by Leo Gilling
SOUTH FLORIDA – I’ve written a number of articles and social media posts in help of Bob Marley being given the National Hero status. I nonetheless suppose that he ought to be awarded that standing. I grew to become involved not too long ago once I heard {that a} new class had been developed for the nationwide awards. The Authorities of Jamaica affords a number of important classes of nationwide awards.
Jamaica Nationwide Award Classes
- Order of Nationwide Hero
- Order of Nationwide Icon (New).
- Order of the Nation
- Order of Excellence
- Order of Advantage
- Order of Jamaica
- Order of Distinction
- Badge of Honour
- Medal of Honour
These awards are given to people who made important sacrifices to contribute to nationhood in areas reminiscent of public service, arts and tradition, science, and extra.
When the class of Nationwide Icon was introduced, I figured this was a shift to appease Jamaicans at dwelling and overseas following the long-standing outcry to award Louise Bennett Coverley “Miss Lou” and Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley National Hero status.
Order of Jamaica Nationwide Icons
It got here as no shock to see in CNW, a Miami-based Caribbean Newspaper, that Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett-Coverley and Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley are poised to grow to be the primary Jamaicans to be honored with the newly established Order of Nationwide Icon as introduced by Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness. Nonetheless, this new class is crafted to attain a mutually helpful consequence: the authorities meet their aims. On the identical time, most of the people is happy by the elevated standing of those two legendary Jamaican figures. The announcement didn’t generate a lot enthusiasm on social media, indicating that folks both didn’t take discover or that this wasn’t the anticipated consequence.
After the award announcement final Monday, I felt motivated to delve deeper into the subject. My aim just isn’t solely to type a extra knowledgeable opinion in regards to the choice of these two people as nationwide icons but additionally to understand the reasoning behind distinguishing nationwide icons from nationwide heroes.
Qualities of A Nationwide Icon
Based on my thorough on-line analysis, it’s extensively accepted {that a} nationwide Icon in Jamaica is acknowledged as somebody who has made substantial contributions to their nation, sometimes by way of acts of braveness, management, or sacrifice. These people are honored for his or her important affect on the nation’s historical past, identification, or independence, as their deeds have had an enduring impression on the nation and its folks.
Conversely, from the Oxford dictionary, I gleaned {that a} nationwide icon is a person well known and revered inside a particular nation, embodying its values, tradition, or historical past. This particular person symbolizes the spirit and aspirations of the nation and is regularly related to its heritage. Nationwide icons could embrace political leaders, cultural figures, artists, or sports activities personalities who’ve profoundly influenced nationwide consciousness and characterize the nation’s beliefs. The article didn’t describe the evaluation instrument for granting people the Order of Nationwide Icon. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister within the CNW article identified that the authorized course of to formalize the popularity shall be underway quickly.
The Prime Minister not too long ago remarked that the rationale Miss Lou and Bob Marley obtained nationwide icon awards is as a result of “Miss Lou’s efforts in selling Jamaican Patois and people traditions have established her as a pioneer of our nationwide identification, whereas Bob Marley’s music transcends borders, positioning him as a world ambassador of reggae—a logo of resistance to oppression and a beacon of unity and love.” He additional famous, “Their impression on the world stage is immeasurable, and this recognition honors not solely their legacies but additionally the indomitable spirit of Jamaica.”
Whereas I agree with some facets of Dr. Holness’s views, many imagine these two people’ impression extends past merely “selling Patois” or “serving as a reggae ambassador.” As an alternative, their affect resonates extra carefully with world perceptions.
Let’s take a second to contemplate our nationwide heroes:
A short evaluate of every hero’s contributions will reveal how they align with these broader definitions. Paul Bogle, Sam Sharpe, George Washington Gordon, and Nanny deserve recognition as nationwide heroes for his or her important contributions by way of braveness, management, or sacrifice. In the meantime, Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante are celebrated for his or her profound impression on the nation’s historical past, identification, and independence, with lasting results on the nation and its folks.
Paul Bogle
Paul Bogle is commemorated for his important position within the Morant Bay Rebel of 1865, a landmark occasion in Jamaica’s ongoing battle for justice and equality. Bogle’s management in advocating for the rights of the oppressed and his relentless battle in opposition to social injustice have solidified his standing as a nationwide hero. His legacy and George William Gordon’s encourage Jamaicans and people worldwide. Each males sacrificed their lives for the development of Jamaica.
Nanny and Sam Sharpe
Equally, Nanny and Sam Sharpe met their fates whereas striving to enhance the lives of their countrymen and ladies, championing the battle in opposition to slavery and colonialism. Sam Sharpe was executed on Could 23, 1832, in Montego Bay for his management within the 1831 Christmas Rebel, also called the Baptist Struggle, which was a pivotal slave revolt in Jamaica. In the meantime, Nanny, a pacesetter of the Windward Maroons, symbolizes resistance in opposition to British colonialism in Jamaica. Though legend suggests she died by execution, historic information are scarce, and a definitive account of her loss of life stays elusive.
Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante
Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante performed pivotal roles in negotiating Jamaica’s independence from Britain. Regardless of their differing political ideologies, their activism and efforts had been instrumental in securing Jamaica’s sovereignty in 1962, when the nation grew to become an unbiased member of the Commonwealth.
Marcus Garvey
Then again, Marcus Garvey is well known in Jamaica as a nationwide hero for his pivotal contributions to Pan-Africanism and Black nationalism, in addition to his position as a world political chief and activist. Though Garvey’s concepts and legacy considerably influenced Jamaican nationalism and independence actions, he was circuitously concerned within the occasions resulting in Jamaica’s Independence in 1962, having handed away in 1940, greater than twenty years earlier.
Moreover, he didn’t make private sacrifices for the development of Jamaica itself. Garvey’s world impression and contributions are broader when in comparison with the opposite six people acknowledged as nationwide heroes—figures who made substantial private sacrifices or demonstrated distinctive management in pursuing nationhood. The affect of Marcus Garvey will be extra carefully likened to nationwide figures reminiscent of Michael Manley and Bob Marley. Nonetheless, Marcus Garvey stays a distinguished determine amongst our seven nationwide heroes.
Jamaica Nationwide Icon vs Nationwide Heroes
Allow us to now contemplate the 2 people who had been not too long ago awarded Nationwide Icon standing. How do they differ from our Nationwide heroes?
Bob Marley
Bob Marley’s musical affect has had a profound world impression, selling messages of affection, unity, and social justice. His work and legacy have established him as a cultural icon. He grew to become a Jamaican and Rastafarian cultural image by way of reggae music, influencing music, trend, and way of life worldwide. Moreover, Bob Marley’s music serves as a type of social activism, advocating for peace, equality, and the rights of the oppressed, notably throughout the Jamaican and African diaspora.
Louise Bennett
Louise Bennett Coverley, generally referred to as Miss Lou, was a distinguished Jamaican poet, folklorist, and educator who considerably impacted the nation. She was pivotal in popularizing Jamaican Patois (Creole) as a type of inventive expression and communication. Miss Lou’s work promoted and preserved Jamaica’s cultural heritage and identification and prolonged past poetry into theatre, radio, and tv, solidifying her affect on Jamaican tradition and nationwide consciousness. Moreover, her advocacy for recognizing Jamaican Patois as a official language contributed to validating and appreciating native linguistic range.
The argument introduced on this article means that if Marcus Mosiah Garvey, our first nationwide hero, had been assessed utilizing the identical standards utilized to Bob Marley and Miss Lou, he would right this moment be thought of a nationwide icon quite than a nationwide hero. That is as a result of proof indicating that he doesn’t maintain the identical standing as the opposite six nationwide heroes. This raises essential questions in regards to the standards used to grant Nationwide Hero standing to Garvey and whether or not these differ from these utilized to Miss Lou and Bob Marley. This concern explains the general public’s apprehension concerning not recognizing them as new nationwide heroes. It raises questions in regards to the creation of a brand new class that provides these icons much less status than that of nationwide heroes.
