Test, please disregard! >From: Jamila Allston <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Female Circumcision - What Should Be The Approach To Faciliating > Positive Change >Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000 11:35:21 -0700 >MIME-Version: 1.0 >Received: from [149.68.45.24] by hotmail.com (3.2) with ESMTP id >MHotMailBBAF4E8500C9D821EED995442D18114F20; Thu Oct 12 11:39:42 2000 >Received: from maelstrom.stjohns.edu (149.68.45.24) by >maelstrom.stjohns.edu (LSMTP for OpenVMS v1.1a) with SMTP id ><[log in to unmask]>; Thu, 12 Oct 2000 14:35:26 -0400 >Received: from MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU by MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU >(LISTSERV-TCP/IP release 1.8d) with spool id 1258623 for >[log in to unmask]; Thu, 12 Oct 2000 14:35:25 -0400 >Received: from web1205.mail.yahoo.com (128.11.23.141) by >maelstrom.stjohns.edu (LSMTP for OpenVMS v1.1a) with SMTP id > <[log in to unmask]>; Thu, 12 Oct 2000 14:35:24 -0400 >Received: (qmail 18731 invoked by uid 60001); 12 Oct 2000 18:35:21 -0000 >Received: from [12.38.177.137] by web1205.mail.yahoo.com; Thu, 12 Oct 2000 > 11:35:21 PDT >From [log in to unmask] Thu Oct 12 11:40:52 2000 >Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> >Sender: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> > >Dear Sisters and Brothers, > > I have been following the debate regarding FGM and I believe that >the interchange is very good. FGM is an issue that arouses many >emotions (anger, pain, etc.) The array of vocalizations is indeed >needed to come to a consensus that life is a continuum and that >cultural practices that have been instituted at one point can be >modified/changed for the betterment of a people. > > As an African Woman born in America, not only am I concern about >the conditions of my people where ever we are...I have a special >concern regarding the mental, emotional, psychological and physical >oppression and abuse of African Women throughout the diaspora and at >home in Africa. > > While I have been a long time believer that FGM must be eradicated, >I also recognize that issues of culture and tradition must be handled >delicately. It is not enough to demand a change of a people' s >practices of culture and tradition (however we disagree or how sincere >we may be) through the rantings of disgust and condemnation. > > As the debate proceeds, the next logical step may be to look at how >this forum can be used to developed proactive strategies for >facilitating educational activism to assist these communities, >villages, etc. to re think a cultural/traditional practice that is >indeed harmful to the well being of the African Woman...thus ultimately >harmful to the well being of the African family and community. > > Part of the strategy should be to also examine the genesis of some of >our questionable practices. Are these practices truly African in >nature, or have we taken on practices/behaviors that are now viewed as >African practices that were originally instituted by external cultural >and religious forces throughout the centuries. Irregardless of the >genesis, the practice needs to be eliminated. Yet we must understand >the dynamics of our history in order to make appropriate constructive >change. > > Just as we have come together to fight those oppressive forces that >are destroying The Gambia, let us use our collective capabilities to >develop strategies and programs that can indeed play a major role in >eradicating FGM forever. > > Yours in the struggle. > > Jamila > > > > > > > > > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! >http://mail.yahoo.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 >You may also send subscription requests to >[log in to unmask] >if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your >full name and e-mail address. >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.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 You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------