Young Nation

Below is my article that appeared in the Gleaner on August 4th, 2009.

“Young Nation”
by Matthew McNaughton

Recently, I have been thinking about the age of Jamaica's independence. The fact is, my parents are as old as Jamaica. Keep in mind that the only Caribbean countries to gain independence before Jamaica were Haiti and Cuba respectively and therefore my parents are also older than the majority of the independent countries in the Caribbean. To put this in perspective, my grandparents (whom I don't exactly consider “old”) were born in colonial Jamaica. They knew a Jamaica that had no national anthem (separate from “God save the Queen”), no national emblems and no national stadium (at the time the football team played at Sabina park).
What should my young country's history mean to me? I purchased many books and mined the brains of those who I thought could share with me the truth about my home—the truth that extends beyond Kingston, Mobay and Ochi, parties, the latest dances and Kartel VS Mavado clash tunes. I wanted to know about the Jamaica that was and how the one I know came to be.
In my short time searching Jamaica's young history, a few things have become evident. We as a people we do not write enough, and I believe my generation does not know enough about ourselves and our history. So, we complain and quarrel about what isn't and what should be but fail to understand that Jamaica is still a young project and very much in need of our help. We don't realize that our national heroes, the architects of our nation, gave to us a basic design of an unfinished project. Political independence only ensured the right to govern our own affairs, but it did not solve the problems caused by our colonial heritage. There is still much work to be done and it is our responsibility to ensure it happens. Yes, we have to ask more of those in charge, but we also have to ask more of ourselves. Jamaica is still developing and trying to establish her place in the world. Jamaica's future will be determined by what we demand of ourselves, demand of those in power, and demand of the world around us. I believe, this is what it means to be the people of a young nation such as Jamaica.
To find Jamaica's place in this world, we must understand the historical relations between her and other states. To solve the crime problem, we must first understand the political and social factors, local and foreign, that turned our island paradise into the murder capital of the world. Our immense pride should be accompanied by a knowledge of significant contributions by great Jamaicans—those like Claude McKay and Michael Manley. In revisiting and revising the past, we will build a strong Jamaica that can solve her own problems and fulfill the hopes that we inherited from those who came before and those who fought for our independence.

Matthew McNaughton is a young person searching desperately for the answers to Jamaica's many problems. He is senior at the College of Wooster in Ohio majoring Computer Science and Philosophy with a minor in Economics. You can read this article and other thoughts at his blog: www.mindofaparadoxx.blogspot.com or contact him at mamcnaughton[at]gmail.com