Mr Gomez, sir!
    Thank you very much, message received.Keep them comeing.
    Respect

Modou


>From: Michael Ba Banutu-Gomez <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FINAL PART III
>Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 09:11:59 EST
>
>THREE FACTORS
>Sisters and brothers, I believe there are three factors that suppresses
>sustainable democracy in our society and can hinder the successful growth
>of
>positive exchange in The Gambia: 1) failure to treat those we disagree with
>as potential allies instead of enemies, 2) ignoring the need to understand
>the world from others' unique points of view and 3) our lack of awareness
>about our own interaction style. I say to you today that to achieve this,
>it
>requires maturity to: a) Be aware of the needs of an ally, b) seek mutual
>benefit only, c) not use that knowledge and power to manipulate them in
>order
>to further one's own aims.  I am convinced that this will help us in
>nurturing and sustaining democracy for the 21st Century Gambia that we all
>can be proud of. Unfortunately, those of us who consider ourselves
>professionals, advocates, activist, religious leaders or political leaders
>are sometimes not good examples to follow because we usually stubbornly
>stick
>to our own ideas because we are so sure we hold a monopoly on "truth".  Our
>failure to accommodate our potential ally's needs and desires often doom
>collaboration.  It is precisely because we have been especially successful
>by
>using a particular approach or method that we find it extremely difficult
>to
>see that our overuse of it obscures the need to use different, more
>appropriate ones that we can sustain in our nation.
>I say to you today, I am convinced that, joint experiences being the best
>teacher, as more Gambians work together, more trust between us will be
>created and thus, the exchange process will become easier in time.  I
>believe
>that our greatest problem is that WE FEEL, WE JUST DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME
>LEFT.
>  That being the case, we must immediately close our quarrelsome lips, as
>our
>parents would say, and get to work today on the task at hand, issues to
>address or problem to be solved with our focus on improving our
>relationship
>with our allies, Gambians who are different from ourselves.  Successful
>exchange and sustainable democracy involves not only achieving task goals
>or
>solving problems but also, establishing valuable collaborative
>relationships
>based on the satisfaction of mutual needs so the next interaction will be
>even more productive!  This kind of relationship can be reached by always
>keeping mutual benefit the central outcome of each word we speak to each
>other and each action we take during each day of our lives as a Gambian
>whom
>our great ancestors can have the honor to praise where they dwell with THE
>CREATOR.  Before I close I would like to offer a model for sustainable
>democracy for 21st Century Gambia.
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>QUEEN MOTHER GAMBIA MODEL
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>QUEEN MOTHER GAMBIA
>We received so much from Queen Mother Gambia
>We owe it to Queen Mother Gambia
>We owe it to our Ancestors, our Children and Ourselves
>We must give back to Queen Mother Gambia
>Queen Mother Gambia is here for us all.
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>Fellow sisters and brothers I can see a positive light in the future for
>The
>Gambia, so I have hope that we will overcome our problems as individuals,
>families and as a society that nurtures a sustainable democracy for the
>21st
>Century Gambia. Once again, thank you very much and may the peace of the
>creator be with us all. Long Live The Gambia! Forward We Move! The Struggle
>Continues!
>
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