Lamin, Absolutely! The elites are not the only ones guilty, we are all
guilty in one way or another regardless of our status in society. In
regards to every sound human being's ability to distinguish between right
and wrong, you are absolutely correct. The reason I focused on the elites
here is the level of capacity to make a greater impact. Yes, every sound
human mind can differentiate right and wrong... but also human tendency
dictates that people weigh the right and wrong in application to their own
situation. They can ignore the wrongs for their selfish interest at the
expense of their moral conscience or put aside the personal interest and
stand up for what is right regardless of the price.

The opportunity that comes with education, certification or elitism through
other means - entrepreneurship for example - is supposed to be a measure of
our contribution to society. "To whom much is given much is expected"
People in this class are far less likely or supposedly so to be easily
enslaved and or used. When you have some degree of economic independence by
virtue of being able to provide for self and family, you have a greater
leverage to resist domination and enslavement than somebody whose daily
survival largely depends on handouts or kissing off to leaders to survive.
This is the situation many of our citizens find themselves. It is a matter
of survival for many.

The elites cannot morally or legitimately claim this excuse. They have the
ability to better survive in any society they may find themselves by virtue
of their skill sets and or ability to explore. This is where poverty and or
lack of education is a crime. So my premise is that if we value so much for
what our society accord us, then unless something seriously is missing, we
should be able to give back in one form or another. I hope that when we
think deep about where we came from, where we are and where we are heading?
then we should be able to reflect on the status quo and come to terms that
we can do better. That unlike the Chuck we did not get to where we are by
historical accident.

Burama (maanyoo) let's continue to challenge the conscience of our citizens
and agitate them...hopefully enough for people to look in the mirror and
join the call for us to organized and or contribute what we can to help
others organize to take back where belongs to us.

Kind regards

Demba

On Sat, Feb 14, 2015 at 2:13 AM, Lamin J Darbo <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Well stated and argued Demba, but elites are about elitism, and elitism
> and sacrifice are like oil and water.
>
> Violence can constitute an extremely compelling argument, and you only
> have to look at minority creation of vast empires, formal and informal, to
> fully appreciate that phenomenon.  When the logic of force is applied
> domestically, the challenges of creating a viable public space become
> exponentially difficult.
>
> I must say that the elites are not the only guilty ones. What is your take
> on the proposition that every human being of sound mind has the ability to
> distinguish right from wrong? Education, or better yet, certification, just
> affords more opportunities, but if something is wrong, every human being
> has the capacity to appreciate that. We are a people trapped by our own
> protectors, and that is quite a challenge in a climate where
> public-spiritedness can be mistaken for having nothing better to do.
>
>
> LJDarbo
>
> On Sat, Feb 14, 2015 at 8:13 AM, Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>>
>> Gambian elites, political and civil society activists must realize that
>> we have the power that cannot be found in bullets and guns, but one that is
>> embedded in our patriotism and sense of collective responsibility and pride
>> as citizens. We have the numbers and the resources that when invested
>> wisely cannot be matched by a tyrant who cannot compete on a level playing
>> field. Who relies on our divisions and or vulnerabilities to exploit us.
>> That power lies within each and every one of us, it is power that was
>> handed over to us with an abiding promise to our parents that we will never
>> abandon our nation and the most vulnerable in our society.
>>
>> Gambia’s political salvation squarely lies not only in the hands of the
>> existing political class but in every citizen particularly the elites who
>> can afford more than three square meals a day. Our country who has nurtured
>> us, gave us the opportunities we enjoy today is dying a slow death; crying
>> for our intervention and history is watching us closely and we will all be
>> judged by our actions or better yet our in-actions and indifference to the
>> realities of our society.  When we fail to get involved we have no one to
>> blame but ourselves and when the next generation look back they will shake
>> their heads in shame that they have been left to fend for themselves and to
>> defend what belongs to others and not them...The question would be what
>> were our people thinking?
>>
>> Read the full article at: http://gainako.com/?p=7828
>>
>> Your feedback and or critique is highly welcome.
>>
>> Kind regards
>>
>> Demba
>> --
>> *"Be the change you want to see in the World"*
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-- 
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