KUWAIT, Feb 25 (KUNA) -- The 17th Liberation Day, coinciding Tuesday, is an occasion to reflect on experiences of the past and to learn from them in order to create a brighter future for Kuwait and the coming generations.
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, when he was first deputy premier and foreign minister, said in a speech that "a lesson can be taken from every anniversary, and today's lesson is on building a promising future for Kuwaitis that protects them from such harsh experiences as invasions and realizes their aspirations of a stable and developed country."
And in His Highness the Amir's address to the people in the occasion of the 45th National Day and 15th Liberation Day, which coincided with the end of the 40-day mourning period of the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, he said, "The anniversary of the liberation now has a new significance and value, as it turns into a sustainable process and a protection of our consistent values, and a consecration of our potentials to promote our dear nation to the highest levels of progress and development."
He added that to truly commemorate this occasion, each citizen must assess available means, and then decide the best way to serve this nation through hard work and dedication.
On this occasion, Kuwait University's Dean of Social Sciences Dr. Yaqoub Al-Kandiri told KUNA that many examples of solidarity and unity between members of the society could be found when looking back at the history of the country and at the period when the state was under occupation by the former Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein in 1990.
"Principles of unity and nationalism are embodied in the celebration of the National and Liberation Days, once the lessons in them are realized," he said, recounting with pride the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their country, as well as the honorable stances of friendly nations that supported the Gulf state's right to independence and the country's sovereignty.
On his part, Educational Management and Planning Professor Dr. Ahmad Al-Bustan said that following the liberation of Kuwait in 1991, the political leadership focused on promoting democracy, economy and social issues, thereby setting the development process in motion according to a set plan.
He underscored the importance of accommodating the needs of youth and raising their awareness over the important role they played as members of the society, whether through school programs or extra-curricular activities.
As for Director of Kuwait University's Gulf and Arab Peninsula Studies Center Dr. Fahad Al-Nasser, he said that the aggression that the Kuwaiti people came under could not be forgotten, noting that studies indicated the long-term psychological and social impacts that disasters and wars had on individuals and societies.
He noted the spirit of solidarity that surfaced during the invasion, bringing people together regardless of their backgrounds, adding that a study conducted by Kuwait University and Florida University 12 years after liberation showed that Kuwaitis were able to psychologically resist occupation and thus adapted to the circumstances they were in.
Meanwhile, Head of the Educational Management and Planning Department at the College of Education Dr. Jassem Al-Hamdan said Kuwaitis were able to overcome the painful experience of occupation and thus went on to make creative contributions in all fields.
He noted the educational "comeback" through implementing a program that made up for the school year that was missed by many children in Kuwait because of the invasion, and thus the crisis was transformed into an experience of hope.
By Kawthar Al-Ghanim
Copyright Kuwait News Agency 2008.
