Cognitive dissonance rife in our society

THE EDITOR, Madam:

THE COGNITIVE dissonance of the colonialised subjects of Jamaica and the Caribbean are so ripe they’re now rotting on the trees. This is reflected in the hypocrisy believing that we are so proper and clean; however, our history has become our culture acted out in; nutt’n weh too black nuh good, the obsession of speaking properly, cutting our hair and shaving our faces, all as an appearance of being clean and decent, yet subconsciously unclean spirits from the past.

From the very beginning of colonisation we have been led through a savage exploitation of robbery, murder and rape. As we grew this behaviour became embedded within the hypocrisy we now live in.

Put it all together and the cognitive dissonance is accepting this behaviour as normal. This does not benefit any of us, but the same colonial system that has shaped and controls our minds. Why do we think we have to behave this way? Why do we have to see each other as not worthy? Why do we form into gangs, be they political or turf? Feeling the need to uphold colours and enclaves over our brothers and sisters.

This behaviour is a cancer that has metastasised within the fabric of all our institutions and the people at large. This in return has set or rather enforced and instilled the past system into today’s standards. The fleeting pursuit of gain has become so blatant and obvious in evasive amounts of corruption, high crimes and murder for hire perpetrated by the perceived strong upon the weak and powerless.

The lawmakers and those in their enclaves use indecency and bullyism to force their ways on a divided people. They operate with impunity until they fall out of favour with the hands that feed them. It’s not just now the big man and the politicians have been getting away with all types of atrocities. It’s not now the wellconnected are getting the blys and reaping the spoils of war. It’s not just now the poor has been suffering and dying from lack of knowledge and inadequate healthcare. Yet, this dissonance of bigger buildings and straighter highways, more cars and more technology make us believe that we are more advanced. However, our connectivity is marred in a depravity from the past that we have not come to terms with or overcome. We refuse to let go of that past and to develop our own system of governance by building on the good things we have learned and already know.

NAM SINGH