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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 12:16:30
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So kajaw if I get your drift there can be no climate or reconcilation in Gambia unless there is a truth and reconcilation tribunal set up in the country. Then I would suggest it should also take inconsideration the killings that went on in 1981 as well.The main weakness of the truth and reconcillation process in South Africa it lacked justice.
I don't think Gambia's future is as bleak as Opposition commentors on the web would like us to believe. If we use a football analogy taking the match against Brazil and Ghana on Tuesday the Second goal scored by Brazil was clearly off side but the Referee allowed the goal, although the Ghanian players visably complained to the referee did the Ghanian squad storm of the pitch because of the referee's decision? No of course not they continued the match to the end. The same conduct should of applied to the Gambian opposition in 2001 taking their rightfully places in the National Assembly. As they decided to forefit their rightful places in the NA, then at least they should refund all the money they collected from their supporters to organise their election campaign. Don't you think, taking into consideration that they didn't consult their supporters be they made their decision.
As for President Jammeh not agreeing to outside observers has anyone ever asked him to consider the option? No I don't think so, so how do you know Kajaw that he would refuse it, are you a mind reader?
Peace
Sister Omega. |
Peace
Sister Omega |
Edited by - Sister Omega on 29 Jun 2006 12:24:07 |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 15:53:55
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Addressing Gambia's problems on the web by any measure is very simplistic, sometimes very 'surfaced' and lacks any real thinking strategy. The likes of Omega on the left busy muddying the water, always comparing todays Gambia and yesterday as if their coming was to have an extra mark or score while the likes of Demish on the far right have their own agenda, hoping doom is in the horizon to proof their theory right and the Daltons and co on the certre hoping the tyrant days are numbered and tomorrow might bring the dream Gambia.
Centre to all schools is hope, however misplaced it might be. I believe the problems in Gambia require fresh thinking machine outside the current political establishment or block. May be we need to renounce democracy and work out something that will deliver goods to our people, surely parliamentary democracy is not functioning ...lets stop kidding ourselves. |
Edited by - somita on 29 Jun 2006 15:55:27 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 18:17:17
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somita
If we do away with parliamentary democracy what are you recommending? I am of the conviction that democracy only works in a society that is well educated to understand their rights and become productive players in the economy.
Democracy is not working in the gambia but i am not sure what is the other option. Do we need a one party state of what kind of leadership or de we need to have a government without a party. Both are possible and workable however extreme they might sound. |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 18:35:58
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Kondonrong, may be that is the problem, democracy ... surely if we think hard enough we should come out with a better system to suit our environment. You talked about the inadequacies of democracy ...ie it will not work where the masses are not well informed, that is the situation that we have in our dearest mother land and its clearly not working. should we keep trying and hope that it will work, or should we seek alternatives. While the former is attractive because its a well tested and tried system, I will rather go for the later .... because the former has not worked for 40 odd years.
My high school teacher once remarked that "if you get only one solution to a give problem, there is every possiblity that its the wrong solution". There has to be alternatives to choose from unless we are decaden.
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Edited by - somita on 29 Jun 2006 18:38:35 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 18:48:57
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You are right. Democracy has sponsors around the world and it is a catch phrase. In fact in a democracy, the poor people are not represented. While we are mad to believe that it is government by the people for the people, in reality, democracy is government by the few rich and for the few rich.
Who gets sponsored in what place, what bills to be table are determined by the powerful few rich. Have you heard of QUESTIONS FOR MONEY IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, LOBBYISTS IN CONGRESS ETC? If you are not rich or supported by the few rich you can never succeed in a democracy. It is a myth. Unfortunately that is what we are told to believe. In south East Asia, advancement came not because of democracy bt through regulated societies which in some parts of the world will be considered as a dictatorship. In South Korea for example, there were compulsory savings schemes loaned out to the state for development. You had to save whether you liked it or not. Yet, with all attendant shortcomings, they have become the ASIAN TIGERS including Singapore.
I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS BEING DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY IS NEVER SUCCESSFUL. THERFORE FOLLOWING THE CROWD LEADS TO FAILURE. BEINMG DIFFERENT HOWVER LEADS TO SUCCESS. IN ADDITION, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN POSSIBLE AND IMPOSSIBLE IS AMEASURE OF ONE’S WILLINGNESS ANDD COMMITMENT TO A CAUSE.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 18:49:09
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Somita,you pose an interesting question. Could you give us some examples of what other model you would suggest in place of democracy in Gambia?
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 19:12:18
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| Sister, frankly i dont know any alternative solution to our currently predicament but i know that the current arrangement is not working to say the least and has not worked for the last 40years. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 20:44:14
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| Somita, Maybe we will have to leave the solution to the next generation to come up with a new model. |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 20:51:15
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I beg to differ, I think we are capable to thinking and producing a system that works in and for our environment. We should be ready to think outside the box, lets convince ourselves that democracy has been a failure, therefore a different system and approach to governance is necessary. I think its very possible in our generation.
All the continents that succeeded with the exception of India sub-continent did so successfully by designing their own system, that includes europe. Trying to copy democracy is not working, has never worked, will probably never work. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 21:09:19
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quote:
Originally posted by somita
I beg to differ, I think we are capable to thinking and producing a system that works in and for our environment. We should be ready to think outside the box, lets convince ourselves that democracy has been a failure, therefore a different system and approach to governance is necessary. I think its very possible in our generation.
All the continents that succeeded with the exception of India sub-continent did so successfully by designing their own system, that includes europe. Trying to copy democracy is not working, has never worked, will probably never work.
You are right. Africans have to be diffrent to succeed. BEING COPY CATS TAKES US NO WHERE. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 22:56:49
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I thought my reply would get you going you're right Somita we are more than capable of producing our own model. Cheikh Anta Diop start to explore this concept in The Economic and Cultural Basis for a Federal State. Here is the first installment of what he advocated.
!. To restore consciousness of our historic unity
2. To work for lingusistic unification on a territoriak and continental scale, with a single African and cultural and governmental language superseding all others... European languages should be relegated to the status of foregign languages taught in secondary school.
3. To raise our national tongues to the rank of governmental languages used in Parliament and in writing laws. Language would no longer stand in the way of someone being elected to parliament or other office from the grassroots who might be unlettered,
4. To work out an effective form of representation for the female sector of the nation.
5. To live African Federal unity...etc
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 23:33:25
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Please, democracy works and it works for Gambia. We have no other alternative to democracy but chaos. What we have in the Gambia very inadequate , however. There is a lot of room for improvement and that is what we needs to focus on: to build a better system of democratic representation.
Clearly we cannot waste our time trying to re-invent the wheel. Elections work in the Gambia , though the mechanism and procedure needs to be improved.If you closely look at past election results , it becomes apparent that it does not totally reflect what Jammeh would want it to be. It appears to reflect a growing decline in Jammeh's popularity, hence the need for NADD. |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 23:45:54
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Hasn't democracy also caused a lot of chaos around the world already and is still doing so? I think Somita has raised a valid point and it wouldn't be surprising if this debate continues well into the future. Because really I feel that future generations maybe able to deliver a better system than we have now. Because globally the majority of the world who are poor are still suffering even the poor in the US who are meant to be the beckon of democracy but their actions tell of a completely different story.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 29 Jun 2006 : 23:55:06
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SISTER:
IT IS NOT DEMOCRACY THAT CAUSES TROUBLE AROUND THE WORLD , RATHER IT IS THE LACK OF IT. NOW THERE IS NO ABSOLUTELY PERFECT DEMOCRACY ANYWHERE . ALL DEMOCRACIES NEED IMPROVEMENTS IN VARYING DEGREES, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT DEMOCRACY DOES NOT WORK. DEMOCRACY MEANS SHARING POWER . DO YOU MEAN SHARING POWER DOES NOT WORK ? WHAT THEN WORKS ? |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 30 Jun 2006 : 00:04:20
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quote:
Originally posted by kayjatta
SISTER:
IT IS NOT DEMOCRACY THAT CAUSES TROUBLE AROUND THE WORLD , RATHER IT IS THE LACK OF IT. NOW THERE IS NO ABSOLUTELY PERFECT DEMOCRACY ANYWHERE . ALL DEMOCRACIES NEED IMPROVEMENTS IN VARYING DEGREES, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT DEMOCRACY DOES NOT WORK. DEMOCRACY MEANS SHARING POWER . DO YOU MEAN SHARING POWER DOES NOT WORK ? WHAT THEN WORKS ?
Is that the same reason why Communism failed. Because there was no real communism being practiced? |
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