Beran, thanks for this forward. We need more people like Mr. Sam in The
Gambia. His frank depiction of the culture of greed in our society is what
most folks on this list are fighting against. It is also unfortunate that
most of the pro APRC folks that surface on this forum seem to portray this
view that as long as they have theirs, then Jammeh is ok. Even though they
claim to understand the suffering of the people, they surely are not
interested in the plight of the majority of Gambians who are poor and
needing everyday. This is also the attitude that is upheld by most of the
people back home who think they made it or are making it. How come we do
not hear from the struggling Gambian? We only hear from the few
beneficiaries of the status quo. Folks, just because your person is not
unemployed, hungry, sick, or desperately in need of the basic necessities of
life, does not mean our country is alright. When we talk about the plight
of the average Gambian, we are not referring to the privileged few (whether
they earned their lifestyle or are the beneficiary of the Jammeh
kleptocracy), but the overwhelming majority that live below the poverty mark
by any standard. You measure the progress of a nation not by using the self
as the yardstick, but by the standard of living of the majority of its
citizens. I was dumbstruck when I heard a friend of mine constantly refer
to places like Banjul, Sere Kunda, Bakau, etc. as the "Real Ghetto" and
where he lives as the place for the cultured and affluent, even though his
family, former friends, and relatives still reside in those very places he
is looking down upon. This is the polluted perception that prevails in the
minds of this tiny minority living on borrowed time. If you want to press
your case on the schools that Yaya built or is building, the hospitals, the
generators, and promises of other good to come, please be balanced and also
criticize the killing of the students, Koro Ceesay and others, the plight of
the farmers, his ill gotten wealth, the massive unemployment, daily
irrational threats to Gambians, constant arrests and intimidating tactics,
etc. I welcome your promotion of your preference in this struggle, but I
also expect that you critcize the wrongs on your side, just as you see those
of the opposite persuasion do. Do not mistake our pursuit of the truth
within the opposition as an infighting, but a healthy and balanced approach
to fostering an environment that is just for all Gambians. Remember, this
is not a contest for the loudest, but the pursuit of a better Gambia for
all. Like Sam cautioned, lets reflect on the National Anthem, for their
lies the answers to our problems.
Chi Jaama
Joe Sambou
>From: Beran jeng <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: FWD:Gambians should revisit National Anthem Charles Sam urges
>Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2001 09:30:41 -0500
>
>Culled from The Observer
>
>Gambians should revisit National Anthem Charles Sam urges
>
>Excitement filled the airwaves last Sunday and Monday when the gust speaker
>on Radio One current affairs programme “News Conference,” Mr Charles Sam,
>President of African Hope International, urged Gambians to establish in
>them
>the National Anthem as national reconciliation and advancement.
>
>Mr Sam, who outlined his rather frank and realistic views on the way
>forward
>The Gambia, said. “The Gambia is behind schedule in development and there
>is
>an urgent need for us to take multiple strides forward but there can be no
>forward march without national reconciliation.” He went on to say that at
>the right of our nation, our vision was to become a nation of peace,
>progress and prosperity and to achieve that, we laid out a path plan and
>prayed for God’s help in the form of our treasure national anthem. It is
>rather unfortunate that after entrusting our way forward to God Almighty,
>we
>have deviated from this path into the woods and wilderness”
>
>Mr Sam went on to say. As we meditate carefully on the precious words of
>this powerful national anthem of ours, we would all agree that our
>individual lives, group/conduct and national life do not adhere to the
>spirit and principles of the national prayer.
>
>Contrary to the words of the national anthem, we do not value our homeland,
>we do not strive, work nor pray, we do not live in unity, peace and freedom
>each day, neither are our actions guided by justice. We have become a
>self-centred people and never working for the common good of all. Instead
>of
>working not join our diverse people to prove man’s brotherhood, we are
>encouraging and fuelling Tribalism and segregation to destroy the beauty of
>human brotherhood. We have become the most unpatriotic people on this earth
>sabotaging development. Our relationship with God has soured as we have
>chosen the path of evil.
>
>The Gambia today is not a place of truth, but falsehood and deception. We
>need to go back to the beginning by meditating on the words of the national
>anthem so that we can pledge our firm allegiance and renew our promises of
>patriotism. Mr Sam also called The Jammeh administration, the opposition,
>the security agencies, the business community, the civil service and the
>media to hostilities and be patriotic enough to iron out their differences
>with each other to move the country forward. Our people are tired and need
>early relief he concluded.
>
>
>
>
>
>_________________________________________________________________
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