REGENERATING THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL VALUES OF OUR SOCIETY

By Vernon Khelawan

Last week the people of Trinidad and Tobago observed Emancipation Day – a special day dedicated to marking the end of slavery and a most fitting reminder of the suffering many people of African descent endured during a specific period in history.

But it begs a question. Are we truly liberated? A look around our country today will tell a different story. And while our people talk freedom, we have unfortunately become a society that is now wearing the shackles of unadulterated greed and selfishness.

The headlines scream every morning about corruption at all levels of this society. We know it, we live it, we encourage it.

That is why in one of his most recent sermons, Archbishop Joseph Harris posed a very poignant question to the congregation.

It was a question saturated with realism and aimed at encouraging his listeners to engage in some critical thinking.

Archbishop Harris urged people to ask themselves what decisions they could make today to make the future worth living for their children and grandchildren.

He explained that for there to be a future which could be enjoyed and valued, there had to be dreamers and those dreamers must dream “big” because small dreams were only concerned with the present and self. That word again!

Self! Self! Self! This is one of the situations crying out for a change in attitude and should that change occur and gain traction, it will give great meaning to the Third Pastoral Priority – Regenerating the Moral and Spiritual Values of our Society.

If we take the time to look around and really examine the morass into which we have slid, the reasons for our sorry state should become clear. We simply have refused to do anything about the bribery and other forms of corruption that now permeate every facet of life in Trinidad and Tobago.

We go shopping and accept the price gouging; we have surrendered to the growing criminal activity by installing burglar proofing; we encourage the PH system of public transportation; we pay bribes for services due to us as citizens; we jump the queues, even in fetes. We are simply too complacent.

We need to think seriously about Archbishop Harris’ words: What have you done recently that would contribute to making a better Trinidad and Tobago for your children and grandchildren?