What is national pride?

THE EDITOR, Sir:

While listening to the Budget Debate a few months ago, I was somewhat intrigued by a phrase used by the prime minister: 'having national pride'.  Since hearing those words, I have been puzzled to understand what is the true meaning of that phrase. I wonder to myself if the prime minister was trying to instil something similar to the 'American dream'.

If there is any similarity, as I hope there is, how interesting it would be if each man and woman would have and believe in 'Jamaican pride'.

But what would involve such pride? Certainly to have vision. Which speaks to determination and hard work, in obtaining a sound education, being in a job that not only pays but which gives you a certain passion and zeal, being able to own your home, finding someone to love and being loved, having and taking care of a child, to name a few.

Such a pride would give each Jamaican an instinctive sense to coalesce whenever our morals or other principles are called into question, where though there may be disagreements, the society is free of crime. Where the concerns and upbringing of a child are not only left to the mother and father but also the neighbour. Where the elderly still have the respect of the next generation, and where the poor and homeless are not only cared for by the State but by everyone else.

How interesting, indeed, if each of us would believe in 'having national pride - Jamaican pride'.

RICARDO M. LUKE

lukezricardo@yahoo.com

Kingston