Inculcating values in Honduran youth

There are two proposals that some in the Honduras Congress are pushing that are somewhat troubling.

The Patriotic Alliance, a new right wing party, is proposing a return to mandatory military service for all young men.

This is supposed to provide a year of training for young men in a country where unemployment of youth is high and many young people do not have access to high schools. Many children do not even study beyond the sixth grade, even though the government regulations say that they should study until ninth grade.

Conscription is touted as a way to deal with the violence in the country, which is bedevilled by gangs in the major cities and drug trafficking on the north coast and other areas. The recruits will supposedly be formed in discipline and values.

I have my doubts.

First of all, I see this would be the increasing militarization of the country which already has member of a military police and the army on the streets of the country. There is also a program that brings the military into the schools, inculcating a militarized approach to life. Also, following the “Winning Hearts and Minds” strategies promoted by the US in Vietnam and in El Salvador, the military has been encouraged to be more involved in civilian life, with military medical brigades. My guess is that this is something being promoted by the US government, since US military is involved in the training of Honduran soldiers and police and the US has been involved in medical and construction brigades in many places in Honduras.

Secondly, there is the way the military is tied with the growing power of the current Honduran president.

Thirdly, the military and the military police are reputed to be responsible for most of the more violent repression of demonstrators after the most recent election.

What values would military service inculcate in Honduran youth?

The second proposal is the recommendation of daily reading from the bible in the public schools. This also is touted as a way to inculcate values and even lessen violence.

I am skeptical of this.

My concern is this is a subtle way of manipulating religion to serve the interests of the political, military, and social elites of the country. The program will be aided by a board consisting of representatives of the Catholic and Protestant leadership, as well as governmental and educational institutions.

This opens the door for a religious instruction at the service of the rich and powerful, with little place for those scripture texts that favor the poor and castigate injustice and oppression.

Will they read the Beatitudes, especially those in Luke – Blessed are you who are poor; woe to you who are rich?

Will they read those passages of the prophets that castigate injustice, bribes, and inequality of land?

Will they open to bible to read passage where Jesus calls his followers to “Love your enemies” and where Saint Paul urges the Roman Christians to “repay no one evil for evil”?

Would they dare read today’s first reading in the Catholic lectionary, James 5:1-6?

Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. Your wealth has rotted away … Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.

I doubt it. Most likely they will choose passages that support a religious divorced from the reality of the life of the poor.

I do not buy this as a way to inculcate values – unless you want submissive subjects, not conscientious, responsible citizens.

Yes, Honduras does need to develop a culture of peace – but a peace based on the justice of God. I believe neither compulsory military service or bible reading in schools will bring this. Something more is needed, that gets to the roots of the injustice, inequality, impunity, and oppression that keep Honduras down.