Ask not what your country can do for you
Friday, November 01, 2024 | 280 Views |
His timeless, deeply patriotic and universally applicable words remain relevant now as they were yesterday. “And so fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
The fortunes of any country lies in the collective contributions of its citizens but also rest more in the capable hands of those men and women privileged to be in the public service. The public service is not just the anchor of government but it is also the government. Serving one’s country, especially in the teaching fraternity, means worrying less about what is there for one but more about seeking to alter for the better the course of a country and its people. The role of the teaching profession in any nation’s societal transformative journey cannot be over emphasised. Without the input of teachers, it is hard to see how any nation can accomplish its dreams and aspirations for a much more secure and durable future.
Yet, while this crisis ravages the communities, the administration is championing a major, resource-intensive legal reform and the establishment of a dedicated Constitutional Court. While the principle of strengthening constitutional justice is commendable, the timing is profoundly misplaced. When the President himself admits the government coffers are limited, every thebe and every moment of political capital must be directed towards the...