DEAR EDITOR: Many thanks for your editorial concerning the fifteen year-old girl, Akon and the Zen nightclub. May I add to your very helpful comments, some remarks which will, I hope, help in clarifying the issues.

My first comment is that the sex show of Akon would, I suspect, be wrong for a Catholic, whatever the ages of the sex-actors. I do not believe that we have carte blanche in the use of any talent whatsoever, in order to produce what is, frankly, lust.

Sex titillation is now the real meaning of “Adults Only.” Moreover the conclusion of the act where the young girl is left alone to be helped up by others portrays a certain type of “using” in male-female relationships, which is contrary to the model both of creation and that given to us by Our Lord.

It should be noted that rappers as well as those who have used obscene language as part of a post-modern feature of “shock”, have come more and more under scrutiny. This scrutiny may be by Black sociologists concerned by the construction of a Black identity based on emotion, violence and sex.

But scrutiny has also been there in the denial of a UK visa to Snoop Dogg just before he was due to give four shows in Britain. It is there in the Imus case and there in boycotts launched against this or that rapper in Europe.

My second comment has to do with access to money. Ticket, dress, belly button decoration, tattoo, makeup, do not add up to “small change”. This access to money has been underlined by some sociologists abroad, as one of the major determinants of the slant of today’s “youth culture.” This is not elaborated by youth. Rather since the youth today have access to money, they are targeted by commerce.

A generation or two ago, children and dependent juveniles were given “pocket change”! If dependent juveniles did “summer” jobs, it was expected that this money would be given to parents who would then return a portion as additional “pocket change”. “Allowance” today may simply be a change in language.

Unfortunately it can also mean a substantial hike in the money given and its payment as a weekly or monthly lump sum. The new habit of “buying lunch” adds to the possibility of a considerable sum of money in the hands of children. It is this funding which permits the “targetting” of youth as well as permitting a certain escape from parental control.

It may well be, however, that it was someone else who bought the ticket and who provided the money for dress, tattoo, makeup, etc, and that whoever this is, is over 18 and probably over 21. These girls may be quite innocent.

However they may mean integration into a particular type of adult crowd and with this a preparation for sexual affairs. This has been given a specific term: “grooming”. It nearly always precedes child abuse and is often present as a prelude to teenage integration into criminal gangs.

The third point is parental responsibility. It seems to me curious that the parents of a 15 year-old growing up in a country with a fair amount of crime, including rape and kidnapping, are not overly concerned about her being outside of the home very late at night unsupervised by a family member.

It is curious that no one seemed to know or be concerned over wardrobe and tattoo. The decline in parental responsibility is one of the major areas of family breakdown. TV, the Internet, advertisements, create the illusion that children are far wiser than they are in fact.

This entire incident is the product of the Entertainment Industry. This is not only a multi-billion dollar affair. It is also the principal vehicle of post-modern culture.

In the case of hip hop or party music and forms of rap, this post-modern culture has deliberately fabricated a particular Black identity based on the violent ghetto culture of West Kingston, Bedford Stuyvesant, Toronto or the banlieu of Paris.

The impact of this has been the subject of a growing amount of research. This research has underlined the high cost of the accent on rap, hip hop and party music: being an ‘entertainer’ has become the no. 1 wish of Blacks, chasing out all other aspirations or interests. In few countries has this been encouraged as here in Trinidad & Tobago.

If in the 40s and 50s Archbishop Ryan would fulminate against the “cattle shows” with “men gaping” which were the yearly beauty queen contest, today not only is the beauty queen accepted as the pinnacle of any woman’s achievement rather than say a professorship, beauty competitions accompany every anniversary or celebration.

What we expect from women is clear: we expect them to be objects of sex and we sexualise little girls, preparing them for their role of body attraction. It has been pointed out that even the popular Barbie dolls fashion a certain image of a woman and integrates her early into a consumer society of changing fashions and makeup.

The question of Carnival has arisen. Carnival is indeed an example of the creeping influence of what the Holy Father has called “Post-modern hedonistic culture”.

In our traditional Carnival there was a sharp distinction between adults and children. Bands were disqualified from competitions if they permitted children into the band. Children had their own “Kiddies” Carnival.

Carnival lasted for a specific period: after January 6 until midnight on Carnival Tuesday. This made the point that it was a temporary affair and certainly not “normal”. This is no longer so, mainly on the demand of profit-making Carnival bands. Indeed as Carnival has entered the Entertainment Industry, the rest has followed.

The present “dutty wine” could not be done on or near the stage in the 1940s or 50s even if some pornography was always permitted. There were therefore informal constraints on behaviour. These have been undermined by profits and by the very new factor of DJ’s deciding on and influencing behaviour.

Finally, one of our problems is a certain embarrassment before the memory of a Victorian Church which attempted to eliminate any acknowledgement of sex. But surely what that should teach us is the importance of not having our attitude to sex or any other thing so framed that we follow without thought or choice.

It is the reminder that choice is crucial to the freedom of the People of God and is the best barrier against the commercialisation of sex and violence.

These then are my comments. I do not believe that we can simply opt out of what could be an important debate. Thanks for offering it.
Marion O’Callaghan, Woodbrook

DEAR EDITOR: Congratulations to Rev Fr Gabriel Julien on his 20th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

Fr Julien, your beloved parishioners felt very elated to join you in giving thanks to God with a special Mass, which took place on Thursday, May 17 at the Fatima RC Church, Curepe.

You have changed and touched so many lives over the years. The lonely, troubled, the destitute and the faithful have all found consolation in your inspirational homilies and bible teachings. Your contribution to our society has been outstanding and exceptional.

May the joy of your calling, under the guidance of the Almighty, continue to flourish and bring you much more success and happiness.
Our family extends best wishes to you. May God’s blessing be always upon you.
Michael & Theresa McMillan, Park Avenue, Mt Hope

The Society of St Vincent de Paul sincerely thanks all who attended and supported the annual Buffet Brunch held at the Top of the Mount on Sunday, April 29. The Brunch was a tremendous success.

As we continue to celebrate our 150 years of operations in Trinidad and Tobago we pray that the good Lord continue to richly bless you and yours.

No work of Charity is foreign to the Society.
Yours in the service of the poor.
Pearl George
for the Fund Raising Committee