Dear Editor,
Jamaica has a serious problem of double standards, which is one of the main reasons we have so much indiscipline among us. Our children grew up with adults who blatantly disregard rules and laws in their presence, yet we still expect them to act as model citizens when they become adults.
For example, once while I was travelling in a taxi that was overloaded, information reached the driver that police personnel and members of the Transport Authority were doing spot checks ahead of us. A policewoman was with us and she openly informed the driver to allow her to drive the vehicle through the spot check. This was done, and the vehicle passed without a check.
More recently, I had to do business in Kingston and decided to travel on one of the JUTC buses. While waiting for its departure, I noticed a sign that prohibited eating on the buses. Despite this, however, vendors were selling and people were eating as if the sign did not exist.
As I sat, I asked myself if we really expect a better country when we cannot live by the simplest of rules. These simple forms of behaviour, though they may seem insignificant, are watched by our children, emulated, and later develop into some of the problems we have in schools, on the job, in the community and the country at large.
Therefore, as we make New Year resolutions, I suggest we start following rules in our little circle of life and allow them to shine in our country at large.
Patricia Clarke
Claremont, St Ann
nardia.dixon@yahoo.com
Follow the rules!
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Jamaica has a serious problem of double standards, which is one of the main reasons we have so much indiscipline among us. Our children grew up with adults who blatantly disregard rules and laws in their presence, yet we still expect them to act as model citizens when they become adults.
For example, once while I was travelling in a taxi that was overloaded, information reached the driver that police personnel and members of the Transport Authority were doing spot checks ahead of us. A policewoman was with us and she openly informed the driver to allow her to drive the vehicle through the spot check. This was done, and the vehicle passed without a check.
More recently, I had to do business in Kingston and decided to travel on one of the JUTC buses. While waiting for its departure, I noticed a sign that prohibited eating on the buses. Despite this, however, vendors were selling and people were eating as if the sign did not exist.
As I sat, I asked myself if we really expect a better country when we cannot live by the simplest of rules. These simple forms of behaviour, though they may seem insignificant, are watched by our children, emulated, and later develop into some of the problems we have in schools, on the job, in the community and the country at large.
Therefore, as we make New Year resolutions, I suggest we start following rules in our little circle of life and allow them to shine in our country at large.
Patricia Clarke
Claremont, St Ann
nardia.dixon@yahoo.com
Follow the rules!
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