PATRIOTISM: Taught OR Learnt?

For a child born into this world, stages of growth and development are inevitable. The child sits, crawls and then begins to walk. Many of us have always thought that the child is taught these abilities but research has shown that the child grows into these different stages by observing and learning from his immediate environment. This is so important because teaching suggests offering the child a new skill while learning simply means developing into the norm.

Barry Schwartz, an American psychologist said, ’’one way to not instil moral ethics is by teaching more ethic courses....celebrate moral exemplars, people are inspired by moral exemplars.’’ In Nigeria today, the cry of many is that we should have more courses on civics and ethics put back in our educational curriculum as a way to awaken patriotism. However, we seem to forget that no matter how much ethics and morals are TAUGHT within the four small walls of a child’s classroom, the child LEARNS much more from the vast, uncoordinated, uncensored classroom of life. Patriotism is contagious; it is who we are, what we are and why we are, it is not a course of study.

Civics and ethic courses have a role to play in promoting patriotism but not in birthing it. Sadly, we operate a SYSTEM that not only allows corruption but also endorses and rewards it, a system where transparency, integrity, fairness and equity are preached but seldom practised. Please do not be misled for a moment thinking I am addressing the government of our nation, they are just a fraction of the general blessed with positional leadership. I am actually addressing a system, a structure that pervades every facet and sector of this nation; I’m talking to you and me.

We all seek a change for the better but this change will not happen overnight or in one year or even ten years but will surely come by our deliberate, conscious, sustained efforts to promote the right values at all times no matter the consequence. We must choose to celebrate people with patriotic values, locally and nationally. We must be willing to sacrifice our all for the benefit of the nation and the common good of the people. We must arise to the call to true service to humanity and the nation not minding who is watching, but remember someone is watching.

I close with this popular quote from Emerson, ’’what you are shouts so loudly in my ears I cannot hear what you say.’’ This is so true especially in our nation today.

Please never forget this;
We are all teachers and pupils in the school of life, make sure you are passing across and picking up the right messages for a greater Nigeria. Together we can build a new culture where patriotism is key.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria.