- No representation of national identity
- Widely criticized
- Culture and history would have been more appropriate
If the 2015 Independence Day floats were a classic depiction of the drive towards independence and the progress that followed since then, this year's floats were a depiction of unbridled optimism and feel good view of an average childhood. The floats were decked with storm troopers, Disney characters and bright lights. Where is the national identity, you ask. The question was echoed by thousands gathered there and on the twittersphere.
As usual the views were extremely polarizing. For some the 14 float Disneyland theme park extravaganza was a mismatch to the Independence day, while for others it was a mere spectacle, to be enjoyed.
But there is a general consensus that the float parade could have reflected more national and cultural aspects, especially given that they were displayed to mark the Independence Day. For most, this represented waste of money.
The floats were viewed by hundreds, many of them were children. Last year's float parade was the first opportunity for young children to grasp important historical lessons about the nation. This, critics say was missing this year. Every child is bombarded with Disney and therefore the floats did little to add information.
Dhivehi Language Academy President Ahmed Ashraf said that on such a day, culture and national identity must be the priority. He said that including a few floats with Disney characters was not an issue, but culture and history must be displayed prominently.
"Whats the link between the floats, Maldivians, history, culture, Islam and economy? Its just a waste of money," was one sentiment that echoed clearly.
The companies that designed the floats said the focus was on attracting attention and as such they had picked elements that would be crowd-pleasers.
Overall last night's floats were a huge disappointment if one was looking at a cultural depiction. The country boasts immense talent especially on the creative front, who would definitely contributed to bringing a more nationalist flavor to the floats.
