 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Prince
507 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Feb 2008 : 19:51:56
|
I was just wondering why most Gambians aren't very enthusiastic about Independence? Is it because we didn't technically "Earn Independence"? To use my grade school teacher's words, "we gain independence on a silver plate".
We didn't fight for it,this maybe a reason why we have a weak sense of nationalism. Maybe if we had fight for our freedom, like the Americans or South Africans did (they closely protect their freedom), we won't tolerate/encourage the current growing trend of impunity...
This is just a random theory I thought of after reading Thomas Jefferson's quote.
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
Maybe, just maybe, the current state of affairs will help us "earn" our freedom.
|
"When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." |
|
|
kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2008 : 21:43:48
|
Prince
I can understand your frustration. But ar you asking us to change government through force? The difference with Jefferson's time is that they were fighting an empire.
I think we have become indifferent due to two reasons
1. We have been made to believe that the revolution mattered most and this has been hammered on tV programmes for many years now. The recent DO editorial is a classic example.
2. Unfortunately, we have not had many patritic persons large enough to re-energise our interest in the love for country.
May be we should start with the schools where every morning students say the National Pledge
|
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
 |
|
|
Prince
507 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2008 : 23:04:11
|
Thanks for the response uncle kond. No, i'm not advocating for violence. Upheavals in present day Africa (Liberia, Sierra Leone, etc), has demonstrated that democracy can be achieved through force but its often not worth it.
You mentioned a very important place worth focusing on, the schools. I remember singing the national pledge every morning, but i didn't understand a word of what i pledged.
A school curriculum based on the Japanese indoctrination of their young, may be more effective ? Hmmmm.... probably thats not realistic...
|
"When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." |
|
|
|
tamsier
United Kingdom
557 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2008 : 23:41:05
|
| PRINCE, I DONT QUITE GET YOUR QUESTION. ARE YOU SAYING - BY QUOTING YOUR TEACHER/FORMER TEACHER THAT, THE YOUNG RECEIVED INDEPENDENCE ON A SILVER PLATE OR ARE YOU SAYING THOSE WHO WERE WHO AROUND EG. OUR FATHERS/MOTHERS RECEIVED INDEPENDENCE ON A SILVER PLATE IN 1965? IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LATTER, YOU COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG. OUR PARENTS WORKED DAMN HARD TO ENSURE WE RECEIVE INDPENDENCE. IN FACT, MY UNCLE WAS THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL WHICH CAMPAIGNED FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE GAMBIA - PRESIDENT JAWARA LATER JOINED THE COUNCIL. I HAVE DOCUMENTED LETTERS AND MEETINGS HELD BY THE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE GAMBIA AT THAT TIME. THEREFORE, IT WOULD BE UNFAIR TO SAY OUR PEOPLE RECEIVED INDPENDENCE FROM A SILVER PLATE. IF ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE YOUTH OF TODAY, I WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH YOU. HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT JUST APPLY TO THE GAMBIAN YOUTH BUT YOUTHS EVERYWERE. FOR EXAMPLE, YOUTHS TODAY DONT CARE OR ARE INDIFFERENT ABOUT THE SECOND WORLD WAR [WHICH LED TO FREEDOM FROM THAT NAZI WE CALL HITLER] BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GO THROUGH IT THEMSELVES BUT THEIR GRAND PARENTS ON THE OTHER HAND ARE AFFECTED BY IT BECAUSE THEY WERE AROUND AND LOST FAMILY MEMBERS OR SUFFERED HARDSHIP. I AGREED WITH KONDORONG THAT SCHOOLS WOULD BE THE BEST PLACE TO START - TEACHING PATRIOTISM. LIKE YOU I REMEMBER RECITING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM IN ASSEMBLY. UNLIKE YOU I KNEW WHAT IT MEANT FROM AN EARLY AGE BECAUSE IT WAS DINNED INTO ME BY MY PARENTS AND EXPLAINED WELL. ALSO, MY PARENTS EXPLAINED TO ME THE MEANING OF OUR NATIONAL FLAG AND WHY THOSE COLOURS WERE CHOOSEN. THEREFORE, I BELIEF PARENTS ALSO HAVE A PART TO PLAY TO INSTILL A SENSE OF NATIONAL PRIDE. HAVING SAID THAT, ALL THESE HARD WORK WOULD BE FRUITLESS IF WE DONT HAVE EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT. AFTER-ALL CORRUPT POLITICIANS DOES NOT INSTILL A SENSE OF NATIONAL PRIDE DOES IT? |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
|
|
|
Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2008 : 15:30:28
|
| brother tamsier ,very interesting narrations.but can you type in small letters. it will make your postings easy to read. we need people like you with good historical background. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
|
|
|
tamsier
United Kingdom
557 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2008 : 17:23:54
|
no problem santanfara. from now on i will type in small letters. it is a habit i've adopted when sending informal emails. bad habit i know, but from now on i'm going small.
better? |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
|
|
|
mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2008 : 07:38:55
|
A very good prince…. However am little bit confused when you ware saying we got our independent on sliver Plates that has delivered to us from colonial masters?
1:I don’t know if we have to call it still INDIPENDENTS?.
2: I don’t think by fight for freedom/ independent in an kind would gain through easy road.
If one wants have it on an pleasure plates A huge prize most be paid for it than even those who struggles for it with bloodsheding.
Colonials master are mostly smart at negotiation table than in battlefield. At roundtable they would wreak that pleasure plate with a heavy Bloodcurdling that will not be fluffily politics to survive for the next generations.
Also remembers by trying to gain independents every one will tries to be the winner among the front runners so that they forgets the real meaning of it, and that are exactly what the colonial master wants.
Yes starting from very early /school is good point. It’s good to know who one is but we most be free first from our heavy loads, only a free man can stand on tale!
|
|
|
|
Sibo
Denmark
231 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2008 : 09:45:41
|
I have a little theory myself, Prince.
Celebrating our independence is celebrating our freedom. But as we all know, there is no freedom in Gambia right now. There is no freedom of expression, freedom of press or any other kind of freedom. So I think that is the reason why most Gambians are not enthusiatic about celebrating the independence day. It would be hypocritical to celebrate something that is not existing. Thats my saying about it |
|
|
|
tamsier
United Kingdom
557 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2008 : 10:05:57
|
| Bravo Sibo! well argued. |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
|
|
|
Sibo
Denmark
231 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2008 : 10:18:31
|
Thanks Tamsier...
I think its sad that the people have been through so much for the freedom of the Gambia and this is the thanks they get. We got rid of the colonial master, but we end up with something worst than the colonial masters. We ended up with a heartless, ignorant, arrogant monster who does not have the best of the people at heart. This is like a slap in the face for the people who fought for the independence, this is really sad.... |
Edited by - Sibo on 20 Feb 2008 10:19:04 |
|
|
|
Prince
507 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2008 : 20:04:22
|
"IF YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LATTER, YOU COULDN'T BE MORE WRONG. OUR PARENTS WORKED DAMN HARD TO ENSURE WE RECEIVE INDPENDENCE."
Tamsier
I'm talking about the latter Tamsier, and to the best of my knowledge, my teacher candidly gave me his.... now i'm listening to your STORY. What he meant (on a silver plate idp.) is, we achieved independence without much struggle (the British even lent us administrators).
i was asking if its this easy path to independence that led to our tolerance of the current Shitstem/system? I know for sure that present day South Africans won't accept anything close to what we're now calling a government, even if the downpressor is having the Nazi army's backing. To the best of my knowledge, their main source of motivation against aggression is their path to freedom.
I won't just agree that my teachers version of our independence is "wrong", without further elaboration from you. History isn't science, all you have to do is state your STORY and back it with facts. You may agree with me that if you witness a simple accident with a friend who is standing on the opposite side of the road, your versions of the story will probably differ. So I'm not surprised that a complex scenario like independence is having variant stories.
Unfortunately, my teacher didn't give me facts to back up his claim but I'll try supporting his STORY. Colonization by the imperialist was for three main reasons, economic, strategic (military), and the so-called "white man's burden". By 1965 the British didn't have much of the first two BUT they did have the latter and its demonstrated by lending us administrators...
BTW, your parents should be commended for explaining the national pledge to you. my guess is, at independence, most families where so poor that they didn't time to analyze white-collar politics (writings/pledges).
"1:I don’t know if we have to call it still INDIPENDENTS?."
Mbay, technically we are independent- whatever that means... |
"When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty." |
Edited by - Prince on 20 Feb 2008 20:46:23 |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
