Precisely at midnight, on August 5, 1962, the Union Jack- the British flag - was lowered and the Jamaican flag hoisted.
The birth announcement of an independent Jamaica went forth.
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A ceremony marking this historic event was held at the newly constructed National Stadium in Kingston. Jamaica’s first Governor-General and Prime Minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, and Mr. Norman Manley, Leader of the Opposition were our founding fathers.
A joining of choirs sang with gusto the new National Anthem and then a magnificent fireworks display lit up the sky over the stadium.
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Do you remember what you were doing or what was happening in 1962? Well, I was barely out of cloth diapers.
Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr. becomes first American to achieve earth orbit.
Telstar becomes the first communications satellite intended for regular service; relays television signals between North America and Europe.
Nike designed their first sneaker.
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And now in 2009, I find myself living in diaspora.
Iphone, Facebook, Google are a part of my daily routine, and yet these technological marvels were not even dreams back in 1962.
One of my work program allows me to deal with intellectual property (captured in patent applications) of leading innovative companies in the world. When one gets beyond the interaction with patent attorneys, and sense the scope of the technological future, one has to say wow! The world has clearly advanced with technology!
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But as one takes a moment to reflect, is the technological leverage what we need to propel Jamaica into a new orbit? We at times look at the Asian tigers with admiration on how they were able to engineer an infrastructure that allowed them to gain economic momentum. But is technological horsepower the missing ingredient?
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Last Sunday at an Emancipation/Independence Thanksgiving service, the Governor-General exhorted those in attendance to redouble the moral authority of the church to transform the nation. This was another presentation underscoring his “I believe in Jamaica” message.
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“The Church was at the forefront of the struggle for freedom from physical bondage and slavery. The Church must, again, stand in the forefront and give leadership in the struggle against moral, mental, emotional and economic bondage; the Church has the moral and spiritual authority. Do not drop the ball, otherwise we may all perish,” the Governor-General urged.
This is a challenging call, as we are called to ensure our future progress is built on enduring footing. We do need a platform where our motto “Out of many, One people “ takes on a deeper commitment for our most at risk.
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Booker T. Washington, a giant of yester years said it well.
“If you want to lift yourself up, then lift someone else up.”
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So as Jamaica enters its 47th. year of independence, my personal response to the Governor-General’s call is to practice a spirit of abundance.
When we think of abundance, we are usually tempted to limit our definition to a physical expression. In an era of prolonged recession, this can be most challenging.
Please remember, abundance is an attitude, not a bank account number.
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I want to practice an abundance in closeness to God.
An abundance to enrich relationships with family and friends.
An abundance of health in body and spirit.
An abundance in maximizing the stewardship of time.
An abundance in resources to get beyond cash flow limitation and help others in need.
Let’s create green shoots of abundance & freedom!
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I invite you to invest a few moments and decide how you are going to support the PM & GC’s challenge. Set aside a time of solitude, clear your mind, and reflect on how you will answer the challenge. Write them down, and find a means of making them actionable.
Even with the generosity of the Reggae genre ,singing does not rise to the top tier of my talent bank.
So it is easy for me to refuse the invitation of join a choir, especially the grievance choir. Yes, the grievance choir whose music sheet only comprise the down notes of the US experience with its sins being the lyrics.
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As I pen these thoughts, I listen to the joyous laughter of an Ethiopian family enjoying the community pool. The dad is outside the pool orchestrating a water volleyball game, while each child scream with delight as they vie for dad’s attention.
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A diversity of people can be seen on the lounge chairs occupying the pool’s perimeter; sunbathing, catching up our their summer reading, or plugging some text message into their phones. The pool guard cast a scanning eye to ensure that all remains well. From a passing car comes the waffling sound of some sweet classical Mexican Ballard music. This idyllic melting pot scene provides a symbolic backdrop for this American Independence day week-end for me.
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Being in Washington DC during this holiday’s season, gives one a unique perspective on the greatness of the country. The National Mall comprises an all star display of national icons that are in full regale for the fourth. I thus made my way to the national mall last evening (prior to the coming hordes) to listen to Dick Gregory, a seasoned social critic.
Dick Gregory at the Smithsonian
He was performing at the annual folk life festival, and took his time to share with his irreverent humor, why this was such a great country.
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He chronicled his journey in the US with particular emphasis on the rapid expansion of opportunities for all people buoyed by the civil rights victories. Being on the forefront of the civil rights movement for so many years, his declaration comes with much credibility. This was a refreshingly honest assessment that will bear additional future progress as it gives impetus and affirmation to further national growth.
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I was again reminded to reconsider the foundational aspiration of this nation. The inspiring words of the declaration of Independence and the constitution give energy and vision to so many yearnings and possibilities. I doubt Jefferson fully imagined what those powerful words of the declaration of independence would do to not only form a new nation, but to breathe new life in the innate sense of freedom of all mankind.
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“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
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I relish these moving words , while I also hold a deep love for our native land, and a keen appreciation of my ethnic roots. My hybrid nature is symbolized by the umbilical cord of a hyphen. I am a Jam-American.
I find myself being defined by the overlap of the two cultural spheres.
The mores of Jamaica and the cultural presence of my American existence shape my being.
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This will be a dynamic space and that is just fine. It will make me more sensitive to truly being, and thus make conscious choices rather than relying on just drifting along.
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In the US, we are constantly re-inventing itself using the aspiration of a great constitution, and declaration of independence to overcome the challenges of each era. That is the secret sauce of its abiding hope. This is what gives me confidence in this most challenging period.
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Finally, I leave you with this admonition. Don’t take the gust of freedom that we enjoy for granted. It was earned and will continue to be purchased by the spilling of precious blood, and other costly sacrifices.
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So as you enjoy that picnic and fireworks, utter a prayer of thanks and vow to contribute yourself to making a difference that other immigrants even from Jamaica can aspire and wonder about this great country.
It’s Good Friday, my most moving time of the year.
Like a symphony that begins with heavy groans and foreboding I begin another Easter season of reflection. In my youth, this season did not hold such reverence. I can remember being in that little country church from noon through 3 pm. listening to the local deacons pontificate on the last words of Christ. This was in the great metropolis of Kitson Town, eight miles north of Spanish Town.
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I still remember plotting with my brother and cousins a scheme to satisfy our hunger from the imposed fast, as we were not allowed to eat until after 3 pm. We were shamed to think that it was selfish to consider our physical hunger while Jesus was going through the height of his agony.
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As they say, confession is good for the soul, so let me share our game plan. We confiscated some bun and cheese, and secured it in a tree in the church yard. We would then arrange to go to the rest room, and meet for our mini feast.
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Before you re-damm me for my youthful irreverence, let me share the two hymns that have been stitched into my DNA from those early years - Isacs Watts, When I survey the Wondrous Cross, and Cecil Alexander’s There is a Green Hill Far Way.I look forward to singing these again with vigor even if it is in the shower.
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This holy week began for me when I experienced the cross through a new perspective; the eyes of a Roman Centurion. It was my privilege to witness a 45 minutes soliloquy of Dr. Stenbakken, who has developed many Bible characters and gives them a vibrant presence in our present age.
His fertile imagination tells the story of the centurion found at the foot of the cross. Longinus is the chief Centurion over all the personal troops of Pilate. As such, he found himself in charge of the crucifixion. No problem for him. He has put many people to death by sword and hand to hand.
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This will be nothing - until he actually met Jesus. He can not understand this man who changes everyone, and ultimately Longinus as well. It is this Centurion’s cry, “This was the Son of God!” that rings through history. When he volunteered to be in charge of the guards at the tomb, his life was changed forever.
Is there a more powerful symbol of Divine love?
I invite you to take some quiet time to reflect on the life who changed time and history.
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Let me wish you a rich Easter season.
Resurrection does not make a covenant with death, it overthrows it.
Alexander Schmemann
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What Easter memory has stayed with you through the years?
On the ninth day of Christmas, an extra ordinary Jamaican gave to me:
the grandeur of vision
Vision is not only important but a necessity! Vision allows you to think big and strategically. Vision also teaches you to be patient because it takes time. Vision is what makes Dreams a reality.
Vision is what makes life worth living even if life falls short. Without Vision, I would not be who I am, where I am, and I would not have dared to do the impossible. Vision makes things simple, while emotion makes things complicated.
On the Seventh day of Christmas, an extra ordinary Jamaican gave to me:
The embracing gift of diversity.
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Growing up in Jamaica I was exposed to diversity in my home, in my church and my school. My Grandmother was a great cook and her passion for cooking and love for people has impacted my life greatly. My desire to share my heritage through food I owe all to her.Our Jamaican motto “out of many one people” was a true reflection of my environment.
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Moving to New York, the great big melting pot, I was surprise to find that there were so many people who are clannish and afraid to step out of their box to embrace cultural and ethnic differences. I am very thankful for my universal spirit. I am always open to learning new things and meeting different people.
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My world is a much bigger place with wonderful people of different cultures in my life.
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I have a very diverse group of good friends, from Demark, Colombia, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Korea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and the Caribbean, with whom I have shared cultures, food, music and life experiences These connections have led me produce and host “Michele’s Island Kitchen”. This cooking show explores the diversity in Virginia and the DC metro Area. My guests bring their varied styles and cultures, and we have a great time sharing our experiences.The program can be viewed as follows:
3rd. Tuesday of each month at noon & 8:30 pm.
4th. Friday of each month at 10:30 am.
The TV channel is Fairfax public access, Virginia, channel 10.
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So, as we reflect on this past year full of challenges and changes, let us take a moment to look within ourselves and determine how we will make a difference in the coming year by extended ourselves to our neighbors regardless of our differences. Remember our neighbor is not only those where we live, but everywhere we go.
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There’s a beautiful world waiting to be discovered, it begins with you and me.
On the sixth day of Christmas, an extra ordinary Jamaican gave to me:
The blessing of leadership in higher education.
Educational leaders value people, are results-driven, have strong business acumen, and are skilled in building coalitions and communications. Educational leadership must develop a passion to create an environment in which students, faculty, and administration invest significant time and effort to mutually support teaching and learning. To be effective, leadership must continually alter and adjust to new and changing situations, take advantage of new opportunities and develop operational goals and objectives to meet changing internal and external institutional demands. Educational leadership must embrace the fact that every individual within a learning institution must be a strategic thinker who is able to: (1) integrate and orchestrate knowledge skills, (2) set realistic, challenging performance objectives and (3) manage his or her own learning and skill set enhancement. Successful educational leadership uses the tool of collaboration to invite the participation of alumni and employers of program graduates in the teaching and learning process.
Successful educational leadership measures its progress toward achieving its goals by applying the following benchmarks:
Decisions and actions that improve and expand learning.
Engagement of learners as full and responsible partners in their learning.
Development of curricula that identify what students need to know and be able to do in order to perform competently and successfully once they leave the institution.
Students’ academic achievements and acquisition of work-related skills.
Commitment by all members of the learning community to their own life-long learning and the members’ ability to describe how they contribute to learning or learner success.
It takes commitment and effort to develop and maintain a collaborative learning environment that is not dependent on any one individual for success. People must be valued, both as members of a team and as individuals. A strong organizational value system is required for success. Vision and the utilization of creativity, authenticity, interaction, empowerment, and passion to communicate are some of the necessary leadership skills that must be applied to accomplish the outcomes of higher education.
On the fifth day of Christmas, an extra ordinary Jamaican gave to me:
The endurance of perseverance.
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When you are a developing country, you often find yourself going through growing pains. At times like this when the global economic blight is stifling, the temptation to yield to circumstances presses hard. I thus would like to offer the gift of perseverance.
An obvious poster child of this characteristic is Winston Churchill.
He grew up feeling intellectually inferior to his university-educated collegues, and and lack of practice in public speaking. He became prime minister during World War 2, and what a difference this made. Here is an example that embodies perseverance.
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On the 29th of October 1941, he addressed the graduating class at Harrow School.
“ Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
