Dear Editor,
It is human nature not to look at oneself first. We often neglect our own power of responsibility. I have never depended on government to tell me or to show me how to pick myself up and engage in volunteer work, work with young people, Carnival, etc. I am a citizen of this country and I always knew I had a role to fulfil to my community. It is a life principle I relay to the youth I work with daily.
The common phrase that we only "give someone their flowers when they are dead" predictably is being repeated often the past 48 hours after the passing of well-known folks. In most instances, government is the target, the entity that failed to recognize our people.
While not dismissing anyone's opinion, I do believe that some of it has merit, it is not entirely true that flowers only appear when people leave us. What is closer to the truth is that as a community, we only pay attention to the flowers when the person has left us. That's the other side of the coin.
There have been several organizations, government included, who have recognized numerous people and given them their flowers over the years during several events. The Carnival Foundation for example, of which I'm a proud member, has honoured more than 20 cultural icons over the past five years alone. Not just for their work for Carnival, but for culture in general. Who remembers these folks (all are alive) and did you pay attention?
Have you read all the stories? Followed the coverage? Took part in the nomination processes? Attended any of the events? Or did you scroll or flip past it and paid more attention to "click bait" items? When government asks to submit nominations for youth prizes or cultural awards, do you nominate anyone? Have you gotten together with some other like-minded people to determine what you can do as a citizen in recognizing our people and enhancing their importance to our cultural psyche? Or did you talk today then return to your routine the following day until the next opportunity arises to talk about flowers?
The honouring of people is not an exercise that exclusively belongs to government. As citizens we too have a role to fulfil to our community. We too can and probably should collectively decide to recognize our heroes and fete them the way we think they should be feted and remembered. We too would have all failed our community with our inaction, just as much as those at whom we are pointing fingers.
We have a responsibility to St. Maarten as her citizens. The strength of our communities was cemented through the actions and initiatives of our service clubs and other citizen groups. We stand on the shoulders of those people who never waited on government to show them the way. Lately we have become trapped by social media, preferring to stay in this box and shout, rather than climb out and get to work.
The Amazing Roland “Paben” Bryson and the Dedicated Roy Marlin never waited around. They got up and they served in their own ways; one through culture, the other through public service. The best way to remember them is to get up and serve. Lay praise on them yes, recall their accolades, absolutely, but honour them by following their example of doing for country.
We do our island and its heroes injustice if we continue to neglect the power of collective responsibility (in all aspects). If you, as a citizen of this country, feel that something more should be done to honour our people, just do it. Start tomorrow.
Michael R. Granger
