Folks, Every May 25th, Africans in the diaspora gather to celebrate the ALD. It could be in the form of the one in D.C which is celebrated with activities such as parties, soccer matches and sometimes a rarely attended symposium. But the pertinent question that needs to be ask is, Do we have a reason to celebrate ? 1. when the legitimacy of our governments is determine by the western world. 2. When our governments still practice neocolonist economic policies. 3. When our economies are totally dependent on foreign loans and grants, and under the dictates of the world bank and IMF. 4. When even though Africa is the richest continent interms of Natural resources, her people are dying in abject poverty. 5. When Gambians students are massacred for exercising their fundamental human and constitutional rights tofreedom of expression and assembly. 6. When our brothers and sisters in Congo and Sierra leone are dying in senseless civil wars. 7. When our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia and Eritrea are dying in a senseless boarder war. 8. When Africa has little or no voice at the U.N, for the votes of all Africans countries can be nolified by a veto from the U.S. 9. When the civilization of one is determine by how much one masters a western language or how fashionable western style one is. 10.When as we spend thousands of dollars to celebrate the ALD, African children are dying of EASILY CURABLE diseases. 11. When the trampulation of fundamental human and constitutional rights of Africans is the order of the day by leaders who swore to uphold and protect them. 12. When the JAMMEH's, TAYLORS's, SONKO's take up arms to take over governments without the consent of the people. Should'nt the ALD be a moment of reflection to Africans on how to build a better and more democratic Africa. An Africa that will produce leaders who will put the interest of the people before their very own. An Africa whose leaders will be humble servants of the people and not seen as demi Gods. An Africa that provides liberty, Dignity and prosperity for her people. This Africa cannot be achieve with mere rhetorics but rhetorics back with actions. Our focus on every ALD should be to work out a strategic objective plan to build a better Africa. Long live Africa!!!! God bless Africa!!! Thanks PaSamba Jow ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------------