Bob, Bolt and Miss Lou for national heroes
THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON A national level, before the powers that be can determine who is, or who should be, officially named Jamaica’s newest national hero, a set of criteria should be created.
Given Jamaica’s seven current national heroes, from Marcus to Manley, it seems to me that the common thread they all share is that they each had an extremely positive, extraordinary and very lasting impact on our nation’s well-being.
Speaking for myself, the individuals who are national heroes, in the unofficial context, and who deserve to be officially named as such, are: the late Hon Robert Nesta Marley, the late Hon Louise Bennett-Coverley, and the Hon Usain Bolt.
BEYOND THE ORDINARY
Those three exceptional Jamaicans went beyond the ordinary and stepped into the realm of the extraordinary, via the monumental, memorable, meaningful and lasting impacts they, through their respective achievements, have had on their nation and on the world. Also, and very important, they are all beloved, both nationally and internationally.
It’s time to stop all the nonsensical talk and backward thinking – some of it is related to classism, some of it is related to short-sightedness and some of it is related to ignorance, about who is, truly, a national hero – and, officially, accord Jamaica’s highest honour to one or two or all three of the aforementioned two sons, and one daughter, of Jamaica, land we love.