Demba
You are welcome. Our difference of opinion shouldn't blind us to facts.
After all, we are all equal stakeholders so far as the Gambia is concern. It
just happen that in real life settings, people's expectation from others
tend to be too one way traffic.
The point has arrive when the politicians want our criticism to be matched
with our contributions. Although, other issues may have prompted the
editorial, meanwhile, it is a wait and see what that is.
Suntou

On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 5:59 PM, Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Suntou,
>
> *"The conversation is a two way issue, if we can criticise them, we too
> should expect their opinions as against what we have been saying".*
> **
> *We don't normally see eye to eye politically, but you are on the money on
> this one. *Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Do on
> to others as you would want others to do onto you.
>
> The editorial is reactionary but also touches on very pertinent and
> sensitive subjects that we normally are not comfortable discussing. The
> responsibilities for Gambia's political failures are broad and many are
> responsible for it. It is easier to point fingers than take responsibility
> for one's own part.
>
> Gambian Diaspora are part of the problem and we will not admit it here. We
> fail to organize and expect others to do the same. What a disappointment?
> Many of us just want the liberty to sit on the fence, be able to visit
> families in the Gambia without trouble and expect a miraculous change. We
> can't eat our cake and have it at the same time.
>
> We need to reflect on what role we are playing as we are one of the most
> privillege elites Gambia has ever produced... Time to swallow our pride and
> get involved...
>
> Thanks for your thoughts Suntou...
>
> Demba
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 2:23 AM, suntou touray <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>
>> An interesting editorial. The hope is that, foroyaa will continue this
>> discourse. The editorial is very clear as to its targets. Lets hope the
>> editor of foroyaa elaborate further, since the party has firm sympathisers
>> in diaspora who will never abandon the party no matter what. Hence the
>> editor's blanket rampage is unfortunate. However, we too in the diaspora
>> should listen up to the criticism of those on the ground.
>> The conversation is a two way issue, if we can criticise them, we too
>> should expect their opinions as against what we have been saying. A melting
>> pot, it seems.
>> Suntou
>>
>>   On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 7:48 AM, Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
>>
>>> Lamin, I am scratching my head and more surprised that this editorial is
>>> from Foroyaa.
>>>
>>> "What is missing in the Diaspora, are objective patriots who are willing
>>> to direct their energies and resources to strengthen parties of their choice
>>> or help to set up one. Opposition bashing will not lead us anywhere other
>>> than the road to political apathy. Only those who do not want a better
>>> Gambia would engage in such a trivial affair."
>>>
>>> If I did not know this came from Foroyaa, I would have jumped on Yaya as
>>> the author.  Objective patriots, eh!  Those who do not want a better Gambia,
>>> eh!  Political apathy is alraedy in the Gambia and you cannot accuse
>>> diasporans for that.  Remember, we are not on the ground, you are.
>>>
>>> "We therefore recommend that those who do not select to support a
>>> political party or form one if they are dissatisfied with all have no right
>>> to criticize those who are making effort to make sure that the Nation is
>>> govern according to the will of the people or offer themselves as
>>> alternatives."
>>>
>>> Do citizens have rights to participate in the affairs of their country?
>>>  If that is so, why does the author believe that folks should only criticize
>>> if they are willing to join or form a party?  If the party leaders where
>>> minding their business selling mangoes we would not be talking about them as
>>> I write.  Thus, you do not stand to be counted and then when you are taken
>>> to task, you resort to telling folks to form their own.  No, you stood up to
>>> lead, thus you shall be told when we have something to say.
>>>
>>> Can the author tell us how they are making sure the Nation is govern
>>> according to the will of the people?  The last I checked, Femi Peters is
>>> still in jail, just like countless others, so, where is the ensuring?  The
>>> party leaders themselves cannot protect themselves from Yaya, thus, who are
>>> we kidding?  Since when is suggesting for one to protecting themselves
>>> against tyranny a crime?
>>>
>>> I hope the expectation from the author is not for a subservient
>>> relationship between the opposition leaders and diasporans supporting the
>>> opposition.  We will listen when you speak, but the same is required of you
>>> when we speak.  Anything short of that would be unacceptable.
>>>
>>> Joe
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Date: Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:51:03 +0000
>>> From: [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>> Subject: Re: Foroyaa Editorial: The Gambian Opposition-The Punching Bag
>>> of The Gambian Diaspora
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>>   An incredible editorial!
>>>
>>>
>>> --- On *Wed, 21/4/10, Modou Nyang <[log in to unmask]>* wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> From: Modou Nyang <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Subject: Foroyaa Editorial: The Gambian Opposition-The Punching Bag of
>>> The Gambian Diaspora
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> Date: Wednesday, 21 April, 2010, 11:40
>>>
>>>    The Gambian Opposition-The Punching Bag of The Gambian Diaspora
>>>
>>>
>>> The Leaders of the APRC must wear a smile every day as they read many on
>>> line and local papers on the state of the opposition in the Gambia. Some
>>> claim that they are toothless bulldogs. Others claim that they are preparing
>>> for failure in 2011. Some argue that the opposition is not worth following
>>> until they engage the Government.
>>>
>>> Foroyaa therefore consider it in the public interest to do a review of
>>> the situation of the opposition in the Gambia.
>>>
>>> First and foremost, we have realized that a political party is as
>>> powerful as its number of members and supporters or its capacity to control
>>> state power. Our evaluation of nominations of Presidential Candidates
>>> reveals that none of the political parties ever had up to 20000 persons
>>> endorsing their nomination papers. This simply means that no political party
>>> in the Gambia has up to 20000 members. In fact, discussion with some
>>> informed executive members of parties confirm that many members of parties
>>> expect something from the leaders instead of paying membership fees. Hence,
>>> many political parties depend on patrons instead of membership dues to
>>> sustain their activities. Many of those in the Diaspora who make
>>> contribution see it as helping individuals in parties to achieve position of
>>> National leadership instead of fulfilling a National duty. Many opposition
>>> parties are therefore unable to build a base among the people. Foroyaa would
>>> like to come to the defence of such parties by emphasizing with all the
>>> emphasis it can command that those who criticize such parties but are
>>> unwilling to contribute a dime to their well being are sheer hypocrites.
>>> They have transformed the opposition parties into punching bags as a means
>>> of covering up their own political impotency and apathy. We therefore
>>> recommend that those who do not select to support a political party or form
>>> one if they are dissatisfied with all have no right to criticize those who
>>> are making effort to make sure that the Nation is govern according to the
>>> will of the people or offer themselves as alternatives. Those who are not
>>> making any effort to be on the ground to defend the interest of the people
>>> but are just criticising citizens who have the same obligation as they do
>>> are responsible for the current predicament of the Gambia. They are in fact
>>> the problem of the Gambia. They frustrate the little or big efforts others
>>> are making and thus sow the seed of political apathy.
>>>
>>> Political parties may have few members but could have many supporters. In
>>> short, more people turn out to vote for a candidate than the number of the
>>> members of his or her party. Foroyaa does not have to quote the results of
>>> elections since the 2006 Presidential elections to confirm that political
>>> apathy is not only affecting the opposition but also the APRC. Hence, many
>>> people are not coming out to vote for the parties. The challenge is for
>>> existing parties to develop new ways to win the hearts and minds of the
>>> people or new parties which could do so to emerge. The task of Gambians who
>>> are not helping political parties to find new ways or create parties to
>>> replace them is to appreciate the efforts of those who are at least putting
>>> their energies and monies where their hearts are.
>>>
>>> This is no time for opposition bashing. These are times to find solutions
>>> to shortcomings.
>>> Governments are not only engaged by political parties. They are engaged
>>> by the whole citizenry who are all stake holders. How many Gambians in the
>>> Diaspora attend programmes organised by political parties? Very few.
>>> However, they turn up by the hundreds to attend social programmes. It is
>>> best to use such social programmes to get them to discuss the future of
>>> their country.
>>>
>>> There is no doubt that the Government is being engaged at all corners.
>>> Any body who reads Foroyaa daily cannot fail to see that the Government is
>>> being engaged in all areas. Detentions without trial are being exposed,
>>> Seccos (ground nut buying centres) were monitored during the trade season
>>> which yielded positive results by engaging the marketing agencies, rural
>>> infrastructure and services are being monitored, the economy is being
>>> analysed and all civil, social, economic, political and cultural factors
>>> impeding development are being exposed and combated. What is missing in the
>>> Diaspora, are objective patriots who are willing to direct their energies
>>> and resources to strengthen parties of their choice or help to set up one.
>>> Opposition bashing will not lead us anywhere other than the road to
>>> political apathy. Only those who do not want a better Gambia would engage in
>>> such a trivial affair.
>>>
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