I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE

As this country prepares to celebrate 44 years of nationhood there are parallels between this school’s maturation and the development of our fair land, Barbados. “We loyal sons and daughters all.” These words, occurring in the first line of the chorus in our National Anthem speak not only to past generations but to all successive generations of sons and daughters, emphasizing that we be “loyal sons and daughters.”

Students, it is this sense of loyalty to God, nation and fellowman that formed the building blocks of nation and institutions such as this one. It is the heart-felt loyalty of “sons and daughters “of the past, their anxiety, sacrifice, creative and industrious will which brought us to this time and place of celebration. But do not be mistaken, the sacrifices of our brave forefathers demand our recognition, gratitude and highest honours.

The seeds sown by our “strict guardians” which germinated into today’s well established social welfare programmes, including: health care, national insurance, relatively free formal education, to name a few, require that we too pay our dues. My question to you is who will be our next generation of “strict guardians of our heritage?” This question must be answered with national urgency.

I am reminded of an earlier era of globalization, in which a craftsman of the erstwhile British Empire, playwright, William Shakespeare, wrote and staged theatrical works which impacted on the destiny of many nations, including ours. One such work is The Tempest. In this play, the forces of globalization are vigorously at work within a pre-colonial context. One of the most telling statements in this play is made by Caliban, the colonized slave of Prospero, who remonstrates: “You taught me language, and my profit on’t / Is I know to curse.” [Act I. Scene 2].

I suggest that this use of language, indeed the tools of formal education are not meant to be used for vulgar, self-negating and destructive purposes. These tools of formal education which you are privileged to use must be sown in good soil, nurtured and allowed to germinate, and spring forth with much fruit. Fruit that includes love for God, love for fellowman and pride of nationhood.

Students, I am insisting that with “expectations great” you will form part of the next generation of “strict guardians of our heritage, / Firm craftsmen of our fate.” This generation is not being asked to perform its national duty tomorrow but to pay its dues today. With this in mind, one better understands the vital role social institutions, particularly the school, has to play in that process of nation building and development of today’s craftsmen and women. What is necessary is for us to learn from our total history and chart a course towards a path which does not repeat those centuries-old mistakes.

The 20^th century African American writer Ralph Ellison defines the bearings of this course in his literary and musical matrix, Invisible Man. In the Epilogue of this great novel, the unnamed protagonist is given these words of advice by his grandfather: “We were to affirm the principle on which the country was built and not the men, or at least not the men who did the violence.” Similarly, our brave forefathers have spoken to us and insisted that we too continue to “write our names on history’s page.” Students, there is a cause for why you must never be doubtful or fearful, upward and onward going, “Inspired, exulting, free.”

I believe that there are great leaders among you. Will you ask the probing questions? Will you be the creative thinkers of today? Will you be part of that generation that will navigate our nation towards greater growth “In strength and unity?” You alone can and must answer these questions.

In the final analysis, “Our brave fore fathers” have bestowed upon us the great responsibility of safeguarding our heritage. But that is not all; it is needful for us, in today’s nationally challenging and confrontationally global arena to recognize the “cause” to preserve our nationhood. Sustainable development will not materialize in board rooms but in the binding of “our hearts from coast to coast.” Will you be today’s “loyal sons and daughters [after] all?” Remember, you do not have to take up this mantle of national guardianship alone, for “The Lord has been the people’s guide for past 300 years, with Him still on the people’s side we have no doubts or fears.” Therefore, arise, make wise use of your time and be proud and industrious citizens of today.

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!

OOW
2010