We have lost it By Fabian Stennett

 

 “We Have Lost It” by Fabian Stennett, Chief of Furry Town Maroons:

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We Have Lost It

By Fabian Stennett, Chief of Furry Town Maroons

Once, we were a people rooted in strength, pride, and culture. Our reggae music echoed across continents, carrying the heartbeat of a defiant, loving, and conscious people. Our moral compass, while never perfect, still pointed true. Our elders taught us respect, our teachers inspired us, and our leaders—though flawed—knew they were accountable to the people. But today, as I look across the hills of Furry Town and beyond, I am compelled to say this with a heavy heart: we have lost it.

We have lost our culture.
Reggae, our soul music, born from the pain and pride of resistance, has been hijacked by commercialism and diluted messages. Where once we heard songs of revolution, righteousness, and Rastafari teachings, we now hear noise devoid of substance—rhythms without roots. Many of today’s artists, influenced more by fleeting fame than legacy, have forgotten the mission their forebears set out on.

We have lost our esteemed moral values.
Once, we held community, family, and honesty in high regard. Today, those values are cast aside in favor of quick riches and superficial status. Elders are no longer respected, youth wander unguided, and truth has become a casualty in the age of misinformation. Schools struggle to inspire, homes lack structure, and the village—once responsible for raising the child—is now fractured and distracted.

We are now a crime-infested society.
From petty theft to cold-blooded murder, crime eats away at the core of our communities. Guns flood our streets while fear silences good people. Mothers mourn, fathers vanish, and children grow up too fast, often in the shadow of violence. The sense of security that once defined village life is now a memory. Furry Town, like many once peaceful communities, has become wary, eyes always watching, doors always bolted.

We are victims of malgovernance and corruption.
Politicians, elected to serve, now serve only themselves. Empty promises and grand speeches mask selfish intentions. Resources are mismanaged, development is uneven, and basic needs are neglected. Corruption has become so normalized that we no longer flinch at scandal—we expect it. The people suffer while the powerful prosper.

And the police, who should protect and serve? Many have turned into predators and profiteers.
There are still good officers—brave men and women who wear the badge with honor—but too many are lost in bribery, abuse, and injustice. For every citizen seeking protection, there's another fearing harassment or violence at the hands of those meant to defend them.

Even our clergymen, once pillars of morality and guardians of the people’s soul, have stumbled.
Too many pulpits have become platforms for greed and ego. Churches, instead of sanctuaries, have become businesses. Some clergy prey on the vulnerable, manipulate the faithful, and turn a blind eye to community suffering. The line between the sacred and the selfish has blurred.

So yes, I say it again: We have lost it.

But we are not beyond redemption.
The Maroon spirit—resilient, resistant, and righteous—still burns in our veins. We are a people who have faced worse and risen stronger. To reclaim what we've lost, we must confront the truth, even when it's ugly. We must return to our roots, our values, our music, our morals.

We need leaders, not looters.
We need teachers, not traffickers.
We need prophets, not profiteers.

We must stand together—elders, youth, farmers, artists, pastors, police—and demand better. For if we do not rise now, what hope will our children inherit?

Let this not be a eulogy, but a wake-up call.
Let us not just mourn what we’ve lost—let us fight to find it again.

Fabian Stennett

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We Have Lost It — But We Can Find It Again

By Fabian Stennett, Chief of the Furry Town Maroons

Once, we were a people of resilience, honour, and unity. Our identity was rooted in culture, community, and a shared sense of purpose. Reggae music gave rhythm to our resistance and voice to our struggles. Our moral compass, though not perfect, was anchored in respect for elders, love for community, and reverence for truth.

But today, as I walk through the hills of Furry Town and hear the silence where song once filled the air, I am forced to speak plainly: we have lost it.

Our Cultural Foundations Are Crumbling

Reggae, once the spiritual lifeblood of Jamaica and a beacon of global consciousness, has largely been co-opted by commercial forces. The messages of revolution, Rastafari, and righteous living have been replaced by shallow lyrics, fleeting trends, and empty rhythms. Where music once uplifted and educated, much of what we hear today distracts and distorts.

The problem is not just the changing sound—it is the erosion of purpose. Many modern artists chase fame over legacy, trends over truth. As a result, our music no longer reflects our mission as a people.

Moral Values Have Been Traded for Materialism

Our society, once grounded in strong communal values, is now fraying at the seams. Respect, once taught in homes, churches, and classrooms, is now a rare commodity. Families are struggling to stay connected. Schools are overwhelmed. The community, once a safety net for every child, is too often absent or disengaged.

We have traded patience for quick riches, depth for appearances, and wisdom for popularity. The consequences are visible in our homes, in our streets, and in our youth—many of whom now navigate life without guidance, structure, or hope.

Crime Is the New Normal

Crime has become a permanent shadow over our communities. From petty theft to heinous violence, the spectre of fear lingers. Guns circulate freely, and with them, an undercurrent of terror that affects everyone.

Children grow up too quickly, mothers live in mourning, and honest citizens now feel unsafe in their own homes. Furry Town, once a symbol of peace and kinship, is now cautious—its people bolting doors, watching every step, trusting less. We have lost the comfort of community safety.

Malgovernance and Corruption Have Eroded Trust

Our political leaders were elected to serve, not exploit. Yet what we witness is a widening gulf between promises and actions. Corruption, once whispered about in shame, is now discussed openly and with resignation. Scandals come and go with no accountability. Essential services are neglected, infrastructure crumbles, and opportunities vanish—especially for the poor and voiceless.

Many politicians, instead of representing the people, have aligned themselves with power and profit. They forget that leadership is not about ruling but about serving.

The Police Must Reclaim Their Purpose

We must speak the hard truth: confidence in our law enforcement has declined. While there are still good officers who serve with integrity, far too many have strayed from their oath. Bribery, abuse, and negligence have taken root in some quarters of the force.

For every citizen seeking protection, there is another who fears police encounters. When the guardians become a threat, who then protects the people?

Even the Church Is Not Immune

Spiritual leaders were once the moral anchors of our society. Today, too many pulpits are platforms for ego and financial gain. The church, once a refuge for the broken and the struggling, now sometimes feels like a marketplace.

This is not an attack on faith. It is a call to return to the essence of spiritual leadership: humility, service, and truth. Our clergymen must lead by example, not by enrichment.

But All Is Not Lost

Despite these truths, I remain hopeful. The Maroon spirit—defiant, rooted, and righteous—still flows through our veins. We are descendants of freedom fighters, farmers, teachers, healers, and prophets. We have faced hardship before and emerged stronger.

To rise again, we must first be honest about how far we’ve fallen. We must return to the values that made us strong: integrity, unity, community, and faith—not just in a religious sense, but in each other.

We need leaders, not looters.

We need teachers, not traffickers.

We need prophets, not profiteers.

The road ahead will not be easy. But it is still ours to walk.

We must stand together—elders and youth, artists and artisans, pastors and police, mothers and Maroons—and demand a better future. Not just with our voices, but with our actions. With our choices, our votes, our music, our schools, and our example.

Let this not be a eulogy for who we once were, but a wake-up call to who we still can be.

If we do not rise now, what legacy will our children inherit?

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Fabian Stennett

Chief of Furry Town Maroons

Community advocate, cultural historian, and defender of Jamaican heritage.