Mr Mboge,
Well Said,my only sister nearly died,I would not have had the joy of having a sister.
For Freedom
Saiks
----- Original Message -----
From: momodou olly-mboge
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 10:49 AM
Subject: Re: Female Circumcision
Mr Conteh,
With respect, i think your position on Female Genital Mutilation is simply wrong. You said that you are proud that no one have died from this practice. How did you come to such a conclusion? What are the facts that back your evidence? It is not enough to say that your grand mother counselled you not to discuss such a sensitive issue. Those who are really qualify to talk on this issue are those who went through this ancient practice.
One of the contributors on the L who have gone through such a practice and who is relentlessly campaigning for the abandonment of this practice is my sister. She is not spurred by any western ideology. She is simply against such a practice because FGM do not serve any positive purpose. It rather traumatises our women. Some of our sisters engaged in the struggle to eradicate this practice are culturally more aware than many of us. There campaign have been waged in the tradition of respect for elders. My sister have been engaging our elders for many years on the FGM issue. She have no illusion that it is an easy task. Of course it is difficult but by God it is worth it. I wish her and everyone all the best in this noble task.
I think also we should go beyond this continuous chiding of western ideology. Culture is a living thing. It is always changing. It has never been static. For me, good cultural practices, good education and health practices are universal. They no boundaries.
Bravo Ms Herlund.
Regards,
Mboge
>From: Lamine Conteh
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Female Circumcision
>Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2001 18:06:39 -0500
>
>Comrades:
>
>Now that Mr. Hernlund has co authored a book on
>female circumcision, I wonder how much he will
>earmark in educating us about any potential
>danger on this sensitive issue.
>
>Being a child of the rural areas, I am skeptical
>of the net effect of Mr. Hernlund's narratives.
>I am proud to say that no one has died of
>complications as a result of female circumcision
>in my native Kombo East District, despite western
>illusions. My grandmother who was one of the
>elders of this tradition had always told me to
>not even discuss this topic because it is a
>woman's issue.
>
>I am concern that some women have taken this as
>a crusade for women's rights. With all due
>respect, we can convince our elders if we
>approach female circumcision from a moderate
>point of view. The word "FGM" if interpreted in
>any Gambian language will upset many Gambian
>women. I think "FGM" should be replaced with
>just female circumcision. I want to assure The
>Gambian women that I believe in gender equality.
>I am, however concern about the division this
>might cause in our society. Please let us use
>our culture to curb female circumcision.
>
>In trying to reach your audience one has to be
>very careful in the choice of words. Those who
>are advocating a ban on female circumcision
>should try and live with the locals and assimilate
>in the culture before they bombard them with their western
>ideologies.
>
>I hope the audience is not interpreting my annunciation has a
>proponent of female circumcision. In fact, I am oppose to it, but
>I would rather engage The Gambian women from a lay person's
>point of view than subject them to western illusions. Our African
>culture should stay intact, but we also
>must change as the world changes around us. An elder in
>the rural areas or in the cities
>of The Gambia will understand us clearly if we
>approach them in our rich Gambian culture. We must
>clearly know that western ideologies are not supreme.
>
>With the passage of time the West has tried numerous
>times to set the clock for us. Some people have
>come with false hope of salvaging us. It is sad to
>say that this people are only interested in enriching
>themselves.
>
>Naphiyo,
>
>Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh
>
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