The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

JUST a little while ago, I came across a lil video clip which took a deeper look at the Pledge of Allegiance in the USA. It was a rather unorthodox look at those patriotic words, and it spurred on thoughts of look-ing at our national ideals in an out-of-the-box way. It makes a world of a difference when words have meaning.

So, here’s what I came up with.

“...One people united in love and unity” can and should be more than just a token, rhetorical patriotic pronouncement. It can change and foster so much in this Bahamas today, when words have meaning.

Simply going through the motions appears to be such an integral part of Bahamian culture, that to take things literally or seriously can sometimes cause negative reactions in some surroundings. So, when it comes to our National Symbols, laws, policies, rules and regulations, much of the population now may simply see such things as there... just for show. Taken another way, however, what a wonderful Bahamas this would be.

Divine nature, one could say, has designed The Bahamas in such a unique way that it can either be a bless-ing or a curse... depending on how we look at it. 700 islands, rocks and cays are scattered across our brilliant, sparkling turquoise waters, in a magical array. Each inhabited island offers its own unique charm and challenges. Even the uninhabited ones hold special enchantments, if only for temporary delights. Yet, far too many Bahamians restrict themselves to a tiny piece of our pie, while visitors from near and far get to enjoy the splendors which abound throughout our archipelago.

If only we could see what we lookin’ at, and enjoy our own Bahamas in the most fulfilling ways. As simplistic as it might sound, by sharing and caring for each other, as well as the special gifts of these various islands, many of the issues we struggle with today could drift away with the outgoing tides. When we relate the words that our children recite from rote to their realities, then foster those same concepts into adolescent activities, and adult interactions, we will be well on our way to a better Bahamas.

When words have mean-ing, it makes a world of difference.

Can we agree that with so many of us bungled up in New Providence, for example, the possibility of unnecessary conflicts and confrontations are likely increased? Ok, how do we then redistribute more folks to the Family Islands in positive ways? Of course, in doing so, there would be more dynamics which would have to come into play - including the good, the bad, and the ugly. That’s life! But, having common, loftier goals, as sung about in our National Anthem, could be an underlying zeal which could bring about the connectivity seal to truly integrate all the islands (and their people) forward, upward, onward together.

Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, we’re better off being detached and some-what on our own, from island to island. Perhaps, some of our quaint, idyllic pieces of the pie would be adversely affected by closer links to certain other elements in this rapidly changing Bahamas. It’s yet to be seen, ... much less tried. For what it’s worth, it’s great to have our national ideals, but to live them out in our daily lives, so far has been quite an elusive thing.

We certainly have all the right words. Now, to match them with our deeds would show... when words have meaning.

MB

New Providence March 6, 2024