In a message dated 10/8/00 12:51:07 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] 
writes:

<<  As far as I know, God will never tell anyone to go and
 hurt human beings. I love and cherish African culture but I also hate
 destructive practices in African culture. This being the case, we must
 separate evil practices from the good ones in our culture. May God bless us
 all.
 Michael >>

Michael:

Your above statements speak for me!

Yes, we grew up in a culture where FGM is happening and considered a Gambian 
tradition, but echoing what Haruna Drammeh and Isatou Kaira said, we as 
Africans cannot change the past, but we MUST unite and work towards the 
eradication of this shameful and hurtful practice by REFUSING to hurt our 
daughters. 

FGM is an issue a lot of folks shy away from because some have been brain 
washed into believing that the white man or civilization is here to sabotage 
our tradition by corrupting today's generation and leading them astray; and 
losing ourselves, etc., etc…..  To those people, I say, please, wake up and 
smell the coffee.  The person who can be brain washed into forgetting who 
they are or where they came from, is a person who deserves everyone's mercy 
and needs help.  FGM has no place in our society and it must stop and IT WILL 
stop when our generation embarks on a campaign to stop this practice.  And 
believe me, we are heading towards that direction because this time, our men 
(as we can see right here on Gambia-L) are behind us and we will win!  

It is bothersome to hear that some religious leaders in Norway are using 
counseling sessions by letting little girls believe that FGM is OK; that they 
will be disobeying their parents if they don't listen to them on this issue, 
etc.  If they are using Islam as a platform, I would like them to tell me 
where in the Holy Quran is it mentioned that FGM is legal and unless a woman 
is circumcised, she is not a Muslim? What a shame! And God save us and our 
children from people like that!

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

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