THE EDITOR, Sir:
I SUPPOSE that many who are disrespectful to members of our Jamaican communities are either unaware of the sacrifices made to create the nation, or else they have forgotten. The following are excerpts from speeches of Mr Bustamante and Mr Manley respectively on Jamaica's first Independence Day.
I did not have to do a research to find the quotations; they can be found on The Gleaner's web page. But I think they are meaningful enough for someone... everyone... to read today. Please brothers and sisters, let's get our act together. We all have a short time on earth. Let's make the best of it.
"Independence means the opportunity for us to frame our own destiny and the need for us to rely on ourselves in so doing. It does not mean a licence to do as we would like. It means work and law and order - Let us resolve to build a Jamaica which will last and of which we and generations to come will be proud, remembering that especially at this time the eyes of the world are upon us." - Mr Bustamante.
"We stand here today surrounded by an unseen host of witnesses - who through all our history strove to keep alight the torch of freedom - and what of the future? We have come to Independence prepared and ready to shoulder our new responsibilities and united I believe in one single hope that we may make our small country a safe and happy home for all our people." - Mr Norman Manley.
I am etc.,
HORACE G HARVEY (Rev.)
horaceharvey@hotmail.com
Providence, RI, USA
Via Go-Jamaica
