Dear Editor,

The patriotic song, Jamaica Arise, which was proposed as our national anthem in the early 1960s, and sung by the PNP at a press conference while celebrating 70 years as a political party, includes the following words, "Land of my birth, I pledge to be loyal and faithful true to Thee". This has not only theological implications, but would help many Jamaicans who are thinking of swearing allegiance to a foreign power. I think it would be difficult to lift the hand to a foreign power, as we raise our hands during the singing of Jamaica Arise.

I know of cases where I Did It My Way, sung by the late Frank Sinatra, was used at two funerals for Anglican priests and also a Roman Catholic lay person. A member told me that it was

I Did It My Way that helped her late husband to tolerate his pain when he was suffering from cancer, and sought my permission to allow Dean Fraser to render the hymn on his saxophone.

A prominent PNP adherent told to me that he was unaware that The Red Flag was not only written in 1889, but it was the anthem of the International Labour Movement and not necessarily the property of political parties which adopted the lyrics. Jim Connell wrote this song in memory of workers who were assassinated, murdered, kidnapped and suffered serious inhumane treatment. Interestingly ,it was sung at many funerals of workers in Europe. In South Africa workers sang The Red Flag as they died by hanging. John Newton, a former slave trader who became an Anglican priest, wrote Amazing Grace.

Revd Canon Ernle Gordon
St Mary's Rectory
Kingston 20
gordfm@yahoo.com

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