. It is no wonder that a salesgirl at a snackette by the GPO not so long ago addressed yours truly as ‘ok babes’ in response to an order placed, and was politely told, ‘excuse me?‘ The retort was, ‘like I gon have to stop calling people babes.’ Such is the reason why a male, provided that he can flash dollars, could presume that any female is fair game and easy pickings, even if his appearance and manners exhibit crass crudity and ignorance or has false name like ‘Dogfood.’ The male with his pants hanging below his backside is admitted to anyone’s house without being reprimanded for a display of utter vulgarity; it is a trait copied from incarcerated felons who are not allowed to wear belts. It is because we no longer have tradesmen entrances to some homes or is it that we have cultivated lower and despicable values as opposed to those instilled by our elders many moons ago?
A number of readers would not have recognized the ramifications of Mr Kirton’s mention of Sir John Carter. The presence of Sir John and his gracious wife Lady Sarah Lou Carter (among others) in the Guyanese society contributed in great measure to the promotion of values associated with good taste and breeding – values which for some time have been relegated and cast aside after Independence with the elevation of the proletariat and some party faithful. One could ask the question how it is that in Kinshasa, Congo and in Iraq there is a presence of symphony orchestras, despite the insecurity in those countries.
The question could also be asked, how many of our people within the Ministry of Culture take time off during their sojourns overseas to attend a show on Broadway in New York or attend a symphony or opera at the Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall, or is that attendance at such fora is considered too highfalutin, since surely their allowances could permit such. Within the society there is a detachment by people who have been elevated by circumstances to the level of the noveau riche, but have failed to recognize that there are those who need a helping hand to achieve upward mobility. My experience late last year in recognizing two youths in the North East La Penitence community who exhibited exemplary behaviour, and admirable qualities and rewarding them is a case in point. This initiative has recently been exemplified by a bank and world recognized institution.
Editor I would like to enquire what happens to those youths outside of that net but who years ago would have joined a 4H Club, or those who do not play football, cricket or are Girl Guides and Boy Scouts? Where is the patronage for the promotion of the performing arts, and I don’t mean that given on the approach of Carifesta. With all the millions pumped into the sports arena why is there not one sponsor willing to fund the construction of an aesthetic concert hall or theatre outside the capital city? The fact that we in Guyana had in place an equestrian club seems as far-fetched as the existence of a building at the northern end of Carmichael Street which once housed a railroad terminus. But we do not today see anyone in a riding habit. Such a sport is too genteel for the generation which has evolved over the last so many years.
Yes, it is this lack of suavity in the mainstream of society that could cause the quick resort to violence whether in the home, in school or at lessons. It is the reason why drivers in exemplifying discipline cannot religiously hold to their side of the road in negotiating a turn on the road in case they end up in head on collisions. Then there are those of us who repeatedly litter with gay abandon without consciously acknowledging the effect of the multiplication impact on the environment.
Finally, Editor, we should not be surprised when youths are accused of attacking classmates over an inconsequential matter of a brand name item or a girlfriend. Could any of them quote one or two Final Jeopardy questions in a current week’s programme, or could any of their parents or uncles relate to them what a ‘K’ or Castello shoe or English mohair suit was as items of sartorial excellence? Some years ago I began a letter which was published in the Stabroek News that the culture has brought the society to the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM). There must now be an effort by those who have some exposure to more elegant times to restore its culture to the High Common Factor (HCF).
Could we explain the present scenario where a barber does not know what represents a barber shop sign or why is it that a minibus conductor has to rap his knuckles against the frame of the bus to alert the driver to stop, or why people cannot understand that throwing garbage in the alleyways retards the flow of water and contributes to flooding, or a cyclist must have a headlight and rear light on his cycle to be noticed in traffic at night, or why a butcher in the market is aghast if asked the price of a rib-eye or round tip roast, or to crown it all, where the equestrian school and stables were located some two-and-a-half decades ago? How many heads of schools and officers in the Guyana Teachers Union would have drawn their students’ attention to Dr Ian MacDonald’s article titled ‘The history of reading’ (SN, March 4) and task them with doing a summary of the article, and why is NASA.GOV.com not offered as a programme on NCN to generate interest by students in space and science technology?
I cry for Guyana and its decadence and continued descent into ‘ladidaism.’
Yours faithfully,
Aubrey Alexander
