Joe, I entirely agree with both yourself and Saul. This is the way the vast majority of our people think. The sad truth is that unless we as a people throw away that way of mentality, it will be very difficult for us to remove bad governance from our country and replace it with decency and democracy. Bakary J sonko -----Original Message----- From: joe sambou [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 8:47 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: My Second Message to Gambians!! Saul, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I experienced something similar to your narrative during my recent trip to Gambia (June). Unbeknownst to me, I was told that some of my relatives ran to my mother, months before my arrival, fuming about my writings on the L and how I was insulting the president of the country etc., etc. When asked, I told them that it is my duty and I am honored to play that role. One of those individuals took the liberty to confront me in private, not knowing that I was waiting for just that opportunity. I was on the offensive (verbally) and instead of him advising me, I was warning him, about going to the Court House heckling supporters of the former PPP and other non-APRC members. In the end, we both agree to mind our business. He is one fool that knows to stay away from me. I guess he passed the word around, for other potential snitches stayed away but barked from the distance about what is in store for me if I keep it up. My message to them then and now is, don't worry about me, but rather, worry about your fate. For each accomplice will pay a price for their contribution toward the decay of our nation. The sad thing is, it's going to be a whole lot of people. Chi Jaama Joe Sambou >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: Re: My Second Message to Gambians!! >Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 20:41:47 GMT > >Astrid, > >This is a very interesting perspective on The Gambian story. I hope to live >to see the day when such a scenario becomes possible in The Gambia. That >day >ought to be a jubilee in our nation, because we would have come full >circle. >However, as painful as it is to admit, we as Gambians don't care enough >about each other to risk our lives (for each other.) To the average >Gambian, >it's "no problem" unless trouble hits home! But, as long as it's someone >else's relative, it's not worth sticking one's neck out for. > >I'll give you an example. Just a few weeks ago, a so-called "nice/decent" >and "educated" Gambian had the nerve to call me and give me "advice" about >Gambian politics. This fool told me among other things, that I need to stop >criticizing this criminal govt because "they haven't done anything to you >(me.") That I need to "concentrate on finding land back home, and >developing >it for investment purposes." And that "what happens there happens >everywhere... etc, ect." > >Normally, I would interrupt such crap, and roast the person, but I let this >fool finish his piece, and I calmly asked him if it would be ok for me to >keep quiet when this govt arrests, and beat the crap out of HIS mom? Or >torture HIS father? Or shoot down HIS brother? Or rape HIS sister? There >was >absolute silence at his end, because he wasn't expecting that line of >questioning. Needless to say, our conversation had a sudden heart attack. >He >started apologizing. I said: "for what are you apologizing? I'm not >offended >at all by your 'advice.' I just want to make sure I understand what you're >saying." I repeated my questions again. I didn't get any answers. Typical >Gambian attitude! > >How can any nation that produces such "educated" people progress? Fifteen >little kids get mowed down by this criminal regime, but "they haven't done >anything to me" because no blood relative of mine was killed! Can you >imagine that type of mentality? And as sad as it is, this person is in the >majority. It just makes me wanna cry. Now you can understand why some of us >get really upset. But don't worry, the next time around, I'll come as a >Dane. There's just too much heart-ache in being Gambian... > >Saul. > > > > > >________________________________________________________________________ >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 > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ________________________________________________________________________ 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 You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface ----------------------------------------------------------------------------