Katim,

I totally agree with what you have to say and I don't feel you're causing
trouble but just laying out ideas on the table.  Having a directory just for
"progressive Gambian scholars/intellectuals" I feel is cutting Gambians
short.  What about Gambians in the technical field?  I feel they are more in
demand today than intellectuals.  My take would be to have a directory of
Gambians and whatever profession they're in..it doesn't have to be based on
being an intellectual.

My two cents!

Best Regards,
Astrid Christensen-Tasong/



>
>Hi folks,
>
>I'm writing to cause trouble.  What else can you expect from me? ;-)
>
>But seriously, I would like to say that Ebrima's idea to create a directory
>of
>"Progressive" Gambian "Intellectuals" is a great one.  But it needs some
>fixing.
>
>What needs fixing, in my mind, are the two operative words "progressive",
>and
>"intellectual."  I would have a problem with creating a directory of
>progressives only for a number of reasons.  First, who is "progressive"?
>Second, is there going to be a system for certifying the Ebrima is
>"progressive" one year after he's been included in the directory?  And
>finally,
>if there indeed is a need for having a directory of progressives, what
>makes
>them so special as to deserve more effort at creating their directory than,
>say, the conservatives?
>
>I also have similar problems with the "intellectuals" bit of this great
>idea.
>It is my opinion that no one category of people has a monopoly on great
>ideas.
>And to think that only "intellectuals" are deserving of a directory, and
>not
>other professionals, would be a great mistake.  Besides, let's ask the
>frank
>question: what has our "intellectuals" done for us lately?  As far as I
>know,
>we do get regular doses of grammatically correct English, decorum
>(sometimes),
>and not much else.  I mean my folks in Ballanghar are still farming pretty
>much
>like they always have, despite a steady increase in the size and depth of
>the
>Gambian "intellectual" pool.   I say we start moving away from the elitism
>that
>has not served us well.
>
>The issue then becomes how to make Ebrima's already great idea even better.
>  I
>say let's start off from the premise of creating a database of any and all
>Gambians, and well wishes who are prepared to put their expertise to use
>for
>the benefit of The Gambia.  Now this is a large basket, but I think better
>that
>than another elitist directory that serves no purpose other than making
>people
>feel good for no good reason.  I'm just suggesting we look at the
>possibility
>and benefits of judging who to include in the directory on the basis of
>what
>they can contribute, and not who they are or what they do.
>
>I guess that's about all the trouble I can muster for now.  Have a great
>evening, and best wishes!
>
>Katim
>
>----------
> > From: ebrima ceesay <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Directory of Progressive Gambian Intellectuals
> > Date: Monday, June 07, 1999 10:58 AM
> >
> > Gambia L,
> >
> > The purpose of this write up is essentially two-fold:
> >
> > Firstly, to inform you about my plans to produce/edit a directory
>containing
> > the names, contact addresses, occupations, publications, of as many
> > progressive Gambian scholars/intellectuals as possible.
> >
> > The aim is for the directory to serve as a reference book, where
>students,
> > researchers, among others, can find the names and contact addresses of
> > active Gambian scholars/intellectuals - their different expertise and
> > research interests.
> >
>
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