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Quest for national pride
Posted: Tuesday, March 5, 2002

By Peter Ray Blood

We crave the music, the brand name clothes, the lifestyle, the posh cars, even Halloween, so why can't we go the full distance and inculcate more of the positive influences from the United States of America. Like patriotism, national pride, a sense of, and respect for, antiquity, and tangible social support services.

I thought of this column since last week when I passed in front of Fatima College and noticed the huge national flag flying outside the Mucurapo Road school.

My mind, transported me to my visits to the United States, and observing the innumerable Stars and Stripes that fly from almost every federal, state and commercial building, and dwellings, I mused on how many other schools and premises across the nation fly the national flag.

Many of us marvel at the manner in which Americans rally behind their flag, the symbolism and significance it holds to every citizen of that nation, regardless of age.

Last week alone, the reverence and respect by Americans for their flag, anthem and their overall fervent love of self before all else were vividly displayed; first at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, and then when I saw the movie Behind Enemy Lines at Globe cinema.

At the Olympic opening, athletes and spectators alike were moved to tears when the tattered flag that was recovered at Ground Zero, in the ruins of the World Trade Center, was paraded by a contingent of military personnel and athletes.

In Behind Enemy Lines, Gene Hackman, as a high ranking naval officer, disregards the wishes of his superiors and places his men "in harm's way" to rescue one US solitary aviator who was shot down behind enemy lines in the Bosnian War.

The underlying message in the plot was whether it was one pilot or marine, or a battalion, Uncle Sam was determined to rescue him from the enemy, because of "national pride".

Okay, so you may argue it has taken the American over 200 years to attain this level of patriotism and national pride, while we have only been independent for 40 years.

But we have an advantage as there are already models for us to emulate.

Back home, daily I have to walk through Port-of-Spain, capital of our nation, and, beside being forced to step around garbage and vagrants, must endure the aroma of stale urine on almost every street downtown.

Laws and penalties on spitting, urinating and loitering have been in existence since I was a little boy, and it is good that a Minister has finally arrived with the necessary cojones and gumption to enforce them.

One can only hope that the will and execution of law is there this time, and not another mamaguy, political PR thing, like the music piracy laws.

In general, beside being inherently lawless, the Trinidadian male is a despicable dirty creature who will not hesitate, even in front of a kindergarten school, to whip out his penis and urinate, oblivious and unperturbed to whoever he offends or corrupts.

When it comes to eyesores, Port-of-Spain and its environs take the cake, despite the efforts of Mayor Murchison Brown and his beleaguered corporation.

Yes, Woodford Square looks beautiful with its new cobbled walkways and lights, but a stone's throw away I cringe each time I have to pass that abandoned building at the corner of Abercromby and Queen Streets.

This building is just a mere two blocks from the main street in the centre of the nation's capital.

From before Carnival, it seems that every vagrant in Port-of-Spain either dumped refuse at this site or dumped body waste.

It is with similar trepidation that I walk past the corners of Charlotte and Henry Streets at Independence Square south.
After dark, only the brave or the ignorant, and those who can hold their breath for long periods, would hazard walking on the pavement outside the "rum shops" at these locations.

Being unfamiliar with similar sites in the southland, the only one I could refer to is the waterfront in San Fernando, where the PTSC terminus is located.

Find yourself down there after six on a Sunday evening and you understand what desolation is all about.

I was also appalled last week by a stinking pile of garbage that was liberally strewn for days outside the Wrightson Road wall of the carpark at the Edward Street corner.

Also on this major thoroughfare, in the vicinity of John Donaldson, commuters have been enlightened to each stage of decomposition of a canine, killed about ten days ago and now decayed to mere fur and bones.

On the question of sites, sights and scents, while it isn't easily seen from the highway, I contend that the Beetham dump should be relocated, way outside the limits of the nation's capital.

As a little boy living in Laventille, not only were we fascinated by the blue haze of smoke that floated nightly over this site, but the offensive smell which engulfed every household was sometimes too much to bear.

Over 40 years later, the smokey haze has become more colourful and the smell as pungent and odious as ever.

While some applauded last week's article on juvenile delinquency, lawlessness and crime, a few were quite critical.

But I maintain that the holistic approach must be used alongside the reptilian plan to achieve lasting results in curbing crime.

National pride, respect for each other, unrepentant patriotism and our national motto and watchwords must become part of our everyday existence.

The singing of the national anthem every morning at every school, recitation of the national pledge, and singing of our national songs are as good a place to start.

Nationwide, ask any primary or secondary school student who were Umilta McShine, Nelson Caton or Pat Castagne and I will wager that at least 65 per cent of them will not know.

Ask them the meaning of the emblems on the coat of arms, or the colours of the national flag as well and the responses would more than likely be nothing short of incredulous.

Schools, places of worship, corporate edifices must all begin to fly the national flag, even at the exception of flying a company flag.

As one great US President said, "It's not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."



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