L B Jammeh,
My reaction was based on your generalization in your posting of the 13.02.00 where you clearly stated that "It is about time Gambians and Africans change their attitude towards white people because they`re enemies and betrayers". I beg to differ, and you can be entitled to your opinion and I to mine, and God for us all. Now that you`re not refuting the fact that not "all" are bad or have good intentions for The Gambia and Africa there is no point in disagreeing further. One thing is for sure I would not "hang" all white folks for the wrongs that were committed before. Those of us who attended Gambia High School will never say that Mr Millard was an "enemy or a betrayer", and am sure there`re many white folks out there like him. Would you regard your Slovakian friend an "enemy or a betrayer"? Please Lamin the generalization has to go.
I concur with you regarding those who go to Africa and come back just to write malignant newspaper articles. I`ve reacted to a "Gambia-No problem " newspaper article written by some VG newspaper journalists here in Norway, and I`ll post what I got from the journalist to the L.
We all know the truth hurts especially when one doesn`t like what is being said. I would never dispute that there`re beggars around Senegambia Hotel, Cape Point Hotel or at the doorsteps of the supermarkets, and nor would I dispute the fact "some" and not "all" taxi drivers inflate fares. There`re still some very honest ones. If I should dispute all this then I might as well dispute that there are no junkies or drug addicts hanging out in the subway in Oslo
And taking books and pencils to The Gambia is a worthy endeavour brother. I bet you there`re still many kids in say Pakalinding, Damfai, Serrekunda or Banjul who treasure these "Little" gestures. So Lamin send some if you can.
Some correction, it was "African Youth" not "Gambian Youth" as you wrote.
Regards,
Omar
Fra: Lamin B Jammeh <[log in to unmask]>
Til: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Dato: 15. februar 2000 15:55
Emne: Re: SV: Re: No problem in The Gambia(ATTN O.DRAMMEH)
>O.DRAMMEH,
> Thanks for your observations and coming up with examples of some white
>people who attended a Gambian Youth celebrations in Norway and those of them
>who go to the Gambia and Africa to educate children.
>
>I do not refute the fact that there are good people among the white people
>and that some of the things mentioned in the article in question contain some
>truth, my argument is that how many times have we seen or read about articles
>written by the white people who travel to Africa, befriend the locals and
>gather information about their culture/traditions without their knowledge and
>then come back here in Europe and publish them in newspapers. The majority
>of those articles contain unfounded materials and exaggerations which
>increases the disrespect of the Africans by other people in other parts of
>the world.
>
>I have a friend Slovakia who wanted to travel with me to Gambia. I met her
>here in the Uk three years ago when she was here on holiday and since then
>have become really good friends. The only way this girl new about the Gambia
>was through 'Roots' by Alex Haley and very much wanted to go to the Gambia.
>
>All of a sudden, this girl wrote to me and enclosed a copy of a newspaper
>article in Slovak but with a translation by her so that i can understand what
>the paper was saying about the Gambia. Brother Omar, i could not bear the
>anger and had to shred the paper and threw it away. One of the things that
>the paper was saying includes: people live with snakes in their home because
>they live in bushes, that as a tourist you need bribe even a cab driver to
>take you round places and that they always charge you treble the amount that
>you are actually supposed to pay.
>
>The paper also said that people are so poor in Gambia that cities and towns
>are littered with beggars who will almost force a white visitor to give
>him/her money and that most of them even snatch your bag from you. The list
>goes on about the things that were said in this Slovak newspaper.
>
>As a result of the things that the paper mentioned my friend suggested that
>she thinks it is best to cancel the trip as her parents were not happy about
>the things that were said in the newspaper about the Gambia. All that was the
>work of a Slovak national who went touring Africa and spent most of his
>adventure in the Gambia. As soon as he came back from Africa, he published
>his experiences and warned others who might be thinking of going to Africa.
>
>Mr Drammeh, based on some of these things, do you still want to disagree with
>me that we need to change our attitude towards the white people because they
>are bad and enemies. By saying that, i do not mean ALL White men are bad and
>enemies. As a matter of fact, however the white man has done more harm than
>good to Africa since the days of colonialism and i do not regret to term them
>(ofcourse not all of them) as bad and enemies.
>
>Taking books and pencils to Africa cannot make us say that the whiteman is
>good, considering what Africa and Africans has suffered in the hands of the
>whitemen can never be forgotten as was said by Nelson Mandela that "we can
>forgive but we cannot forget".
>
>So Mr Drammeh, there you go with your opinion that the white men are not bad
>and enemies to Africa.
>
>Good day
>Lamin B Jammeh
>Bedford, UK
>
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