Dear Editor,
I have been singing our National Anthem for the last 26 years about once a week, and almost each time of late I am saying to myself that I am asking our "Eternal Father" for everything which he has already given us, and we need to now stop asking and start to show our appreciation and give thanks.
Our national anthem does not fully send a message to promote love, unity and a passion to build our beloved Jamaica. It's a prayer asking for things that our Eternal Father has already blessed us with.
At the time of Independence, over 50 years ago, with emotions, sentiments and in the mood for celebration, the anthem was approved because it seemed appropriate.
Our flag was chosen, too, with the colours holding significant meanings. The significance of the colour black on our flag was changed in recent times — an indication that we are not against changes being made to long-established traditions.
Our anthem should be saying giving thanks to our Eternal Father for this beautiful land which He has given to us. We should be saying to our Eternal Father that we will be guarding this beautiful land with our loving, caring hands. We should be saying that we will be using all the blessings with which he has blessed us in so many different ways to protect this beautiful land from evil powers. And to say that we are thankful that He is our guiding light throughout all the countless hours.
In-between giving thanks to our Eternal Father, we should be beseeching all Jamaicans that this land is ours and we should work together for the benefit of all present and future generations, also acknowledging the efforts of our forefathers.
I wish I were able to pen the relevant words for a suggested new national anthem, but there are many among us whom our Eternal Father has blessed with the talent in that area. Over to them.
Cecil Beharry
cpbeharry@hotmail.com
Time for a new national anthem
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I have been singing our National Anthem for the last 26 years about once a week, and almost each time of late I am saying to myself that I am asking our "Eternal Father" for everything which he has already given us, and we need to now stop asking and start to show our appreciation and give thanks.
Our national anthem does not fully send a message to promote love, unity and a passion to build our beloved Jamaica. It's a prayer asking for things that our Eternal Father has already blessed us with.
At the time of Independence, over 50 years ago, with emotions, sentiments and in the mood for celebration, the anthem was approved because it seemed appropriate.
Our flag was chosen, too, with the colours holding significant meanings. The significance of the colour black on our flag was changed in recent times — an indication that we are not against changes being made to long-established traditions.
Our anthem should be saying giving thanks to our Eternal Father for this beautiful land which He has given to us. We should be saying to our Eternal Father that we will be guarding this beautiful land with our loving, caring hands. We should be saying that we will be using all the blessings with which he has blessed us in so many different ways to protect this beautiful land from evil powers. And to say that we are thankful that He is our guiding light throughout all the countless hours.
In-between giving thanks to our Eternal Father, we should be beseeching all Jamaicans that this land is ours and we should work together for the benefit of all present and future generations, also acknowledging the efforts of our forefathers.
I wish I were able to pen the relevant words for a suggested new national anthem, but there are many among us whom our Eternal Father has blessed with the talent in that area. Over to them.
Cecil Beharry
cpbeharry@hotmail.com
Time for a new national anthem
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