The Editor, Sir:

Jamaica has celebrated National Heroes Day by recognising heroes who have excelled in various fields, undertaken brave deeds to save the lives of others at risk to their own lives, for good and faithful services. Jamaica's pantheon of heroes consists of people from many walks of life, and is part of this fractured nation's efforts to create a common sense of self.

The original national heroes were named after extensive discussions and conflict as there were some Jamaicans who thought that the heroes of Britain should remain even after the time of Independence, as there was little heroic in this nation's struggle to move from being a colony to being a nation. The first five heroes were posthumous; Sharpe, Gordon, Nanny and Bogle,and Garvey, while the others were the first and second prime ministers of Independent Jamaica. National Heroes Park could be considered as a pantheon or a place for heroes of this country.

'Heroic'

Subsequently, other Jamaicans who have been considered 'heroic' have been buried there including Louise Bennett. I do not believe that new national heroes should be named, as that was part of the Independence project. We should now turn our attention to expanding and undertaking new heroic deeds and breaking through the many oppressive structures and ideas that still beset the country.

It should be first in our families that we recognise those who are heroic in that they have undergone personal sacrifice to make life better for the next generation. Next, we should become aware of those in our communities and institutions who are doing the same before we recognise those at the national, or international levels who display courage, commitment and take action to elevate us. Many more of us are capable of these acts than we realise. The problem might be that we wait until some among us are comatose or dead before we recognise those who have served with distinction, while celebrating the actions of some persons prematurely. It is a delicate balance that must be maintained.

Instead, there can be dangerous signs in the midst of an era where individual needs overtake the collective needs and the community would become the hostage of self-styled leaders. We need to be clear about the criteria that we are using to define a hero.

Too many television movies

Some of us may be watching too many television movies to help us make the definition in our own context. We need to know what and who we are looking for. It was interesting to note the process of announcement of the Nobel Prize. Al Gore and Doris Lessing won the Peace Prize and that for literature, respectively.

Doris Lessing is now 88 years old and she had been nominated many times before, but has never won the prize. Some may have felt that good things come to those who wait; but this clearly took far too long to be conferred.

All of us need heroes and there must be a place or a pantheon for us to see the best in ourselves.

I am, etc.,

HILARY HICKLING

hilary.hickling@gmail.com