In a message dated 3/29/03 5:51:03 AM Central Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:


> we cannot hope to redress social problems if we desist from narrating their
> causes for fear of brewing fresh acrimony.
> That is a pattern common amongst Gambians, where the absence of anonimity,
> in the main, encourages hanging on to flimsy notions of unity as a way of
> preserving domestic peace. The reason, partly is because traditional(!)
> methods of conflict resolution invariably fail to objectively address the
> past. In the process all we do is to sacrifice justice for unity, a formula
> which itself is a greater threat to future projects of mutual solidarity
> and unity. Confronting our history, analysing it, and taking possession of
> it, owning to all the honourable and dishonourable roles of individuals
> (especially where they matter politically) is a necessary condition in our
> struggle to take control of our destiny
^^^^^
Alas! brother Momodou Sidibeh, this is our undoing as a society, and if we do
not desist from this practice, we will always smooth over everything, and
never get anywhere. This is the very reason why when one is critical of
anyone in our society, including our leaders whom it is our duty to
scrutinize and hold accountable, one is automatically assumed to be full of
hate with ulterior motives.

It is also the reason that those who come forward to fight on our behalf soon
find themselves the enemy instead. It is a bizarre trait that guarantees that
any sort of progress will just be a matter of discussion and wishful
thinking, never material.

We must learn to tell each other the truth and  criticize each other, respond
to those criticisms without making the discussion personal. Objectivity and
self examination, identifying where we are wrong and working to correct it is
the goal of such an exchange. We must learn to correct each other gently.

Jabou Joh

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