The issue of FGM has been a very sensitive, delicate issue and women are saying that we have enough of this hypocrisy. We are been mutilated and it is time to say no to it and that is exactly what is happening. I even refused to called it female circumcision because it makes it look nice and neat, it is mutilation. 

I had debated on this issue on many occasion but the most horrible of all is my experience at a hospital in UK. I was admitted at the hospital in UK on the maternity ward. A Somali woman was my neighbour her bed next to mine. We became friends and   as Africans this was easy.Her baby was due and shewas just waiting to deliver. In the middle of the night , i will never forget this experience,when this woman was about to diliverthe baby could not come out. This poor baby was forcing her way out but could not because this woman was mutilated and sewed. So, the nurses have to rush her to the Labour Ward. I even quarrelled with one of the nurses who was telling the woman that she should have informed them of it, they could have cut the stitches. I said to her that you cannot talk to her like that when she is in such a pain.  They had to call around, chasing doctors who can perform that kind of surgery but it was getting late. So they have to make a decision to operate the woman if not the baby won't survive. 

The poor woman did not want caesarean but did she have any choice?  Did her parents give her any choice? Did society give her any choice? Did tradition give this woman any choice?  I could not sleep for days, I went to work telling my colleagues about this horror and i said to myself this is just the beginning of the fight. Our tradition should protect us and not kill us.

The Struggle Continues!
Ndey Jobarteh

----- Original eMessage ----- 
From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2000 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: Female circumcision; My View.


> In a message dated 10/8/00 2:24:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
> 
> << 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
> ********************************
> I also believe that this is precisely the only way that we can change some
> aspects of our culture that are negative and harmful.Every generation
> contributes to what is ultimately viewed as "our culture", and it is up to
> each new generation to do their part to weed out the negative and
> unproductive aspects of the culture, and to add a few positive aspects of
> their own. The views and practices that the future generations will have
> depends entirely on how we raise our sons and daughters today.
> 
> We do have a lot of respect for our elders, but if we find that they are
> insisting on holding on to some practices that are harmful to us as a people
> and a society, what we do is to just make sure we instill in our children ,
> the will to say no to those practices, and we will surely watch their demise.
> 
> While some young ladies find themselves in the midst of people who will even
> drag them to these events if they resist, I think that most young ladies can
> successfully resist being subject to this degrading and painful experience
> nowadays. The key to ending this practice lies in our hands as parents of
> this present generation. Like the "say no to drugs" adage of the 80's here in
> the U.S, we must teach our daughters to say no to this harmful practice. At
> the same time, we must also organize support groups that will lend support to
> those who may still encounter forces that will try to subject them to FGM
> against their will.With a little effort, we will not have to worry about this
> anymore.
>  Have we not eliminated the arranged marriages and other negative aspects of
> our culture that were the order of the day even in my generation? How well I
> remember two distinct occasions when I was the subject of such an attempted
> arrangement, and all I had to do was say no, and remain adamant, and I had
> the support of one sole individual in the family, my aunt Ida Jallow, and
> that was all the lifeline I needed to stand my ground. I was terrified
> because my grandmother in particular was raining all sorts of words in my
> ears about the lack of respect of this present generation, but in the end
> when it was realized by all that I was going to stand my ground, the subject
> was dropped, just like that.
> I am sure our daughters and sisters can display the same strong will to
> resist something that is harmful and senseless, and with the suport of
> parents, sisters and others in the community, there is no way this practice
> can survive.
> 
> 
> Jabou Joh
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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