That is Not Who We Are?

I remember when I was a school boy, on my way from school--some time noon--I greeted anyone adult-looking. I just would look up and say "ofain3, good afternoon." I did not only greet, which is a politeness structure, I added the ever clear and Ghanaian-fabled mark of politeness "please." I was a boy then. No one told me directly to say be polite in such a manner, when whenever I deviated I was told point blank what I ought to have said. The practice was engraved in my psychological framework. I never went anywhere leaving my politeness in my house. Other kids I grew up knowing did it too. it was Ghanaian.

Today, I still say please. Of course, i speak more English now, and with my kind of education, I know of the English modals so I could use them without the free distribution of "please." But I speak Ga, and Akan too. I never make utterances without the politeness forms. I also have made a conscious effort to add the more sophisticated polite form--a smile. But there is a problem. It is no more my nostalgia. When I look at today's Ghanaian child, I do not see the conspicuous polite child. most of them go by you without a word. They demand things as if you owe it to them.

It is generally said that "things change."And in Ghana, it is changing for the worst. The adult Ghanaian is fast becoming vitriolic and vile with his/her language. Quickly, the first reaction from the adult Ghanaian is a near-abusive language. But is that who/what Ghanaians are? I remember we all shared a value, respect each other, especially the stranger. I know also that we see pacifism as the normal channel of handling issues. However, that has changed. When the few ones amongst us complain of how worse our children are becoming, those "lost" adults respond that "things have changed."
This has been the mantra of Ghanaians who have been too busy to pause and think of their lives, how they live it--and most of all--how it affect the whole.

Further, we cannot assume this "new" attitude will remain at the level of our ordinary lives. It is not surprising that many elderly statesmen/women have targeted political discourse nowadays and labelled it is "politics of insult." I urge them, and others who have the time to think of this country, to be more perceptive than they are now. They should look at our homes, the parents and children. That is where the problem is from. Ghanaians are beginning to not care; and, that is dangerous.

When I was at the University of Ghana, some final year students at the Department of English (I was in this group) determined to study the politeness levels of Ghanaians using the known Politeness Theories. Their findings, although on a small scale (in terms of research), were astounding to many who saw it, but not to me. It would not be shocking to any Ghanaian today. The research concluded that Ghanaians are not as polite [anymore] as they like to think (at least, in Politeness Theories, we know of the positive face). How many times have you said "thank you" to a bus conductor (mate) who gave you change? How about your children?
Who are we now? I know we have changed for the worst. I cannot begin to tell anyone of the multifaceted reasons for the damage. When we see children in films talking anyhow to their parents and adults they do not know, it should remind us to not let go of the good old values. Maybe there is redemption still.