A Time for Reflection
There are moments in the life of a nation when the thoughts of its citizens should rise above partisan politics, getting ahead of one’s neighbour, out-performing one’s business competitors. In other words, there are times when one’s thoughts should transcend all forms of one-upmanship.
The anniversary of independence is one such time. And we, at The Spokesman, would like to encourage such periods of reflection, if not only a daily basis, then at least at special periods throughout the year.
This we must take seriously if we wish St. Kitts & Nevis to reflect the best of who and what we are as a people.
Should we fail to do this, we will find ourselves simply going from one day to the next, attending to the responsibilities of our jobs, attending to the specific interests of our families, but never really giving much thought to what we owe to each other.
Should we fail to do this, far too many of us will go from one day to the next completely oblivious, and quite unconcerned, as to what we might all, as individuals, be doing to enhance the quality and meaning of life for all of us in this God-given space.
It is very easy for both individuals and nations to take their circumstances for granted. Who can remember, for example, the days when something as commonplace as everybody being able to vote was absolutely unthinkable?
We can recall it, of course, and we talk about those days from time to time. But how many of us can really remember the psychological insecurity that went along with huge swaths of the population being ruled ineligible, unfit, and not quite suited to having any say in selecting those who would “rule”….no voice in choosing those whose decisions would determine every aspect of our lives?
Those days are such distant memories now that they almost feel like a dream. Perhaps that is because the vast majority of us are simply the beneficiaries of those who really faced the fire to bring about the rights, the privileges, the protections that are, by law, ours today.
What confidence, courage and determination it took for those of an earlier generation to decide that the might and power of the British Empire could not, and would not, stop them you for asserting their humanity, their dignity, and their worth.
In an age when “might was always right” and those trying to bring about change had neither formal education, land, nor material resources, where did they find the vision to see life, not as it was, but as they thought it should be? And where did they get the strength to transform their vision into reality?
At times like Independence anniversaries, we are called upon, all of us, to measure ourselves against the great men and women who won the vote for everyone, social security for everyone, education for everyone, and so much more for so many of us.
They made something out of nothing. They changed – dramatically and for the better – how we saw ourselves and how we saw each other.
They made us believe and know that becoming an independent nation was not only possible, but essential. And now the time has come for us to ask ourselves exactly what each of us is doing, not as politicians, and not as voters, but as private individuals and as human beings, to make something out of nothing for the greater good. To turn societal negatives into societal positives. To be more than the beneficiaries of someone else’s struggles.
We need, in St. Kitts & Nevis, to begin to talk more about what we believe in, as a people. Or what we should believe in. Compassion. Co-operation. Perseverance. Integrity. Discipline. Decency. Initiative. Courtesy. Honour.
We must return to strongly held views about what is acceptable and what is not. What is good for us as a people, and what is not? What promotes healthy, safe, and cohesive societies, and what does not?
In all areas of life, and about all manner of things, we must begin, as in days of old, to talk again. “The old people” had a clear sense of these things, and they spoke up. But as we began to remake ourselves in other people’s images, as we told ourselves, more and more, that we were now “modern”, we got further and further away from the strong values of those wise grandmothers – values that are rock-solid, timeless, and eternal. Those values were our compass. They were our North Star.
Our people are very vocal on matters pertaining to politics, and this is good. Political discussion and debate is, after all, the oxygen on which democracy thrives. However, we must make a point of adding to our discussions our views on the do’s and don’ts of parenting; the do’s and don’ts of dating; the do’s and don’ts of dress…..and dance…..and speech…..The do’s and don’ts of workplace behaviour…..and business practices…..and schoolroom decorum.
In other words, we must begin to, once again, talk about all of the things that really go in to building a nation.
We have a flag. We have an anthem. We have a motto, and a bird, and a flower. We are out-performing just about every country in the OECS and, indeed, the wider Caribbean. But it is the people of these two islands that give it all meeting.
So, let us use this Independence week to see ourselves as we are. Let us use this week to see ourselves as we would like to be. And let us use this week to commit ourselves to transforming our best vision for ourselves and our fellow-nationals into reality - for therein lies the true meaning of independence.
