Jamaica could solve the bulk of its economic problems if we would just behave ourselves.
The natural, untamed state of the human is one of entropy, a progression or gradual decline from order to disorder or chaos. This speaks to a basic reality of the human condition, which is that within each of us, there is an eternal struggle between doing what is good and wholesome and doing what is shady or even vile.
This is what happens when you mix an evolved spirit with an unevolved animal nature in a single body. The conflict is real. The stakes, though, of those ongoing small personal choices impact the entire society in the same way a butterfly flapping its wings in the Amazon can precipitate a storm that ravages Europe.
The more wholesome choices, the ones that spring forth from what Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature”, are central, but often overlooked, to our progress towards decency, peace and prosperity. These points are important because a quick scan of the Jamaican environment, littered with discarded panties on stage, references to ‘nasty naygas’, the impregnation of pubescent girls, public corruption, and intractable violent crime, suggests that we, as a society, are in a state of entropy, which we must purposefully seek to reverse.
Decency in our personal behaviour, language, and actions is not an abstract matter of being ‘stoosh’ but rather a real driver of national economic development. Decency leads to civilisation. A manifestation of civilisation is peace, and peace is central to sustained prosperity. With decency and civilisation, the world has seen a marked reduction in indiscriminate killings, rape, genocide, torture, and child abuse, among other brutalities. Paralleling this increase in decency and civilisation is an increase in prosperity globally. So while we argue about poverty, stability, employment rates, and exchange rates, we should also be clear that there is a decency dividend to be had.
Imagine for a moment the following random examples: You are having a party in your community and decide to turn down the music at 11:00 p.m. so that others may get a good night’s sleep. Those persons, in turn, wake up refreshed and positive and drive calmly to work, where they have a productive day.
Contrast that to being kept up until 4 a.m., waking up in a bad mood, driving badly, causing an accident, and missing part of the workday, with the rest being quite unproductive. Chain effects like this play out daily in our society. A man treated with respect at work may not beat his wife or children, and they, in turn, may contribute more to society.
A child who is taught to respect his elders may be less inclined to stab them in the chest for a slight reproach. A shopkeeper who is not afraid to keep his shop open late at night may be able to serve customers better, and they, in turn, are able to be more productive.
There is a synergistic positive effect of decency that accrues in economic and quality-of-life terms. This is well within our capacity to do without another dollar of government debt, foreign investment, or austerity programmes. Given this opportunity, it is useful to try to understand why we seem to be going in the direction of decay.
There may be something to learn from football. After Japan defeated Colombia 2-1 in their opening game at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Japanese fans did something odd. They took out plastic bags they had carried with them and, by hand, cleaned up the aisles and rows of the sections of the stadium where they had been sitting. This behaviour is deeply rooted in the Japanese school training system.
What decency means is its own challenge – dreads were indecent until they were fashionable. Jazz was indecent until you needed to put on a tie before going to a jazz club. As a society, we need to double down, or take seriously for the first time, the training of our young. Animals in the wild do it instinctively, yet Jamaicans seem willing to put it off as ‘their’ responsibility. And by training, I do not mean CSEC passes; I mean we need to be educated and trained in how to respect our bodies, respecting others, basic manners, cleanliness, thoughtfulness. Without these, 11 ones in CSEC would be, as they say, like casting pearls before swine. Part of training, too, are the examples set by public figures, whether or not they wish to acknowledge it. It is easier to emulate than inculcate in the learning process.
This work must be done. The path is not easy, but I remain optimistic. Yanique ‘Curvy Diva’ Barrett may consider taking off her panties on stage art, and that’s a debate worth having. Basil Waite, I know for certain, knows better and will do better, but we will all do well to remember that choices in the moment matter and have repercussions beyond what we intend.
The intervention of the political ombudsman on the Waite matter, and even the very fact that we have in place that system, give me hope. But alas, in general, in visiting high schools and walking on the streets of Kingston, I fear we are losing the battle for decency, which is at once a missed opportunity for economic growth and the source of much of what ails us.
