Our Abiding Interest The Independent EDITORIAL October 15, 2001 Posted to the web October 15, 2001 Banjul, the Gambia Behind the division, the impassioned rhetoric and the crossfire, one thing remains constant, unaffected and undeniable our common and charming identities as Gambians. Behind the rivalries, insults, allegations and conflicting political interests we are one and the same, united by our country's cause to believe in itself, to survive and excel despite the doomsday theory of skeptics that we are clinging to existence as a small, artificially contrived entity. We are a unique breed of Africans who take pride in ourselves, our ambience of peace and our collective drive to hold the nation together when all around things are falling apart all around us. Our abiding interest in democracy is being fed by the patriotic verve to change the course of our history from that of a depraved nation to one refreshed by the fresh and liberal air of politics, vibrant with the unique social values which make us unconditional friends and buoyant with economic activity that could lift our life. Notwithstanding the gulf presented by the dissimilarities of our politicians' programmes for national restitution and the attendant clench-fist scenarios played by their supporters we in our Gambian commonness need each other now than ever before when our political locomotive is being greased and tested once again. It shouldn't be a serious challenge to a nation that has tested and charted the democratic course for many years since independence when our collective maturity did not go beyond a simplistic understanding of politics. We must know that politics should not invite war of fists and weapons but set the stage for friendly debates and healthy rivalries for the majority's approval. We should pause to think of why politics should unify us as one closely-knit family rather than divide us like the unmanageable rivalry of the fiery cat and the dodgy mouse. Politics principally is not about enmity or open antagonism or fistfights or insults or a chance to get rich nastily and quickly. It is not to plunge us into the dark abyss of resource-plunder or drive us into the tears for revenge over past wrongs. It is not an occasion to spy on one's neighbour and report to some architects of terror. It is something more honourable more fulfilling and more positive to harness our individual will into a collective whole. It is about building the future by sacrificing for it if necessary and making our streets glitter with gold if possible. That is why the true import of politics is not as simple as the effortless act of eating fufu. It is like sacrifice, which should readily be an attribute of all Gambians burnished with patriotic zeal. We should look to our five presidential candidates not as symbols of division but as the epitomes of our different ideas to reach one undisputed goal, which would do our motherland proud and make us stand tall among neighbours and friends. Vote in peace and let Gambia shine in the armour of our wisdom and courage. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>