U r right, people should understand that a culture/tradition is just a way
of living and should be changed gradually and that is called EVOLUTON. It is
high time to stop female circumcision, it is not humain at all. I RATHER
CALL IT PERVO.

MACOU.


>From: Ndey Jobarteh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Female circumcision; My View.
>Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 22:07:23 +0200
>
>The issue of FGM has been a very sensitive, delicate issue and women are
>saying that we have enough of this hypocrisy. We are been mutilated and it
>is time to say no to it and that is exactly what is happening. I even
>refused to called it female circumcision because it makes it look nice and
>neat, it is mutilation.
>
>I had debated on this issue on many occasion but the most horrible of all
>is my experience at a hospital in UK. I was admitted at the hospital in UK
>on the maternity ward. A Somali woman was my neighbour her bed next to
>mine. We became friends and   as Africans this was easy.Her baby was due
>and shewas just waiting to deliver. In the middle of the night , i will
>never forget this experience,when this woman was about to diliverthe baby
>could not come out. This poor baby was forcing her way out but could not
>because this woman was mutilated and sewed. So, the nurses have to rush her
>to the Labour Ward. I even quarrelled with one of the nurses who was
>telling the woman that she should have informed them of it, they could have
>cut the stitches. I said to her that you cannot talk to her like that when
>she is in such a pain.  They had to call around, chasing doctors who can
>perform that kind of surgery but it was getting late. So they have to make
>a decision to operate the woman if not the baby won't survive.
>
>The poor woman did not want caesarean but did she have any choice?  Did her
>parents give her any choice? Did society give her any choice? Did tradition
>give this woman any choice?  I could not sleep for days, I went to work
>telling my colleagues about this horror and i said to myself this is just
>the beginning of the fight. Our tradition should protect us and not kill
>us.
>
>The Struggle Continues!
>Ndey Jobarteh
>
>----- Original eMessage -----
>From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2000 9:02 PM
>Subject: Re: Female circumcision; My View.
>
>
> > In a message dated 10/8/00 2:24:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > [log in to unmask] writes:
> >
> > << Our mothers and grandmothers may not agree with us because they've
>lived
> >  their lives believing that it is part of our culture and tradition we
>must
> >  not change, but you'll be surprised what a little bit of education and
> >  dialogue can do.  During my visit to Gambia last year, I had a
>conversation
> >  with a mother who feels that if I give birth to a daughter, I must take
>her
> >  to Gambia for circumcision.  As liberated as I thought I am, you can
>imagine
> >  the look on my face as this question was dropped on my lap so
>unexpectedly;
> >  and I had to compose myself and prepare a response that would show this
> >  lovely mother what my decision was NEVER to do that.  At the end of our
> >  debate, she did not agree with me, but respected my decision without
>any
> > hard
> >  feelings.  I think we can make a lot of progress that way: take a
>stance and
> >  maintain your principles, but have respect for your co-debater on this
>issue
> >  -- in the final analysis, statistics will show who the winner is.
> >
> >  Regards,
> >
> >
> >  Awa Sey
> > ********************************
> > I also believe that this is precisely the only way that we can change
>some
> > aspects of our culture that are negative and harmful.Every generation
> > contributes to what is ultimately viewed as "our culture", and it is up
>to
> > each new generation to do their part to weed out the negative and
> > unproductive aspects of the culture, and to add a few positive aspects
>of
> > their own. The views and practices that the future generations will have
> > depends entirely on how we raise our sons and daughters today.
> >
> > We do have a lot of respect for our elders, but if we find that they are
> > insisting on holding on to some practices that are harmful to us as a
>people
> > and a society, what we do is to just make sure we instill in our
>children ,
> > the will to say no to those practices, and we will surely watch their
>demise.
> >
> > While some young ladies find themselves in the midst of people who will
>even
> > drag them to these events if they resist, I think that most young ladies
>can
> > successfully resist being subject to this degrading and painful
>experience
> > nowadays. The key to ending this practice lies in our hands as parents
>of
> > this present generation. Like the "say no to drugs" adage of the 80's
>here in
> > the U.S, we must teach our daughters to say no to this harmful practice.
>At
> > the same time, we must also organize support groups that will lend
>support to
> > those who may still encounter forces that will try to subject them to
>FGM
> > against their will.With a little effort, we will not have to worry about
>this
> > anymore.
> >  Have we not eliminated the arranged marriages and other negative
>aspects of
> > our culture that were the order of the day even in my generation? How
>well I
> > remember two distinct occasions when I was the subject of such an
>attempted
> > arrangement, and all I had to do was say no, and remain adamant, and I
>had
> > the support of one sole individual in the family, my aunt Ida Jallow,
>and
> > that was all the lifeline I needed to stand my ground. I was terrified
> > because my grandmother in particular was raining all sorts of words in
>my
> > ears about the lack of respect of this present generation, but in the
>end
> > when it was realized by all that I was going to stand my ground, the
>subject
> > was dropped, just like that.
> > I am sure our daughters and sisters can display the same strong will to
> > resist something that is harmful and senseless, and with the suport of
> > parents, sisters and others in the community, there is no way this
>practice
> > can survive.
> >
> >
> > Jabou Joh
> >
> >
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