Saul, thanks for sharing your thoughts.  I experienced something similar to
your narrative during my recent trip to Gambia (June).  Unbeknownst to me, I
was told that some of my relatives ran to my mother, months before my
arrival, fuming about my writings on the L and how I was insulting the
president of the country etc., etc.  When asked, I told them that it is my
duty and I am honored to play that role.  One of those individuals took the
liberty to confront me in private, not knowing that I was waiting for just
that opportunity.  I was on the offensive (verbally) and instead of him
advising me, I was warning him, about going to the Court House heckling
supporters of the former PPP and other non-APRC members.  In the end, we
both agree to mind our business.  He is one fool that knows to stay away
from me.  I guess he passed the word around, for other potential snitches
stayed away but barked from the distance about what is in store for me if I
keep it up.  My message to them then and now is, don't worry about me, but
rather, worry about your fate.  For each accomplice will pay a price for
their contribution toward the decay of our nation.  The sad thing is, it's
going to be a whole lot of people.

Chi Jaama

Joe Sambou


>From: saul khan <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: My Second Message to Gambians!!
>Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 20:41:47 GMT
>
>Astrid,
>
>This is a very interesting perspective on The Gambian story. I hope to live
>to see the day when such a scenario becomes possible in The Gambia. That
>day
>ought to be a jubilee in our nation, because we would have come full
>circle.
>However, as painful as it is to admit, we as Gambians don't care enough
>about each other to risk our lives (for each other.) To the average
>Gambian,
>it's "no problem" unless trouble hits home! But, as long as it's someone
>else's relative, it's not worth sticking one's neck out for.
>
>I'll give you an example. Just a few weeks ago, a so-called "nice/decent"
>and "educated" Gambian had the nerve to call me and give me "advice" about
>Gambian politics. This fool told me among other things, that I need to stop
>criticizing this criminal govt because "they haven't done anything to you
>(me.") That I need to "concentrate on finding land back home, and
>developing
>it for investment purposes." And that "what happens there happens
>everywhere... etc, ect."
>
>Normally, I would interrupt such crap, and roast the person, but I let this
>fool finish his piece, and I calmly asked him if it would be ok for me to
>keep quiet when this govt arrests, and beat the crap out of HIS mom? Or
>torture HIS father? Or shoot down HIS brother? Or rape HIS sister? There
>was
>absolute silence at his end, because he wasn't expecting that line of
>questioning. Needless to say, our conversation had a sudden heart attack.
>He
>started apologizing. I said: "for what are you apologizing? I'm not
>offended
>at all by your 'advice.' I just want to make sure I understand what you're
>saying." I repeated my questions again. I didn't get any answers. Typical
>Gambian attitude!
>
>How can any nation that produces such "educated" people progress? Fifteen
>little kids get mowed down by this criminal regime, but "they haven't done
>anything to me" because no blood relative of mine was killed! Can you
>imagine that type of mentality? And as sad as it is, this person is in the
>majority. It just makes me wanna cry. Now you can understand why some of us
>get really upset. But don't worry, the next time around, I'll come as a
>Dane. There's just too much heart-ache in being Gambian...
>
>Saul.
>
>
>
>
>
>________________________________________________________________________
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