Kelly

Now because of publication schedules, I have to write this article by the latest Friday afternoon so I have no idea what the Governor-General, Prime Minister and Opposition Leader will talk about during their Independence Day messages.

I expect the usual messages of glass half-full optimism and half-empty pessimism and the "yet we've accomplished so much" speech, and the "hope for the future" rhetoric. In other words, same ol', same ol'.

Revered, respected

And it is this same ol' thing which is beginning to bother me about the 'emancipendence' period. Some rituals and celebrations, no matter how far they date, never seem to lose their significance to the people. They may be older than dirt, but they are still revered and respected. I'm not sure our traditions are as well received today as they were in years gone by. That's probably the only thing I envy Americans for; their loyalty to country. Take the average man from both countries and compare their level of patriotism, and I think we might come out second.

Maybe I'm just getting too fuzzy in my old age, but there seems to be a certain monotony about emancipendence now. Who isn't partying in Negril, have already jetted off to some destination for the weekend, and for those still at home, it's a weekend of television; more than likely cable as the local stuff might be considered 'boring'.

Not sure how many of us actually focus on the whole theme of Emancipation and Independence anymore. I believe the rural areas still keep the traditions quite well including the grand markets, various food festivals and cultural groups keeping the African music alive.

Popular song contest

Fanfarade, a dance done by Tivoli Gardens High andBelmont Park Primary schools at Mello-Go-Roun' last year. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Nice to see Denbigh is also still around and going strong, and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission performing arts shows are still great to watch. But even the popular song contest has changed. Now the songs concentrate on the music of the day, which happens to be dancehall and reggae. Nothing wrong with that, I just preferred the old days when all the songs focused on the time of year and what it signified. But then I was never a fan of fixing what I think is not broken. Maybe a contest specific to the 'nowadays' songs can work beside the old-time festival song competition or that might be too much work.

So, we might have a generation of children who believe blue draws are clothes, that stamp and go is a new dance and Mello-Go-Roun' is a show on Discovery Kids. We've got to get back to the things that make us truly Jamaican before we lose it for good.

Patriotise with me at daviot.kelly@gleanerjm.com