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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Sep 2006 : 13:22:27
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This is where I feel most stressed: to have to compress a few thoughts into the few minutes before my break is over.
Kayjatta’s poem “Weep not my country” throws out this line:
"God does not play dice", Einstein told us” that sparked this off and
these thoughts and more fuel was generated by reading Gambietoubabu this morning. Got me thinking:
“And the first one now
Will later be last”
http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/times.html
I’m very cautious about having the first or last word about Gambian political affairs. To be able to do that the Gambia must have a truly vibrant and free media in which the diverse voices of the nation can be heard – in the way that the Israeli media truly reflects the pulse of that great nation.
I’d also like to say that world implies whole world, and no matter where we are we are in it, although we can be in or out of context when we quote words.
They say that the sky’s the limit and that makes me wonder whether infinity is very close to the gardens of the paradise…..
Here’s a good example of lifting a quote out of context:
“Democracy don't rule the world,
You'd better get that in your head.
This world is ruled by violence
But I guess that's better left unsaid”
http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/union.html
….and there will be tranquillity and Zion in the Middle East when Democracy takes over from the dictators and gives power to the people. ” A democracy does not declare war on another democracy” or words to that effect (Per Ahlmark)
“When blackness was a virtue”?
http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/shelter.html
With my own personal experience of West African elections in theory and practice – Sierra Leone and Nigeria, wherein a certain state more votes were cast than there were people registered to vote and more votes were counted for the ruling party – in excess of the state’s entire population known to be alive at that time. They counbted and counted, threw away the excess votes "Triumph for Democarcy" read the DN headlines when I read them more than ayear later.
“Where black is the color, where none is the number” indeed!
(“A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall” –Bob Dylan)
It is therefore the
Sine qua non
that FIRST,
Let there be a census and then accurate voter registration and ethnic presence from neighbouring countries should not be in the books.
Secondly, the self-revealed details of various people identities and locations cannot be verified on this Cyberspace Bantaba – (and we are all honourable men and women) - what’s given is e.g. the itinerant Serenata is supposed to be thriving in Egypt this moment (although she could have changed venue overnight) – anyway in the context I’m aiming at, she’s ineligible as she’s not yet a Gambian. Newfy is supposed to be in Western Samoa (is there an Eastern side?) Kobo is in Australia, One Lemon somewhere in the UK, and the whole show’s coming from Denmark. So we see that many of the most vocal participants and some 25% of the cream of the Gambian intelligentsia is out of the Gambia).Bantaba has certain - cyberspace guarantees privileges - a certain freedom of speech which more home based media places feel less free about expressing, cause they fear…..
My Break’s up, but let me add: Sierra Leone is about to grant dual citizenship to those who are holed up in the Diaspora.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Sierra+leone+to+grant+dual+citizenship&btnG=Search&meta=
Next hope for many is that the re-enfranchised Diaspora will be able to vote in national elections.
As in Sierra Leone, ditto, the Gambia, One Africa!
Shortly after his very decisive re-election victory, president Yahya Jammeh, same direction and same commitment, promised to dedicate all efforts to making the Gambia model nation and not only for Africa.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Jammeh+promises+to+make+Gambia+a+model+nation&spell=1
In wishing him and all Gambians the best of luck in achieving this goal we and all Gambians are also cordially self-invited in helping to make this a reality knowing that this reality _God willing – is not going to be attained without much effort and is not going to be achieved just within a year.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Philip+Emeagwali+on+the+brain+drain&btnG=Search&meta=
Philip Emeagwali among many others has spoken at length on the pernicious effects of brain drain – it’s one thing for African countries to grant dual citizenship to their countrymen abroad( it’s good for business and we can take INDIA as a good example – also Pakistan could not have got the Islamic bomb without personal home remittances - I worked with a number of them abroad) - it’s another thing for African governments to enact the types of legislation that should help re-attract some of the voluntary and involuntary exiles all the way back home, with a view of enlisting their contributions ( soon get a real taste of black Zionism) when these “dual citizens” start becoming able and willing to contribute to their Nativland’s development.
Reversing the brain drain:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=How+to+reverse+the+brain+drain+from+Africa&btnG=Search&meta=
Adding reality to dream: when they are also empowered to represent and to vote in representatives to govern them. That would be a distinct advantage and it is to be assumed that the intelligentsia will represent their own wider national and international interests: just take a look at Liberia today, at the new breed of technocrats most of whom until recently were exiles from their homelands, now playing a developmental role back home.
Lebanon’s Foreign ministry has a good data base which provides reliable information – a register of most of their nationals living abroad and we are to presume a strong connection between the Lebanese in Lebanon and those in the Diaspora (I don’t know if the Diaspora Lebanese voted in the last election, but I do know that Nabih Berri was born in Sierra Leone
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Nabih+Berri&btnG=Search&meta=
and that some of those with the nicest houses in Beirut are also connected to Sierra Leone.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=MInistry+of+Foreign+Affairs%2C+Lebanon&btnG=Search&meta= |
Edited by - Cornelius on 28 Sep 2006 15:35:52 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2006 : 18:08:26
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| Sister Omega, Tony Blair was elected as MP and so was Gordon Brown. When it is a general election we vote for our consitituency MP, not the Prime Minister. I think there should be an open election amongst MPS for who is to be next prime minister and then as soon as suitable after that a general election should be called. Gordon Brown shouldnt simply inherit power from Tony Blair, I agree. |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 28 Sep 2006 : 19:25:10
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Kondorong and Ebra:
You see historically there is abundance of people who are resistant to possibilities.There are people who are unwilling to think open-mindedly.
Rutherford (one of the leading chemists of his time) once boasted about the impossibility of splitting the atom .Shortly afterwards the first laboratory chain-reaction started with the splitting of the atom( and Rutherford humiliated).
I think there is a fertile ground to initiate a popular drive for a term limit.Jammeh can suspend the national assembly, but he does not own the Gambia.ALL POWER EMANATES FROM THE PEOPLE.This is why Jammeh was forced to appoint a NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE in 1995 for a two year transition program.
Besides all the opposition groups are interested in a term limit , and Jammeh has hinted his desire to leave (albeit vaguely) when he is finished his work.Now the question is when will he finish ?
I think there is some gleamer of common ground here .
Dr. Geghan Senghore once said that (and this hits home) when the mortar and pestle was invented the African thought his/her problem is solved , and even when he built a story building he/her moved upstairs with his/her mortar and pestle.This underscores the need for us to be constantly on the look for improvement in our environment and condition.Let us not get fixated in history.Let us be liberated by the possibilities of the future.
Just do a simple brainstorm about the pros and cons of a term limit in the Gambia .
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Solution
29 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2006 : 18:44:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Ebra
Which state is a real demcracy society? As far as the electorates want any person to lead them why not. We do not have to buy all the western ideology. The way our country to be rule should mingle with our norms and some western style. Saudi Arabia is a secular state but that does not made them hostile, undemocratic, or whatever you might call it. Libya has developed drastically but they don't practice western democracy. There all tones of state like that, as far as you are able to deliver what the electorates needs then why change. Lets remember the Mandinka saying " When in a river don't leave the fish in hand for the one underneath your leg".
cannot be sitting eating Burger trying to brainwash us NI NA NI NA and not willing to be here to struggle together. NO BABOON WORK MONKEY EAT.
Why do always point finger to the WEST. Nobody is talking about doing what the west is doing. We are talking about doing things that are right and working. And even if were to do it the western way, we could be very optimistic because it is a working system.
Thanks do the west that you are able to yap yap in the bantaba and express your self. If you are not seeing real democracy any where, then I dont know which world you are living in.
You observe democracy when citizens can express themselves freely without fear. You observe democracy when citizens can question their government. And if you are living in The Gambia presumably, just turn to your neighbor Senegal. There you can pick few lessons rerlated to democracy. The senegales people can criticize the ruling government through the national T.V, the radio stations, the newspapers and even at individual level without worries. This is part of a real democracy. |
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Ebra
Gambia
268 Posts |
Posted - 01 Oct 2006 : 23:46:48
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| The reason of pointing west when talking about democracy is because the concept comes from them. Gambian people spoke of their mind by re-electing President Jammeh, then why people like you who were brainwash don't want to accept the verdict of the Gambians. No bad feeling lets work together to develop our nation. |
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Ebra
Gambia
268 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2006 : 01:29:09
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| If you think am living in the Gambia then you are wrong. Gambia for been my location is basically, because I am there every three months. Living in The Gambia does not mean one cannot reason things judiciously. I have no problem of criticizing the government but it has to be base on facts. We've seen in the campaign, where the opposition express their concerns talking against the government but none of them are deprive. |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2006 : 13:35:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Solution
Why do always point finger to the WEST. Nobody is talking about doing what the west is doing. We are talking about doing things that are right and working. And even if were to do it the western way, we could be very optimistic because it is a working system.
Thanks do the west that you are able to yap yap in the bantaba and express your self. If you are not seeing real democracy any where, then I dont know which world you are living in.
You observe democracy when citizens can express themselves freely without fear. You observe democracy when citizens can question their government. And if you are living in The Gambia presumably, just turn to your neighbor Senegal. There you can pick few lessons rerlated to democracy. The senegales people can criticize the ruling government through the national T.V, the radio stations, the newspapers and even at individual level without worries. This is part of a real democracy.
Solution. Thanks for THE SOLUTIONS stated above! Average Gambians don't LISTEN or LEARN GENUINE IDEAS when it comes to POLITICS! African politics is mainly about PUPPET REGIMES and TO STAY AS LONG AS YOU WANT, TO DO ANYTHING YOU WANT, NO COMMENTS OR PROPOSALS ARE ACCEPTABLE, therefore we don't need LAWMAKERS and UNIVERSITY EDUCATION to develop our system!
No amount of FAMILY DISCUSSIONS, DEBATES AND EXCHANGES can change other peoples minds and hearts on seeking alternative courses of action for FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. We have different sensibilities are at different wave lengths and comprehension on POLITICS, GOOD GOVERNANCE, DICTATORSHIP, ANARCHY, CITIZENSHIP, BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, LAW AND CONSITUTIONAL RIGHTS. We have different understanding and views to interact on them but others sensibilities tend to override and overule what are the right courses even if seen to be worst (no one worries about them); that it MUST BE imposed on the will of GAMBIANS.
If you forward POSITIVE proposals and CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISMS they alleged that you are against the LEADER and GOVERNMENT inorder to CRIMILISE YOU instead of the LAW BREAKERS right under their nose and midst! Some also makes DODGY CLAIMS that these are western ideas and systems that don't suit Africa. I think it better to be SILENT or with YESmen, YESmen, YESmen..........ARE EVRYTHING WORKING IN AFRICA?! |
Edited by - kobo on 02 Oct 2006 13:59:23 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 02 Oct 2006 : 15:10:25
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Losing intersts as Gambian political discussions appears to be very boring and meanigless! GAMBIA NO PRONLEMS! If any PROBLEMS there are NO SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS! GAMBIANS don't appreciate HARD TALK AND FACTS! FEAR FACTOR SYNDROME OVERULES!
Africa unite!
GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA!
PEACE! |
Edited by - kobo on 02 Oct 2006 15:12:40 |
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Solution
29 Posts |
Posted - 04 Oct 2006 : 08:18:19
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Ebra, refer to my response to the election resulted posted last week. None of my response to your script invites any suggestion that I am against the decision of the Gambian voters.
I am among those who wasted no time in recognizing the results of elections. |
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