Cedric Moss
02-26-04, - 10:25 PM
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Stemming Lawlessness – Part 2
By
Apostle Cedric Moss
Today, I conclude my two-part commentary on how we might stem lawlessness in our country. While there is much more that the government can do, it will amount to little if we as a people do not change in our general attitude towards laws; we need to adhere to them in order to have a well-ordered society.
When It Hits Home
Martin Niemoeller was a pacifist who spoke out against nuclear weapons. He is perhaps best known for his powerful statement about the ultimate consequences of failing to speak out when we should. Concerning the atrocities of the Nazis, Niemoeller said: “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”
Niemoeller’s famous quote is instructive. It generically addresses our tendency to be disinterested in that which does not immediately affect us. In the case of lawlessness, our general attitude seems to be that as long as it is being committed against the state or other people and their property, it does not matter to us. However, one day that same yeast of lawlessness that we ignore will work its way to our doorstep and affect us negatively. Then we will become concerned and protest. But then it’s too late…at least for us.
The Zero Tolerance Initiative
Those who are responsible for Safe Bahamas and the Zero Tolerance Initiative (ZTI) should be commended for their efforts to address lawlessness. This public relations campaign emphasizes that “wrong is wrong” and points to the circle of wrong…while you are doing that wrong, about which you see nothing wrong, someone else is taking the same attitude towards some other wrong that affects you.
Considering that precious financial and human resources are being pumped into the ZTI, I would really like to think that it is making a significant impact to stem lawlessness. However, since lawlessness still seems to be pervasive, I sincerely wonder if the message is getting home.
Selective Enforcement
In my view, the cardinal mistake made by those who have authority for law enforcement is they fail to see that in some ways they contribute to that which they are fighting. For example, it is table talk that illegal gambling businesses are set up on our main streets and are allowed to continue to operate in open contravention to our laws. Why is this? I honestly do not know the reasoning of the police (and ultimately the government’s) for selective law enforcement in this regard but I do know that it contributes to the overall disdain for abiding by laws.
Evidently, these illegal activities that are overlooked by the police are seen as unimportant in the overall scheme of things. However, they would do well to heed the wisdom of King Solomon who warns that the little foxes ruin the vineyards (see Song of Songs 2:15).
Tied and Loose Goats
While commenting on industrial disputes a few months back, former Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham made the remark that “loose goat don’t know how tied goat feels”. He was making the point that the present government was now feeling what he and his government felt when they were dealing with similar labour issues for which, according to him, they got no support from the present government in Opposition at that time.
I believe the former Prime Minister’s comment can be applied to lawlessness as well. It is my observation that those who have sat and currently sit in Opposition in our country want to govern so badly that they will keep quiet about glaring lawlessness instead of collaborating with the Government of the day to address it in a bipartisan way. Just imagine how much we will stem lawlessness if we remove the possibility of political gain or loss from equation.
Sadly, those who offer themselves to govern are so consumed with the greed to lead that they will pander on the issue of lawlessness if it they feel it would help them to win or prevent them from losing. The reality is, both ways, we all lose.
Doing it Together
I would be among the first to admit that our challenge to stem lawlessness is no small one. Therefore, it will take a national effort. While the Government of the day has the ultimate responsibility to pass and enforce our laws, stemming lawless must begin with us individually. My sincere prayer is that we will take our individual responsibilities in this regard seriously and, if we do, together, we can and will stem lawlessness.
Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Commentary and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org.
Stemming Lawlessness – Part 2
By
Apostle Cedric Moss
Today, I conclude my two-part commentary on how we might stem lawlessness in our country. While there is much more that the government can do, it will amount to little if we as a people do not change in our general attitude towards laws; we need to adhere to them in order to have a well-ordered society.
When It Hits Home
Martin Niemoeller was a pacifist who spoke out against nuclear weapons. He is perhaps best known for his powerful statement about the ultimate consequences of failing to speak out when we should. Concerning the atrocities of the Nazis, Niemoeller said: “First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”
Niemoeller’s famous quote is instructive. It generically addresses our tendency to be disinterested in that which does not immediately affect us. In the case of lawlessness, our general attitude seems to be that as long as it is being committed against the state or other people and their property, it does not matter to us. However, one day that same yeast of lawlessness that we ignore will work its way to our doorstep and affect us negatively. Then we will become concerned and protest. But then it’s too late…at least for us.
The Zero Tolerance Initiative
Those who are responsible for Safe Bahamas and the Zero Tolerance Initiative (ZTI) should be commended for their efforts to address lawlessness. This public relations campaign emphasizes that “wrong is wrong” and points to the circle of wrong…while you are doing that wrong, about which you see nothing wrong, someone else is taking the same attitude towards some other wrong that affects you.
Considering that precious financial and human resources are being pumped into the ZTI, I would really like to think that it is making a significant impact to stem lawlessness. However, since lawlessness still seems to be pervasive, I sincerely wonder if the message is getting home.
Selective Enforcement
In my view, the cardinal mistake made by those who have authority for law enforcement is they fail to see that in some ways they contribute to that which they are fighting. For example, it is table talk that illegal gambling businesses are set up on our main streets and are allowed to continue to operate in open contravention to our laws. Why is this? I honestly do not know the reasoning of the police (and ultimately the government’s) for selective law enforcement in this regard but I do know that it contributes to the overall disdain for abiding by laws.
Evidently, these illegal activities that are overlooked by the police are seen as unimportant in the overall scheme of things. However, they would do well to heed the wisdom of King Solomon who warns that the little foxes ruin the vineyards (see Song of Songs 2:15).
Tied and Loose Goats
While commenting on industrial disputes a few months back, former Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham made the remark that “loose goat don’t know how tied goat feels”. He was making the point that the present government was now feeling what he and his government felt when they were dealing with similar labour issues for which, according to him, they got no support from the present government in Opposition at that time.
I believe the former Prime Minister’s comment can be applied to lawlessness as well. It is my observation that those who have sat and currently sit in Opposition in our country want to govern so badly that they will keep quiet about glaring lawlessness instead of collaborating with the Government of the day to address it in a bipartisan way. Just imagine how much we will stem lawlessness if we remove the possibility of political gain or loss from equation.
Sadly, those who offer themselves to govern are so consumed with the greed to lead that they will pander on the issue of lawlessness if it they feel it would help them to win or prevent them from losing. The reality is, both ways, we all lose.
Doing it Together
I would be among the first to admit that our challenge to stem lawlessness is no small one. Therefore, it will take a national effort. While the Government of the day has the ultimate responsibility to pass and enforce our laws, stemming lawless must begin with us individually. My sincere prayer is that we will take our individual responsibilities in this regard seriously and, if we do, together, we can and will stem lawlessness.
Apostle Cedric Moss serves as Senior Pastor at Kingdom Life World Outreach Centre. Commentary and feedback may be directed to: apostle@kingdom-life.org.