| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 09:14:41
|
Bro Kobo
You want me to call names and point finger. No.
That would be to throw the baby with the bathwater.
Better to keep the baby clean and well nourished.
To maximize effect
Let’s leave it on a reflexive level
On a self-ransacking level
On a "who feels it knows it", level.
|
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
 |
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2011 : 23:18:23
|
Janko Thanks for that intelligent reaction and response! 
THE POINT EDITORIAL IS RELEVANT;
|
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11733 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2011 : 23:19:14
|
| Karamba, Gambia's position has improved very much to 77th position in 2011 (CPI 3.4) compared to the table above for 2010 (CPI 1.9). |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 02 Dec 2011 : 01:39:46
|
Momodou,
That is an irony. In recent years, corruption has overgrown in Gambia. Fear of punishment may serve to prevent some people from direct corrupt practice. Looking at Jammeh alone, he does not respect between personal and state. His general conduct in handling the highest seat of government is very much corrupt.
Gambia's corruption is possible to show improvement because the scale of corruption is one sided. Jammeh alone is free to do what he wants to do. Nobody calls that corruption. Also, some public servants have been taken to court for stealing fertiliser. That too will appear as though government is fighting corruption and will add to the records. On that line of reasoning, Gambia can easily slip through the finger. |
Karamba |
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2011 : 09:26:40
|
Language, Ethnicity and Colonialism
To bring it closer to home, let’s say Gambia wants all its citizens to speak “Gambian” and not English and that all Englishmen living and working in Gambia should learn to speak Gambian or lose their jobs.
The difference between Europe and Africa as to how boundaries are drawn is that in Africa they do not follow language area whiles that is a basic criterion in Europe.
From that point of view it is Estonian territory and not Russian. In that case ethnicity and language become associated in the thinking of those inside and outside the group.
What is interesting is that in becoming bilingual or bicultural cognitive powers become sharper. So, if the Russian speaking minority maintains their ethnic identity and heritage in Estonia how would that attitude towards the Estonian language affect learning Estonian.
The big question is, is there any difference between ethnicity and language/dialects.
Yes, there is in the Estonian context hence the two languages, Estonian and Russian are spoken by two different peoples having different belief -structures and attitudes.
Secondly they are spoken in two different countries.
On the other hand ethnic differences in attitudes, beliefs and behaviors and if you like cultural factors are not very much different from that of language.
Even whereas language is mostly associated with ethnicity there are cases when people speaking dialects of the same language have slightly different beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. Example, the Mandingka has dialects like Joula, Jahanka, the Fuola has dialects like Fula-torro, Fula-jallon, Fula-firrdu and the Wolof has the Fanafana dialect and so forth.
In Estonia 70% speak Estonian whiles Russian is spoken by only 26%.
In my understanding the Estonian context has a colonial dimension to the ethnic and language aspects. The USSR was an imperial power and the Russian language had a unifying role and therefore superior to national languages. Even whereas Russian is unofficial it has been taught compulsory in schools during the USSR era.
Now that the USSR is no more the Russian language has lost its unifying function.
In the Gambian context on the other hand the languages have been existing side by side in a small geographical enclave for so long that the ethnic differences is blurred, hence there are no significant differences in attitudes, behaviors, belief or cultural factors but rather urban and rural difference. This is not the case in the Russian -Estonian relationship.
|
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
Edited by - Janko on 05 Dec 2011 09:33:06 |
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 05 Dec 2011 : 21:28:17
|
Thank you Janko. Had some typos, meant to state:
Where Estonia bans Russians from using their native Russian language or risk job loss and other forms of being disadvantage, do you consider that an extension of ethcicity and tribalism Janko ?
You have done good job drawing on the examples given. With French, English, Portuguese and Italian imported to colonies, the named languages became tools of both domination and empowerment. What I'm not sure about is whether or not Russian in Estonia was an esblished language and how much in use before this ban. With any information on that, please pass on. |
Karamba |
|
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 06 Dec 2011 : 08:45:02
|
Yes, Karamba, the question is very complex
Under the Russian occupation which could be dated back to somewhere in the 30, or earlier up to the early 90s Russian was an official language in parallel to and in practice mostly instead of Estonian.
And because Russian was the language of the ruling class there were no integration efforts at all.
I do not think it is a question of banning Russian at home or with friends but rather in official circumstances.
I would like to see it more as nationalistic than ethnic, hence both Russian and Estonian are national official and not ethnic languages.
|
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
|
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2011 : 13:15:02
|
Time change demands adaption or …
For the last 30 years or more we are having,
more or less the same political discourse with
the same politicians yet nothing is going as we wish.
Why?
It is time for reflection
Time to reflect over the Gambian political condition.
It is time to see over the political culture.
It is time to pave way for a new generation of politicians
that understand the politics of Gambia –today. Not to underrate
anyone but because time demands a new breed of politicians that
would lift up the political discourse to our times
New breed politicians with new perspectives, a new discourse
New energy, endurance and language
New breed would not only have the ability to meet the
plight from within the same horizon but would have a better
spirit of fighting which is needed to effect a change
we all so much long for.
|
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
Edited by - Janko on 17 Dec 2011 13:15:37 |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 17 Dec 2011 : 20:19:53
|
Janko. I don't understand from your prose above;
- Who you are referring to and which generation qualify as new breed to lead?
- Which political party or political leader is guilty of playing the tribal card?
- Where or How are you going to draw your line profiling our politicians to weed out new breed; as there are existing party with legacies, steered by old order (veterans) and new breed (of militant elites; a fusion of very active politicians at all levels to maintain their existing parties solid on the ground? Or
- Whether you are addressing the nation in general, party leaders, bantaba community and diaspora politicos or whosoever again?
- How pragmatic or feasible are your philosophy and thoughts can work out for desired changes under APRC era; spearheaded by Jammeh's political leadership?
HOWEVER DAWDA FAYE OF THE POINT SHARE HIS THOUGHTS (BOUND TO FALL ON DEAF EARS AND/OR BLINDLY IGNORED); FOR NATIONAL UNITY AND RECONCILIATION WITH THE DAILY NEWS ON;
|
Edited by - kobo on 17 Dec 2011 22:36:09 |
|
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2011 : 11:55:40
|
Kobo,
this is not about RECONCILIATION but RE-ORIENTATION.
...no time to embark on a discussion of a U-turn or marry-go-round... |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 18 Dec 2011 : 20:08:04
|
Janko. Thanks for another excellent intelligent response!
Keep up the good civic duty to inform, sensitise and share any useful information on this forum; which you rightly stated is for "re-orientation".
Well done in addressing "tribalism" to enjoin fraternity; "AND JOIN OUR DIVERSE PEOPLE TOWARDS THE COMMON GOOD!" |
|
|
|
Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 22 Dec 2011 : 10:11:12
|
Kobo,
"AND JOIN OUR DIVERSE PEOPLE TOWARDS THE COMMON GOOD!"
...,remember, we did not even know who wrote that phrase...seems as if the writer is an outsider.. |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
|
|
|
kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2012 : 00:38:47
|
MAAFANTA.COM WITH COMMENTARY BY LAMIN NYASSI;
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked
