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Money and morals
Published: Sunday | November 1, 2009
I listened to a very revealing discussion hosted by Cliff Hughes on his programme Impact aired on TVJ on October 22. The discussion surrounded the current topic of the contribution that our dancehall music is making to the violent behaviour being displayed by many of our youth. The participants in the discussion were Cliff Hughes, moderator, Skatta Burrell, Queen Ifrica, Foota Hype, Mystic, Mr Vegas and Robert Livingston.
Throughout the discussion, all the participants, apart from Queen Ifrica, maintained that dancehall was benefiting the society because it provided employment to the various persons involved in the industry. This benefit was what was paramount in the discussion. When asked if they did not see a relation between the violent lyrics and the violent behaviour of youth, most of those present denied such impact. These artistes proceeded to say that it was the responsibility of parents to monitor their children and determine what influence they came under. I was amazed at the hypocrisy of this response and I was glad to see that Queen Ifrica added a voice of clear conscience to the discussion. She was the voice that tried to get the group to see that there was a connection in what message the music was sending and what was happening in the society.
free to write
The other artistes in the group pushed the idea that they should be free to write, promote, play and sing what they chose because it would be bought. Creative licence is clearly determined by the financial reward that it brings. How can parents who have to allow their children out in the public, to take our public transportation, to walk on the streets, to interact with other youngsters at school, be the only agents responsible for the socialisation of the youth of our nation? Parents play an important role but they cannot be the only ones whose responsibility it is to shape the behaviour of the nation's young. All the stakeholders in the society must play a part, especially those who have the greatest powers of influence on our young.
This is Jamaica. In Jamaica, one of the greatest influences on our youth is our music. It is disingenuous for us to argue otherwise. Therefore, when artistes try to pass off the responsibility that they have to shape our nation's youth to be that of just the parents, it is dishonest, to say the least.
The discussion also addressed the matter of the morals involved in this position that the artistes take in promoting violent lyrics because it sells. This comment was made by Mr Vegas concerning this point, "How yu mus talk bout morals wen yu hungry?"
immoral behaviour
This begs the question. Is need the excuse for immoral behaviour? Do we excuse the thief who breaks into a store and steals goods to sell because he needs to feed his family? Do we excuse the man who breaks into another man's house to steal and when confronted, kills the owner because he does not have a job? Do we excuse the woman who sends her daughter to sleep with a man to get money because she needs to feed her family?
Are we saying that morality should not set boundaries for our conduct? If as a society we do not establish standards of what is right and wrong behaviour; if we do not acknowledge and accept that such considerations are important in how we relate to each other, then we will continue on the downward spiral into baseness and anarchy.
I was heartened to see on All Angles, hosted by Dionne Jackson Miller on Wednesday, October 28, that the participants included an academic from the University of the West Indies who acknowledged that the current clash between Gaza and Gully was having a negative impact on our youth. She agreed that music has a very strong influence on the behaviour of our young people. This position was new coming from the University of the West Indies, since other academicians from that institution who publicly discuss the dancehall phenomenon in our society usually take a position of defence as it relates to the genre's negative impact on our youth.
favourite dancehall artistes
A guidance counsellor from Holy Trinity High School, who was also a participant on that programme, pointed out that many of our youth, as our examination results show, are not able to comprehend at an advanced level. They, however, know the lyrics of all their favourite dancehall artistes. The music, therefore, he says, becomes the manual for these young people's behaviour. This is what many teachers and educators realise, and if our artistes are honest, they themselves will accept this.
I am asking our artistes to use this awesome power that they have over our youth to influence them in attitudes and behaviour that will benefit them and, therefore, the society. Begin to write and promote music that will motivate our youth to work to develop their minds, to get a skill, to do well in school. Begin to write about our social issues in a way that proposes positive solutions, not death, violence, blood and gore. Begin to encourage our young people to resolve conflicts peacefully, without the knife and the gun.
If we continue as a nation to believe that we must excuse negative behaviour and attitudes because "man affi eat a food", then we are going to see more and more lawlessness resulting in our society. Former prime minister, P.J. Patterson spoke about a values and attitudes campaign which never got off the ground. I think the Government and the private sector need to make a serious attempt at promoting such a campaign.
The present prime minister made the point some months ago that even if we got all the money needed to address our financial problems, without a sense of morality, we will not succeed as a nation. It is now or never.
<span style="font-style: italic">Esther Tyson is principal of Ardenne High School, St Andrew. Feedback may be sent [email protected].</span>
Published: Sunday | November 1, 2009
I listened to a very revealing discussion hosted by Cliff Hughes on his programme Impact aired on TVJ on October 22. The discussion surrounded the current topic of the contribution that our dancehall music is making to the violent behaviour being displayed by many of our youth. The participants in the discussion were Cliff Hughes, moderator, Skatta Burrell, Queen Ifrica, Foota Hype, Mystic, Mr Vegas and Robert Livingston.
Throughout the discussion, all the participants, apart from Queen Ifrica, maintained that dancehall was benefiting the society because it provided employment to the various persons involved in the industry. This benefit was what was paramount in the discussion. When asked if they did not see a relation between the violent lyrics and the violent behaviour of youth, most of those present denied such impact. These artistes proceeded to say that it was the responsibility of parents to monitor their children and determine what influence they came under. I was amazed at the hypocrisy of this response and I was glad to see that Queen Ifrica added a voice of clear conscience to the discussion. She was the voice that tried to get the group to see that there was a connection in what message the music was sending and what was happening in the society.
free to write
The other artistes in the group pushed the idea that they should be free to write, promote, play and sing what they chose because it would be bought. Creative licence is clearly determined by the financial reward that it brings. How can parents who have to allow their children out in the public, to take our public transportation, to walk on the streets, to interact with other youngsters at school, be the only agents responsible for the socialisation of the youth of our nation? Parents play an important role but they cannot be the only ones whose responsibility it is to shape the behaviour of the nation's young. All the stakeholders in the society must play a part, especially those who have the greatest powers of influence on our young.
This is Jamaica. In Jamaica, one of the greatest influences on our youth is our music. It is disingenuous for us to argue otherwise. Therefore, when artistes try to pass off the responsibility that they have to shape our nation's youth to be that of just the parents, it is dishonest, to say the least.
The discussion also addressed the matter of the morals involved in this position that the artistes take in promoting violent lyrics because it sells. This comment was made by Mr Vegas concerning this point, "How yu mus talk bout morals wen yu hungry?"
immoral behaviour
This begs the question. Is need the excuse for immoral behaviour? Do we excuse the thief who breaks into a store and steals goods to sell because he needs to feed his family? Do we excuse the man who breaks into another man's house to steal and when confronted, kills the owner because he does not have a job? Do we excuse the woman who sends her daughter to sleep with a man to get money because she needs to feed her family?
Are we saying that morality should not set boundaries for our conduct? If as a society we do not establish standards of what is right and wrong behaviour; if we do not acknowledge and accept that such considerations are important in how we relate to each other, then we will continue on the downward spiral into baseness and anarchy.
I was heartened to see on All Angles, hosted by Dionne Jackson Miller on Wednesday, October 28, that the participants included an academic from the University of the West Indies who acknowledged that the current clash between Gaza and Gully was having a negative impact on our youth. She agreed that music has a very strong influence on the behaviour of our young people. This position was new coming from the University of the West Indies, since other academicians from that institution who publicly discuss the dancehall phenomenon in our society usually take a position of defence as it relates to the genre's negative impact on our youth.
favourite dancehall artistes
A guidance counsellor from Holy Trinity High School, who was also a participant on that programme, pointed out that many of our youth, as our examination results show, are not able to comprehend at an advanced level. They, however, know the lyrics of all their favourite dancehall artistes. The music, therefore, he says, becomes the manual for these young people's behaviour. This is what many teachers and educators realise, and if our artistes are honest, they themselves will accept this.
I am asking our artistes to use this awesome power that they have over our youth to influence them in attitudes and behaviour that will benefit them and, therefore, the society. Begin to write and promote music that will motivate our youth to work to develop their minds, to get a skill, to do well in school. Begin to write about our social issues in a way that proposes positive solutions, not death, violence, blood and gore. Begin to encourage our young people to resolve conflicts peacefully, without the knife and the gun.
If we continue as a nation to believe that we must excuse negative behaviour and attitudes because "man affi eat a food", then we are going to see more and more lawlessness resulting in our society. Former prime minister, P.J. Patterson spoke about a values and attitudes campaign which never got off the ground. I think the Government and the private sector need to make a serious attempt at promoting such a campaign.
The present prime minister made the point some months ago that even if we got all the money needed to address our financial problems, without a sense of morality, we will not succeed as a nation. It is now or never.
<span style="font-style: italic">Esther Tyson is principal of Ardenne High School, St Andrew. Feedback may be sent [email protected].</span>
any ting else u get from di article odda dan u usual 
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