Day we found unity in diversity

THE EDITOR: Sunday October 17, 2004 will go down in the annals of our history as the day in which hope was born again amongst us, when the light of truth dispelled the darkness of evil. It was a day when we found unity in the midst of diversity, when brethren learnt to dwell together in unity! I was reminded of the famous painting by Watts called “Hope,” where hope, depicted as a blindfolded maiden, sits atop the world, surrounded by darkness. She is playing a harp. All but one of the strings are broken. She strives to create a harmonious melody on the one last string in the midst of darkness and gloom. We had allowed our country to come to such a pass that we were becoming engulfed in the darkness of despair. We had come close to the point where crime and violence, discord and despair, threatened to overcome us.

When all seemed lost, there arose a nucleus of men and women conscious of the imminent period facing our nation. They sounded a clarion call. It was like a call to arms — only this was a spiritual war of the forces of good against the forces of darkness. From east and west, from north and south — from every nook and cranny of our beloved nation of Trinidad and Tobago men and women and children came together in the grand savannah in Port-of-Spain to marshal our forces to repel the growing menace of darkness and crime and corruption. The Inter Religious Organisation roused itself to action. Men and women of all races, of all religious persuasions and subdivision of the various religions came together in a wondrous display of strength and oneness of purpose — to restore the pristine and glorious days of peace and harmony and brotherhood which once existed in our beloved Trinidad and Tobago.

Children came marching too, bearing banners and offering flowers for peace. Even the strident voice of a snow-cone man uttered an ear-shattering call for “order!” There were song and dance. In a time when we have been flooded by heavy downpours of rain, the hand of God seemed to stretch mercifully over us. Ominous, dark rain clouds came threateningly over the Northern Range. I remembered an occasion in India when Sai Baba halted the approach of storm clouds until he had finished his discourse to the thousands gathered for his blessing. I remembered Jesus sleeping in the fishing boat and his disciples were filled with fear at the tempestuous waves which threatened them. Jesus commanded the forces of nature to be still. And there was peace in the elements. Many of us present in the savannah prayed that the clouds would not empty their contents and drench those who had gathered in such a noble cause.

There was a slight drizzle, cooling those who had marched in the hot midday sun from the east near Fernandes compound, from the west from the Jean Pierre complex, and from the St James mandir. The rain clouds did not empty themselves in a deluge on those who had gathered to pray for peace! This day was a day when miracles where wrought — when opposing forces where joined together in unity, when we showed we could together and come to our senses. And God showed his mercy and applauded our struggle and hope and faith. So uplifting was the experience on this glorious day that the appeal has gone out from all quarters that this should become an annual event to show our togetherness, to show we can dwell together in unity in the midst of our diversity — that is the proof of the richness of our culture, that we dwell together with charity to all and malice to none. My heart was filled with joy that I had journeyed abroad looking for paradise and had come back to find it was there all the time in my native land. May God Bless our Nation.

BALGOBIN RAMDEEN
Attorney-at-Law
Author and former MP
MARAVAL