Month: November 2011

While the 40^th national day approaches, ideas are put on paper and flow like the seasons of life. It is writing derived from the ink of the nation and its alphabet.

Today, we compare between the weeks of celebrating the national day and other regular weeks, before and after 2 December. Institutions today are racing and competing to excel in their celebrations. Everyone wants to have the most creative and distinguished festivities. Everyone wants their celebration days to be the best and the most beautiful as if these few days summarize the last forty years, or the last four decades of our lives, which are really our life.

Our cities, villages and streets, especially the coastal ones, witnessed spectacular events of festivities. The celebration is an embodiment of the glory and role of the march. The last forty years are the march of a people and a nation. After the festivities and paradesare over, we should remember that the main march will continueand will persist onlyby the support, participation and contribution of everyone. Each person participating in the festivities is invited to take an effective, profound and insightful participation in the Grand National march.

How?

Each in their position indeed, it is not meant for this article to turn into a piece of composition that is taught at schools, But the words here are well-planned and elaborate. Words here are derived from the heart and mind. The role of people participating in the parades and celebrations is important and recognized, but your role still goes on after the national day so that all our days become national days deserving celebration.

Whether you are a participant or a spectator, there is no compromise in the national march. Merely watching and passiveness are not acceptable or tolerated.

You are not a separate part of the scene; you are rather at the center of it. You are the person and the tools used. You are your future and the future of others.

Since 2008, we have been talking about national identity. We have been occupied throughout these years with defining and dissecting national identity. Whenever national identity is mentioned, words like language, religion, customs, traditions, heritage, food, drink and others pop up, but we always forget that the value of work and productivity is one of the components of our national identity. It is a cherished and genuine value that we inherited from our fathers.

Identity is not merely an arc placed on the facade building. Identity is “us”; it is our coherent social and cultural texture; it is a civilizational activity and old yet renewed conduct, based on the principle that work comes first and last. It is thus important to abide by identity as a work and a value of work.

These thoughts are arising now while we are celebrating the 40^th national day: how do we celebrate this day at schools and can these meanings be transformed into lessons in addition to saluting the flag and singing the national anthem?

To a strategic extent, these concepts should be incorporated in curriculums and in the short run, we shouldparticipate in the celebrations and lessons and lectures should be designed to shape a new student public opinion. Many Emiratis, some of whom are students, graduates and employees, are detached from their history and culture. We should use this great occasion to the fullest so that everyone’s knowledge about their history and culture may increase beyond the horizons.

National identity is all the important and beautiful words and concepts that we have been focusing on since 2008. It is the value of work as well as productivity, and the value of work and productivity in particular. It is the culture of taking the initiative and participation, the culture of knowledge and presence. The culture of absence definitely does not express our national identity. The message is directed to society as a whole and to our children at schools in particular.

The United Arab Emirates is celebrating three special occasions these days. The first occasion is the seventh anniversary of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’saccession to ruling Abu Dhabi and being elected as President of the United Arab Emirates by the Supreme Council members and the rulers of the emirates, who showed their continued support and trust by reelectingHis Highness as UAE President in 2009.

This festive occasion takes place amid celebrations throughout the whole nation marking forty years since founding this dear nation under the leadership of our sheikhs, men and women, young and old who had the strong will and took up the challenges making them a unique model to follow in building nations.

This special anniversary takes place while we are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha or the Greater Eid which carries meanings of sacrifice, patience and selflessness, the values on which the sons and daughters of this country relied in building their nation throughout the last four decades. They built a nation which we are extremely proud to be part of. The march of building this nation was based on strong principles established by the founding leader Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brethren, the founding rulers. This march witnessed milestones of development and progress and revolutionized the concept of nation building. It resulted in the wealth and prosperity of the citizens and progress and welfare of the nation.Political development was also a significant outcome of thismarch. The political participation of citizens was reinforced last September as membership of the electoral colleges was expanded in an unprecedented way.

The citizen in this country is blessed with tasting the beauty of the achievements and initiatives taken for the welfare and prosperity of one generation after another. The United Arab Emirates ranked the top Arab country in the 2011 Human Development Index (HDI). This ranking is achieved by the vision of a leader who exerted sincere efforts for this nation and its citizens, and in turnthese citizens are ready to sacrifice everything dear to them for their nation.

The era of Sheikh Khalifa also focused on national identity but without isolation, rather with the purpose of building bridges of friendship and partnerships with the world’s cultures by spreading the spirit of tolerance and love and making the UAE an oasis of love and peace.

On this national occasion, as festivities and prayers are everywhere reflecting a sense of pride in the leader of achievements, everyone is racing to express the purest meanings of loyalty to our Khalifa, asking God to keep our UAE safe, secure and dignified continuing in its march of progress and prosperity under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President.