Yaya,
I don't know what's getting into you, but you're holding unto the wrong
vine! We (yourself and I) grew up in one of the most culturally eclectic
communities in the Gambia: SereKunda/Tallinding/LatriKunda. Mandingo, Jola,
Wollof, Serere, Manjago, Karoninka ... name it, it was there. If others
don't know this, Yaya, you do. We have mutual friends from virtually every
"tribe" in the Gambia. Remember my close friends: Dam Jeng, Sidia Badji,
Sheriff Newlands, Pa Leese Mendy, and the Jallow-Jallows? So I find it funny
that you're trying to paint me as a narrow-minded tribalist. Who are you
trying to impress? What are you trying to prove?
What is even more ironical is that, you're defending Alpha Robinson, your
knowledge of whom does not extend anywhere beyond his public persona. What
do you know about Alpha other than the fact that he was supposed to be the
firebrand Head Boy of GHS who caused a raucous at that school in the
mid-80s? Or the equally controversial fracas he was involved in in China in
'89. In some books, that qualifies Alpha as a progressive. Maybe he is. I
don't know anything about him beyond that. I have no ill will against the
guy. I, in fact subscribe to many of his proposals, and I've said this in my
original piece. But I do have a problem with the ethnic issue he raised.
I've challenged him to tell me who these "ethnic" campaigners are, and if
I'm wrong, I'll apologize. Alpha denied he is referring to Darbo and UDP,
but Basiru Ndow who first jumped to his defense, is honest enough to admit
that Darbo is in fact the politician Alpha is referring to just -as I knew
he was. Who's lying here? Anyone with a modicum of intelligence can see who
the target of his "ethnic" campaigning is. Like I told Alpha originally,
there's this ethnic nonsense going on, on all sides. Why insinuate that it's
one-sided? I've said, let's expose anyone individual guilty of this
divisiveness, and condemn him/her. What's tribalist about that?
A tribe-less society in Gambia is an ideal that we have to work towards. We
are not there yet. And not to be the devil's advocate, but I don't see us
getting there in our lifetime. We're doing better than our parents, and I
hope our children will fare better. But you cannot solve your problem by
pushing it under the rug. We have a tribal problem in the Gambia. And it's
not only the politicians that are guilty. It's any of us who perpetuate
stereotypes of one ethnic group or another, or laughs at jokes that ridicule
one group or another, or denies someone scholarship b/c of their ethnicity.
These are still the reality in the Gambia. I did not create this. To
pretend that it's not there would not solve it. We all need to come to terms
w/ this, put everything on the table, discuss it, see where everyone is
coming from, and heal our nation. Just like this society (US) is trying to
do. Otherwise, we can play dumb/naïve all we want, when the dust settles,
the problem will still be here. On both this forum and Gambianews.com, there
are occasional stories of how serious tribalism now is in the Gambia. And
from what I gather, it's not coming from the angle Alpha seems to suggest.
The fact that I dare discuss this so-called sensitive (some may say
explosive) issue should tell you s'thing about me. I just don't have
anything to hide or prove! Let's all summon our courage and face this tribal
issue. It won't go away by all of us sticking our heads up in the clouds
like you're doing Yaya. And, Yaya, you're not sophisticated only b/c you
don't know what "tribalism" is. Just visit the Gambia now, and no one will
need to remind you. Look at the changes going on in the army, the police,
and the overall civil service. If you can't see the obvious, god help you.
In any case, it's not fair for me to put more on your plate than you can
chew. If you can't comprehend, what I've been saying about this issue, good
luck. But, just to set the record straight, I did not start this "ethnic"
talk. Alpha did. If he were honest enough to mention the people he's
referring to originally, we would have put this to rest a long time ago.
Peace.
Saul
PS
If for some weird reason, this is your way of proving loyalty to Alpha, you
can call me a Backward Tribalist. I don't mind. I've never been bothered by
lies. You know that Yaya!
Saul
>From: yeks drame <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Reply to Yaya Drammeh on Alpha's Proposals for Gambia-L
>Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 08:05:07 PST
>
>Saul,
>I mean, why are you taking such a stance. Its unproductive! very backward,
>and can even be considered irresponsible! for that matter.
>Off course, I did read your piece, and it doesn't sound positive.
>
>I think you need to use your mind better! No body is going to be out here
>to
>entertain such ideas! Robinson's piece was very educative and smart. A
>better Gambia, is the agenda Saul, in case you missed the point!
>Do you consider the out come of such ideas as "Tribalism"? what effects do
>they have? Why are you puting energy on"Tribal" diversity?
>
>I have been reading some of your wounderful pieces, and thought you were
>more smart than this. Take a little research on that word "Tribe" and see
>if
>it even fit our society! It has more wider meanings and effects than you
>may
>think. We shall not entertain that Saul! be careful! its realy backwarded
>and unproductive.
>
>I think, if you dont have anything to add, or argue constructively,please
>give chance to others who can come up better ideas concerning the progress
>and prosperity of our people. We are not out here just for a matter of
>challeging others.We are here to discuss ideas.Further more I will consider
>this a waste of time and energy for you, because the average Gambian is
>very
>well aware of the effects of this so called "tribal" issue." so please
>"lagg
>av nu"
>
>No hard feelings brother, "tribal" issues doesn't suit us! we are one.
>
>Yahya
>
>
>
>
>>From: saul khan <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Reply to Yaya Drammeh on Alpha's Proposals for Gambia-L
>>Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 13:14:31 GMT
>>
>>Yaya, Yaya, Yaya...
>>
>>Some things just don't change. Do they? Read my piece and read Alpha's
>>again, and ask yourself who the real tribalist is. Like they say around
>>here, "the mind is a terrible thing to waste." Use your mind Yaya!
>>
>>Saul.
>>
>>
>>>From: yeks drame <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>>><[log in to unmask]>
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>Subject: Re: Reply to Basiru Ndow:Alpha's Proposals for Gambia-L]
>>>Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 03:42:32 PST
>>>
>>>What are U up to Saul?
>>>I am disapointed with those ideas of "tribal defendance"
>>>Alpha's proposals were not "tribal" nor were they so bad as you may have
>>>thought.If he sound wrong in his proposals, may be you have a better
>>>idea.
>>>We will certainly love to hear that one too!
>>>
>>>Any way, I am certain that Robinson, is a reasonable and responsible
>>>person
>>>who can clarify his agenda better than I may do.However, we sould not be
>>>out
>>>here to entertain such backward ideas as "tribalism"
>>>Infact I even hate thet word! Am sorry brother but, I thought,we should
>>>have
>>>by now been thinking far ahead of that. What is "tribalism"?????
>>>
>>>Yahya
>>>
>>>
>>>>From: saul khan <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>>>><[log in to unmask]>
>>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>Subject: Reply to Basiru Ndow:Alpha's Proposals for Gambia-L]
>>>>Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 05:00:13 GMT
>>>>
>>>>Basiru,
>>>>
>>>>You need to go back and read my article again. I'm not a fan of
>>>>Ousainou's.
>>>>However, whether he's another Jawara is beside the point. The gist of my
>>>>article is that we should go after individuals who, for one reason or
>>>>another are keeping our nation down, not any particular group or tribe.
>>>>
>>>>If you have evidence that Ousainou was campaigning on tribalism, produce
>>>>it,
>>>>and I'll be the first to condemn him. Regarding the D30K, I'm not
>>>>familiar
>>>>with the case. But YOU can use this forum to raise that issue.
>>>>
>>>>Regarding my contention w/ Alpha, if all you have is what you've said
>>>>here,
>>>>that's very sad. We can do better than taking cheap shots at each
>>>>other.
>>>>If
>>>>you want to engage in an intelligent argument by producing evidence to
>>>>back
>>>>your assertions, I'm game. But if your only mission is to engage in
>>>>sleaze,
>>>>you'll have to look elsewhere. So Mr. Ndow, you either put up, or just
>>>>shut
>>>>up! I won't dignify your sleaze.
>>>>
>>>>Saul.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>From: Basiru Ndow <[log in to unmask]>
>>>>>Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>>>Subject: [Fwd: Reply to Alpha's Some proposals for Gambia-L]
>>>>>Date: Sun, 28 Nov 1999 19:20:06 -0600
>>>>>
>>>>>Saul,
>>>>> Your article is absolute nonsense.!!!!!you need to broaden up your
>>>>>mind
>>>>>and stop
>>>>>pretending, whether you like it or not, this is the tactic that
>>>>>Ousainou
>>>>>used as a last resort to win the last elections..After all Ousainou is
>>>>>just
>>>>>a
>>>>>REPLICA of the ousted PPP regime, he was recently indicted by the
>>>>>commission after collecting D30,969.00 from public coffers to recover
>>>>>$74,000. from the defunct NTC, he never did his Job and never return
>>>>>our money back....Wow!!!! Is he not going to be another Jawara or
>>>>>Jammeh
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanxxxxxxxx
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Basiru Ndow
>>>>>
>>>>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>
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>>>>>
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