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Archive -Letter to the editor

Letter to the Editor - Taking stock with pride of our successes |25 June 2016

Having lived and worked in the USA, and now back in Seychelles, I would like to share a view as both countries approach their respective independence day celebrations.

As a nation the USA will celebrate 240 years as a free, independent, democratic republic, in just a few short weeks, this on July 4, 2016. 

Around the world the USA is recognised as ‘the’ global superpower, not only because of its military prowess but as well for its industry, business reach and leadership, its democracy, and more importantly because of its people.

 ‘Americans’ are indeed a melting pot or ‘salad bowl’ of people. Perhaps no other nation in the world can claim to have such a global representation of peoples on one continent, within one country.

The sole superpower in the world today, the USA, remains very much a ‘works in progress’, a bold experiment, that continues to fixate the attention of much of the world on its every move.

Along the way to the age of discovery, the USA has known wars, assassinations of its presidents, attempted rebellions within the early history of its continental governments, attempted coup, civil disturbances, slavery, subjugation of its first nation peoples, and I could go on. 

Despite all of the above the USA as well has its amazing contributions to not only its own betterment but as well its contributions to health, science, other technologies which have propelled much of the world further ahead to where we are all at today.   Its Constitution serves as a guide for not only flourishing democracies the world over, but established nation states as well. And herein lies the disconnect for many.  How is it that a nation such as the USA today, with such a history, be viewed so highly and with appreciation despite it all?

Is not the same question in part applicable to us here within our own country, and when considering how highly Seychelles is viewed the world over? 40 years on from our own declaration of independence, minus a revolutionary war against our former British colonial masters, we take stock with certain pride and confidence at what we as a people have accomplished.  Our advantage today is that we can look to other nations and their history and from our vantage point, learn and do more. 

On June 29, 2016 Seychelles celebrates in her own right as a free, independent, democratic republic.  God bless us all as we remember that consensus guides us, just as stability rights us.

 

Raymond St Ange

 

 

 

 

 

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