Ian Boyne, Contributor
IN A rolling wave across the capital city, community after community are openly rejecting the authority of the Government and its security forces and is embracing the rule of the Don."
Thus began The Gleaner's Tuesday editorial on "The Rule of the Don". It was the most significant issue discussed in any editorial locally for the week. And the most frightening. That woman -- not bereft of dramatic flair -- who told the television reporter some weeks ago that "dem mus leave the dads alone, we nuh wan no police round yah" poignantly rammed home the consciousness of the depths to which we have sunk.
There was no shame about endorsing someone of questionable character, but rather a defiance; an annoyance, in fact, that anyone would dare to disturb the arrangement whereby the "dads" supplied school fees and dinner money. As "the dads" himself reportedly and believably told the police, "You bright fi come inna mi territory."
The Gleaner editorial noted that downtown don Zekes locked down the capital city nearly two years ago and the police -- the state -- had to hurriedly, and in a panic, bring out the "dads" so he could wave off the protests of his subjects, assuring them he was quite all right and everything would be okay. People could then go back to normal life -- but not before that.
Mountain View has come out in support of its dons and "dads" and just recently it was Rockfort's time to show its solidarity and gratitude for "good deeds" rendered. Some even marched on the police station demanding the release of their precious dons, or "community leaders" as the media call them. "Whatever the causes of the breakdown, the Government and the country are facing a serious crisis of law and order when the authority of the state is so regularly and openly flouted by growing segments of the society."
The editorial then noted the "complicity of communities in fomenting crime and violence," stating this must not be overlooked. "The deafening silence of the Government over this spreading menace to the authority of the state is alarming."
The media
The editorial, however, could look to another section of the society and ask for accountability there: the media. And immediately the defensiveness goes up, accompanied by arrogance.
The incessant harping on the weaknesses and alleged excesses of the policing of most reportage on police confrontation with citizens have all deepened the cynicism and, indeed, hostility to the security forces. It is small wonder that criminals are now emboldened and their supporters are open in defence of them. It makes no sense being alarmed about the whirlwind when we in the media have sown to the wind, particularly in the electronic media -- especially television.
Media the world over have thrived on scepticism and cynicism. Our most honoured journalists are the most cynical, and in a world of so much evil and treachery, one needs a dose of that to do good journalism. But when does a sceptical mindset convert to bias, an anathema in journalism, at least theoretically?
It is undeniable that the security forces have abused poor people's rights and have shown contempt for people in the ghetto. The security forces have done much, without the help of the media, to warrant the alienation, disgust and mistrust with which they have been "rewarded" by large sections of the society.
But we have to ask ourselves some pragmatic questions. In our war with terrorists and hardened criminals, do we run the risk of disheartening and demoralising our security forces, or do we give them critical support while fighting terrorism?
Arch-enemies of the East and the West joined forces when they were facing the greater threat from the Nazis. It did not mean they became any less convinced of the evil of either side or the atrocities being committed there. But one has to prioritise one's enemies.
When talk-show hosts spend multiple hours every week reciting horror stories of police brutality and wickedness; when every police-citizen confrontation makes the police come out the bad guys, looking like liars; when any mischief-maker can get as much air time as long as he has some an "ain't-it-awful" story to tell about the police, then why be alarmed when citizens feel proud of defying the state in support of their dons?
Prostitutes
We have become a nation of prostitutes. As long as money is "dropped", then we will drop all principles and morality. As long as politicians, musicians and dons drop money, we will dance to their tune. That woman from the Commons area off Red Hills road was just voicing the views of many people, uptown and downtown. They don't care one damn about morality as long as they get some food and money to profile. We are for sale, after all.
The biggest crisis in Jamaica today is a values crisis. Our greatest need is not for some economic miracle worker to attract big factories for us. We need someone who can inspire us to a moral revolution.
Our country is undergoing what the social scientists call a "legitimation crisis". The centre is not holding. The lack of trust and cynicism which have overwhelmed us constitute our greatest threat, not unemployment, crime and any political crisis. These are symptoms.
Our bias against the security forces is so entrenched that it is only now that occasionally some media practitioner will under his breath admit that many of those people prancing before television cameras are just puppets who are afraid for their lives and of their little shacks being burnt down by criminals.
If the media were interested in the interests of "the people" they would support the police in their war against the terrorists who hold these people in captivity. Talk to the people who are being "taxed" in the ghettos.
Talk to the construction managers who have to budget large amounts for the dons and their cronies or else no work will go on. Talk to the business people who have to pay criminals heavily to stay in business.
Will investors see Jamaica as desirable with such appallingly poor social and moral infrastructure? You can't create a hi-tech society with low-tech values.
The erosion of the authority of the state is not just alarming for the Government. It is alarming for those of us who don't want to take any of the flights out of this country.
