Nanny of the Maroons
THE EDITOR, Madam:
PERHAPS the highest and most coveted award that the majority of Jamaicans would desire for their leaders is that of National Hero, which is certainly uncommon and should be rarely awarded.
We sing praises to seven National Heroes, including Nanny the heroine of the Maroons, but we wonder if all of them have been selected by fulfilment of the same standard.
Truly a criterion for determining such an award, should be presented to all Jamaicans. Many people would think that an award of National Hero should be made posthumously to a Jamaican political leader, who has contributed significantly in building the nation, or has suffered and endured hardships and humiliation to improve the quality of life of all Jamaicans from a lower level unto a higher plane.
Obviously the award would be confined to politicians only, though there may be many "unsung heroes" in other fields such as education, the arts and music.
Such criteria if applied and satisfied would be quite selective about the quality of people we enter in the National Heroes Park and keep the award very uncommon. Apparently time would make the award possible only over a period between 50 to 100 years. Thus those on whom it may be bestowed would be always respected and revered. We would never seek to deface and destroy national monuments erected in memory of our heroes and we would not discredit or denude the value of the award.
Remarkably, we would prevent all attempts to overcrowd the National Heroes Park and make it a common cemetery for the remains of the popular or beloved who do not satisfy an established set of criteria and do not virtually deserve such an award.
I am, etc.,
J. O'CONNOR
Kellits, Clarendon
