Bro Abdoukarim,
   
  I support the motion and your call for dialogue between Gambians of all political colours especially within the opposition. We don't have to go back or entrench the bickerings and the rift that could be bridged within the opposition. Dialogue has to be based on mutual respect and certain other principles such as the empowerment of the people rather than the leader. There is too much centralisation of political power upon the APRC; Yahya Jammeh craves for it and the National Assemby passes the Law and over-concentrate more and more state power on one man. Yet they continue to give a lip service to empowerment of the masses and decentralisation.
   
  Out of about 30 Gambian youths that I surveyed including myself only my friend Omar from Brikama voted. He was proud to have voted and showed me the ink mark on his thumb. He said to me most people who regularly complain fail to speak with their ballot. If the people have spoken, then there would be changed. I admitted to him that he had spoken the truth. I could have registered to vote in order to make a difference but I didn't as a protest. But upon second thoughts concede that Omar's approach is the best. We should register to speak.  No one I spoke to on the SeneGambia, Kairaba, Palma Rima, Jerma Beach area voted and all of them were young & middle aged men and women who are qualified to vote. Voter apathy is caused by the same people who are urging people to turn out and vote but when the people select progressives like Pa Sallah Jeng as their leaders; they are thrown out by Yahya Jammeh based on unsubstantiable gossip of ill-intent.
   
  Allah-willing, next time I will vote and urge Gambians to exercise their constitutional right to vote in and out their leaders or representatives.
   
  Haruna, Please support the motion for a dialogue to re-start between the opposition leaders otherwise voter apathy and squabbles between progressive Gambians will result into a ONE PARTY STATE in The Gambia. 
   
  We won't want that!
   
  Bailo

ABDOUKARIM SANNEH <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
  Haruna
My global outlook is neoliberal. I don't subscribe to socialism but I embrace social justice and equality in humanist perspectives. But with Gambian predicament PDOIS is a key player and for the way forward Ousanoiu and Hamat has protagonist in Gambian political scenery should liase and have a dialogue. They are active voice for social enligtment. I belief in liberal democracy and enhance active voice for democracy. In a country of our birth the mass media is none functional and the active voice in the media for authorative voice of the oppressive is Foroyya. It with be a lot of dishonesty without given the medium the acknowledgement for a job well done.

Haruna Darbo wrote:
My good friend Pa Pierre,

I know you're a good and innocent man but I did not know you will wear the 
PDOIS heart on your sleeve. I want you to take a deep breath and let your mind 
wander a bit. I know that is anathema to PDOIS dogma, but just try it. 
Please. I think you have too terribly insulated your imagination and creativity to 
a point that like PDOIS, you fail to grow with nature.

"Dear Haruna, I have stated in the past that you belong to fine calibre of 
inellectuals. A trait that stands out among your other attributes is how you 
employ the Socrates techniques of using opponents statements to shackle them 
intellectually. I do not wish to pick a debate with you; Needless to say, do 
not bother to shackle me." PP

Thank you Pa Pierre, you're too kind. You belong to your own unique calibre 
of intellectuals too you know. We only diffre in calibres and circumstance 
but intellectual nonetheless. I appreciate the kind words and I promise you my 
engagements with you can only be civil. Because you have demonstrated immense 
restraint even though I may have caused you enormous pain by seeming not to 
like PDOIS or Halifa, or Sam, or Sidia. I think that's a big stretch but I'll 
pretend you're right. I don't know about PDOIS, but the gentlemen can 
discern if I dislike them or not.

"I have a few observasions and objections to unfold on your table. PDOIS, or 
Halifa, Sam and Sedia, are not wolfs in sheep clothings." PP.

Pa Pierre, what brings you to such query? I agree with you that these fine 
and handsome gentlemen are indeed genuine and sincere to the core of their 
souls. They are and have always been generous also. So I wonder why you bring 
yourself to consider "are not wolves in sheep's clothing"? 

"They are not angels chanting satanic pranks either." PP

OK. From the two statements I believe you share with us that they are 
humans, you just can't qualify their characters. Fair enough.

"They are men like you and i. Men who deliberately chose to lead a livestyle 
less confortable than i guess yours and mine." PP

I would be more comfortable if you were to speak for yourself Pa Pierre. The 
reason is because I don't compare very well to others.

"In view of this you may use your own yardstick to determind where u want to 
place them." PP

I see where the problem lies. You probably think I am trying to place 
Halifa, Sam, and Sidia somewhere. I was not, and I am not. I am looking at the trio 
through the prism of PDOIS, what they wish to offer me and my fellow 
citizens. That's all. I couldn't care less where they are placed besides PDOIS.

"In Gambia, i had the rare opportunity to interact with many personalities 
of high esteem, but almost in all cases, i come out of the experience with a 
disappointing impressions. Every department i walk into, welcomes me with that 
ugly vice of corruption. Nawec, Gptc, Gamworks, Customs, portauthority, 
Gcaa, Gamtel, Police, etc." PP

Did you agree to be welcomed by their enticements??? That is the question.

"All the places i names, i can mention an incident of corruption i was 
forced to be part of or some how know about it by virture of my position at the 
time in question." PP

Wait a minute. How do folk force you into incidents of corruption Pa Pierre? 
I don't get it. You see, and being a man of the cloth as you are may agree 
with me, One is corrupt only to the extent of his or her pre-disposition. 
Think about it a little bit Pa Pierre. I do not believe you when you tell me you 
were ever forced into corruption or had to live with it even if your life 
hung in the balance. That is why I cautioned you that I don't compare well with 
men in your sample.

"On the other hand, what i saw when i walk into PDOIS political Bereau is 
humanity at its best." PP.

Pa Pierre, Pa Pierre, Pa Pierre. There you go too. Just like Father Mose. So 
you were forced into corruption and looked the other way when your fellow 
citizens corrupted themselves. You did not go to Church or the mosque to seek 
salvation and forgiveness and you did not ask those you defrauded to forgive 
you, but you seek refuge at PDOIS' politburo. What do you think is wrong with 
that picture father????? For one, I think the Lord advises that we may not 
seek nor may be receive salvation from the good that others do or from their 
salvations. He, the Lord, most merciful, will save us when we seek it from him 
on condition that we repent and train on due-diligence and circumspect from 
thence onward. Pray tell, why do you compare your experiences at the PDOIS 
politburo to an experience you helped create and propagate? Do you not know that 
if you pluck Sidia, Sam, or Halifa out of the politburo and place them in 
the "compromising" situations you had been under when you were corrupted under 
duress, that the trio will have to rely on their own characters and 
pre-dispositions to counter the temptations you yielded to??? What I share with you my 
good brother, is that when you compare an organisation of several 
individuals (PDOIS politburo is actually more than Halifa, Sam, and Sidia, why you 
honed in on those three is bewildering) to just you, you have already 
self-imposed a disadvantage which when considered in relation to your questionable 
stamina, may lead to a victim and saviour pre-disposition. This was done just 
before your first step into the politburo. What it did to you for eternity, was 
that it relieved you of your own responsibility toward your fellow citizen and 
the Lord, and it supplanted your belief in your own possibilities and 
potential with the potential and possibilities of a larger group of your fellow 
citizens and so you wouldn't have to worry about personal accountabilities and 
such. This is very fundamental and I encourage you to think of it a bit 
further.

"their Dedication, Devotion and Determination to Duty is second to none in 
the entire Gambia." PP

These are the pronouncements it leads you to make. Here, you share your 
impressions of the Politburo, Halifa, Sam, and Sidia, in relation to your 
singular failures, and unawares, place the onus of accountability on the shoulders 
of these good people. That is exactly why you have the mirage in your mind, 
that Haruna does not like Halifa, Sam, or Sidia. Lets not get overly 
sentimental here. I happen to have higher admiration for Halifa, Sam, and Sidia, than 
you may ever conjure much less have for these individuals. The difference is 
that I don't place the burdens of my personal ware on the shoulders of these 
fellow citizens even though they are willing and able to shoulder those 
burdens for me. You see, what I think is that people who look to these three people 
for salvation are themselves suspect and listless. It is highly unfair to 
Halifa, Sam, and Sidia.

"If every Gambian sense of responsibility is close to what i see at the 
PDOIS political Bereau," PP.

I dare say Pa Pierre that you have a limited scope of Gambian experiences. 
What you saw at the Politburo was less than 1% of Gambians. You must believe 
that had you experienced many more Gambians, you may appreciate them better. 
And try to divorce your personal shortcomings from your expectations of them.

"we would have made a superb achievement of our goals as a nation." PP

This is non-sequitur. The politburo works everyday to achieve her goals. If 
Pa Pierre also works everyday to achieve his goals, and were those goals 
national in theme and affect, then your statement immediately above will be good. 
For now it is non-sequitur and inconsequential as to Gambia.

"While i was in High school, we would converge in serrekunda for private 
studies with Sam Sarr of PDOIS. I would normally go to this class with my Maths 
problems and i have never paid a dime for this bi-weekly classes. Other 
students come with chemistry problems, others Physics and Sam was amaising during 
those encounters. He walks into the class empty handed and it was just 
amaising how he was solving problems he has not had time to rehease. Halifa, i bet 
you my brother, you probably do not want me to go through what u and i already 
know. Sidia, with whom i had little or no interaction, except to say the 
Arabic version of Foroyaa newspaper published in the 90s was probably his 
translations. I was buying the arabic version regularly for my Mandinka neighbor." 
PP.

I am pleased you recognized Sam to be intelligent and generous. I had known 
that sooner than you. You guys like telling these mushy stories Pa Pierre. Do 
you not think that because you had pre-conditioned your mind to seek 
salvation in the politburo, that these personal experiences take on more spiritual 
and ecumenical fervour??

"Haruna, when u try to draw a parallel between respect for personalities of 
PDOIS and the votes they gain at election as your bases of condemning Halifa, 
then it will be tantamount to employing the mockery tactic used by one of the 
robbers on the cross with Jesus Christ;" PP.

Wait just a minute Pa Pierre. With all due respect I think you are 
mis-informed here. I want to remind you that I had shared John Edwards' value with my 
coleagues here, and out of left field comes Jengfann telling me that the 4% 
John polled in Nevada would mean that his coffin is nailed shut. So I shared 
that for Jengfann, a PDOIS diehard, a party which polls significantly less 
than 4% in Gambia National elections and even local county elections, to be 
disdainful of John Edwards, an honourable gentleman dispised for his strength to 
tell the truth and stick with it regardless of fame or fortune, a character 
trait that PDOIS itself preaches to you people if you'll ever listen to what 
PDOIS is sharing with you, to proclaim the death of John Edwards from that 4% 
gain in Nevada, which John is proud and appreciative of, means that you PDOIS 
diehards either do not understand what PDOIS really stands for, shares with 
you and your fellow citizens, or that you are patently dishonest and you are 
in PDOIS for your selfish interests. Halifa, Sam, and Sidia, do not have 
anything to do with your malcomprehensions and your ulterior motives. The only 
thing is that you will not help PDOIS as party this way. You will only keep 
worshipping men who do not wish for your worship, and PDOIS as a party will 
never be able to grow, overburdened by such considerations. Jesus has nothing to 
do with this, and leave the man outta this.

"That if jesus was really the son of God why does he had to share the same 
fate as they the robbers." PP

Pa Pierre ifanang ikebaayata nying yele. Just like Suntou, I don't think you 
ought to be proseletising here. Do I look like I care if Jesus was the son 
of God or not? That is only for Jesus and God's consideration. All I know is 
I, Haruna, am a son of God. Just like many of my fellow humans and citizens 
are children of God. It is what you do that qualifies your life than mere love 
of your father.

"That is a fallacy which challenges the notion that; if PDOIS was a fine 
calibre of Men the onus is on it to attract a large following." PP

No Pa Pierre, you got it upside down, inside out. After Suntou shared with 
us that the people of Wulli practically worship the ground that the 
Afro-toting-wing of PDOIS walks on, The question became, "Might PDOIS not therefore do 
better in the polls when the apostles share a more common message"? You are 
straying too far into Jesus to appreciate PDOIS Pa Pierre. I encourage you to 
expand your horizon to better receive PDOIS' message.

"How can we blame God for making hell gate larger then Heaven gate." PP.

Just to play along with you Pa Pierrre, who told you Hell's gate is larger 
than that of the heavens?

"In short, God is good, but it is our responsibility to draw close to god by 
fulfilling his commandments and not the other way round." PP.

You are very funny. Just like Suntou. You know the truth and you come to it 
after each tour in fanciful cavortin, but then you stray from it again at the 
beginning of each tour out.

"Pdois has demonstrated with their little resources that they are good It is 
therefore our responsibility to vote for them and not their responsibility 
sir." PP.

What????? Pa Pierre come on men. I would think that if PDOIS has 
demonstrated to you that they are good with their little resources, you ought to give 
more resources. You know they send out pleas to their congregation for more 
resources. I hope you afford them more resources so they can continue to be and 
do more good. Why does that translate into a responsibility for other to vote 
them into office. Are you not concerned that PDOIS will leave a vacuum in 
Good-doing when they now lead a nation? Besides, I think you benefitted from 
PDOIS politburo good that is the only reason why you owe an obligation to them 
so more people can benefit from their good. I like the Catholic Relief 
Service's work and the Jammeh Foundation's work, but you don't see me placing a 
responsibility on myself to vote them into leadership office. I use their 
good-doing as inspiration to do good also. That is what they love more than votes. 
You get it Pa Pierre. The Politburo has a fundamental discernment question to 
answer. Will we continue to do good selfless work as a charity or should we 
requisition votes for PDOIS in exchange for our good-doing????????????????? 
That is the existential question. Pa Pierre, I don't wanna hear any u' this 
nonesense about good quid for vote quos. You remmember you shared that you were 
forced to be corrupt once. Well now everybody knows PDOIS is not forcing you 
to do anything. I'm just saying.

"I know you will be surprise that i had all this to say today." PP.

No Pa Pierre, I wasn't surprised. I knew it all along. ANd I can see you 
coming 10 miles away. Besides, it wasn't much you said. It just looked like it 
for the Jesus and church stories and your experience at the politburo.

"I am using this opportunity to respond to several of your previous postings 
which have been consistent in their condemnation of Halifa and PDOIS." PP.

I recognised that. The only thing is the comprehension of those posts is 
deficient. And you offer no context. Dishonest. For example, you could at least 
share one post where I condemned either PDOIS or Halifa, or both. That will 
have been more interesting.

Pa Pierre, don't disappoint me and our other coleagues here. I thought you 
were diligent and reasonable. Don't give me doubts. Just let me love you men. 
Don't mess it up men.

A tout a l'heure. Haroun. Al Khairawan. MQJDT. Darbo




was available at most of our symposia making magnificant presenta
--- [log in to unmask] wrote:

From: Haruna Darbo 
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Halifa Sallah is a handsome man /
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:34:00 EST


My friend Bailo, good to hear you again. But how come all you Obama heads 
got your heads buried in cloud-cuchoo sand?? And you seem so intelligent!!!!

"Haruna, My supposition is that Halifa doesn't want to show off his 
handsomeness." Bailo.

You mean "DID NOT" all those years. Why now though? Do you suppose if he 
really showed his true feelings, maybe PDOIS' fortunes would look up as far 
as 
votes are concerned? The wulli people worshipping Afros according to our 
friend Suntou is an aberration but just suppose PDOIS folk began to be 
genuine 
Gambians, I mean one of us, do you suppose we will receive them as equals? 
Or 
are they really our equals??? So many questions, so little time.

"Your pal, John Edwards is a handsome man too." Bailo.

Alright what's the catch?? I know you too well Bailo. You cannot say 
unequivocally that John Edwards is handsome and the best man for President 
of these 
Unanted Istates without following it with a bombshell. SO what's the catch?

"I also think that John would make an excellent choice as Obama's 
running-mate should the latter be able to ride pass the Clintons' quest for 
a third 
term at the White House." Bailo.

I knew it. You got this backwords my dear. OBAMA will make a fair running 
mate for John Edwards. John Edwards will make a great running mate for 
Hillary 
Clinton if Black folk can get past their day-dreamings. Do you know who 
will 
run an OBAMA white-house??? Its time y'all wake up and smell the coffee 
before its too late. If OBAMA becomes president at this time, blacks will 
live to 
regret it for their entire life. If they think that life is sorry now, they 
aint seen nuttin yet. The days of settin on your fanny and expecting a 
knight 
in shining armour to rid you of your misery is OVER.

"Bill and Hilary seem so desperate to get back." Bailo.

Bailo, ifanang. Ikeebaayaatale. I beg of you, do not yield to listless 
gossip and gaucherie. Ginny is crazy's all I can say. Can you believe 
someone 
hating and slandering admittendly without reason? If that ain't crazy, I 
don't 
know what is.

"I hope America is at least ready for a mixed raced President in the White 
House. Amen! I have a dream!" Bailo.

You guys still don't get it. America, like the UK, France, Italy, Sweden, 
Denmark, Norway, and Australia etcetera, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN READY FOR 
MIXED-RACE, 
STRAIGHT-RACE, SKEWED-RACE candidates. For AMERICA, that just ain't BARACK 
OBAMA at this time. God I hope you guys don't let sentimentalism and 
untethered and listless hope confound you. At least not my Bailo and 
Moribolong. I may 
have lost Mr. Jobarteh already, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna lose you 
and 
Ousman. 

Please reconsider your unconditional attachment to Barack for President of 
America. If you don't like John Edwards, please support Hillary Clinton. 
Barack will make a great Secretary of State in either an Edwards or a 
Clinton 
Presidency. Then in 2012, he will have been ready to be President and all 
of us, 
including Edwards and CLinton will make sure he is President. Don't go 
saying 
that I think Barack needs more experience. NO THAT IS NOT what I'm saying 
and frankly I think Barack has enough experience to be President somewhere. 
Just not America. Barack will only be an effective President of America in 
a 
more benign atmosphere. Not Now. We got a lotta work to do in America to 
right 
the sails after my friend W leaves office. Barack is not suitable for those 
challenges. One reason is he does have some conflicts of interest that will 
malign his foreign policy. Two is he lives in fantasy land about bringing 
independents and republicans to join democrats and move the country 
forward. Just 
ask yourself, if independents, republicans, and democrats were to join 
together, would his administration be needed to do anything??? That is the 
far side 
of this fairy tale that our other friend Bill Clinton talks about. In my 
eyes, Duval Patrick, Governor of Massachusetts will have gotten my vote 
were he 
to run for President at any time. I know he supports Barack. He has a 
different reason for doing that. Bailo, I don't want to go on and on for 
God knows I 
want Barack to get as many black votes as he could, but you guys 
castigating 
the Clintons and every body else for your support of Barack is detrimental 
to 
Barack himself. Don't get carried away by Ginny. You don't know Ginny's 
politique. Even she doesn't know her own politique quite well. No comment 
on 
Maria Del Sol. She will deal with her own unique deamons. And tell joe to 
friggin 
settle down. Anytime he opens his big mouth, you think the skies are 
falling 

=== message truncated ===

       
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