This is a nice one, Fatou. Johan Cruijff, the great Dutch footballer is credited with saying that "There is always an advantage in discouragement" and I think that is exactly what your piece is saying. I hope some people will learn a lesson from it. Furthermore, the story fully interprets your intro.

Cheers

Prince 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: fatou 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2000 9:59 PM
  Subject: power of the tongue


  <
  =====

  Camarades,
  Meditez ces quelques mots que mes amis Africains Americains m'ont envoyes.
  Stay positive .Encourageons en ayant en tete que "Xippi surveille Sopi".
  Restons unis et vigilants
  Nous vaincrons
  Massene



      Subject: Fwd: The Power of the Tongue
  Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 09:39:46 PDT



  > >Subject: Fwd: The Power of the Tongue
  > >Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 16:36:08 -0800 (PST)
  > >
  > > Power of the Tongue
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      A group of frogs were traveling  through the woods,
  > > >  >and
  > > >  > >      two of them fell  into a deep pit. All the other
  > > >  >frogs
  > > >  > >      gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the
  > > >  > >      pit was, they told the unfortunate frogs they  would
  > > >  > >      never get out.
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      The two frogs ignored the comments  and tried to jump
  > > >  > >      up out of the pit.  The other frogs kept telling them
  > > >  > >      to  stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally,
  > > >  >one
  > > >  > >      of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs  were
  > > >  > >      saying and simply gave up. He fell  down and died.
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      The  other frog continued to jump as hard as he
  > > >  >could.
  > > >  > >      Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to  stop
  > > >  > >      the pain and suffering and just  die. He jumped even
  > > >  > >      harder and finally  made it out.
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      When he  got out, the other frogs asked him, "Why did
  > > >  > >      you continue jumping? Didn't you hear us?" The  frog
  > > >  > >      explained to them that he was  deaf. He thought they
  > > >  > >      were encouraging  him the entire time.
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      This story teaches two lessons:
  > > >  > >      1.  There is power of life and death in the tongue.
  > > >  >An
  > > >  > >      encouraging word to someone who is down can lift
  > > >  >them
  > > >  > >      up and help them make it through  the day.
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      2. A  destructive word to someone who is down can be
  > > >  > >      what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what  you
  > > >  > >      say. Speak life to those who cross  your path.
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      The power  of words ... it is sometimes hard to
  > > >  > >      understand that an encouraging word can go such a
  > > >  >long
  > > >  > >      way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob  another
  > > >  > >      of the spirit to continue in  difficult times.
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      Special is the individual who will take the time
  > > >  > >      to encourage another. Be special to others. Send
  > > >  >this
  > > >  > >      to someone you like.
  > > >  > >
  > > >  > >      I DID.
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >_______________________________________________________
  >

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