Henadz Buraukin: Something has broken in our society

Before attending to the problems of morality in other countries, we should first set things going in Belarus.

Such opinion in the talk with the EuroBelarus Information Service shared Henadz Buraukin, famous Belarusan poet and former representative of Belarus in UN.

Upon meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill (Cyril I) on July 29 in Minsk, Belarusan President Aliaksandr Lukashenka claimed that Western civilization is in a deep crisis of morality and spirituality.

Henadz Buraukin agreed with this thought only partially: “I think that we really witness certain crisis of morality in our days, and it has to do not only with the West. Unfortunately, our native Belarus is also lacking high morality in relations between citizens and the state”.

The poet recalled “trials over some people who cursed in public places”. “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe in the fairness of those people who tried these cases. Don’t they know that our policemen are not mincing matters either? Then why some people are being chastised more cruelly, while others just get away?” – Henadz Buraukin wonders.

He also noted that disrespect towards the elderly serves as an indicator of problems with morality: “And it concerns both their economic condition and respect, too. I don’t think it’s a good thing”. Some other examples are inequality in the rates of pay, problems with alcoholism and crimes.

“Something has broken in our society, and we should search for the causes of it not so much in other countries as in ourselves, - Henadz Buraukin believes. – And if we put the situation in order in Belarus and perfect the situation, if we respect our Constitution, culture and love our native tongue, then we can actually discuss what is happening in other places. Before that I would rather take care of our domestic problems”.

The poet believes that the activity of the Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church in Belarus do help to enhance morality within the society. “But I have no doubts that both among church members and the clergy things are not going on that well. In the long run, church doesn’t have particular worries about the negative trends in our society, such as alcoholism, poor education, though the church reminds about morality and Christian dispensations far more than the officials do. It’s their credit, I don’t dispute that; though I wouldn’t say that they do the best they can”.