Patriotism requires ‘mass immunisation’
EDITOR—Rural folks offer invaluable lessons in cultivating patriotism. In peasant households, weighing collective good against personal interest is seldom optional. Safeguarding seeds for the season ahead was mother’s responsibility in ours.
EDITOR—Rural folks offer invaluable lessons in cultivating patriotism. In peasant households, weighing collective good against personal interest is seldom optional. Safeguarding seeds for the season ahead was mother’s responsibility in ours.
Because the seeds were untreated (traditional among rural communities), her task was rather complicated. Pests ravaged her choice seeds.
Unhelpfully, we often had a hand too.
Groundnuts were never safe from us. But her resolve was unwavering. She would explain that unless we reined in the selfish urge, when rain came she would suffer the indignity, on our account, of begging neighbours to spare us some seeds.
At any rate she set the bar and ensured compliance. Consequently, we lived within our means and learnt to plan for times ahead—with sacrifice.
The notion of “greater good†suffers neglect more amongst the elite. In Uganda even untrained eyes can spot the challenges.
Seeds of patriotism clearly need preserving, sowing and tending. Connection must always be drawn between actions in pursuit of individual goals and the impact on society as a whole.
President Museveni rightly identifies the youth, Uganda’s future, as priority target. However, the choice of ‘club modules’ may yield limited success. Club membership is inherently optional, even exclusionary.
The issue at hand requires some sort of ‘mass immunisation’. It ranks alongside diseases, illiteracy, etc. Monetary stimulus may prove counterproductive. It risks whetting, unwittingly, the youngsters’ appetite for lifestyles above their means, to grave consequences.
Besides, the allure of money will render impossible evaluation of the true impact of such initiative. care must be taken against political nuances.
Concerted effort is the recipe for enduring outcome. And, personal example remains a most vital tool in this crusade.
Russell Moro
Kitgum
Because the seeds were untreated (traditional among rural communities), her task was rather complicated. Pests ravaged her choice seeds.
Unhelpfully, we often had a hand too.
Groundnuts were never safe from us. But her resolve was unwavering. She would explain that unless we reined in the selfish urge, when rain came she would suffer the indignity, on our account, of begging neighbours to spare us some seeds.
At any rate she set the bar and ensured compliance. Consequently, we lived within our means and learnt to plan for times ahead—with sacrifice.
The notion of “greater good†suffers neglect more amongst the elite. In Uganda even untrained eyes can spot the challenges.
Seeds of patriotism clearly need preserving, sowing and tending. Connection must always be drawn between actions in pursuit of individual goals and the impact on society as a whole.
President Museveni rightly identifies the youth, Uganda’s future, as priority target. However, the choice of ‘club modules’ may yield limited success. Club membership is inherently optional, even exclusionary.
The issue at hand requires some sort of ‘mass immunisation’. It ranks alongside diseases, illiteracy, etc. Monetary stimulus may prove counterproductive. It risks whetting, unwittingly, the youngsters’ appetite for lifestyles above their means, to grave consequences.
Besides, the allure of money will render impossible evaluation of the true impact of such initiative. care must be taken against political nuances.
Concerted effort is the recipe for enduring outcome. And, personal example remains a most vital tool in this crusade.
Russell Moro
Kitgum