NATIONAL HERITAGE

KENYA has a Ministry of National Heritage. I have never investigated what it actually does, but I assume it is concerned with preserving those traditional concepts and principles that define Kenya as a Nation, and what it stands for. This has to be MORE than making sure that the past is not lost. It must also consider how to preserve in the present the landmark characteristics of its people, a national character and PEACE as well.

The National FLAG of Kenya is symbolic of its birth, and of its continuance.

The BLACK bar at the top speaks of the Black African majority. The RED bar in the middle speaks of the National Bloody Struggle for Freedom, and the bottom GREEN bar draws attention to the Natural Wealth of the Land itself. The narrow white bars speak of the PEACE that now binds the Nation together, and the Masai Shield and Spears in the centre declare the national intention to protect ALL.

Whatever politics we may hold this Flag has to be admired for it sets forth the PRIDE of the Kenyan in being African, his refusal to be enslaved, his appreciation of his Country's natural wealth and beauty, and a determination to ensure the protection of all three. Sounds good doesn't it? But do Kenyans BELIEVE in this interpretation? Do Kenyans generally display this national identity? I feel sure that many would say YES! But do MORE than those who fought for this to actually be true, believe it in this present generation? I would like to say a BIG yes, but the truth may be otherwise. WHY? Perhaps because those responsible to put the National Heritage in front of the people, are more concerned with power and money. It was said recently, for example, that our Kenyan Leaders are not the Nationalists their founding fathers were, but more like a culture of neo-colonialists! How terrible if this were to be true, and Kenya to slowly be enslaved not from outside but from within. Probably this is not very 'politically correct'! However, I think it is a valid observation. KENYA is a Nation of many tribes - many nations - all with their own history and tradition and culture. Under ONE FLAG (one IDENTITY) Kenyans have had to GROW into Nationhood, and into a SINGLE National Identity without losing the flavour of their individual inheritance. Not easy - especially when often one and another of them has a sudden urge to lift up their own culture and origen above the rest, and above the ideal of National Unity. No wonder we have to go through situations like January 2008. And this is by no way a thing of the past. Kenyans do not always learn a lesson fast - even when the result is hard to bare. Some few weeks back a Petrol tanker over-turned and spilt its precious contents on the road. Kenyans descended upon the site to glean the fuel pouring from the vehicle. One of them lit a cigarette and in a second, for hundreds of metres around, the majoritry were burnt, scorched, killed. A national tragedy. But just a week later it happened again, and yet more Kenyans rushed to take some petrol for themselves............That tanker also caught fire.

I have spent some time wondering if I should include these pictures. They have originated from Canada, but they were actually taken in London, England. I might be accused of being racial for printing them here. But my heart is clear on that.....nevertheless they are not photos that inspire good relations, or for that matter, even longsuffering and forbearance - even LOVE for ones fellow man.

These people are in all probability British Citizens who have left their own land of origin and come to England to make a new home and life.

They have been 'welcomed in' by the Government of the United Kingdom, and given all the privileges and assistance of a native Englishman (PLEASE excuse me for lumping the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish together with the English just for once!). But these people did not come to England to be English. They came to be who and what they were in the place they were born and brought up. They have come to colonise, take over, perhaps even OVERWHELM the British culture with their own culture - and their Religion. Yet I should not say 'ALL' since it is really NOT true of all of them.

The UNITED KINGDOM - under fire from those coming in from outside AND from within its own Government - also has a FLAG. It is called the UNION JACK. It is a Flag of Unity between the intrinsic partners of the Union of the United Kingdom. It is also Flag that proclaims the Christian Faith upon which the NATION has been built, and the God IN Whom it has trusted - not without errors or things to be ashamed of - but with FAITH and Respect and Honour. The Central broad red cross is the Cross of St. George, and is the ENGLISH Flag in particular. It has flown down the centuries as a Banner for GOD, the God that upholds the basic tenets of the British Character based on the Christian Faith as taught by Christ and the Apostles. This Union Flag is also to be seen on the Shield of Britannia, our National Symbol. Its Christianity and its Unity of purpose describe the United Kingdom. It used to be a Flag to be proud of - but what about to day. Are the British proud to be British? NO - am not one of the new NATIONALISTS - but I do feel we have as a Nation forgotten our past, and undervalued who and what we ought to be.

Are the British a people that stick to the Christian Principles of their ancestors?

We are a very MIXED race! There is German, French, Scandinavian, and many other nations mixed up in our development historically and culturally - but all have been absorbed by the NATION, and not allowed to form their own little enclaves and mini nations within the NATION. A house divided WILL FALL. A House divided will lose its identity, and forget what it has stood for, and where it is going. WHY do people want to transplant their culture upon another? The Colonial Powers have all been accused of doing this, and indeed it has been adequately proved how impossible this is without tyranny and slavery. As a principle it is odious. The Islamic Nations would NEVER allow themselves to be demonstrated against and threatened in their own Countries by a foreign and militant minority. WHY then does it happen in 'Christian' England? Yes I accept the 'Christian' bit might not ring very true in this material and hedonistic age, BUT why must a nation be maligned because it dose not want to lose its own identity. I say that if a person cannot live by the law and tradition of the land he chooses to live in, he should return to where he came from. No Country should be expected to bow down to the immigrant's way of life - the immigrant must assimilate the way of the land he comes to!

I am getting old. A 2nd World War Baby! I grew up in a world virtually without any God but One. No Mosques or Temples to be seen. Just Christian Churches. King and Country still applied without degradation. We were still allowed and expected to be nationalistic without being considered a freak.

Children were still smacked, hugged and allowed a childhood without fear of being molested, abused, or forced to grow up before their time. It was a more sensible, more secure world.

Perhaps one of the reasons Margaret Thatcher went to the wall was because was a 'true blue' nationalist who still believed in England! She may have been the last for all we hear. Even our Christian 'Mullahs' seem to be willing to be trodden under foot, and Christ with them. Where is the Christian ?- are we become so universally godless that we must be FORCED to serve a god we have never known - another God. BUT God has said "IS there any other God but Me - I know of NO other!' THE BIBLE -ISAIAH 44v8.

MY GOD IS THE GOD OF THE BIBLE. He is a God who sees all mankind to be sinners. He loves each and every one of us, and demonstrates His preference for LIFE rather than DEATH by putting himself on the line in order that we might be SAVED from death. MY God does not reward a man or woman for killing another. He rewards the one that is willing to SAVE a life from death. He is a MERCIFUL God, full of mercy, easily entreated. BECAUSE HE IS MY GOD I find it hard to put myself against ANY person - even though their personal belief and habit might be far from what I would choose for myself. I have friends across many divisions of culture, religion and thought. I have many Islamic friends, and I am glad and happy to say that they are not upset that I am British or Christian, and that we are able to talk about God, and suffer one another's views in genuine love and consideration toward one another. We do not need to hide our views, our faith, our hearts, from one another. There is no need for placards, hatred and murder - we CAN sit down and converse and we can PUT down the weapon and the attitude that threatens and intimidates. We do are free to admonish each other and to espress ourselves. It is possible for men to live together. But there is a right and proper way for this. It IS possible for a Christian or even an atheist to live with a Hindu, an Islamist or a Buddhist without rancour, provided we also respect each others position and even each other's god provided we do not malign, ridicule, or defame. AND IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT if God is truly GOD then He should be the One that cares for what He has made, regardless of their colour, their culture, or their temperament.

In Kenya the people must eventually lay down the things that divide them and make for difference between them. We have many races amongst us in excess of the African majority. They still keep themselves to themselves in many ways, often not just in respect of their religious observance, but also in matters of dress and even diet. Until we are all willing to drop the things that draw attention to our diverse ancestral roots and become Kenyan, British, American, there will be no peace. There will be no true appreciation of the individual for who they ARE.

To the non Kenyan living in Kenya as an Asian, an Islamist, or a Luo, Kalenjin, Kikuyu.. I say BE A KENYAN! Stand for the Nation, the National Heritage en total, and NOT just for a fraction of what that is - you - AND your God.

Can I say the same to England? To the United Kingdom of Great Britain, already on the verge of fragmentation with all that this might mean, can I say to all - give up you personal, minority faction. STAND shoulder to shoulder with each other; join hands and hearts. BE ONE. Speak, Think and Act as ONE, and assume together a National Dignity and Love for your Country. Is it possible to reclaim our own National Heritage and Tradition, and to be proud of it? Is it possible for one from another culture to bring what he has INTO the United Kingdom in a way that will not mean living in 'little ghettos' and 'social areas' in order to hang on to what he left behind whilst not fully embracing what he finds in the new and adopted country.

Let us pray for one another. Let us pray for the Tribes and Nations around us. Let us remember the WARS that hurt, destroy, and render homeless and insecure and pray for the LOVE of God to enter these waring hearts and lives, that they might find LIVE.

God Bless you all - I guess I will have offended someones sensibilities, but I was taught in the UK to always call a spade a spade and not to run away from expressing an opinion - there was no such thing in those days (thank God) as 'Political Correctness.' And in any case I have always been a bit of a rebel.

Love to you ALL

John and Esther