Commentary

Altar and blackboard

THERE IS NO such thing as the 'good old days', but there was a time in this country when the altar and the blackboard were guaranteed sanctuaries for the good and bad alike.

Schools were genuinely community property that all cared for, or certainly they were not regarded with such disdain that blackboards were destroyed and used as firewood when the institutions were used as storm shelters. The doors of churches were never locked and they were safe form looters.

Now, as THE STAR reported yesterday, some churches have turned to security firms to keep their property safe.

Many theories can be put forward as to why this is happening, paramount of which would be that once-revered community institutions, as well as the persons who work in and run them, are treated with the same rapaciousness as every other easy target.

We can speak about a breakdown in values; we can speak about poverty reaching such a level that the easy targets are taken, no matter what position they hold in the fabric of the society; we can even talk about the church becoming largely irrelevant to people's lives here on earth.

Whatever the reason, we cannot ignore that things have changed` and while prayer may be solace to the soul, an armed guard makes one sleep easier at nights. It is a lesson that those who attend the various churches would do well to learn and implement, that while the churches are looking towards the pearly gates, they are making sure that the ones here on earth are locked and guarded.