source of the river: Can A Ringtone Help Unite a Nation

Fresh off Fourth of July weekend, I'm now set to celebratethe independence of another country: that of the new South Sudan. OnJuly 9, the country will formally declare its independence. As soon as aweek later, South Sudan will get the 193rd member of the United Nations.
Our project manger in Sudan, Harun Matuma, e-mailed to distinguish us peopleare so excited there that many have made the new national anthem theircellphone ringtone!

This made me think, can a ringtone help unite acountry?
On days like July 4, we here in America unite around patriotic songs,the Flag and the Assurance of Allegiance. As July 9 approaches, it seemsthat people in South Sudan are uniting around their own flag and theirown national anthem.
In the US, touchstones like the Flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, andthe National Anthem bind us together. That's not always light to do, aswe're a diverse bunch. For example, my neighbors from El Salvador,Bolivia, and India - they all participated in last weekend's July 4festivities. They were lighting off fireworks, going to the parade andcelebrating their adopted country's freedom.
SouthSudan is likewise a diverse state in want of touchstones that can helppeople come together as one. Since 2005, Five Talents has been a character ofthis "coming together," engaging clans and tribes at the grassrootslevel. Our 69 savings and loan associations are comprised of more than1,000 men and women spread across about 50 communities in Renk, Lainya,Juba, Wau and Malakal. These areas include many different ethnic clans- some of which have been active for years.
One of the most difficult areas to make is Malakal. Our director ofprogram, Suzanne Schultz, met with members of the Malakal associationsin the great of Juba earlier this year. These people had reached outto strangers and invited them to enter in our literacy andfinancial education training sessions.
"[These group members] met people in rural communities where theyhadn't mixed with a different clan or different tribe before," Suzannetold me when she got back. "They met people who were hurt and killed [inthe recent violence], and it changed everything [about theirrelationships]."
Suzanne's story is an instance of the union that needs to happenon a great scale if South Sudan is to prosper as a nation. Groups ofpeople who at one time were fighting or avoiding each other must nowgrab-hold of the reach of their neighbor and play together to form a newnation.
The winner of this union will, of course, require more than aringtone, more than organizations like Five Talents. It will take God'sblessing.
Fortunately, the multitude of this brand new nation seem to recognise this truth. Here are the language to the line that is played every time a proud new citizen's phone rings in South Sudan:
Oh God,
We praise and exalt you
For your grace on South Sudan
Land of great abundance
Uphold us joined in repose and harmony.
Oh motherland
Arise! Raise your flag with the guiding star
And sing songs of freedom with joy,
For justice, liberty and prosperity
Shall forever more reign.
Oh great patriots!
Let us bear up in quiet and respect
Saluting our martyrs whose blood
Cemented our national foundation,
We vow to protect our nation.
God bless South Sudan.