Mr. Sallah, I concur entirely w/ your opinion in this piece. Saul. >From: foroyaa <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: To Alpha, Hamjatta and Saul >Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 14:11:38 -0000 > >Alpha, Hamjatta, Saul, > >If we go on like this, we will soon be building personality cults. Somehow >I >never feel offended by words. I am more concerned about the words I use and >how those words are seen. For example, I did mention somewhere in dealing >with Saul's piece that his conception would have amounted to crass >stupidity >or very clumsy trickery. > >Of course from a polemical point of view, I was simply trying to impinge on >the credibility of his assertions, but have no intention of making the >person a subject of ridicule or lose self esteem. This is my concern. I am >not trying to win an argument. That is why I want to be certain that words >are being used to march real conceptions. > >In Saul's last piece, he wondered why I mentioned that he directed certain >hostile remarks against me. For example, he wrote the following in his >'Adjoiner to Halifa misses the point' on 7 November: +ACI-Mr Sallah happens >to >be quite smart. But what most Gambians don't know about him is that, he has >a knack for believing the most ludicrous - almost absurdly delusional >ideas, >you've ever heard.+ACI- > >If such comments come from someone who simply does not agree with my views, >it becomes quite acceptable. There are many people who utilise angry >invectives against me just to cover up unpleasant facts. However, if >somebody claims to have no hostile intention but then goes to this extent, >it must become puzzling. > >However, it really does not matter. I am really not the least offended. In >fact, no group of people can lead a modern nation without being tolerant to >all opinions and views and showing readiness to argue at all level to >clarify matters instead of using the baton to silence critics. > >I have seen that Saul does not mind and has in fact called on me to >continue >to address his concerns. I will do so right away for the sake of posterity. > >What I wrote was more directed to Saul than the forum. May be it should >have >been a personal mail. When it comes to debate, I see myself as just one of >the guys. It makes things more interesting and makes people to speak their >mind not thinking that they have to abide by certain morales before they >could express themselves forcefully. > >Let us maintain the spirit of debate. It is quite okay as long as it helps >us to be owners of our minds, owners of our thoughts and owners of our >words. We will learn from our mistakes and move on to greater things. I >appreciate your kind words. Again, it is not Halifa Sallah who matters, but >the Gambian people, the African people, humanity, at large. Each of us has >a >right and a duty to develop to be our best selves and be both beneficiaries >and contributors to our common enlightenment and development. The fact that >Gambians are thinking and are not willing to be poodles is a healthy sign >that a future without tyranny is inevitable. > > >Halifa Sallah. > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >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 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------