Harona, You know, you're one sorry little twerp, and I need not waste my time with you, so this will be my final word on this. You damn right, I've shown the stuff I'm made of: I do not swallow anyone's garbage! I know a lie when I hear/see it, and I recognize a hypocrite when I see/read one. Both of these, you are -BASED ON SOLID FACTS! Despite your attempt to befog the issue, it remains that you've accused me of having "oppressive tendencies" by pointing out the lie in your claim of being a "neutral" observer of The Gambia's political scene. Ironically, YOU YOURSELF admitted EXACTLY what I posited! So, how in the world am I "oppressing you?" Do you have ANY decency in you? In the first place, how can you feel "oppressed" by hearing the truth? Especially one that YOU yourself VOLUNTARILY admitted? And you're trying to label and define me for that? You aren't the first to try that. Many before you have tried and failed miserably. What irks your type about me is the fact that I see through your phoniness completely. So for lack of anything substantive to say, you resort to painting me. How pathetic! On your "neutrality," when I told Kebba Jobe Daddy Nying several weeks ago that I concurred with his observation that the APRC govt was doing something positive (as opposed to the PPP) in several segments of our national life, you were the one who jumped in to commend me for being objective! You said among other things that "a sincere person will see the difference." And by the way, you've NEVER chipped in to add to my innumerable criticisms of the APRC govt. So much for neutrality! But in any case, how did I -within a matter of FOUR WEEKS- changed from being your "sincere person" to being an "oppressive" one? Is this the same Harona Drammeh, or will the real one speak up? So, I'm objective and sincere when I give the APRC credit, but I'm "oppressive" when I point out hypocrisy on your part? How very convenient! On some of the rubbish you've said, all I can advice you to do is to pay more attention to your studies, because at this point, you simply don't seem to understand written English. It takes more than being a Gambia TV News Announcer to understand what is being said. You wrote: "Educate me further, sir, are you in opposition to the APRC because of a job, your family, or the fear for your life? If you are- you must be even more retarded than i expected you to be..." This is simply counter-intuitive to what I said. Go back and re-read what I wrote, because you simply don't understand English. And another thing, don't project your mentality on me. You wrote: "Come- on, Koto, stop being senselessly sensitive and bottomless. You are no better Gambian than anyone on this forum. You cannot profess to have such a desire that is alien to any of us- unless you have a personal undeclared war with the APRC/ Yahya Jammeh. Which, by the way, is your business!" "Senselessly sensitive" and "bottomless"? Really. I'm "No better Gambian than anyone on this forum."? Harona, there is more to communication than putting mumbo-jumbo together. I gave a generic rejoinder to Soffie Ceesay's very frank look at "fence sitting." You accused me of having "oppressive tendencies," but shamelessly turned around to admit exactly what I said about neutrality! You made no apologies, or retractions. And I am "Senselessly sensitive" and "bottomless?" On being a better Gambian than anyone, that has NEVER been my claim. But, whether on this forum or anywhere else, I'm NEVER found wanting when it comes to doing what I can for my country. Unlike your type, I'm not on this forum to make silly noise. I ACTUALLY walk the walk. You MUST be suffering from a complex to even go there. I can't help you with that. You REALLY need serious growing up to do. You also wrote: "Saul, you must be a damned fool, to wanna make me what i choose not to be! This is not the language i would have used, but judging from your non-acceptance of divergent opinions/positions- and your immature stance, i will reserve my respectable language to those who deserve it. Not you!" Slow down Little Boy. What do I "wanna make you (me) what you (i) choose not to be!?" Are you ok? I've stated very clearly that I simply don't give a hoot what YOU believe. And I don't! My ONLY concern has to do with basic INTEGRITY! You said you're "neutral" and I posited that "there's no such thing as neutrality." You YOURSELF turned around and said on this very forum that yes "there's nothing like 100% neutral...;" that among your inner circle you feel free to divulge your true feelings -WHICH IS EXACTLY MY WHOLE POINT in the first place! So, what have I tried to MAKE you? Surely you're not implying that I coerced you into admitting what I said on Friday. Now, who is the "damned fool?" I said something, you object to it, then filpped back again and admitted it WITHOUT realizing what you did, and you have the nerve to call anyone a "damned fool?" Boy, a "damned fool" is someone who makes an idiot of himself in public! See, I DON'T need to call you a "damned fool." You've done a wonderful job of that yourself. Go figure. On your accusation of my "non-acceptance of divergent opinions/positions," that's another BLATANT lie, and anyone who follows me here knows that. I have ABSOLUTELY no problems admitting the truth from any quarter! I got in trouble with some of my compatriots when I admitted some points to Kebba Jobe Daddy Nying. As a general rule, I could care less what the name attached to a piece is. I read the content, and go with my convictions. Naturally, I tend to agree more with some people than others. But even for the ones I agree with most of the time: Hamjatta, Kebba Dampha, Bamba Lye, etc, I'm on record here disagreeing with them on some issues. If you had any decency at all, you wouldn't have missed such an open secret. Who is more independent-minded on this forum than me? Tell us. So, where is the person who doesn't accept "divergent opinions/positions?" What another load of crap! I have no problems at all agreeing with anyone as long as you show me the truth. If you'll show me a FACTUAL problem with what I said, I'll immediately retract my statements and offer you an unreserved apology. No questions about that. But what I refuse to do is to swallow garbage just to appear nice, or agreeable. Screw that! But it all boils down to honesty: one either has honor and integrity, or one doesn't. In your case, you simply have no clue what it means to have integrity, so I can't help you with that. The forces responsible for such character traits are simply too strong to contain. In any case, we're in totally different leagues: I can say what I feel about our national events without worrying about who may read my opinion. You have shown that you lack the courage to be truthful, lest "they" take away your "coveted" little TV Announcer job from you. (Uncle Tombong is watching we all know.) I'm doing ok in a level-playing field, thanks to the little skills I have. You don't have the courage to attempt any such thing. No wonder you feel "oppressed" about my honesty. We're simply answering to different masters. So save yourself the grief: don't be foolish enough to come here and try selling a lie! Especially not to me. Saul. Ps: As an after-thought, I was wondering whether the (D2,500/D3,000?) a month salary they pay you as a News Announcer on Gambia TV is worth morgaging your soul to the Devil for? Surely you can do better than that? If you're going to close your eyes to the suffering of your fellow citizens, it seems awfully pathetic to me that you'll settle for such a paltry amount. But I guess, to a small-mided Little Boy, having his image on the tube is enough payment. They call it "being hip" (High School girls coo over you, I understand. What a sorry life! Enjoy you sun! Saul. _________________________________________________________________ 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------