prof Assan Jagne,

Keeping up the myth that the Western world is paradise is certainly not the
fault of our governments, our governments try to tell the opposite because
it gets harder and harder to shelter the hundreds of thausands of people who
come to live with us year after year. I blame television where we are
portaid to all be milionairs with big cars and I blame Gambians theirselves
for keeping up the myth.. For even when they have a very poor life in
Europe, when visiting the Gambia they all tell about their good jobs and
show their nice jewelry and cloth and give many presents as is expected by
their families. This behavior has become a big obligation for Gambians in
Europe, many of them get in big problems and have to loan  money from the
banks to keep up this image.For many Gambians in holland that I know this
has become such a burden that they will make up all kind of excuses not to
go home and visit their families.

About Francis: how can you judge someone that you don,t even know? Isn,t
that exactly the same as those racists are doing?
You are talking stereotypes about an Englishman  the same way our ultraright
parties are talking stereotypes about black people. Isn,t the fact that
Francis is a member of the Gambia-L not prove enough that he really cares
about the Gambia?

What,s better speaking out for the poor and the injustices or actively
reacting upon their cries for help? On the Gambia-L I see a lot of speaking
but really helping people in need is seldom. That is exept the help for the
wounded students ofcourse, I think that action is fantastic and must be
repeated many times!
Francis is such a man that doesn,t speak a lot about his actions but is
always there for the needs of the poor and defensless. The Campamana mental
hospital for example many were saying  that something must be done about it
, but very few really tried to put in some effort, I know of only one man
that has given a benefitconcert to raise money for them. Francis is actively
busy with raising money for them , even promising to raise all the gifts up
to a total amount of a thousand pounds by ten percent of his own money.
He is helping schools and made a special program to actively encourage
foreign tourists to spend their money at local enterpreneurs instead of
giving it away to big touroperators. He has been teaching Gambians not to
depend but to take live in their own hands.If you see what Francis has
achieved almost singlehanded and how much time he puts into this effort  you
can ask yourself Do I know anyone that cares more about the ordinary
Gambians???
Roger Sterk
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: Suma kadu <[log in to unmask]>
Aan: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Datum: zondag 11 februari 2001 23:47
Onderwerp: Re: Abusive language is becoming a G-List trend


>Francis,
>When I was in the Gambia, I heard nothing but good things from friends
>about England. Well, I was culture shocked to found about the word
>"Racism" for the first time. Not all but most whites didn't treat me
>the way I anticipated. I was misinformed in so many ways that I never
>thought there were homeless and mean people in England, thanks to those
>beautiful brochure showing Trafalgar Square. Most people are speaking
>out for the poor and against the injustices which a third-party like
>you care less to notice. You just want to go and have fun and enjoy
>the sun. People are dying because of this governement but what do you
>know. That same government is telling your government everything is ok.
>Give anyone a bottle of Budweiser, sunglasses and day in the beach and
>they will say life is good in the Gambia. Abusive language are more
>befitting for racists than members of the Gambia-L. As much as I
>dislike people engaging in such acts, I do detest someone telling me my
>problems when they have a bigger problem. What have you contributed to
>this list and to the Gambia since you became a member, or do you just
>wait and wish for a moment like this to insult our intelligence. Your
>likes are becoming a trend. When there are members on this list risking
>their lives every day to keep the masses informed people like show a
>deaf ear, but they atleast warn you ahead of time and it's then up to
>you take their advice or leave it. In my case, I'd wished someone told
>me what England was like. This governement will never tell you that in
>the Gambia today, people are being abducted for no apparent reason and are
>languishing in the jail cells. What do you care Francis Glenn?
>
>Prof
>Assan Jagne
>
>
>>From: Francis Glynn <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Abusive language is becoming a G-List trend
>>Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 21:47:36 -0000
>>
>>It's good to have this reminder,
>>
>>I do a lot of reading from the list and have observed that there is a
>>tendancy to paint The Gambia as a place that no one would want to visit
>>because of the politics there.
>>
>>That is not the feedback that I get from GTS members who visit - of course
>>they don't go for the politics they go because The Gambia is a beautiful
>>country with a rich cultural heritage and a manificent diversity of tribal
>>traditions and the unfailing warmth and friendship of the people.  More
and
>>more of our members now go out into the local community and gain
>>experiences
>>of West Africa that they never dreamed of and will never forget.
>>
>>I know the list's contributors love their country passionately and so feel
>>they have the right to say what they like about it & of course they do -
>>but
>>what they say puts some visitors off, so if this is what's intended then
>>the
>>list is being successful.
>>
>>I live in the hope that one day those same people may feel that they can
>>trumpet all the virtues of their country irrespective of their political
>>feelings about it.
>>
>>Francis
>>GTS UK
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Momodou Camara" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Sunday, February 11, 2001 8:06 PM
>>Subject: Message from Gambia-l List managers
>>
>>
>> > Dear List members,
>> >
>> > On behalf of the List Managers, I would like to welcome all new members
>>to
>> > Gambia-L.
>> >
>> > As you may be already aware, Gambia-L is a mailing list where Gambians
>>and
>> > friends of The Gambia meet, on a daily basis, to discuss Gambia related
>>issues.
>> > The list is a free forum for discussion, debate and the sharing of
>>information
>> > on and about The Gambia.
>> >
>> > GAMBIA-L is aimed providing Gambians and those interested in Gambia and
>>related
>> > issues, a means to communicate with each other, and exchange ideas and
>> > information of common interest.  In the process, it is hoped that a
>>spirit
>>of
>> > cooperation, of exchange of ideas, of healthy debate and dialogue for
>>the
>> > National good will be cultivated. True, ours might not be one of the
>>biggest
>> > lists, but we certainly can make it one of the very best in cyberspace.
>> >
>> > Subscribers are expected to maintain a mature and responsible tone in
>>the
>> > contributions they send to the list.  It is hoped that our individual
>>sense of
>> > responsibility, fairness, and decency, coupled with the community
>>policing
>>of
>> > the list will help prevent, and contain outbreaks of poor taste in our
>>debates.
>> >
>> >
>> > The usefulness of Gambia-L depends on the individual and collective
>>efforts of
>> > its subscribers.  Toward this end, a set of rules were developed to
>>ensure
>>the
>> > existence of a healthy atmosphere for the exchange of ideas, and
>>dialogue
>>on
>> > Gambia-L.  The rules will also provide a basis for enforcing acceptable
>> > standards of behaviour on the list.  Subscribers violating any of the
>>Gambia-L
>> > rules risk being expelled from the list.
>> >
>> > Although there are some very enlightening discussions and information
>>once
>>a
>> > while, we have observed that abusive language is also becoming a trend.
>>We
>> > cannot correct the wrongs happening at the moment in Gambia or build
our
>>very
>> > dear motherland with hatred. Therefore, we should make good use of this
>>great
>> > "Cyber Bantaba" and agree to disagree; enlighten each other; and share
>> > information. One should not feel that you would be respected by sending
>> > insults.
>> >
>> > Searching through the archives of Gambia-L, one would notice that there
>>used to
>> > be diverse discussions on Gambia affairs (Gambian History, Female
>>Genital
>> > Mutilation -- FGM, The African Rainessance, The Gambianet Observer
>>Online
>> > Project, GESO, Book Drives, The issue of Mbindaans, The Role of Women
in
>> > Gambian Society, etc., etc.). We would like to see that diversity
return
>>to our
>> > forum.
>> > As we've said many times earlier, this forum is not an Anti-Jammeh
>>forum,
>>but a
>> > place where all Gambians and friends of our nation can gather, to
>>discuss
>> > topics of interest (both political and non-political).  I hope we give
>> > ourselves the opportunity to enjoy those privileges.
>> >
>> > Thank you for your time, and we wish everyone the best.
>> >
>> > Regards,
>> >
>> > Momodou Camara
>> >
>> >
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