My International Relations Professor, who happened to have served in Swaziland as Ambassador on behalf of Republic of China (Taiwan) presented this book to us and asked us to read as it would be the focus of our Final Exams.
The book entitled ‘That used to be us’- How America fell behind the world it invented and How we can come back; was written by Americans, Thomas and L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum.
Friedman and Mandelbaum, outlined where America was yesterday and is today. The problems and also the actions that brought the country where it is and what will it take to regain its rightful position amongst the world it ‘invented’. The writers even spoke on who has taken America’s place and how they did it. You should read the book it is very informative.
The class was divided into six (6) groups of eight (8) students. I was placed in Group six (6) of which I had the distinct pleasure of serving as the Leader (this happens all the time). My group focused on the last chapter of this well written book. I had an awesome time reading it but it was a bit too long. I hate to read!
For our classroom presentation we tried to compare America and Haiti, and introduced Haiti as the richest Caribbean country and colony in the early years, dating back to the 1700s. Our topic was ‘When will America (US) be rediscovered? We illustrated where Haiti is now and proposed some solutions to the problem. And, expressed what America can learn from Haiti, which was seemingly well received by the clapping classmates and professor.
I felt bad after we finished presenting and as I sat there at my desk, which is not flattering to someone of my built, I was a bit uneasy. A thought ran through my head, the thought that many persons especially in St Kitts and Nevis I would presume are now plagued with. I took a piece of paper and borrowed a pencil from my Belizean friend; Cindy and wrote- WHEN WILL ST KITTS AND NEVIS BE REDISCOVERED?
I began questioning myself, asking- Why I did not think about using St Kitts and Nevis the ‘Mother colony of the British West Indies’ as our focus? Our presentation might have been even better and used as an eye opener.
The online news organisations, social media sites and traditional media have been painting the picture of the federation of St Kitts and Nevis for the world to see and I would have had enough information to feed to the listening audience. Each and every day, however 12 hours ahead of time, I would come across some sort of St Kitts and Nevis in the News both in the positive and negative.
Has St Kitts and Nevis fallen so deep inside of the cracks, so deep that it is at a point of no return? Is St Kitts and Nevis in need of rediscovery as the region has painstakingly lamented?
St Kitts and Nevis yearns for more prosperous times, a new culture of adjustment and swift restoration of its once owned strength and stability. However with the complexity of issues the country is facing, which threaten to endanger our very survival would only summon us to restructure and recommit our lives to the philosophies of family, community and nationhood.
St Kitts and Nevis is being faced with problems that countries all around the world are facing but is doing better than a number of them!- The problems of greed, corruption, exploitation, crime and violence coupled with many others.
My Facebook page’s news feed is being harassed and raped by the many negative statuses of our people, news articles even from persons living outside of St Kitts and Nevis; sticking their noses in our over boiling pot, long passages from the hands of past and present politicians, journalists and social commentators.
Oh! and the statuses of my Taiwanese friends also, which I don’t really understand but they allow me some breathing time. (????,????)The written pieces in my view are being directed to one person or one group, how UNFAIR. We must realize that St Kitts and Nevis is all of us. The articles, however, are of substance but at times I only wonder, I only wonder what if we really wanted to help. We hold the answer to any simple rhetorical question which may appear.
But, When will St Kitts be rediscovered? When will St Kitts (and Nevis) be readdressed as the ‘Mother colony of the British West Indies?’
There is much work to be done, from reading of a ‘No Confidence’ claim which may further damage our democratic nature to ministers of Government not being able to see eye to eye. I feel when we work on the following with YOUR addition(s) to the list St Kitts and Nevis would regain its almost lost identity:
? Done with the Corruption (this goes out to the politicians, private sector and ordinary people)
? Adhere to the country’s motto: ‘Country above self’ (Defend your country!)
? Put the people first! ( I think that this self-explanatory)
? Practice togetherness ‘Working together works’ (We all want to be leaders but for once let us be Team players)
? Educate and safe guard our youths
? Stop expounding on the problems, instead ‘Find the solutions’
? The Blame Game should be one for school children! Not for thinking adults
? Exercise your Franchise! ‘Vote’ it always counts!
? (Feel free to add your point here, let’s work together)
Today is the time, the opportune time for each of us to engage in self-introspection to ascertain exactly what we can do to move our country forward. We must ask ourselves what we can do for our country and not what our country can do for us. We must ask ourselves what we can do for our country and not what the ‘politicians’ can do for us. We must ask ourselves when are we going to assist in the rediscovery of our beloved country!
When will St Kitts and Nevis be rediscovered? It simply depends on us.
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