This should be an era when the statement “I” is no longer feared but accepted and honoured. One of the sad and demeaning aspects of repression is the tyranny visited upon the human spirit and how it removes the dignity of self-expression. Oft times, repression is systemic and transmitted innocuously through cultures. An example would be the old Japanese empirical system, which required absolute veneration of the order of leadership, with the display of ego totally unacceptable. “Any head that sticks up will be hammered level to the ground” was the modus operandi.

Not so subtlety, Bermuda as a member of the British Empire, bred the same atmosphere of subservience, as evidenced in our national anthem. The words “long may she reign over us, happy and glorious” tells the complete story. Certainly a huge difference from the words “land of the free and the home of the brave”.

While these may be but nibbles from national songs, they imply apposing ethical positions. But under one anthem we have forsaken the king or queen that resides within to honour a state lord, while under the other, we liberate the majesty that resides within our own being.

The American revolution was first a movement to recognise the dignity of the human. The authority was therefore taken from the monarchy and given to “we, the people”; and while the revolution recognised a need for a king, it was to be a king of our making.

A further enhancement of the idea was to make it the feature that anyone of the people could become the king via an equal process.

The idea intrinsic in “land of the free” goes far beyond the political realm and speaks to every level of action within society, including the arts and expressions from our souls. In that regard, it became truly permissible for the son of an former slave to say “I have a dream” without hesitation or fear of ridicule, or of being told to keep your dreams to yourself. When we understand the truth and purposefulness of life, every event will be seen as no coincidence but, in fact, a unique gift revealed only to you. The story of life is and can be told from the proverbial thousand points of light, each as unique as the stars.

The glory of life is to “let your light” shine and, no matter how it sounds to anyone else, sing your song. Wherever we can do this, we will be living in the land of the free and whenever we can do this, we will have made it the home of the brave.

I remember many years ago going to the theatre to watch Chubby Checker. While it was many years past his debut, he sang The Twist. I saw Steve Wonder and he sang My Cherie Amour. What else would they sing?

The point is they were cultivated in an environment where it was OK to express yourself, to have your own opinion. If we were to build a politic, it must be built towards that end.

This universe is not cramped and limited in space; every soul has unfettered access to unlimited potential and universal power. Under a true environment of freedom, when anyone opens their mouth, people will have the inclination to hear what is being said first and not just who is saying it — when truth can be appreciated as a truth, because it follows reason and is not validated merely because of family or class, the length of one’s coat-tails, or the letters behind their names.

Perhaps this idea of freedom is already known and all we need is a reminder. Today we have the option to use the power to make a new start and to build a future and a politic on top of a new dynamic — the freed you.

Never again should this world be treated as a mass of beings slung together. You will stand and stand alone, if need be, because no one can contest your individuality, or deny your entitlement of existence. We can fill the world with souls connected and resonating to the divine pulse within, which have self-actualised. We can then listen to the harmony and beautiful symphony that is made when we allow ourselves and others the inalienable right for all to participate in the process of making a better world.