He that hath ears to hear…
Dear Editor,
Norman Manley was remembered recently during the 130th anniversary of his birth with the screening of a documentary, Memories of Manley, which reminds us of his iconic contributions to nation-building.
To add to the reflections, and in the context of the increasing divide, this is what Manley had to say on the subject of unity at the launching of his party at Ward Theatre on September 18, 1938.
“There is a difference between living in a place and belonging to it and feeling that your own life and your destiny are irrevocably bound up in the life and destiny of that place.
“It is that spirit which is the most hopeful thing in Jamaica today. It is that spirit which alone encourages the development of our national consciousness and can lead us to anything resembling civilisation in this country. That, and nothing else.
“No amount of economic good [generated from either side] will make our people a real unity. All efforts will be wasted unless the masses of the people are steadily taken along the path in which they will feel more and more that this place is their home, that it is their destiny.
“They will then do more for it, more work, more effort, more thinking, more sacrifice, more discipline, and more honesty than by any other measure you can bring in this country.”
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Lance Neita
lanceneita@hotmail.com
