Independence vs Pokémon

Pok?mon Go the new app that has people searching high and low for their precious Pok?mon, with hopes of “Catching them all” and being “a Pok?mon master”.

I have no qualms with people enjoying technology and having fun but I have a problem when we belittle our traditions and national holidays, I say this because there’s an upcoming event, the Trinidad “poke-tour”, a tour in which players of Pok?mon Go will travel to various points within Trinidad to catch Pok?mon.It sounds fun right? Many people have signed up to participate, but the date for which this event is carded is appalling to me--- it is set on Independence Day.

This is quite disheartening to know that people would put aside one of our greatest accomplishments as a nation, being independent for over 50 years for an overnight frenzy.

This is not just a disrespect to our nation, but to our ancestors who fought and persevered for release from our colonial grip. This serves as an insult to the legacy of our first Prime Minster Dr Eric Williams, quite outrageous in my opinion.

We love to be patriotic and claim our native land for Olympics and other events but not on the day where national pride should be displayed in great extent.

I hope my words “catch” some food for thought for my readers. Red, white and black are our national colours but ironically also the colours of a poke ball. What stance will you take?

Tarik O’Brady via email