Relying and living as per regulations does not necessarily mean an easy life but it’s worth doing so
Relying and living as per regulations
By N. George
Worth Noting:
- Though as an economic model it has done quite well worldwide, capitalism which advocates for individual ownership of factors of production, it has encouraged people to enjoy exploitation of others without questioning the issue of supernormal profits at expense of others.
- People have become self centred not only economically but also socially. There have been little room for social good which is one of the underpinning factors for just a society. The breakdown of such social ties has resulted to rise in crime as accountability levels has gone down with neighbours not bothering to what is happening to each other. Social ties build bridges for social justice and reliability among societal members.
It is undeniable fact and only fools can be contented with the argument that as time changes technology does not change. It is equally wrong to allude as time goes social environment remain constant. Any level minded individual will bear me witness that human character keeps evolving from time to time.
A relook at history in the earlier days there was a great conflict between those who base their thoughts on religion and those who rely on science reason being as scientific discoveries continued to increase and more and more issues were given theoretical and empirical description myths continued to decline.
Over time the religious ones can acknowledge that it was the supreme power that gave revelation to scientists and appreciated these discoveries which played a major role in making the lives better. The supreme power acts on every person regardless of the religious persuasion.
Born and brought up in the central highlands of Kenya and like all the places around the world there are societal rules and expectations. Everything is named according to historical events or certain beliefs. In every name there is an explanation the same applies to the rules and regulations. They have a reason some to please, others to dissuade certain behaviour while others protect a certain reality.
As you are aware humans are social beings in nature so they keep interacting, imparting knowledge to others as well as learning from others so as a result of their interactions the social, political and economic landscape has changed significantly.
Many are the times when people tend to substitute the seeming hard processes with easy ones. It is not a wonder to find them going against a certain taboo with the explanation that they have seen others who do not follow it led a more successful life than them.
Talking of communal raising up of children where in traditional set up like in the region where I was born and grew up, children were expected to have high regard of the other members of the community who are senior than them. Every parent could have disciplined any child in case the child misbehaves in presence of that adult and then report the kid to the parent who could feel pleased and may also take other disciplinary measures to ensure the child adhere to the societal norms.
Nowadays if you happen to not only discipline but mere question your neighbour’s kid about his unbecoming behaviour the parents are likely to send to you a stern warning instructing you to stop meddling with their affairs. Unless the biological parents of a child train them the correct way to behave it has become difficult even for uncles, aunts or even grand parents to correct any errant kid for the fear of the unpleasant reaction of the kid’s parents.
Though as an economic model it has done quite well worldwide, capitalism which advocates for individual ownership of factors of production, it has encouraged people to enjoy exploitation of others without questioning the issue of supernormal profits at expense of others.
People have become self centred not only economically but also socially. There have been little room for social good which is one of the underpinning factors for just a society. The breakdown of such social ties has resulted to rise in crime as accountability levels has gone down with neighbours not bothering to what is happening to each other. Social ties build bridges for social justiceand reliability among societal members.
Traditionally premarital sex was discouraged and having children out of wedlock was seen as a shame to the family, girls were expected to hold exceptional high standards of behaviour, to maintain respect for the family. If a girl had children out of wedlock she was married off to an old man as one of the wives and not as the first wife.
With westernization engaging with premarital was normalized, regulations that bound African traditional social relationships were abandoned and termed as outdated. It is not strange to find unmarried girl who bears children and if the parents happen to ask her about the father to her kid, she will fail to disclose by replying that the pregnancy is hers and it’s her right to have it yet there are no laws that can compel her to disclose such information. The overall effect of this is that there are many children born out of wed lock and raised by single parents so lack advantage of being raised by both parents.
In my community traditionally alcohol drinking was mostly ceremonial and a reserve for those who have at least one of their kids’ gotten married. Below that age you were strictly prohibited from taking it. This brought order in the society and respect for the alcohol. Overtime social trends have changed people drink not because there is an occasion but as a fun.
Alcohol is addictive; the overall effect of unregulated drinking has led to rise in number of drunkards with some consuming it on daily basis. This has resulted to reduced levels of productivity, disrespect for alcohol and lack of self-awareness as some of the drunkards are not in control of their lives.
Misbehaving parents have imparted bad behaviours to their kids, some family environments have become toxic, and cases of suicide have been on the rise.
It is good time for us to revisit our traditional regulations what is good in them we pick it up. Let us improve traditions which need to be done so. Let us identify traditions that need to be abolished and abandon them. It is time to stop bracket condemning societal rules and regulations.
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