Brother, what I'm trying to refute here, is the language and terms coined for us to adopt...instead of female circumcision >female genital mutilation. The difference between the two meanings and sincerity of approach to this subject, must be questioned, if an outsider or insider likewise, tries to change things through fear tactics. I do not support this practice one iota, BUT, who am I to come out of the blue to change a community's mindset overnight. I happened to traveled upcountry and happened to stump on one of these occasion giving me the chance to have a dialogue with a couple of elders supervising the rites of passage, the answers given, lead me to believe that, these people need more empowerment, financial, health, education, etc., instead of damnation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------