I
dare not watch that thing called Big Brother Naija. It is Vanity Fair
extravaganza. Textual snippets of the show make it obvious that the viewership
is not worth my while. Neither will one take the unenviable role of analyzing
and decrying its immoralities. That would not stop it from being a commercial
success.
That’s why rectitude is not a welcome theme in most shows and that’s why the BBNaija winner goes home with 100,000 Dollars, while champions at intellectual competitions would get a pittance.
How many corporate
sponsors want a part of contests that challenge individuals to higher heights
of creativity and industry? They would rather splash millions on popular
jamborees of depravity. Promiscuity, violence, wickedness, rebellion flood the
screens; and we have come to accept them as reality!
Nevertheless, we
can create for ourselves a better reality. Chastity is a virtue, righteousness
is pleasurable, and obedience brings peace. Virginity stands tall as a
priceless virtue to be held dear. It is a beautiful thing for a wedded one to
find that the spouse had kept herself for him, himself for her, in spite of the
temptations. Just as brand new cars are preferred to used ones, marrying as a
virgin is best – a mark of temperance and maturity.
Any researcher who
says it is disadvantageous to stay away from sex until marriage must be working
for the Devil’s Research Institute. Folks do not need premarital coital
practice, as if marriage would be a competition. It is gratifying to begin and
grow together, learning in the process to accept each other just as they are,
and reaping the peace that true love brings.
Marital chastity
makes more cohesive families, and children of chaste parents have better
chances of growing into well-adjusted individuals. Non-sexual friendship and
platonic love is still ideal. Males and females can be friends devoid of
romantic commitments, thereby discovering the real essence of the other gender.
Friendship was meant for mutual love and care, not a selfish lusting after the
other’s body. So, let society and its means of cultural expression begin to
celebrate true love rather than the lecherousness represented in BBNaija.
While social media
have created room for adulation of self for achieving nothing, society can
improve the quality of lives by developing young minds for a brighter future.
Parents, put off that TV and let your kids get to work with their brains.
The mental and
physical energy of the youthful age should be redirected into positive,
creative thinking. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”, the Bible says.
You are what you think, and a good gauge of who you are is the sum of your
predominant thoughts.
Thoughts come from
what we learn by seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and touching – our senses.
To become a man or woman of worth, you direct your thoughts to what is good by
seeing and hearing correct values. The entertainment industry of this world is
not cut out for such positive learning, so it is a disaster that parents
delegate their child-rearing roles to the television, and youths fritter away
their time watching TV or posting junk on social media.
Young Nigerians
need to turn away from sights and words that stir up unholy thoughts or
passions. Instead, they should develop their mental capacities by following
formal and informal courses of training in life skills. They need to find
mentors in practice of works that interest them and put their minds into
learning their art, science or technology. They could play musical instruments,
learn an art such as painting, practice science with a scientist in his
laboratory, play with computer applications or learn to work with their hands
such as in carpentry, welding or sewing.
They need exercise of the mind in critical thinking as they gather
raw materials for their thoughts from books. These would be avenues for their
creative energies to be unleashed rather than expend their mental power on
media-espoused fantasies. A child is never too young to begin learning – it is
the method of instruction that differs between ages.
Crime is the outgrowth of a depraved moral state. Peace
hangs in a balance until that potential criminal embraces rectitude as a way of
life. Those who for selfish interest whip up tribal, religious and ethnic
sentiment to get others out of their way or get benefits for themselves must
know that a man reaps what he sows. Our minds need redirection to thinking on
right values – love, honesty, compassion, selfless service, industry and the
like. Leaders owe God and humanity a duty to groom the followership on morals
and community spirit.
Political leaders in Nigeria
The fear of God is the safest guarantee for building a sound
mind. By adhering to the tenets of Christ as enunciated in the scripture, the
young Nigerian learns correct values that counteract immorality and set their
minds to pursue the things that are pure, lovely and true in life. Religion,
when purged of selfish appurtenances of men, enhances formation of desirable
attributes that will build a better Nigeria
These are alternative realities higher than the upside-down
values of modern society portrayed by the entertainment industry. As a man
thinks in his heart, so is he. One who watches, hears and thinks always about
what is good, pure, lovely and true will produce good character that makes for
peace and development in society. That is the reality that Nigerians should
create for themselves.
*Esara writes from Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom
State
Big
Brother Africa: Debasing Self For A Fee
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