Musa, A well thought article.You are very correct,the reason why most of us are not at home now is a question of our survival,there is also another fact to it, that,most of us are also here not for only our own survival but also for the big and little ones at home. But I fear that,you and your friend are missing here a very vital point in any struggle against a fascist state.I have a friend who is call,Momodou Domo Saho.I am more than 200 percent certain that if he wanted to become a minister in the Jammeh regime he would have being a State Sectary years before Pap Che Yasin Secka.Where is he today,months in prison without even a proper trial.Why am I mentioning this ?yes because if all the intellectuals or even some where above 1/2 of them,the fear of being made an intellectual prostitute would not have exist,there will be no room for some one to invade your intellectual pride and honesty.Jammeh cannot rule the Gambian without having intellectual as head masters,as ministers,as directors etc and etc. Beside that Musa,Pap Che and many like him,need not be allow to be intellectually prostituted to Survive.They know that country too much to starve.I personally know many who refused to be involve,despite the hard times,they are managing to survive,in dignity and pride(I will not be surprise if you know some too ).But they are too small to make a difference.But at the same time they are getting many.Sometime back before we know,Jammeh had already hired and fired a Director,a Minister,now things are different.In most cases we know before the firing.Because they have to approach many,as one after the other refused to accept the golden offer,by the time they find one,news is already lick out by those who were approached and refused the offer,as in the case of Pap Che.So the struggle is paying and I believed it is in the best interest of the intellectual to join now than wait,there is no time to wait. Ous Bojang raised a very good point that this new Sectary of State might even be the one who will exposed the hypocrisy of the judicial system of this fascist State,which off course will mark a turning point in the fall of the Fascist State.If he did not intend to meet this expectations, he will just be an additional number to the statistics.But we must always have the point raised by Ous Bojang in our mind when ever the hiring and firing,if not with this one ,it might be one day,who knows ? Musa lets take this case.In the Check Republics,a man was recently hired inn as the Director of the TV station.They TV workers refused to accept this appointed,because they fear that it will put to question their professional integrity,the appointment of this Director was political,he was too close to the ruling party.The government refused to note take note of their protest.The journalist and rest of the workers,even the cleaners,when on strike,the TV screen switched off.This time the government had no other choice and non of the workers starved.I am talking here of an East European country. In the Gambia, lets take the Observer case,which was bought by an APRC strong man,almost nothing happen,Ok not much could have been done,the News Director,or I don't know the Chief editor,anyway Demba Jawo was fired,two or three,either protested or had their plans to leave before that,a phrase singer of the government was brought in,Mr Thomas.At a late time,the sectary,if not the propaganda sectary,I don't know of the ,anyway Buba Baldeh,of the APRC,came inn,no protest from the journalists as far as I know.At the Gambian TV,who doubts the relationship between the Director and the APRC regime ?did you here anything happening ? I am talking of two different nations with a very big geographical difference,but their experience of political oppression are to a great extend no bipolar. The contribution of our intellectuals to the criminal exploitation and oppression of our people must never be allow with the excused that they have no other choice,they have a better potential and possibility to survive than the ordinary Gambian. Musa,a final note, to be very frank,I am always happy that I am not an Intellectual . For Freedom Saiks ----- Original Message ----- From: Musa Jeng <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 2:40 AM Subject: Re: Musical Chairs: The Beat Goes On... > Mr.Janneh: > > This is how a friend responded to this charge that Gambian intellectuals are so eager and willing to accept a > job from President Jammeh. " You guys (Gambians living overseas), we are all cut from the same cloth and do > not think for a moment you guys possess certain principles that all of us lack". Guys, our difference is > geography. You made a calculated decision to stay overseas for your own personal survival, and you are > conveniently position to air your grievances that we all share, but we cannot make. Intellectual > prostitution, no try corporate survival. Gambia is a sinking ship, we can either abandon it, or fight in our > own different ways. Please do not judge me, try wearing my pants for once. Trust me, if I live in those > comfortable apartments, no Gambia government as my only employer, and of course a computer keyboard infront > of me, I can easily become one of the political activist of this in-famous Gambia-L. Remember, the fight > should be directed to the Jammeh government(whoever that person is) > > Musa Jeng > Ahmad Scattred wrote: > > > Gambia-l: > > > > the firing of Cheyassin Secka underscores the predictability of the Jammeh > > regime. His personnel policy models the classic game of musical chairs, > > only in this case with profound and detrimental consequences on a nation > > held captive by a gang of hoodlums. > > > > We need the psychologists amongst us to explain why supposedly intelligent > > people are willing to be Jammeh's hounddogs, praise singers, henchmen, etc. > > knowing the humiliation that inevitably awaits them. As the saying goes, > > "Learning without virtue is like pearls on a dunghill." > > > > Salaam! > > Amadou scattred Janneh > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.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 and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > 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. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------