The Bahamas for many years prided itself in its people in recognition of the fact that the people of this great nation are the greatest and most valuable asset this country possesses. It remains unfathomable and simply remarkable that this nation of islands has become the jewel of the West Indies relying on the blessings of sun, sand and sea, which are by no means unique to us. Our national anthem highlights the glory of the rising sun on our archipelago with a promise of hope for a small island nation called The Bahamas.
The level of prosperity we enjoy in The Bahamas cannot be dissociated from the indomitable spirit of our people and our tendency to hold fast to the morals and norms that were passed down from our ancestors. In simple words, we had a reputation for being a peaceable, respectful and embracing people. However, recent occurrences and the perceived level of decadence within our society have left many puzzled as to how we got to the point that we have arrived at today. Why are we experiencing such a high rate of criminal activity, disrespect for one another and, in some cases, outright hatred for one another? What is contributing to the high rate of teenage pregnancy, high school drop-outs and the apparent deterioration of the family structure? Why are so many persons, especially our young people, displaying a constant disrespect for persons in authority or those who are charged with maintaining the rule of law?
The answers are not straightforward but complex, as the problems have been created by myriad factors produced by a cross section of participants within the Bahamian society; yes, we got here because of all of us. It is for this same reason that no easy solutions are readily available to the many challenges that so vehemently confront us on a daily basis and we must retrace our footsteps.

The reasons for
the decline
Many have weighed in on what they believe to be the reasons for the deterioration in our society and the cause of the changing norms. Those who are believers in God have attributed the social ills to what they believe to be a lack of the fear for God and his commandments. A vast amount of Christians and members of the clergy are of the view that the Bahamian people have forgotten God, and a simple return to his care and commands would prompt a healing of our Bahamaland.
A school of thought holds the firm belief that a more practical and logical approach should be taken when diagnosing the cause of this national menace. Some commentators have opined that children are having children; others say it is due to the absence of fathers in the homes, others argue that an inadequate or broken educational system is the cause and we have failed to adequately educate our children; while others maintain that the problem lies in the fact that this generation of Bahamians is poorly socialized. It has also been suggested that the government is to blame because its policies over the years have been structured and executed in a manner that is set up to promote the failure of successive generations of Bahamians. However, there also exists a premise that the current state of affairs is as a result of the drug era in Bahamian history.

The diagnosis of
color blindness
The details of the diagnosis of our national issues will often differ depending on the individual or stakeholder to whom the questions are posed. In each case, it is often not unexpected that references will be quoted and some facts used to support the notion put forward. However, can it truly be said that these are the causes of the deterioration within our society? The argument that the church put forth seems to be gaining little traction with the apparent decrease in church attendance and dwindling contributions to the work of religious establishments. It can therefore be argued that there is sufficient collaborative evidence to highlight a correlation between deviation from the things of God and the moral decadence within our communities.
The other suggested causes are however dwarfed by a social ill taking root in our country. How can a society divided against itself begin to heal when we continue to allow so many forces to drive a deeper and continuous wedge between us? This new evil has given birth to political tribalism in the place of political allegiance resulting in a form of color blindness within our citizenry with the exclusive colors red and yellow (and most recently green). The new generation of Bahamians appreciate the value of our democracy and the intrigue of party politics albeit the latter takes a back stage to the national interest. For indeed we know that a house divided against itself cannot stand. While we are all entitled to our respective choices and opinions, no allegiance should compromise our integrity or ability to make sound righteous and just decisions or our ability to put service to mankind and country above our selfish exploits and desires.

Prescription of
social norms
The disturbing deviation from our historical social norms and moral values which helped to provide the necessary self-control and dignity required for the common good of our society has contributed tremendously to the predicament we face today. The culprits are numerous and spread across the Bahamian society starting with the parents who fail to instill discipline in their children at the earliest opportunity, to the increase in physical or emotional absence of fathers either in the home or in the lives of their children. In addition, the erring of various arms of society including parents, teachers, the church and/or the community to teach family life values and principles to the next generation of Bahamians continues to play a contributing factor.
In the end, we are experiencing changing norms within our society. This change fueled by political manipulation is arguably contributing to the social degradation that we are experiencing today. The new generation of Bahamians will not be swayed by political slogans or maneuvers aimed at self-preservation but will focus on nation building against all odds. We know that it is incumbent upon us to reverse the current social trend positively in favor of subsequent generations of Bahamians. We will march on until the road we trod and the path we take is one of national service and leads unto our God. For we know that the failure of Bahamians tomorrow will be upon the heads of those of us who exist today. Therefore, we must take an introspective look at ourselves and ensure that we are doing all that we can to make The Bahamas a better place. The change begins within us.

o Arinthia S. Komolafe is an attorney-at-law. Comments on this article can be directed to a.s.komolafe510@gmail.com.

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