Let our example show the world

THE EDITOR: With the Christmas holiday/season approaching, followed by carnival six weeks later, what kind of Christmas season will we be having? Band launchings have already taken place, with registration already on the way. The season’s latest calypsos are already on the airwaves. Will there be a “shortened” Christmas season on account of Carnival being so early? (February 7 and 8)! Christmas is a season of goodwill, good cheer, peace when we welcome “the babe in the manger” into our hearts, minds and homes; a time of harmony among all mankind.

Carnival celebrates the cultural aspect of our nation. It is described as “the greatest show on earth,” we celebrate the steelpan, mas and calypso. What a contrast of celebrations, one season celebrates the “saviour,” the Christ coming into the world to redeem man from sin. The other celebrates, “the flesh,” the worldly, making merry, wine, woman and song. We have so many celebratory days and seasonal events in Trinidad and Tobago which make us a unique people in the world. Our history throughout the years reveals from the time of the Amerindian occupation to indentureship labour, our struggles, our pain, our triumphs to become the people we are today were achieved not in violent ways, but through our peace-loving existence.

Trinidad and Tobago represents various faces, cultures, peoples from around the world living in diverse harmony. The words of a famous calypso sum up our existence, “here de Indian, de Syrian, de Chinese, de African all live as one, in this wonderland of calypso, in this wonder land of steelpan, where I was born, God bless our nation.” So however you plan to celebrate the Christmas season or the carnival season or both, do so in a safe and secure manner. Let us show the world by our example we are a peaceful, fun loving nation.

KEN SMITH
Woodbrook