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.

Education project follow up

UPDATED:

Today I spent about six hours (including driving about 40 miles) to try to tie up some loose ends in regard to the educational scholarships.

I still don’t have the final details but I just heard got phone calls from the last two centers I was waiting to hear from. I am pretty close being able to determine how many scholarships will be granted and how much money will be distributed. I will go out to Dulce Nombre tomorrow morning to give the parish secretary the details.

It’s been difficult but I’m glad St. Thomas agreed to help in this, partly because of stories like this:

Sor Nola who runs the program in Dulce Nombre had told me of an 18 year old young man who wants to study in high school. His father has been disabled for a number of years and so income is very limited. The mother too has recently had some health problems.

There are five children in the family, four boys and one girl who is developmentally disabled. The home is without electricity, water, and latrine.

But the family borrowed 400 lempiras (about $20) to pay for part of the tuition and fees.

I had told Sor Nola that this is a case where we could give more than the half-scholarships we are normally giving. They would only have to pay 165 lempira more (about $8.50).

But they had come to bring another 465 lempiras ($23.50) which the son had earned working in the fields.

Sor explained the decision and returned 300 lempiras (about $15). They were grateful and shared that their son was wondering how he would be able to work to pay for uniform, tennis shoes, and some other things – including the bus fare each week.

Talking to the teacher in one community he told me that some other parents had also borrowed money to pay for the school fees. I asked him about the interest rate. Up to 18% - per  month!

And so the funds will help about 88 students this year.

The process has been difficult and time-consuming, but I’m hoping to work with the teachers, the priest, and a few others to have a better process next year.