Hi Sidibeh,
Usually, it is not my policy to respond to my readers' viewpoints about me
and my writings. I simply let a free flow of information take place, without
any replies from me however critical or insulting my readers become. The
more speech the merrier. However, there are times, very rare indeed,when I
have to respond if I am grossly represented or when some readers knowingly
or unknowingly are misleading others.
If you would care to re-read my article and contextualize my use of words,
you will find that Halifa's personality was left virtually intact; I am not
interested in harming his personality, I cannot do it. It is indecent to do
just that. Take a sample of my other writings and you will find that I only
tackle the issues, not the persons that formulate these issues.
Personalities interest me very little. I don't care who it is, whether it is
Halifa Sallah,or Nelson Mandela, or Mansa Sakura or Abou Khan, the famous
hunter.
Halifa's ideas as reflected in his posting, and the way his ideas are
chiseled, became the focuse of my article. And I preyed on his ideas with
the vehemence and stridency of oratory,a style often identified with my
other writings. My opinion is there is nothing wrong with that. But then I
may as well be wrong. Thanks for the correspondence.
Cherno B Jallow
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI
>From: MSSidibeh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Halifa misses the point
>Date: Mon, 8 Nov 1999 01:41:18 +0100
>
>Cherno Jallow,
>
>You certainly have a point in maintaining that objective judgment of our
>leaders is impossible without giving due consideration to the practical
>consequences of their beliefs and policies. Certainly, Mwalimu saying one
>thing or another hardly eased the burden on Tanzanian backs.
>
>I think however that, an important missing ingredient from even your piece
>and that of Dr. Ayitteh and Mr. Shirima is the ideological imperative,
>that,
>perhaps more than anything else, inspired and informed the political
>choices
>made by the late Nyerere and other Pan-Africanist leaders of his
>generation.
>With time, I should be able to contribute an opinion on this within the
>week.
>
>Last but not the least, I must express disappointment at your choice of
>words in your personal references to Mr. Halifa Sallah.
>Issues of this weight are a rarity on Gambia-L (my opinion, obviously).
>While it did not seem to cloud your judgement, your unnwarranted attack on
>Halifa's person seeks to personalise the issue to a degree it does not
>deserve.
>
>I hope Mr. Sallah will refrain from taking your cue and instead respond in
>such a manner as to accord this debate some decency, lest it becomes one in
>the line of casualties of unnecessary net-guerillarism.
>
>Cheers,
>Momodou Sidibeh
>
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