Will the Jamaican Government bestow National Hero Status on Michael Manley

MICHAEL Manley was born on December 10, 1924. Yesterday marked 90 years since this second son of Norman and Edna Manley (nee Swithenbank) was born at the Nuttall Hospital in Cross Roads in St Andrew. In my opinion, Michael Manley was the print-out of his father Norman Washington Manley. This is not to say that their personalities were the same. Far from it! Norman Manley was almost a recluse in terms of his personality. And his elder son, Douglas, seemed to have inherited some of those traits. Michael Manley, however, was outgoing and charismatic.

I have never advocated that Michael Manley be made a national hero. Indeed, I think that the honour that he received is as far as it should go in my lifetime — Order of Merit. I believe that it should wait for 50 years for another generation to objectively decide these things far away from the emotions of the moment. Too many persons are still alive who adored the ground he walked on, and are therefore not objective.

And there are too many people still around who hate the very mention of the surname Manley, as can be witnessed in the Jamaica Observer online every time I mention the name — whichever Manley is mentioned. They, too, are far from objective. In addition, we may get into this business of partisan political balance and the list may go on and on and on. If one person from one 'side' is made a national hero, then why not that person from the other 'side' until the entire thing becomes ridiculous.http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/Michael-Manley-s-90th-anniversary--Is-he-a-hero-in-waiting_18083714