Alienation

Alienation / Fernando Damaso
Posted on July 7, 2014

The subject of lost values, poor education, a lack of respect, coarse
and vulgar language, violence in the street and a lack of social
discipline remains a popular topic in our impoverished society.

Though late in coming, calls by the authorities to reverse this
situation continue to be made through official mass media outlets but
the population seems not to be taking notice. Rather than getting
better, the situation continues to deteriorate. For evidence of this one
need only walk through any neighborhood and stroll through its streets
to find raucous screaming across street corners, swear words and
obscenities, badly dressed people, filth and environmental degradation.

There are those who argue that one has nothing to do with the other, but
that does not quite seem to be the case. Normally, people are formed by
their surroundings, though — as with anything — there are exceptions to
the rule. When vulgarity gets confused with modernity and becomes
customary, it becomes very difficult to eradicate it.

Poor education over the course of many years — both in broken homes as
well as in schools — combined with an official culture of intolerance
and violence, which has been both widespread and supported by the
general population, has helped in the establishment and consolidation of
these many ills.

Today we are concerned, but the concern has come quite late. It will
take many years of peaceful coexistence, of citizen involvement, and of
education by both families and schools to achieve results. The existence
of a truly democratic society is also essential, a society where the
rights and responsibilities of citizens are respected.

5 July 2014

Source: Alienation / Fernando Damaso | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/alienation-fernando-damaso/