Truth, freedom and responsibility

AFTER FORTY-NINE years of gaining political independence, Jamaica remains at a stage where it is still struggling to settle on certain foundational issues necessary for the development and establishment of true nationhood. Tangible evidence of this has been the disturbing lack of conviction and passion in undertaking the pilgrimage to the 'common good' as the primary goal of public life and policy.

This involves commitment to ideals of neighbourliness as the indispensable basis of community. It is these which would foster the kind of shared solidarity amongst the people that would unify and hold them all together in a common destiny.

We are of the opinion that essential to this must be a heightened awareness of and unwavering practical commitment to the interconnected values of truth, freedom and responsibility. Where these are not faithfully honoured, singly and together, there is no chance of the achievement of the goal of nationhood. It is not comforting to note in practice in our public life that sufficient attention is not being given to this. Worse yet, it may seem that there are those who seemingly have come to believe that there is even some self-conceived value in expedient suspension, neglect or distortion, of the ideals in one way or another.

For example, there appears to be a cynical working assumption at different levels of public life, that people generally do not mind being deceived. Therefore, what is important is to feed them with what it is felt they want to hear, or will be willing to hear, not what they need and ought to hear. [Truth speakers may even be pretentiously taken to task in the name of the people who presumably ought to be protected against the truth or aspects of it.] This is unacceptable and self-defeating as far as pursuing the common good as a goal of nation building.

A right to know the truth

The people have a right to know the truth, not least of all, the truth about themselves as a people, about the realities that are critical for their daily living and about the affairs they have entrusted to others for the ordering of their social good. This is necessary for proper collective self-understanding and meaningful self-expression. Apart from this, how will they become aware of their collective human potential and participate effectively in contributing to the creation of the common good?

Assumption on the part of anyone or group, or set of authorities, that the people need not be told the truth or the whole truth, because they do not need it, is patronising and condescending. So also, to think that the people need to have the truth managed or controlled for them, is simply to caricature and make fools of the people. The demoralising and demotivating impact of this is real, though not readily named among causative factors of the related condition. There is no substitute for respecting and recognising the right of the people to the truth in public life and policy.

Truthfulness inspires freedom as freedom requires truthfulness. There is immense wisdom in the biblical insight that indicates that knowing the truth makes for freedom. It is gross shortsightedness not to see the connection between them and, likewise, grave irresponsibility not to honour it. Truthfulness is the basis of genuine trust which facilitates freedom to accept with confidence and act upon what is said, promised, pledged, proposed and done. Freedom requires truthfulness for the making of responsible choices and decisions.

If in public life and policy, people are denied the truth, their collective freedom and responsibility are seriously undermined. Their capacity to engage meaningfully in decision-making that relates to their common destiny will be frustrated. It is actually a serious attach upon their humanity. At best, they end up being treated as mere means to an end, with which they cannot identify and claim in any real way. Isn't this often grounds for loss of interest in public life and commitment, indifference to public requirements, social obligations, cynicism in relation to any possibility of genuine improvement to the common life and lack of respect for holders of authority? Too often partisan distractions divert attention from this reality while the situation worsens.

The need is urgent for there to be recognition of the absolute necessity of emphasis is on the interconnected realities of truth, freedom and responsibility in the shaping of public life at every level and in every dimension of it. This will mean strong ethical and moral advocacy, engaged social concern and solid community solidarity on the part of people of goodwill. In the interest and on the basis of sustained commitment to truth, freedom and responsibility in their inter-relatedness that will be involved, there will be some practical expressions. For example, there must be a determined effort to work for equitable distribution that will afford access to the resources, goods, services and opportunities to all the people for a viable life of dignity. It must entail a commitment to transforming the social order, becoming engaged in public life, responding positively to the problems, wrongs and grievances that affect especially the weak and disadvantaged and challenging, exposing, resisting and overcoming the life-diminishing forces that seek to undermine the common good.

Public Theology Forum - an ecumenical group of ministers of religion and theologians