While traveling through a strange environment, it is usually beneficial to establish for ourselves certain landmarks for the purpose of easily finding our way around. I am sure that many of us have experienced such benefits amidst the maze of unfamiliar surroundings. A landmark could be of enormous value, whether it be a gigantic building just around the corner, an old green house surrounded by a wall, a huge shady tree, a popular fast-food restaurant or a busy bus-stop. Yes, landmarks are essential for strangers who are not acquainted with the town.

But once we become familiar with the streets and buildings, once we can easily find our way around the alleys and squares, once we become accustomed to the layout of the city, landmarks don’t seem to serve much of a purpose anymore. Now they don’t really matter – at least not as markers.

Now there is no need for a guide; now we as knowledgeable travelers can maneuver around independent of such props as old landmarks. It is amazing that, with the passage of time, what was so much relied upon as keys for a safe and trouble-free journey are no longer necessary for helping us find our way. They just stand there with little or no significance as a guide. We can now scamper autonomously throughout wider areas, able to navigate without aid.

Well isn’t that how it is when a society has grown so independent of basic guidelines for living that it reaches a stage where it pays little or no attention to the old core values of kindness, forbearance, love, meekness, manners, modesty, courtesy, faith and reverence? When we throw away these important, formative landmarks, we are in effect saying that we can now make it on our own without being dependent on old-fashion principles. “Leave us alone” we say, “Let’s do our own thing, even if others get hurt in the process.” “Yes! We can make it without a guide.”

With the passage of time, it seems like a sense of selfish affluence and greed has taken over our fundamental nature which was once marked by out-going humility for the sake of excusing the wrong-doings of others. This is not to say we should condone the wrong that others do. It is not to imply that we should allow offenders to take advantage of us. Oh no! But in certain cases it would be more beneficial to show them their faults, pointing out the error of their ways and warning them of impending consequences without treating them with harsh judgment.

There was a time when we did prefer others just as much as ourselves. We were keen on caring and sharing what was ours with others without any grudge or without fear that someday the ones with whom we shared might be richer or better off than us. Then, there was generally a greater sense of reliance. You rely on me today, enough that I can rely upon you tomorrow. Nowadays, though, that landmark of generosity has been abandoned, over-run by progress and a sense of selfishly protecting our own turfs.

A case in point relates to the seizure and sale of some illegal fishermen’s catch harvested from Anguilla’s waters a few weeks ago. But can anyone attest as to how much of those fish were actually caught in our waters? Beyond any reasonable doubt on the part of our authorities to indicate the contrary, the seamen were punished severely. The fish were confiscated and set for sale on the open market for all and sundry to purchase. What makes it even more embarrassing for those who would advocate consideration for others is that, to drive the point home, we chose to imprison the seafaring men and charged them a fine on top of the “revenues” that were garnered from the sale of the same fish. After all, couldn’t we as a proud and affluent nation have been more tolerant and forbearing?

Well, even if the catch were confiscated and then sold, couldn’t the fishermen have been at least spared the detention and fine? Granted, it is understood that one group, whose captain succumbed to illness, was discharged without any further punishment. I am not contesting the decision of the magistrate, but instead of setting the precedente for this kind of partiality, why couldn’t all have been simply reprimanded and sternly warned as “first-time” offenders? Or, by the way, had the authorities witnessed these fishermen trespassing in our territorial waters prior to “catching” them that day? And, had that captain not fallen ill, wouldn’t he too have been charged? … Well, all that’s just food for thought.

But I don’t necessarily need to be technically or legally “right” in order to express my views on any point of concern, no matter how unpopular my opinions might seem to be. In my view, by all merit, the “headline news” concerning this case would have been heralded much more admirably had these men been treated with a little more discretion, rather than highlighting the penalties and humiliating subjugation which they were forced to face by law.

Only the relevant authorities can defend these penalties, but when our people knowingly buy and eat fish that had been seized as a form of penalizing hard-toiling fishermen, it is my humble opinion that we as a people are advocating the right to what I consider as undue victimization. So, where are our landmark qualities of kindness and forbearance? Consequently, it is we as a Caribbean people who would be shamefully derided by our Caribbean brethren for being so insensitive to the hurt and loss of others, notwithstanding that “legally speaking” a crime in the guise of “trespass” might have been committed.

Anyway, enough for the old fish story. Ironically, we have made a landmark case out of it. It would seem that nowadays only God affords grace and mercy; all others apply the weight of the law.

On another note, it seems like we as a people have ignored the old landmark of faith and reverence too. We tend to cater to the influx of every kind of infiltrating culture that means to permeate our own. There was a time when we felt spiritually obligated to consecrate the first day of the week and set it aside as the “Lords Day” for worship and fellowship in a spirit of reverence due to our Creator. There was a time of hallowed sobriety when, no matter what faith we belonged to, Sunday was a time of quiet respect for God and our fellowman. Sunday nowadays, though, seem to be a prime time for fun and frolic. Evidently, that landmark of reverence has been over-run, and it is all but eroded.

It sickens my spirit to pass by a prominent area of our capital on a Sunday afternoon and hear the subtle sounds of brazen, vulgar Spanish music blaring from a high-powered PA system. Here, men and women akin to that culture gather and mill about gratifying themselves in an atmosphere of obvious lewdness. Is this the kind of respect we pay to our Sundays nowadays? Well, aren’t our youngsters that precious enough for us to do as much as we can to preserve their consciences against such an outlandish environment on a Sunday afternoon? Sadly, some damage might have already been done to their young, innocent hearts and minds, as a general lack of reverence for the Lord’s Day may now serve to constitute the norm for their upbringing.

I say that because our sacred Sunday is being utilized as the most appropriate day for everything from bicycle race, to boat race, and even car race on Sunday mornings. Besides, it is slated as the choice day for parading the charm and sensuality of our little ones in the famous annual “Tiny-Tots” pre-Carnival show. For many, it is the most fitting day for holding fetes on the beach as well. And I am not saying that anything is wrong with visiting the beach on a relaxing Sunday afternoon. The beach is one of God’s gifts for us to enjoy. But I am stressing the point that the environment must be conducive to fair hallmarks of decency.

While it is socially acceptable to condone the actions of those who are bent towards ignoring the virtues that helped to make Anguillians respectable, we as a people must not overlook the cherished characteristics upon which our civilization was founded. These were the traits that were under-girded by the attributes of wisdom and meekness. We must not throw aside these values which our ancestors once held dear. Failure to pay attention to these qualities today will only serve to our disadvantage and haunt us tomorrow.

Truly, our nation has come a long way since the pre-revolutionary years of toil and hardship, but that was an era when we were humble enough to uphold the treasured standards of forbearance for our fellows as well as respect for our God. And I dare say, that was an era when it appeared as if we were much wiser than we are today. Yes, the old landmarks of wisdom and discretion were well defined then, and they regulated our actions, principles, and our behavior.

Well, no wonder the voice of God still rings loudly and precisely out of James 3:13: “Who is he who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.”

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