Katim,

However much one must applaud your attempt to bring back normality to Gambial-L, I feel that my position has been grossly misrepresented and I just cannot let this pass without setting the record straight.

I have NEVER questioned anybody's right to invite the president to dinner, never. What my contention was, and I'll never be tired of repeating this, is the morality or lack of (it) of accepting dubious money from him and especially if such money is going to be used for 'zakat'¨period. 

Whatever else is attributed to me is a fiction of one's own imagination because nowhere in all my postings on this issue did I question anybody's right to dine with Jammeh. I myself wouldn't understand anybody who questions somebody else's right to dine with another Gambian!

Regards.

Kabir

Katim S. Touray <[log in to unmask]>

> Hi folks,
> 
> I'm in a hurry to go to bed, so I'm going to keep this one short.  It's been a
> while, and I certainly did not mean to keep silent for so long.  However, I've
> been bogged-down with all kinds of things, and just couldn't keep up ...
> 
> I'd like to say that I've been rather disturbed by the tone of recent postings
> on the list.  It's been really interesting to follow how reactions to President
> Jammeh's visit to the UN degenerated into name-calling and shouting matches.
> After all is said and done, I think we missed out on a great opportunity to
> debate on the role of The Gambia in the international arena. We are at about
> the end of our term on the UN's Security Council and I think it would have been
> wonderful to stop for a moment and take stock.  But we didn't, and we have no
> one to blame but ourselves.
> 
> From what I recall, the present wave of squabbles started with a dinner
> organized for President Jammeh.  I wish that the disagreement stopped when
> everyone had said what their opinion on the matter was, and let it go at that.
> The fact remains that those who invited President Jammeh have, as everyone
> (including Jammeh himself) should, a freedom of association.  It might sound so
> simple that it's silly, but I believe everyone should be free to invite anyone
> for dinner, or fund-raising or whatever.  However, this right has nothing to do
> with other issues, such as whether the person you are inviting is deserving of
> the dinner.  And that is where the other perspective on the debate comes in.
> 
> Certainly, those who don't like or support President Jammeh also have a right
> to say so.  Furthermore, they have a right to express indignation and even
> anger at his being invited for dinner or whatever.  But having expressed that
> right to be angry and upset, they should let people who have invited President
> Jammeh to dinner have their dinner in peace.  It was really unfortunate that
> the whole issue was turned over and over again, and to the point where what
> started as a debate about the worthiness of Jammeh as a dinner guest turned
> into an argument, which soon boiled over into a quarrel.  Hence the trouble we
> all are in.
> 
> I would like to appeal to all parties concerned to please stop the shouting,
> and leave this one behind.  There are so many issues to discuss that I wonder
> what got into our heads to make us all stoop so low.  Also, I would like to
> remind everyone that while it might be easy to fire off a couple of insults and
> accusations here and there, we should remember that it's a small world, and you
> never know who you will run into tomorrow.  For that reason, I think we should
> all aim to be able to look the other person in the eye when next we meet. I'll
> bet you'll be really surprised, even ashamed, at how really nice the other
> person you've been quarrelling with is, when you meet in person!
> 
> Speaking of quarrels, I would like to express my sincere apologies to all of
> you who have been receiving insults from Matarr Njie in Malaysia.  As some of
> you might know he was taken off the list, and since then has decided to seek
> his revenge by launching insults at anyone who criticizes President Jammeh's
> government.  I have been getting copies of e-mail he's sent to people, as well
> as my own!  I should also mention that I have been trying to put Matarr's
> insults to a stop, but as you can imagine, these things take time.  In the mean
> time, I would appreciate it if you refrain from forwarding any insults you get
> from Matarr to the list.  We will also make postings on the list publicly
> accessible at http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html  The point
> here is that there's nothing being hidden from anyone, and the dialogue,
> debate, and yes, the bickering is all going to be in public.
> 
> May I also mention that the Gambia-L management is not accepting requests for
> subscriptions and such via the list.  I've mentioned it on the list a number of
> times, and will repeat that instructions on how to subscribe/unsubsribe to/from
> the list is at the bottom of every posting you get from the list.  Furthermore,
> the instructions point to the location of the Gambia-L archives, and for this
> reason, I see no reason why people should clog this list with "please subscribe
> ..." requests.  Indeed, I'm thinking that we should probably experiment with
> SUSPENDING people who write to the list asking that we subscribe someone.
> 
> I would like to end this one on a positive note.  For this reason, I would like
> to remind us all that despite all the recent bickering we've had on the list,
> we have also proved that this list can be an incredibly inspiring forum.  I did
> not send anything in when Saiks had his posting about Gambian names but I was
> absolutely delighted by the healthy, eye-opening, and yes happy atmosphere that
> issue brought to the list.  Please remember, especially in these difficult
> times on the list, that we are a bunch of really smart people that can really
> do wonders together.  Let's keep it that way.  End of my two, make that five,
> bututs worth ...
> 
> Have a great weekend, and best wishes in your endeavors.
> 
> Katim
> 
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