There are consequences for all our actions
in life.
There are consequences for our actions
during our life, and for those who believe in various forms of afterlife, there
are consequences after our death as well.
There are grieving families all over Cayman
after five fatal shootings of young men in nine days, and another young
shooting victim is clinging to life.
The mothers of the young men invariably say
they were good boys, led astray by bad influences like American television,
American music or just hanging out with the wrong crowd.
We hear that some of these young men had to
turn to crime because expatriates were taking the job they should have had.
We hear that the schools failed these young
men, not giving them the basic skills to enter the workforce.
Seldom, however, do we hear that the
parents had anything to do with why these young men turned to gangs and a life
of criminal activity.
Make no mistake however; the current
problem with young Caymanian men is closely linked to the breakdown of Cayman’s
nuclear family structure and the sense of values that structure provided. As a
result, some of Cayman’s youth has lost a basic sense of right and wrong.
Certainly the shocking rise of unwed
pregnancies has played a role in the downfall of the nuclear family. We live in
a time when the term ‘baby mama’ has become a standard part of our vernacular,
and where many young men don’t feel a responsibility to provide financial
support or guidance for their children.
Yes, art can influence an unguided mind in
negative ways. Yes, not being able to read or write can put a person at a
severe disadvantage in the workplace. Yes, not being able to get a job is
demoralising and a recipe for disaster for a young man. But none of these
factors is an excuse for becoming a gang member, let alone a thief, a robber or
a murderer.
The truth is, these are not good boys. Our
society should bear some of the blame, but ultimately we are all responsible
for our own actions and there are terrible consequences for a life of crime.
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