Return-path: [log in to unmask] From: [log in to unmask] Full-name: ASilla5319 Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> Date: Sat, 18 Sep 1999 20:00:43 EDT Subject: Re: MY VISION FOR AFRICA To: [log in to unmask] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 214 G-L Community, The cliche has it that "charity begins at home". Accordingly, Mr. Saine's topic on the question of integrating The Gambia into Senegal would certainly provoke an interesting and fitting debate from both sides. Much as the issue of uniting Africa is a grandiose idea, the one on The Gambia/Senegal integration appears to be more within our reach/grab than the former. However, it is my conviction that the amalgation of The Gambia into Senegal even though, on the surface it looks pretty much possible taking into play the close proximity of the two countries; their religions, cultures, choice of cuisine, the ethnic groups, the apparels/attires, appearance etc. Conversely, the one stumbling block to this great idea is the colonial disparity as it where (English and French) and this to me more than anything else makes the dream untenable/not feasible. To put it bluntly, our individual prides as an English or French speaking Nation would not allow one to yield their colonial language to the other. There has always existed a healthy suspicion between the two peoples and this unfortunately has boiled down to The Gambia/Senegal situation (take it or leave it, there are no two ways to illustrate the scenario). That dichotomy in language itself was deliberately designed by our masters to keep us apart at all times in order to advance their selfish and heartless interests in our region in particular and the continent in general. So to change the status quo ante is to invite the Cameroon situation which if not handle with the utmost care backfires into animosity and internecine war, as is the case in the Cameroons. Which we don't want and this is not to insinuate that we are happy with the state of affairs in Cameroon, far from it but let us face it; that is what is happening there and until matters change for the better the continent has to live with it. Therefore excruciating a pain as it maybe, I think we have to live with the geographical oddity as it is and continue to co-exist amicably as it has been for centuries after colonialism. On the question of forcefully invading The Gambia, my answer to that is a simple one; attempting to annex The Gambia shall regrettably be a faux pas on the part of Senegal. Finally, the question as Shakespeare would have asked about the proposed integration would possibly read as thus: "to be or not to be" and the response probably, would have been the later (not to be), for if the wrong choice is opted for that would spell an untold suffering for the two peoples which may not be the intended consequence by any means. This is my personal opinion about the issue. Allota a continua. OB.