Fellow Africans and Friends of Liberia:
I would like to thank you for your comments and views on the proposed
beauty pageant which is scheduled to take place on May 3, 2003. I believe
others are wondering why there is so much controversy surrounding this
event. While others are asking whether the Liberian Association of
Wisconsin is involved with the planning and administration of the event.
The Liberian Association of Wisconsin (LAW), Inc. is a state wide
recognized organization with membership all over the state of Wisconsin.
All of our programs and activities are approved and supported by the
general membership. We seek the support for our programs from the African
community and from friends of Liberia in Wisconsin. We have never had
conflict in seeking the support, be it moral or financial, of the African
community. For this, we are very grateful and appreciative.
The controversial beauty pageant is an idea of a member of the Liberian
community who feels the need to plan and administer this program on his
own without the input of the leadership of LAW. Members of our community
have asked him to bring this brilliant idea to the attention of the
present leadership of LAW, but refuses to do so on the ground that it
was first brought to the attention of previous administration and less
interest was shown. I, in particular, have asked him to join me to
resolve this issue and put the past behind, but has not been successful.
The Liberian Association of Wisconsin is not involved with this program,
and as such, it falls short of our support.
I do not wish to create more issues out of this by sending this note to
the African community, but to inform you of the root cause and why some
members in our community are not pleased with the news and views created
by this event. I have always advocated peace, love and unity amongst our
people and tried to avoid planting seeds of disunity. I am therefore
appealing to you, our friends and supporters to help us resolve this
issue. Yes, it is a Liberian issue, some may say, but the overall impact
may affect the entire African community in Wisconsin in the long run.
Again, I thank you seek your advise.
In solidarity,
Augustine Tatus
President, LAW
On Thu, 1 May 2003 08:54:43 -0500 "Kumapayi, Ray"
<[log in to unmask]> writes:
> Kervin,
> I beg to differ; I do think that comments made by Trini, Emilie,
> Dzigbodi
> and others on this issue are relevant. If they had not made those
> comments
> we wouldn't have gotten the needed response from Aggo and Matthew
> Jallow
> which enlightens us further. I sense that you may feel frustrated
> from
> working hard to organize the event and end up running into these
> unforeseen
> challenges; please note that these challenges once assailed are what
> would
> make your organizing committee stronger. The subject line "NO
> LIBERIAN
> BEAUTY PAGEANT!" and the attended commentary from LAW V-P adds to
> the
> confusion. I have therefore not uttered disagreement with the
> program; I
> said I do not know which way to lean. Please take the time to
> enlighten us
> further on what's going on; you'll be surprised how many people
> will
> benefit.
> Thanks.
> -Ray
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: kervin Soko [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2003 7:13 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
>
>
> Ray,
> They are not doing any fine job. The next person could be you and
> the when
> they are done eating us. This is not good for the community. If you
> disagree
> with a particular program,just politely stay home and get the news
> later.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Kervin Soko
> Orgernizing Comm.
> 2003 Miss Liberia Wisconsin
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: "Kumapayi, Ray" <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: "AAM (African Association of Madison)"
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
> >Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 15:11:33 -0500
> >
> >Dzigbodi,
> >Both you and your hubby are doing very well such that I do not know
> where
> >to
> >lean.
> >-Ray
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Dzigbodi Akyea [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> >Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 2:36 PM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
> >
> >
> >I need someone to challenge this guy. Please say something. Oh,
> not me, I
> >need a place to sleep and eat tonight! By the way, the fashion
> shows are
> >to
> >show off the clothes. Was it Mr Liberia (Wisconsin) or was it the
> usual -
> >showing off the women? May be the men should follow the footsteps
> of the
> >Oudabis (Fulani men) and give the women a break!
> >
> >Dzigbodi.
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: AAM (African Association of Madison)
> >[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Aggo Akyea
> >Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 11:41 AM
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
> >
> >I think we are being too judgmental about beauty pageants and
> African
> >culture. There are several examples in the myriad of cultures of
> Africa
> >where there are competitions to show beauty of both men and women.
> Think
> >of
> >the puberty rites of all the different cultures in Africa. It's
> all about
> >showing off beauty in one form or the other - physical,
> intellectual, etc.
> >
> >The Fulani tribesmen of dress up and put on make-up to attract
> women. As
> >part of their puberty rites the young women of the Krobo people in
> Eastern
> >Ghana dress up in the most attractive and provocative ways in
> competition
> >to
> >attract the opposite sex. In Achebe's "Thing's Fall Apart" there
> are
> >wrestling competitions.
> >
> >There is Mr. Universe competitions for men too. How about all the
> fashion
> >shows we do all the time? The West has simply put a money making
> function
> >on displaying women. I do not agree with every aspect of it.
> >
> >We can do what ever we like within our own culture, whether it is a
> pageant
> >to raise funds for a good cause or what not, so long as we do it
> tactfully
> >and with class.
> >
> >Those are my two cents.
> >
> >Thanks.
> >
> > >
> > > From: ALEX LAGIA REDD <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Date: 2003/04/29 Tue PM 11:31:40 CDT
> > > To: [log in to unmask]
> > > Subject: NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
> > >
> > > NO LIBERIAN BEAUTY PAGEANT!
> > >
> >
>
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