Independence Day by any other name would be just the same?

When we think of Independence Day, we tend to think in terms of one country.  However, with globalization, immigration, and the blurring of boundaries caused by the Internet, perhaps it is time to put the concepts of Independence in a broader yet more inclusive context.

As a child growing up in Nairobi I have blurred memories of the yearly public holidays that had ties to Independence Day in Kenya. There were three in every year: Madaraka Day, Jamhuri Day and Kenyatta Day. I remember watching television in the evening when they broadcast Mzee Jomo Kenyatta delivering his speech. The image that stayed with me from the grainy black and white pictures was when the President raised his flywhisk and proclaimed “Harambee!” (All of us together”) three times; each time the response from the crowd grew louder and more enthusiastic.

I left Nairobi in the late 70s and spent the next twenty-five years in Canada where I went to University, pursued my career, had my own family and was involved in Canadian civil society efforts along the way. As my daughters were born and brought up in Canada, we celebrated Canada Day with gusto. Everyone donned red and white and we made it a point to make it to Prince’s Island Park in Calgary for the events of the day. The Canadian themed face-paint on my daughters’ cheeks quickly gave way to more stylish embellishments as they grew up, but the words to “O Canada”, have stayed in their hearts.

And while I tried to keep in touch with the land that I was born in and had an inexorable tie to, it was a difficult task. However, in the past ten years Internet growth and access to information has exploded, and much to my delight I had access to not only the lyrics, but thanks to Youtube, also to the tune of Kenyan national anthem again.

More recently we moved to California and were (like the rest of the world) caught up in the historic election of President Obama. As serendipity would have it, here in the Valley I have been able to give back to the country of my birth by working with a non-profit called Samasource. With the advent of Twitter and Facebook I am more connected to folks in Kenya than I was when I was growing up there. For example I am Facebook friends with some folks who currently live in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.


And maybe that’s what Independence Day means for individuals – that true connection with a country (or countries) as they grow, that makes binds their country to them and behooves them to care for it when they are able. Put that will together with the access to the Internet and we have a powerful force that can be used to help shape, grow and sustain our country. And, then at these annual celebrations proudly proclaim “Hey I’m ___.” In my case the fill in the blank has so far been: Kenyan, Canadian and now American!