Monsters of our own making

When we talk of moral decay, our focus is normally on alcohol, drug abuse, pornography and other vices that the society terms abominable.  But these are just results of the moral decay not really the cause. While it is an individual’s task to develop and maintain a good character, still our role cannot be overlooked in the character development of others. We can either build or break. The unbridled moral decay and moral uprightness are somehow rooted in the way we treat one another. Perhaps our contribution is the most immoral than the moral decay that we see in most individuals.

It once popped out in Lusaka times on 21st March, 2018; a 30 year old man of Lusaka committed suicide by poisoning himself and two children in a lodge in Matero Township. It was a story which caught the eyes of most Zambians. But sadly, most of us focused on the brutality side of a poor man. Did someone close take time to find out the background of that man? Perhaps few did; but to my knowledge, Lusaka times didn’t type back the background.

 We have never had a drought of such immoral practices in our newspapers; there is always a flood! There are a lot of people today whose destiny is to revenge the losses incurred after a disappointment.  Alcohol, drug abuse, crime and sex-- have become medicines to doctor the pain that they have been nursing for years. It matters how we treat people especially when we break their hearts. We create monsters and zombies when we destroy the fortress on which they lean on.  We should mind what to trample upon, how and when to close the door. Sometimes we close it with a big bang that wrecks and transforms good people into demons. Sometimes seniors die without giving juniors hope and direction so that they can practice self-reliance and make a life after their passing away! We don’t leave the pillar on which the youths can lean on, all we do is make them find comfort in our care; but for how long? Most youths end up practicing what the society terms abominable-- just to get by

We all sometimes have secrets that we entrust people with. Did you know that not every person holding the highest position of accountability and responsibility deserves it; we individually know this by head and heart?  We sometimes eat from the respect that we don’t deserve and given a good reputation just because people don’t know what happens indoors. Had it not being for that person and walls that cannot talk to keep our immoral behavior from being unveiled; we would lose all the glory we portray in our homes and society.

It’s indeed paramount to look at issues in all dimensions in order to attest the source of all the unbridled moral decay in the globe, especially not just on the side of the perpetrators of evil but to critically think about the part we play as individuals. Could it be our fault that someone somewhere is a worst?  If we were to take a serious survey, we would discover that we create monsters out of good people. Most people expect a good reception especially if they are courteous. We have made innocent people to practice great evils; we directly and indirectly teach and make them addicts. We gossip behind their eyes and stab their backs with red-hot knives.  Habits like drug and alcohol abuse, suicide and murder-- are somehow rooted in what we have made people believe and feel about themselves.

                                                  

Speaking of disease and a higher mortality rate worldwide; statistics doesn’t really factor out that the high death rate cases could be the lack of love and care for patients.  It is sad to know that we could be the most contributing factor to a higher mortality rate. We also have some patients whose infections progress rapidly to AIDS but cannot open up and start the treatment. This is because of the shame they might receive in our communities.  The danger is that such people out of frustration and shame become more active in spreading the infection than the virus itself.

A reputation has so much impact on our character such that we end up losing ourselves in the process. That is why great care must be taken into consideration when dealing with a matter that especially concerns someone else’s reputation.

Pencil
2018