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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
 Posted - 09 May 2006 : 22:06:57
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If you have watched CNN yesterday you must have seen refugees in Dafur (Sudan) cheering the UN envoy’s arrival. Shortly afterwards there were attacks and a UN translator was killed. Africa by the way seems very ineffective to solving its own problems. We seem to believe that the world owes us their lives to keep peace between us. That will NEVER happen.
We created the problems and we have to find solutions to it. Ethiopia and Eritrea have been fighting over a few inches of land along the border for years- more so, over a dry and barren land leading to colossal loss of lives on both sites. It looks like Africa’s contribution to the international community is the mass and un-ended supply of refugees. When slavery began, Africans were forced to leave their homes. Today, we are forcing our own to leave for the west.
You must have heard of the Lost Boys of the Sudan. I met a lot of them and their stories very pathetic.
I hope to wake up one day and watch the news and see Africans very prosperous, educated, productive and living in peace with one another. I am not sure if I will see this in my lifetime. I hope that my sons will once again thrust their chest that their people have learnt peace and are prospering.
I AM REALLY VERY SICK OF MY OWN PEOPLE’S KILLINGS. EVERYWHERE ON THE CONTINENT THERE ARE EITHER CIVIL WARS OR OPPOSITION PARTIES ARE SENT TO JAIL AND JOURNALISTS ATTACKED. There is no culture of tolerance, which we must cultivate to leap into prosperity. We have all the resources to make it happen. We only need the political will to deliver.
Emaciated bodies in the land of plenty have become the trademark of African people. I have been asked this question many times in fact from highly educated people in the West. When I showed them photographs of my family, they would think that was done some where in Europe. Their understanding of Africa is that we are all walking naked and in the swamps. A friend of mine I met in Alaska some years ago, an African American by the way also never believed that we had good houses in the Gambia. When I asked him to attend the roots home coming festival, he declined thinking that it was not safe for him.
We cannot blame them. That is what they see on TV. If we do not like that, then we have stand up for justice and make our leaders accountable to the needs of their political constituents. Until then, we will continue to wallow in poverty in the midst of plenty and become beggars, loose our dignity and become the laughing stock of humanity. The story is the same everywhere. Kenya, Zaire, Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa, Malawi, Tanzania, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burkinafasso, Uganda, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Niger, Eritrea, Gambia and so on. We are constantly struggling against our own selves to be free once again.
I don’t want to buy the idea that the west created it. WE HAVE TO BE MASTERS OF OUR OWN DESTINIES OR WE WILL BE CONSUMERS OF CRUMBS THAT THE WORLD DOES NOT NEED. The war in Sudan started before I was born and is still raging. Who are they trying to help? Very soon they will rule over barren lands.
Sometimes I am scared to watch TV. All around me, and what I have come to believe in is up in flames. The whole continent is in need of rescue. I want to hear one African success story. Don’t tell me South Africa. One of the worst slums in the world is in this country. AIDS is out to terminate us and millions have been orphaned either by the disease or through war.
SOMETHING IS JUST WRONG. I WISH I KNOW WHAT IT IS. WE HAVE GOLD, DIAMONDS, COPPER, IRON, BAUXITE, TANZANITE, OIL, TIMBER, FERTILE LANDS, RAIN FORESTS, BREATHTAKING SCENERIES, SUNSHINE, FISH RESOURCES. WE HAVE NO REASON TO BLAME NATURE. MAY BE, WE ARE NOT MEANT TO BE A HAPPY RACE.
Civilization is passing by us every day while we are struggling to reach the village.
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“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.” |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2006 : 22:38:59
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its amazing,
just yesterday i wrote about Ethopia/Eritea in a different thread on the bantaba, i used cm not inches,i guess someone is gaining ground .
we have seen it all in this very bantaba. people accusing Europe/Europeans for the problems of Africa.
we have no seen anything yet. you mentioned all the resources Africa has, believe me if the European had Africa in an age of oil/natural gas, bauxite for aluminium they would have packed and left the earth by now.
there is only one way and its EDUCATION. infact its dangerous to be an intellectual in Africa. look at one of our finest comtemporary sons Wole Soyinka. the world recognised his talents and honoured him with a Nobel Prize, but what did we do he almost rot in a jail!
it not the end of the road, what you need is patience and honest people that all. China is doing it, there are more poor people in china than people in the entire african continent. money is not the problem, its just lack of will and too many uneducated people. in kenya last week MP/ministers gave themselves a $4500 payrise. i think its per month. and we complain of low salaries back home 
anyone can turn things around in Africa with good team.
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2006 : 22:50:29
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Wow two years ago the salary of an MP in Kenya was 5000.00 US Dollars per month. It is crazy that they are giving themselves pay raises again when millions are dying in the north of hunger and diseases. The lords Ressitance Army is raping Children in the nane of Christ. However that is not taking a serious headline yet.
Nairobi is now what Kingston(Jamaica) was in 1980s. An MP was asked why 5000.00. He replied Democracy is not cheap. He was right. Democracy was for the elected and not the masses. |
“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.” |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2006 : 23:43:33
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yeah Kondorong,
There is the same story about Congo. As Belgians we are still very close to that country.
Some 2 years ago the European Community wanted to stabilise the country and did the first steps towards democracy. Every top ranker at that time got the chance to become minister or secretary of state. To start with their job de EC asked what they want to pick op the heavy task to reconstruct and stabilisize the Congo. All of them asked : 2 limousines, a jeep, 2 villa's each of them with at least 4 bathrooms..... THIS IS NOT A JOKE.
No one of them was asking for money for his administration. No one was interested in a certain portfolio, ....
Comment isn't necessary anymore I suppose.
Greetz
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 09 May 2006 : 23:48:55
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Jede
Very necessary. I have learnt something from your posting. It is rather unfortunate that most of these wars are for personal aggrandisements. They have nothing to do with uplifting the state of the poor people they claim to be helping. |
“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.” |
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ylowe
USA
217 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 02:15:42
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| Kondorong, you got to tell me more about your alaskan experience or maybe not. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 12:04:41
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This is so interesting, I did watch the programs and have known about the "high salaries" for MP, we hear about them coming to Paris, Londn Rome for "shoppig trips", does the wife need a gucci bag.
One months salary in kenya could build a school, help a hospital. I am not even thinking about the other countries.
When Britain and France left the african countries they were not poor, the infrastructure was in place roads, railway, airports, shipping, banking and schools. it might have been slow but it worked. I have heard that some countries wish to become part of their former european governers rulership.
I am thinking about Cape Verde islands who are becoming the African success story. they want to be part of Portugese rule and are planning to be accepted in the EU. this was a concentrated effort on the part of the politicians who agreed that they way forward was to be united. it has paid off for them.
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 12:39:15
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ure right jambo.
cape verde is doing well even though poverty is there. morroco is not part of the african unity but their reason is political. they have tried to apply for EU membership.
the bottom line is that people in africa on one hand want to be treated with dignity but the majority want the basic things security, jobs, peace so that they can have a family and raise their kids according to their culture and tradition.
thats all. personally i dont care how this is achieved even if cape verde is to become a state within the USA. |
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jambo
3300 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 14:37:19
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I care a bit how it is achieved because i think some of the countries will loose their identity, if theya re part of the bigger picture.
Right now, some the EU countries want to leave.
Some of the former european states are disillusioned since they joined they have not got want they thought they were being given.
The EU is the biggest money drain in the world. |
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Jack
Belgium
384 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 15:13:58
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Oh really Jambo, and what countries want to leave the EU. I didn't hear about that. Some of them are not satisfied because the improvements of life-standards doesn't go fast enough; that's true. The cake must be devided now in 25 pieces, thats one of the main reasons why it can't go faster.
And it isn't allowed to have colonies anymore.
Joke guys, dont jump on me |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 10 May 2006 : 18:22:29
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quote:
Originally posted by ylowe
Kondorong, you got to tell me more about your alaskan experience or maybe not.
Well out of curiosity, i wanted to see what is called in the United States as the last frontier. It certainly is. Hardly apopulation of the size of the Gambia. Some towns as small as 200 people and in the middle of pacific ocean. I travelled on the Aleutian Chain, a series of islands in the pacific away from continental america.
Boy it is very cold. There were many days when we go without TV and when i came back, i was foraging for news as i was totally out of touch with world events.
However, i saw determination to conquer the odds. In the towm i was, there is no dentist and we relied on the coast guard for medical evacuation. The dentist comes to town from Anchorage and there are posters informing residents when he will be around.
It reminded me of Serrekunda in a lot of ways. I have five more places i want to vist before i die, Israel(the mountain where moses spoke to God, Baitul Mukadis-jerusalem, the place where Jesus was said to be born, Dome of the golden rock etc), Eygpt( pyramids), Papua New Guinea(aborigins) Latin America( Maya and Aztec Civilisations) and Australia(kangaroos). I really need to save enough money to do this. Once completed, i will retire to gambia and enjoy the sunshine. |
“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.” |
Edited by - kondorong on 10 May 2006 19:29:34 |
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