Comrades: As we mark the end of 2002, I wonder whether there will ever be political maturity within the opposition. For one thing for certain, it is a dangerous trend that the opposition is not seing eye to eye. I took a few months off to reflect on my role against the APRC government. Reflecting on my choice for President, I regretted ever endorsing a candidate who during times of need was always available to receive my phone calls. After reaching a golden opportunity from Jammeh, my candidate ceases to communicate with me. Is this a precedent for such behavior, I asked? But I am delighted that I followed the old Gambian cultural ideal in respecting your elder. I now realize that respecting an elder does not mean one has to be confined in totally taking every word said to him or her. In that respect, I now believe that even though I am a Gambian, the Gambia has changed tremendously. My question is, why are some of our elders who reinforced value systems in us, are defying those principles for their own political wisdom. I just cannot sit any longer to accept the fact that the opposition can succeed against the APRC. It is frightening that the very people who are anti-Jammeh are digging their own graves. Instead of uniting, the opposition is taking different routes in its fight against the APRC government. It does not make a link of sense in ceating division withinin the opposition. Our failure to unite will yield us another defeat in the polls. Our unwillingness to work together collectively will further sink the Gambia. The Gambian opposition must come to the realization that politics is not a vocation. Policics is based on ideals of tolerance. Politics is based on working for the common good of a country. Why do we have so many opposition parties. A vote for one is a vote for Jammeh. Please let's wake up before it is too late. Naphiyo, Comrade ML Jassey-Conteh ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~