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Dec 17, 2016 Editorial, Features / Columnists
Guyana is a religious nation with over 60 percent Christians, 28 percent Hindus and seven percent Muslims. Guyanese everywhere are very hopeful, therefore, that 2017 will have less crime, less traffic fatalities, unity among the political leaders and be a better and prosperous year for all.
Hope is optimism that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes in one’s life. It is a positively powerful emotion in the human experience. From the beginning of time, hope has always been a crucial factor in delivering positive outcomes, especially in circumstances of great adversity and challenge. Hope is like banking and believing in the future.We must keep hope alive
For more than a decade, many Guyanese have found themselves in dire circumstances during the reign of the previous administration. And there seemed to be no way out.
During the difficult periods experienced by many Guyanese during the colonial era, our political leaders preached powerful messages of hope, directed primarily at the oppressed and despair. Conscious of the obstacles they faced in their struggle to end colonialism and provide a better life for all, hope came their way on May 26, 1966 when Guyana gained its independence from Britain. It was a triumphant moment for those who had believed in hope and kept it alive.
The lesson from this experience is hope is a demonstration of abiding faith in the possibilities of the future, despite the challenges of the present. It has the ability to help people believe that they could achieve things faster and easier, thus enhancing their chances of success.
As the nation celebrated its 50th Independence anniversary, many Guyanese were deeply worried about their future. Economic and other challenges inherited from the last government have resulted in lost opportunities for many, and some have turned to crime as a means of survival. Understandably, hope had diminished among them. It is therefore appropriate that we choose hope to uplift the nation in the new-year.
Hope has guided us in the past and it will definitely continue to guide us in the future. Hope is known to have power, and if we acknowledge and embrace the power of hope, we can overcome our problems. It has enabled us to set new goals and pursue them with vigor and determination. But as Guyanese, we tend to be negative at times about the future, especially when life seems dismal. It is probably because of our well-known tendency to complain endlessly about problems instead of trying to solve them.
Studies have shown that to be a people of hope requires the adoption of a more positive mind-set, particularly when dealing with individual, community and national problems. Guyanese have always had hope, because a lack of hope would be a rejection of the Guyanese spirit which was a defining characteristic of our parents and grandparents. Not only did Guyanese hope, they also helped overcome the struggles of colonialism. They laid the foundation for a good life in an independent Guyana.
While it was appropriate for us to use the Golden Jubilee of Independence to remember the past and to celebrate our achievements, it is also imperative that we use this special and cherished occasion to pay tribute to those who have fought tirelessly and made sacrifices for independence.
It is an opportunity for introspection. Such soul-searching is important because it could help to rekindle hope, create new plans, organize our personal and national priorities and recommit ourselves to build a better Guyana with renewed purpose in pursuit of the future which we aspire. We did it in the past, with hope we can do it again. Keep hope alive.
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