Sister Jabou Joh wrote:
"Unfortunately, I am also well aware that the idea of a rivalry is not at all
ridiculous and defining it as that is deliberate on my part. I guess the way I
deal with that is to ignore it and consider it ridiculous so that others will
see it as just that and concentrate on more productive things."
I see your point clearly and I would like to place the phrase "hoarding ideas" in our expanding Gambian dictionary.
Momodou S Sidibeh
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jabou Joh" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2003 5:23 AM
Subject: Re: Rumours/Sidibeh
> Brother Sidibeh,
>
> Unfortunately, I am also well aware that the idea of a rivalry is not at all
> ridiculous and defining it as that is deliberate on my part. I guess the way I
> deal with that is to ignore it and consider it ridiculous so that others will
> see it as just that and concentrate on more productive things. Your
> conributions always direct us to the more important matters we should expend our
> energies on.
>
> You wrote:
>
> "In a long article years ago, I argued that Gambian intellectuals have mostly
> remained aloof on socio-economic and political issues, sharing knowledge
> neither with themselves nor with the unschooled masses."
>
> Our intellectuals unfortunately are focussed on matters that benefit neither
> themselves nor anyone else. Knowledge is meant to be applied to the everyday
> practical matters affecting ordinary people, and if that idea is misunderstood,
> well, any knowledge no matter how impressive becomes just a trophy on the
> wall, and therefore useless really to all concerned in the long run.
>
> I think it all goes back to our tendency as a people to hoard ideas, to keep
> it secret and hidden from the next person so they do not sabotage us, and to
> view any suggestions of improvements upon them as akin to relinquinshing our
> title to it.
> It is hard for good ideas to be born and improved upon in such a setting.
>
> I think that in general, we as a people are not well skilled in the art of
> communicating with each other and accepting information from each other,
> especially if that information is a criticism or even a simple suggestion. The
> problem that arises for us then is that since possesing and utilizing these skills
> are the foundation for buiding a society where our needs are identified and
> acted upon for the benefit of all, we find ourselves at a standstill no matter
> how lofty our intentions.
>
> If we are frank with each other, that becomes viewed as malice and a
> perceived enmity arises. We hoard ideas and suggestions to improve upon good ideas are
> viewed as threats Every comment or suggestion is seen as a personal affront,
> an attempt to somehow undermine.
> I have to confess that after having spent the better part of my life outside
> Gambian society, I get into a lot of trouble because I tend to forget this
> flaw we have before I open my mouth to say something.
> However, this internet medium certainly offers us a wonderful opportunity to
> address each other, and if we are open to it, it can certainly also help us to
> learn that it is through discussion, frankness and the ability to accept
> criticism as a tool to improve ourselves that we can become effective in building
> a better society for all.
>
> Jabou Joh
>
> n a message dated 10/15/03 5:07:37 PM Central Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:>
> >
> > Sister Jabou Joh,
> >
> > As you mentioned earlier, to have so much for which to struggle, and to
> > engage in excessive trivia here is itself a tragedy. So I too think that all of
> > us should move on to more pressing matters.
> >
> > I have tried when necessary to just drop some issues with a view to help
> > myself concentrate on others that carry more weight for our common interests.
> > And I hope neither Ebou Jallow nor anyone else should pay attention to this
> > malicious rumour of a Gambial-L closedown.
> >
> > Nevertheless, as much as it pains, I need to insist that the idea of a
> > rivalry is not at all ridiculous. I for one have just simply not paid any
> > attention whatsoever to it. As I mentioned in an earlier posting here, internet
> > forums operate basically on congeniality. Gambians like any other peoples, can
> > start as many mailing lists as they see fit for any number of reasons, and all
> > of us can join these lists as long as we believe they serve our interest. Yet
> > there is no doubt in my mind that quite a number of aritificial stray mails
> > that found there way mysteriously to Gambia-L can hardly have been of noble
> > purpose. [I hope I am not the only one who remembers the advent of lost e-mails
> > that mysteriously land on the L before the author claims he must have lost
> > his way in cyberspace 'cos he is on his way to the Mighty Post?]. And not only
> > that, believe me.
> >
> > Well, what do you do with such incidents? One can neglect them like petty
> > irritants. Which is not to say that they lack an underlying motive.
> >
> > What we should be doing is to share information. Some have done a good job
> > of that, now and then forwarding to Gambia-L articles that were sent
> > originally to the Post, and vice versa. That needs to continue.
> > What I think we should do at Gambia-L is to create the profile of a forum
> > where we address one another with respect in spite of the diffeent creeds we
> > may represent. We should hope that by being that modest and cultured in the
> > way we conduct debates and discussions, even those institutions or individuals,
> > especially in Gambia, who are often objects of debate, may honestly feel
> > that criticism directed at them are, for all intents and purposes, constructive;
> > and that we can contribute in a modest way, to inculcate a rigorous culture
> > of dialogue that seems to elude so many of Africa's societies; looking for
> > solutions to our national problems by exchanging ideas rather than insults,
> > which are usually a prelude to violence.
> > (Goodness, if we prove incapable of addressing one another with respect, why
> > should anyone in Gambia, especially political leaders, listen to what we
> > have to say? Why should we be taken seriously?)
> >
> > In a long article years ago, I argued that Gambian intellectuals have mostly
> > remained aloof on socio-economic and political issues, sharing knowledge
> > neither with themselves nor with the unschooled masses. It has been the Muslim
> > clerics who stationed themselves at street corners and spread the word about
> > living as good muslims and decent human beings. PDOIS broke that tradition in
> > the mid-eighties. The internet has also provided us with a dynamic
> > instrument by which we can strengthen and deepen that culture of dialogue. Herein lies
> > the responsibility of our generation in the struggle to create a truely
> > democratic and open society in Gambia.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Momodou S Sidibeh
> >
> >
> > --- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jabou Joh" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 2:34 PM
> > Subject: Re: Rumours that G-L is closed/Omar
> >
> >
> > > Thank you Omar. I sent this message to the list to dispel the rumour, and
> > > prove how ridiculous it was, and I must say that when the individual told
> > me
> > > about this rumour, the idea of any list rivalry never entered my mind.
> > > Unfortunately, Ebou Jallow's use of the occasion to make that connection
> > has turned this
> > > into something it was not intended to be.I had actually assumed that the
> > > rumour came from the Regime's agents who would rather that we were not
> > here
> > > exposing them.
> > > Infact, i see no reason for those who want to join both lists not to do
> > > so.The idea of ay rivalry is ridiculous.
> > > Omar, I always miss the chance to tell you that I admire your maturity and
> > > wisdom possesed by such a young man. It can only be an asset for our
> > country.
> > >
> > > Jabou Joh
> > >
> > > In a message dated 10/14/03 8:04:07 PM Central Daylight Time,
> > > [log in to unmask] writes:
> > > >
> > > > Sister Jabou,
> > > > lets proceed, this rumour is just one and there may be many more along
> > the
> > > > way. What is essential is for those in charge of the list to ensure that
> > all
> > > > such rumours are proven wrong.
> > > > Personally, I have joined both lists to get a broader spectrum of the
> > > > Gambian public opinion. Thus I can only urge their managements to keep
> > up
> > > > their good work. They can definitely co-exist harmoniously and I have no
> > > > reason to believe that they have been doing otherwise. There is nothing
> > > > wrong in even having some more lists as long as they give many more
> > Gambians
> > > > at home and in the diaspora the opportunity to publicly express their
> > views
> > > > on all kinds of issues.
> > > > Omar Joof.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> > > > ><[log in to unmask]>
> > > > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > > > >Subject: Re: Rumours that G-L is closed!!!!!
> > > > >Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2003 17:30:54 EDT
> > > > >
> > > > >I know brother Modou Camara. I thought it rather amusing that there is
> > such
> > > > >a
> > > > >rumour. Thanks to the list managers for all your hard work.
> > > > >
> > > > >Jabou Joh
> > > > >
> > > > >In a message dated 10/14/03 9:53:47 AM Central Daylight Time,
> > > > >[log in to unmask] writes:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > Sister Jabou,
> > > > > > Its just wishful thinking! Gambia-L have almost 500 members.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Momodou Camara
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > > > > > I guess someone has been spreading rumours that G-L is
> > > > > > > closed. I received an
> > > > > > > email this morning asking for confirmation of this.
> > > > > > > Perhaps the wishful thinking of those who would like to have
> > > > > > > the list go
> > > > > > > away.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Jabou Joh
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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