Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Changes to Our National Anthem

The British, our Colonial Masters pray to GOD for their Monarchs in their national anthem and I agree with them. Is the Queen not a symbol of national unity? The Americans, the greatest nation of our times say: "In GOD We Trust", and SELDOM shall their leaders end a speech without saying: "God bless you, God bless America", although they have so many atheists. Aren't they great? And so many nations call on God in their national anthems.
Why can't us think about changing our national anthem and national motto to something a little bit spiritual, I mean Godly? A nation that is 90 — 95% Muslims and Christians.

Let's quickly examine the lyrics of our national anthem:

HIGHLY WE EXALT THEE,
(Weren't we thought that if you humble thyself, the Lord shall lift thee up? I loved this Christian song when I was in primary school: "..., humble thyself before the LORD, and He will lift you up ....")

REALM OF THE FREE,
(Are we actually free? Free from mental slavery? Ignorance? Corruption? Tribalism? Economic hardship? etc. etc.?)

GREAT IS THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR THEE,
(Do we agree? Is our love for Mama Salone really GREAT? Are we doing things for the national good? Do we rally behind our National Football Team (just to give a simple example) when they play against other nations? As our National Team participates in competitions, I often hear ourselves say: 'your country', 'this country', 'they' and never 'us' or 'our country')

FIRMLY UNITED, EVER WE STAND
(Are we actually united? Do we vote because we believe in the individuals? On merits? Or base on tribe? Regions? Ethnicity?)

SINGING THY PRAISE, O NATIVE LAND,
WE RAISE UP OUR HEARTS AND OUR VOICES ON HIGH,
THE HILLS AND THE VALLEYS RE—ECHO OUR CRY,
(Sing the praise of what native land? Can we begin to sing the praise of GOD and call on "The Hills and Valleys" to "re-echo our cries"?)

BLESSING AND PEACE BE EVER THINE OWN,
(Fair)

LAND THAT WE LOVE, OUR SIERRA LEONE.
(H'm! “LOVE”. That's fine, if we really mean it)

----—----------------------------------------------------

What if we have lyrics like these?

O Lord humbly we submit this little nation Thou Has Bestowed in our care,
Guide and be her True Governor.

O Ye True Governor,
Choose us Your deputies through peaceful democracy,
And never ever leave them act on their own.

O Ye TRUE Governor,
Bless our President, bless our leaders, bless our nation,
Give them knowledge, wisdom and understanding,
Make their decisions always please Thee.

Sierra Leone National Flag
O Ye True Governor,                                            
Shall we err, pardon us,
Make this nation Thine chosen one,
A great nation among nations,
O Ye True Governor.

To Thee O Lord,
We humbly present this nation,
Thy praise only we sing,
And on Thine Strength alone we depend,
May Thine Blessing and Peace ever be our own.

May the universe and all therein re-echo our cry
For this land that we love, our Sierra Leone.

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