The truth is not always easy to accept, especially when it strikes a nerve in the depths of our soul. Instead, we somehow become master finger pointers at placing blame elsewhere for so many unruly young minds that continue to cause havoc in our communities.

There are countless Bermudians, many from the 'old school', who know exactly what has happened to our way of life but feel powerless to do anything about it, often because they feel their views are not taken seriously.

Yet these experienced citizens have witnessed the declining family values with the death of discipline over the years, and were perhaps the first to see the writing on the wall.

While no one can point to the exact hour or day the decline in values began, most of us know that changes in what we teach our children and how we teach them, started many decades ago and may have played a part in transforming behaviour patterns to a point where today, in too many instances, the children are the ones who order their parents around.

This maybe shocking to some, but many parents and even grandparents are silently living in a state of utter fear over their offspring who have chosen a lifestyle linked with questionable activities and who defy anyone to question them.

How on earth did we allow conditions to reach this critical stage? Even during the period of social injustice, Bermuda had something unique in how people managed to get along, despite racial barriers that hampered social and economic growth for all citizens.

One reason for that was probably a deeply imbedded family structure where discipline was paramount whether it was a black or white family. Yes, there were those who stepped out of line on both sides of the racial divide, but the rod of correction brought many back to their senses.

Apart from lessons in Sunday school back in those days, the academic schools also touched on values for living before the school day began. In other words there was more emphasis on values needed in every day living along with a proper education.

As Bermuda started to prosper, and racial barriers tumbled, attention appears to have shifted to trying to get the most out of various opportunities that began to open.

Nothing wrong with that, except in the process the aim to achieve better things in life leads to taking our eye off the ball when it comes to retaining decent values that involve the quality family time needed to maintain stable minds and healthy attitudes.

The community was, and probably still is, so engrossed in not being left out from the latest material possessions, that we have become almost blind to important life values.

Bermuda is experiencing a deeply troubling period as a blood letting spree associated with gangs has plunged most of the community into a state of numbness. Officials are scrambling in an effort to seek a solution to what some have described as out of control madness.

In the coming weeks there are likely to be press conferences and perhaps marches by concerned citizens and while this is all good and positive, there is little sign that the country is gaining the upper hand. That in itself is a major concern.

Bermuda needs stability and peace if our island product is to survive as a viable tourist attraction, not to mention the various companies that operate here who must be wary of the current developments. If ever there was a time for our leaders to make a stand for values, it is now.

Yet many people who support any Government effort to improve the situation question whether those in authority are willing to take drastic steps that may be necessary to halt gun violence and crime.

If it is business as usual in Parliament, with politicians trying to chew each other up over this or that issue while the community trembles in fear over problems that seem to be getting worse, then we will all be sitting ducks on a beautiful island with nowhere to turn. This is not a time to play political games.

We need to be like those brave men at the Alamo. The situation was extremely grim, but freedom and values were defended at all cost. Those men paid a heavy price, but they never balked at making a stand for what they believed in. All of Bermuda needs to make a stand now to preserve traditional values in order to have a better future. Not to do so might lead to a heavier price. We can ill afford that.