I guess the current debate for us is no longer about the definition of democracy and its applicability in contemporary African politics. I think three decades of alternative systems of government have done nothing but harm to the continent. Whatever form of democracy our governments come up with, it would be meaningless if we do not have an informed citizenry and a sober, honest leadership with the right attitude. For in my opinion, personality and attitude go hand in hand with a one's political convictions. If a leader spends his entire day hollering about good governance and development blue-prints, but goes to bed dreaming about how to open a Swiss Bank account (I know the Swiss are getting tired of being used as battering rams) then democracy becomes a mere figment of the imagination. It doesn't suffice to adopt a model of democracy, it would be necessary to live it. Unfortunately, democracy has become a fouled word. Some African leaders hijack it to attract foreign aid for their own pockets. Others bad-mouth it as the canker that destroys our fragile social relations. Very few have dared to live it. As long as the attitude of our leaders does not change for the better, Africa will remain in the quagmire of its underdevelopment. Hamadi. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------