Patriotism

Jamaicans celebrated their Independence on Wednesday (August 6th). Happy forty sixth Jamaica, It seems like just yesterday that Roy Rayon won the festival song competition with “Give thanks and praises we are twenty five”. Many Jamaicans, including yours truly do not celebrate nor observe our public holidays for what they really are. To many of us, they are just "red" week days on the calendar that mean we don’t have to go to work. I think patriotism is at an all time low in the land of wood and water. How many of us know the second verse of the anthem, the pledge and are able to name all seven national heroes? I wish that more Jamaicans would embrace their heritage and culture and stop adopting American traditions and holidays. Until then I’ll try to resist the urge to pour condensed milk into the outstretched palms of the kids at my apartment complex who make the mistake to come “trick or treating” at my door.