By Audley Phillip
Having lived in Jamaica for a number of years, one cannot help but observe how patriotic Jamaicans are towards their country, its national flag and anthem whenever it is played. With all the ills that are plaguing the country, you cannot find a more nationalistic, passionate, fervent, loyal and faithful people when it comes to their flag and country. Jamaicans are a very proud people and everywhere in the world you go, you are bound to find them and they do not travel anywhere without their flag.
At the beginning of all sporting events, church services and academic school days, the national anthem is played aloud on a public address system and it is noticeable that everyone , including parents dropping off their children at school, stops and stands at attention when the national anthem is being played. I was marveled and stunned by this.
Our National Anthem is a sacred symbol of freedom and love for our country. It is a symbol of allegiance and pride and serves as an external representation of the values and spirit we have towards each other and to our beloved country Antigua & Barbuda.
When the National Anthem is played, we stand in reverence and honour to those before us who paid the ultimate price. We also stand for the honour of our democracy and the democratic processes that we should cherish and hold dearly. We stand because we are proud of our country. We stand to salute justice and fairplay for all. We stand because many eyes are watching and we should be eternally proud of the freedoms we enjoy as a citizen of this great nation of Antigua & Barbuda.
At a time when we have seen the foundations and pillars of our core values shaken and rocked by hatred, crime and violence, let us reemphasize and reorganize and promote discipline within our schools by the daily playing of the national anthem first and foremost. Let us ensure that all protocols and etiquettes are followed and adhered to when the national anthem is played and the patriotism and respect that goes along with it are followed. It is a great way to instill discipline, control , development and comeuppance in our children today.
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lol lol lol lol what a groundbreaking, earth shattering idea!
Sir,with what’s going on in this country? Not a lot to sing about there. A land where treachery, betrayal, skulduggery and deceitfulness abounds,where patriotism is mostly non-existent, I honestly feel no sudden urge to sing
“The national anthem should be played in every school prior to the start of the academic day”? Sorry Kim Jong Un Philip but this is Antigua not North Korea.
A flag designed by a man….an anthem with words written and music composed by a man… reverence. Wow. In other words ” worship”.
Imagine your national anthem not composed in your calypso music ….your national music 🎶. and you talked about patriotism…love country…
We can’t even unite Antigua with Barbuda….that Barbuda has its one man party..to what end. What can a one man party achieve for Barbuda.
So keep on dreaming….wonder who decided one must bow before the flag ….stand in respect to the national anthem….not until we eradicate corruption and all form decadent behavior.
LOL u want a nice BENNA anthem,so the students can jam and wink up like Shoogy during assembly morning time? hopefully they can read better than him by the time dem done bruk way to the calypso anthem.
P.S. – think Burning Flames has a version already
You maybe onto something here Audley Phillips. I on the odd occasion quote lines and verses from our National Anthem in my comments.
It gives me a strong sense of patriotism and love for my country – our children should sing it everyday; and then hopefully when they become adults, they will call-out any untoward and unpatriotic behavior.
I ENDORSE THIS PATRIOTIC 🇦🇬 IDEA …
Fairer Gaston and Maria
We thy sons and daughters stand
Strong and firm in your decision
To safeguard our native land.
We had commit ourselves to building
A true nation brave and free.
Ever striving, ever seeking
To curb hunger, crime and poverty.
Actually when I was a student in Jamaica I was so surprised when I first went to see a movie that the national anthem was also played before the show started.
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