Leverage colonial legacies for positive growth
Rachel Chan Suet KayPublished: Aug 30, 2007 2:24 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
A flawed hero is an adored hero. More often than not, the heroes we mightily worship have risen from dismal circumstance to become worthy beings. They do not shed their humble origins, but retain it as part of their greatness. And it is this very trait itself that makes their achievements all the more remarkable. Should nations, then, do the same?
A nation, one can argue, is but an imagined community. A nation is defined by its symbols and its peoples' shared history. Should one of its peoples fail to identify with the common goal of the rest, can the person be declared to be a non-national? What really defines the concept of the nation then? A community of peoples and its shared history is dynamic. Its history evolves over time. With the passing of another epoch, a community's shared goals may change course. Can one say the aforementioned 'nation' is dead then?
When a country frees itself of imperialist powers, thereby attaining independence, should it strive to distance itself completely from its colonial days? Apart from the fact that it is now its own master, retaining elements from colonial times which are beneficial should not threaten the concept of a nation. After all, it is the shared history of its citizens. What it should strive for is a common goal, that is the attainment of advancement in both mentality and providence.
It is then redundant to fear equation or identification with any sort of artefact from colonial history. The colonial era and the very fact that the nation in mention has succeeded in breaking out of foreign rule should be its pride and glory. It is a stepping stone to spur achievement.
Language, culture or developmental legacies left behind by the former colonialists should not be discarded or shunned, but leveraged as a tool to inspire positive growth. It is a matter of seizing opportunity, or 'carpe diem' (seize the moment), and make the most out of it. Great nations, such as Britain, who once ruled the seas, was once ruled by another - the Romans.
What remains then, should not be an ancient fear of being colonised again, but the continuously evolving need to embrace the wisdom necessary to enable the success of a nation's shared ambition for advancement.
A nation, one can argue, is but an imagined community. A nation is defined by its symbols and its peoples' shared history. Should one of its peoples fail to identify with the common goal of the rest, can the person be declared to be a non-national? What really defines the concept of the nation then? A community of peoples and its shared history is dynamic. Its history evolves over time. With the passing of another epoch, a community's shared goals may change course. Can one say the aforementioned 'nation' is dead then?
When a country frees itself of imperialist powers, thereby attaining independence, should it strive to distance itself completely from its colonial days? Apart from the fact that it is now its own master, retaining elements from colonial times which are beneficial should not threaten the concept of a nation. After all, it is the shared history of its citizens. What it should strive for is a common goal, that is the attainment of advancement in both mentality and providence.
It is then redundant to fear equation or identification with any sort of artefact from colonial history. The colonial era and the very fact that the nation in mention has succeeded in breaking out of foreign rule should be its pride and glory. It is a stepping stone to spur achievement.
Language, culture or developmental legacies left behind by the former colonialists should not be discarded or shunned, but leveraged as a tool to inspire positive growth. It is a matter of seizing opportunity, or 'carpe diem' (seize the moment), and make the most out of it. Great nations, such as Britain, who once ruled the seas, was once ruled by another - the Romans.
What remains then, should not be an ancient fear of being colonised again, but the continuously evolving need to embrace the wisdom necessary to enable the success of a nation's shared ambition for advancement.
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