The Tribune

By Rev. Fr. S. Sebastian

Campbell

Have we moved out of the dark era to a time of enlightenment? Look again at the level and topics of debate in this country and you have your answer.

The Bahamas is not in touch with reality; the world is speeding by and we are left behind pretending as though we are aloof to issues rocking this global village. Consequently Bahamians are unenlightened on issues of a global nature that will or are having bearing on us. What can some of these issues be? Let us make a short list for now: Reparation, same sex-union/marriage, the ever evolving definition(s) of family, the gay agenda, common-law-marriage, healthy life styles, institutionalized dictators, VAT, social reform, modern colonialism, modern day slavery, the colonial mind, mental slavery. Peculiarities in the Bahamas must lead us to dialogue on, stemming population drift, agriculture and fisheries be coming our number one industry, illiteracy, unemployable and unemployment.

Our idle minds must be challenged so that we as a people can be more enlightened, and therefore, we will have a vision to forge ahead to the proverbial new frontier envisioned by leaders some twenty five years ago, or was it simply political gimmickry. The College of the Bahamas, our leading tertiary institution, soon to evolve into our own university, must be proactive at this level, whereby educating our wider Bahamian community rather than just fee paying students who darkened their doors. Properly understood, COB exists for the enlightenment of the community. Civic and religious institutions have failed us miserably on this score; more must be demanded. Those to whom much is given much is expected. I see churches, especially, as halls of academia for the edification of our people to be equipped in dealing with life in the here and now, not merely in “the sweet by and by”. Imagine the lectures, debates and the study halls that can be realized in structures already in place all across our land. Mind you, some churches have made but feeble attempts, but more is expected. Religion properly understood infiltrates the secular and lifts it to god likeness.

So many of our people in our pews and on our streets have issues that need to be addressed. Many would want us to create the appropriate forum with appropriate presenters so as to allow them to be enlightened as they are heard. The average person wants to talk, but have no one to lend an ear.

Far too long we have been fed with crumbs or husks from pigs’ food. Is there truth in the saying, “you are what you eat”? Then what are we as we are fed a constant diet of politics. The ongoing repertoire of rowing, cussing and slapping in politics excite so many. Misguided church leaders who can not go beyond talking about numbers and gambling are really annoying. The average Bahamian remains in the land of gossip, tearing people’s bag down and are ever so comfortable living in other people’s closet. As a society we are always in a self preservation mode, “out of all my mothers’ children...” or “all for me baby…” The PLP/FNM will always indulge in an ongoing war of words. Surely we must feed ourselves a better diet.

Wake up Bahamas. Let us join the real world debates and take all our people along. The ever growing constituency of bright minds, fresh from colleges and basking with degrees at all levels, Rhodes scholars and all, lets wake up to the call. COB, civic and religious groups, remember we have been blessed only so that we may be a blessing to others.

Let us raise the bar for a greater intellectual appetite and feed our people a richer diet they rightly deserve.