Mr Conteh I am totally against Female Circumcision, but I concur with you about the approach that people should take when it comes to dealing with this sensitive issue. Calling Female Circumcision 'FGM' is a wrong term and full of sarcasm. FGM is a misnomer used by the West to make a mockery of our culture and tradition. Awa. > >The approach to female circumcision must be >clearly defined. Those in lead must realize that >the problem can only go away if they approach our >elders in a proper way. Condemnation will not >solve the problem. I ask, why not lobby the >legislature and the executive to ban female >circumcision? I bet those politicians will be >scared as hell because they may be booted out of >office. What other way do you have >to stop this act? I suggest that we sit and >talk to our parents and make it a priority to >discuss with them that female circumcision is >not in the Koran. > > >The use of "FGM" in reality sounds negative in >either tribal interpretation. I understand clearly >that the victims will loudly say to the affirmative >that they were mutilated, but I beg to differ that >a kinder and gentler approach in the name of >diplomacy will heal the wound. Please let is >understand anthropology and sociology in getting >our message across. May I suggest that we read >Ms. Hernlund's book? > >Naphiyo, > >Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh > > > >------Original Message------ >From: [log in to unmask] >To: [log in to unmask] >Sent: March 29, 2001 4:52:52 PM GMT >Subject: Re: book(YLVA) > > >Hello Ylva, >I have always and will continue be an ardent opponent of FGM. >Personally, I want to thank you and congratulate you for your grandiose >efforts to fight this barbaric practice. YOU ROCKS! >One thing is clear reading the exchanges on the list is that >Gambians >share a different paradigm when it comes to its application and >contradictions. >When educated people want to quantify the benefits of an openly proven >theory >that FGM has no medical significant to the millions of victims of this >dehumanizing >practice, it makes me wonder if it is the results of the research they are >worried about or the fear of shifting paradigms. >I have ordered your book to help support the brave cause you and >your colleagues are doing to help end this form of abuse to particularly, >young women who are the victims of this practice. If people like Mr. Conteh >disagrees with the tools and methodologies used in your research, I advice >him to conduct his own studies and brief us with his results. >Finally, please continue your qualitative approach to this issue. I >will send you my thoughts about the book once I read it. > >GO GIRL, >Sincerely, >Matarr Sajaw > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________________ 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 and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------