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Individual Vs. Institutional Responsibility

One of the biggest challenges I see us having here in Trinidad & Tobago (as I'm sure it is elsewhere) is that of waiting for somebody (else) to fix what's wrong.

A couple years ago, one of the secondary schools in Port of Spain had their problem of indiscipline being a topical issue in the news. The police posted armed officers there full-time. After a PTA meeting to address the issue, one father said to the media that the children's misbehaviour in school was clearly the fault of the teachers.

Everyone is quick to blame the institutions in society. Somebody (else) always has to fix a/the problem. We're always ready to confess somebody else's sins -- quick to say who did this wrong or who failed to do this right and so on.

Is there a link between my trying to fix me and the level of crime in society?

If as many people that call upon the Gov't, Church and other social institutions to fix society, called upon individuals to take responsibility for their own, preventive health care, educational development, economic development, wealth creation and financial management, etc. would it make a difference?
There are opportunities in these areas that are available and under utilised.

Instead of complaining and asking 'who's fault is it?', should we be spending more time asking 'how can I help fix it?'?

Responsibility Institutional Vs Individual

Good topic. In speaking about crime and the reason for so much negativity in the country here is what I said in another thread within this Board:

Most people in our society already have an engrained laid-back attitude that basically dictates that "If it does not bother me then I am not bothered".

Of course... however, we have discussed this deeper elsewhere within the Community that it does take a number of people to make a significant change, yes, one person can give an idea, but there needs to be a collective that agrees to implement it. Yes, I as an individual can make a difference with one or two persons if I work hard at it, but that may not affect the country as a whole. If everyone tried to work with a potential criminal then there would be a significant change, but that is not the mindset of this Republic.

That is a question being asked all the time. Don't those Crime Stopper ads say basically the same thing? Doesn't the police say they want to progress in a case, but no one will testify or say anything? The main problem for me is lack of accountability - this begins with the system and speed of justice. Once people see that they cannot get away with it, then there will be a sense of responsibility because there is a consequence, were it not so, man would just continue to be chaotic as it is now. For similar discussion in a deeper sense (outside the realm of just T&T): If There Are No Bounds

Individual Vs. Institutional Responsibility Caribbean / Tobago & Trinidad

To me it's a matter of attitude. I truly believe that 'attitude affects altitude'. My personal level of success (as I measure it) is directly related to be attitude towards live. I'm I suggesting that I/we wear rose coloured glasses and ignore the negativity in society? Certainly not, but be focusing on it, especially when we're not actively and constructively trying to fix it, but I'm limiting my own potential for growth, development, success and happiness.

National Security affects us all. We complain about it all the time. But are also trying to fix it? We can complain about it (and more often than that we do), and we make uninformed and unqualified suggestions (as appears in the media daily) and feel that we're doing something.

The Keith Noel 136 committee had a march that they termed successful because they had 15,000 - 20,000 people turn up. The football match at the stadium has more people than that. Several carnival bands each has more people than that. Really, how constructive were they being? They get 112,000 signatures on a petition, now what? They give the Gov't a deadline to fix the crime problem by the end of 2005, or else what?

We talk, we gripe, we complain, we go online and talk, gripe and complain some more and think we're being constructive.

Responsibility Institutional Vs Individual

Well, it is very hard to understand the typical Trinidadian-mindset and no, I am not stereotyping, there is a typical attitude in any society that affects the way the country goes. I am a foreigner and therefore my views does not necessarily agree with what people perceive of themselves.
I think is all a matter of "culture". I like the anthropologistic definition of culture which is: "Everything that a man does". In Trinidad, people in general are not concerned about their country at all, as it was put before: "If it does not affect me, why open my mouth?". Trinidadians are extremely laid-back individuals to the point of becoming careless about any serious issues. If the flour prices rises tomorrow, they will complain and then go to the supermarket and buy even more flour because they would say it may rise again next week instead of saying: "I am not buying it!".

I personally do not see anything wrong with complaining but it definitely has to be followed by proper action on my part to make a difference.

In order for these institutions to be more responsible, individuals must be responsible. We need to stop the mentality of picking up a mango from a tree and eat it for lunch and see tomorrow how are we going to eat or do we really think Trinidad is this first world country as some people want to put it?. A great goal, a great aspiration...worthy cause but still urinating on walls on 2006?. Please.