Back and Next - Back and NextA moment of reflection
Monday, February 16, 2009
Editorial,
Tomorrow is Independence Day; 44 years ago, this day went down in the annals of our history as marking the beginning of an end in our struggle to steer our own political wheel.
Each year, on this day, Gambians both at home and abroad take a moment of reflection, to remember our forbearers, with whose struggle, the yoke of foreign rule and imperialism was broken. Tomorrow, Gambians will once again rejoice and remember the debt with which we started our nation building.
The struggle for independencewas not a child’s play. Our forbearers lived and tasted the brutalities and indignities of colonialism. They understood clearly that the liberation of a people institutes principles which enjoin the recognition and destruction of imperialistic domination, whether it is political, economic, cultural or social. And to destroy imperialistic domination in this form, political, economic, social and cultural action must always have reference to the needs and nature of the liberated people. It is from these needs and nature, the action must drive authenticity. And it is on this foundation that together we build the pillars of the Gambia.
Moreover, with the birth of a new Gambia in July 1994, the course of our struggle takes a greater dimension of the people. The July 22 revolution noticed that in order to address the issue of national reconstruction, the cajolement, the wheedling, the seductions and the Trojan-Horses of neo-colonialism must be stoutly resisted.
The revolution realised that the true welfare of the people does not admit of compromise, for is with their effort and their sacrifice, with their forbearance and denial that independence is won. Independence once won, it is possible to rule against the erstwhile colonial power, but it is really not possible to rule against the wish and interest of the people.
This has enabled us to realize the objective of our independence struggle and hence helped us build a Gambia of the people and not a state carved by neo-colonialism. It is therefore patriotism of the highest magnitude for us to celebrate our independence. Throughout colonial domination, our dignity was nipped, personality killed and our liberty confiscated. It was independence that brought us back our lost human dignity, personality and worth.
Tomorrow is Independence Day; 44 years ago, this day went down in the annals of our history as marking the beginning of an end in our struggle to steer our own political wheel.
Each year, on this day, Gambians both at home and abroad take a moment of reflection, to remember our forbearers, with whose struggle, the yoke of foreign rule and imperialism was broken. Tomorrow, Gambians will once again rejoice and remember the debt with which we started our nation building.
The struggle for independencewas not a child’s play. Our forbearers lived and tasted the brutalities and indignities of colonialism. They understood clearly that the liberation of a people institutes principles which enjoin the recognition and destruction of imperialistic domination, whether it is political, economic, cultural or social. And to destroy imperialistic domination in this form, political, economic, social and cultural action must always have reference to the needs and nature of the liberated people. It is from these needs and nature, the action must drive authenticity. And it is on this foundation that together we build the pillars of the Gambia.
Moreover, with the birth of a new Gambia in July 1994, the course of our struggle takes a greater dimension of the people. The July 22 revolution noticed that in order to address the issue of national reconstruction, the cajolement, the wheedling, the seductions and the Trojan-Horses of neo-colonialism must be stoutly resisted.
The revolution realised that the true welfare of the people does not admit of compromise, for is with their effort and their sacrifice, with their forbearance and denial that independence is won. Independence once won, it is possible to rule against the erstwhile colonial power, but it is really not possible to rule against the wish and interest of the people.
This has enabled us to realize the objective of our independence struggle and hence helped us build a Gambia of the people and not a state carved by neo-colonialism. It is therefore patriotism of the highest magnitude for us to celebrate our independence. Throughout colonial domination, our dignity was nipped, personality killed and our liberty confiscated. It was independence that brought us back our lost human dignity, personality and worth.
Author: DO
See Also - See Also