Harona, Your suggestions to the solutions for the eradication of this brutal practice echoes my feelings. Pseudo ceremonies like those practiced in some parts of Eastern Africa is one of the most effective ways to stopping the brutality. Your argument regarding the "ngansimbas" is factual. They rely on these ceremonies for their livelihood (at least most of them do). So, it will have to take a lot of effort to avert their (mis)conception of this prcatice. However, I found the following iteration from you to be quite inetersting: "As an African and having hailed from a community <<whose very survival depends on the practice of FGM,>>(my emphasis) I at times shy away from the reality of the pain and suffering women/girls endour from circumcision camps,hoping that will subside my fears and worries." I may be missing something here but I find it difficult to see how a communitys' survival can depend on FGM. Please enlighten me. Enjoy your day. Abdoulie A. Jallow Toll-free number: 1-888-392-4832(Excite2) Personal extension for v/mail/fax: 291-368-1519 _______________________________________________________ Say Bye to Slow Internet! http://www.home.com/xinbox/signup.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------