Katim, I totally agree with what you have to say and I don't feel you're causing trouble but just laying out ideas on the table. Having a directory just for "progressive Gambian scholars/intellectuals" I feel is cutting Gambians short. What about Gambians in the technical field? I feel they are more in demand today than intellectuals. My take would be to have a directory of Gambians and whatever profession they're in..it doesn't have to be based on being an intellectual. My two cents! Best Regards, Astrid Christensen-Tasong/ > >Hi folks, > >I'm writing to cause trouble. What else can you expect from me? ;-) > >But seriously, I would like to say that Ebrima's idea to create a directory >of >"Progressive" Gambian "Intellectuals" is a great one. But it needs some >fixing. > >What needs fixing, in my mind, are the two operative words "progressive", >and >"intellectual." I would have a problem with creating a directory of >progressives only for a number of reasons. First, who is "progressive"? >Second, is there going to be a system for certifying the Ebrima is >"progressive" one year after he's been included in the directory? And >finally, >if there indeed is a need for having a directory of progressives, what >makes >them so special as to deserve more effort at creating their directory than, >say, the conservatives? > >I also have similar problems with the "intellectuals" bit of this great >idea. >It is my opinion that no one category of people has a monopoly on great >ideas. >And to think that only "intellectuals" are deserving of a directory, and >not >other professionals, would be a great mistake. Besides, let's ask the >frank >question: what has our "intellectuals" done for us lately? As far as I >know, >we do get regular doses of grammatically correct English, decorum >(sometimes), >and not much else. I mean my folks in Ballanghar are still farming pretty >much >like they always have, despite a steady increase in the size and depth of >the >Gambian "intellectual" pool. I say we start moving away from the elitism >that >has not served us well. > >The issue then becomes how to make Ebrima's already great idea even better. > I >say let's start off from the premise of creating a database of any and all >Gambians, and well wishes who are prepared to put their expertise to use >for >the benefit of The Gambia. Now this is a large basket, but I think better >that >than another elitist directory that serves no purpose other than making >people >feel good for no good reason. I'm just suggesting we look at the >possibility >and benefits of judging who to include in the directory on the basis of >what >they can contribute, and not who they are or what they do. > >I guess that's about all the trouble I can muster for now. Have a great >evening, and best wishes! > >Katim > >---------- > > From: ebrima ceesay <[log in to unmask]> > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Directory of Progressive Gambian Intellectuals > > Date: Monday, June 07, 1999 10:58 AM > > > > Gambia L, > > > > The purpose of this write up is essentially two-fold: > > > > Firstly, to inform you about my plans to produce/edit a directory >containing > > the names, contact addresses, occupations, publications, of as many > > progressive Gambian scholars/intellectuals as possible. > > > > The aim is for the directory to serve as a reference book, where >students, > > researchers, among others, can find the names and contact addresses of > > active Gambian scholars/intellectuals - their different expertise and > > research interests. > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------