Saul!
At the begining of your debate with Halifa, you seem to sound like an
intelligent person but i guess peolple are noticing something else about you
that is anyone who differs with you is not in tune with reality.I think that
lady you are attacking right now is entitled to her opinions just like
anyone else on this forum.I just find it troubling when people are attacked
for their beliefs even if they might be wrong.
So long
Ansumana
>From: saul khan <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Cherno Baba: Re: Halifa Sallah, PDOIS & Foroyaa
>Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 23:57:21 GMT
>
>Cherno,
>
>Thanks for this piece. I was going to give this woman a thorough dressing
>down, but she's not even worth it. Having been in America all these years,
>it's mind-boggling that she's questioning people's rights to critically
>assess public figures. Despite all this smokescreen she's putting out, she
>(like Alpha or Basiru Ndow,) is yet to explain any of the questions being
>thrown at Halifa. If they can do that, we'll all be better off. I'm waiting
>for Halifa to say something about the personal attack allegation bit she
>has
>thrown out at me.
>
>But, I appreciate your very succint synopsis of our position. Let them keep
>trying to confuse the debate.
>
>Saul.
>
>>From: chernob jallow <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Halifa Sallah, PDOIS & Foroyaa
>>Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 12:34:58 PST
>>
>>Jabou,
>>
>>You wrote: Mr Sallah, the jury is still out as far as I am concerned, and
>>all I see is credibility, competence and undying dedication to the
>>betterment of our people and our country."
>>
>>Well some of us beg to differ. And can we be afforded the opportunity to
>>hold contrary views, please? While you and Alpha Robinson and others, see
>>ALL "credibility, competence and undying dedication" in Halifa Sallah,
>>some
>>of us see Halifa as a competent, dedicated public servant, but equally see
>>him as imperfect, having done things that do not make him credible and
>>competent at all. Do you see our differences in our grappling with issues?
>>Of course, you are at liberty not to agree with us all. But will you stop
>>your insinuations of deceit on our part in our challenges to Halifa? You
>>averred: "But please be forewarned, manipulation, trickery and attempts to
>>discredit do not and cannot qualify as acceptable methods." You stressed
>>further, "Let those who think that cunning, manipulation and the smearing
>>of
>>people's character is what will win them or those they support a position
>>in
>>the hall's of Gambian leadership think again."
>>
>>And you wonder why Saul Khan is "tongue-lashing" at you? Honestly, do you
>>think that we are hell-bent on sullying Halifa's character? Do we have
>>hidden agendas to discredit Halifa and his party, much to the advantages
>>of
>>others in Gambian politics? Given our arguments with Halifa, have you
>>noticed any sycophancy, or deliberate vindictiveness to destroy the
>>personality of Halifa? Do you know that we were all supporters of PDOIS?
>>Can
>>we be allowed to voice our dissent with the party we supported in the
>>past?
>>
>>Take or leave, our arguments with Halifa. What you see is not seen by
>>everybody. People have different opinions, views, observations. What is
>>healthy is to allow unfettered cross-fertlisation of ideas without any
>>infringement upon one another. Let's give access to even nonesensical or
>>illogical ideas. In the marketplace of ideas, the cure to free speech, is
>>not less speech, but more. If you had given Halifa a bed-of-roses speech,
>>defending his record, I, and probably others, would have cared less. But
>>when you go further to employ tirades against his critics, than can be
>>cynical imbecility.
>>
>>I have always held your views in high esteem. To peddle sycophancy or be a
>>sycophant, is anybody's inalienable perorogative, but please don't
>>disappoint me by stooping so low in your cynicism over our dissent on
>>Halifa
>>and his party. Perhaps, you need a reminder that there are two sides to
>>every issue. Take note.
>>
>>Best regards,
>>Cherno Baba Jallow
>>>From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>>><[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>Subject: Re: Halifa Sallah, PDOIS & Foroyaa
>>>Date: Sun, 26 Dec 1999 00:47:05 EST
>>>
>>>Thank you Alpha Robinson.Mr Sallah will also have to excuse me for making
>>>him
>>>even more uncomfortable here, but you express my sentiments exactly( in
>>>your
>>>posting below)in a much more eloquent way than l would have been able to
>>>do.
>>>
>>>Familiaring myself with the work that Halifa and PDOIS have been engaged
>>>in
>>>all the while, has certainly been an eye opener that has renewed my hope
>>>in
>>>the future of our country. This, while those whose only contribution has
>>>been
>>>to rob our country and our people blind ,and feed an insatiable power
>>>hungriness pound their chests, and the cronies of yet another generation
>>>of
>>>opportunists devise ever more deceitful ways to pull the wool over our
>>>eyes.
>>>
>>>However, this is the dawn of a new day in Gambian politics, a new day
>>>where
>>>people are more politically aware, and some of that credit has to go
>>>where
>>>it
>>>belongs. Namely to the people who have made it their business and their
>>>life's work not to be mesmerized by "cheap power", to be in touch with
>>>the
>>>common folk, teaching them that they matter, and that the taxes paid by
>>>the
>>>market seller who sells her "kani" on a piece of sack cloth, is equally
>>>as
>>>precious as those paid by the millionaire. That their tax money, voices
>>>and
>>>their votes are needed otherwise there will be no government, and no
>>>money
>>>to
>>>spend on fancy cars that the politicians ride in with arrogance.That even
>>>the
>>>borrowed millions are to be paid by none other than the sweat and blood
>>>of
>>>these common folk.That as their representatives, their government has the
>>>responsibility to address their every need, and that it is these
>>>parameters
>>>that the people need to use to determine who has their interest at heart,
>>>and
>>>who does not. Mr sallah and PDOIS have and continue to do all the above,
>>>by
>>>working on the grassroots level, with the common people, and thereby know
>>>what ails them, and what their needs are, and went even further to devise
>>>some solutions to these problems even with the meager resources they
>>>have
>>>to work with.This is the mark of true leadership, and this is what we
>>>need.
>>>
>>>If anyone else wants to grab our attention, it will have to be with
>>>something
>>>equally substantial that we can sink our teeth into, and the arena is
>>>wide
>>>open.But please be forewarned, manipulation, trickery and attempts to
>>>discredit do not and cannot qualify as acceptable methods. Let those who
>>>think that cunning, manipulation and the smearing of people's character
>>>is
>>>what will win them or those they support a position in the hall's of
>>>Gambian
>>>leadership think again.Gone are the days of politicians operating on
>>>"the
>>>embicile factor" And just what is "the embicile factor"? It is when
>>>politicians and their supporters operate on the assumption that those
>>>whose
>>>votes they are seeking are stupid. Tell them anything,make up any
>>>stories,
>>>promise them anything until you get their vote, and then do as you
>>>please,
>>>because they are not sophisticated enough to know the idifference anyway,
>>>to
>>>think throught the issues and decide what is fact or fiction, what
>>>arguments
>>>hold water and which do not.
>>>
>>>Mr Sallah, the jury is out as far as l am concerned, and all l see is
>>>credibility, competence and an undying dedication to the betterment of
>>>our
>>>people and our country. As we say on the L, keep up the good work down
>>>there.Some of us are wide awake with our feet planted firmly on the
>>>ground,
>>>and those numbers are climbing at an alarming rate.Truth will never be
>>>the
>>>equal of fiction.
>>>
>>>Jabou Joh
>>>
>>>In a message dated 12/10/99 1:25:34 AM Central Standard Time,
>>>[log in to unmask] writes:
>>>
>>><< Brother Sallah,
>>>
>>> After reading this mail of yours, I had to pause for a while and think.
>>> I think I can feel the dilemma you are in. I must say that I personally
>>> did not know that you were offered a ministerial post for a second
>>>time,
>>> and I thought I am to some extent informed. likewise I had to discover
>>> during your trial that PDOIS had challenged the P.P.P. Government
>>>before
>>> an international court on election irregularities and won, without
>>> making much noise about it or using it for political propaganda. These
>>> are examples of your way of dealing with the urgent task; do what needs
>>> to be done in the interest of the country without drumming on your
>>>chest
>>> or trumpeting your greatness.
>>>
>>> Honest human beings who know you will never doubt your integrity,
>>> sincerity, straightforwardness and the great sacrifices you have made
>>> your way of life. Sometimes, I feel that this world is not a place for
>>> people who are honest and just. The dilemma you seem to be faced with
>>> now is whether to continue doing the work of the people without blowing
>>> your trumpet loud or to clear the way once and for all, thereby
>>> inevitably trampling on certain people.
>>>
>>> Halifa, whatever you decide, be rest assured that there are many
>>> Gambians and non-Gambians who treasure your role in our history. Today,
>>> tomorrow and the day after, there will be Gambians who will do
>>> everything necessary to straighten the records. No one can throw sand
>>> into our eyes any longer. No one can turn us against you. My personal
>>> opinion at this very moment is to clear the way ONCE AND FOREVER in a
>>> document which will be kept for anyone who comes up later with baseless
>>> accusations to access, and ONLY after reading such a document come back
>>> to challenge your stand before and after the coup. That way, you can
>>> focus on the more important work of the people.
>>>
>>> Let me conclude by saying that I know you will not be comfortable with
>>> this kind of writing; I know you do not like to be praised, but allow
>>>me
>>> once to state before this Forum that I count myself among those
>>>Gambians
>>> you have always inspired to this very day. I had to get this out of my
>>> chest. To be honest, I was preparing a more detailed piece to deal with
>>> the rudeness, lack of respect and absolute lack of objectivity with
>>> which some members on this Forum continue to try to castigate you. How
>>> many of them are raising a finger to contribute to the enlightenment of
>>> our ordinary people? How many of them are ready to drink brown water
>>> from wells in the countryside to be in touch with our people? How many
>>> of them are ready to put their lives on the hook to defend our
>>> sovereignty and human rights, as you did in Jawara's time and after the
>>> coup, when the iron was really hot?
>>>
>>> Somehow, some people seem to think that by writing on Gambia-L the
>>> Gambia can be changed overnight. Those who bother to look beyond their
>>> noses will certainly know that the future of our country is primarily
>>> determined by what is happening on the ground. And anyone who is honest
>>> to accept simple truth knows that you could have easily found green
>>> pasture in the big cities of industrialized nations like most of us.
>>>For
>>> who in this Forum doubts your intellectual capacity? Maybe you would
>>> have been treated differently if you had pursued academic interests
>>> alone and become Professor, Dr. Halifa Sallah, riding black, shining
>>> Mercedes Benzes, wearing silk neckties and talking through the nose
>>>with
>>> arrogance, producing tons of academic "junk" which bears little
>>> relevance to our deplorable situation.
>>>
>>> May you be strengthened to continue doing the work of the people with
>>> perfection and vigilance. Let me make it clear that everything written
>>> here is my personal opinion. I satute you!
>>>
>>> Alpha Robinson
>>>
>>>*******************************
>>>
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