Mr Conteh,
With respect, i think your position on Female Genital Mutilation is simply wrong. You said that you are proud that no one have died from this practice. How did you come to such a conclusion? What are the facts that back your evidence? It is not enough to say that your grand mother counselled you not to discuss such a sensitive issue. Those who are really qualify to talk on this issue are those who went through this ancient practice.
One of the contributors on the L who have gone through such a practice and who is relentlessly campaigning for the abandonment of this practice is my sister. She is not spurred by any western ideology. She is simply against such a practice because FGM do not serve any positive purpose. It rather traumatises our women. Some of our sisters engaged in the struggle to eradicate this practice are culturally more aware than many of us. There campaign have been waged in the tradition of respect for elders. My sister have been engaging our elders for many years on the FGM issue. She have no illusion that it is an easy task. Of course it is difficult but by God it is worth it. I wish her and everyone all the best in this noble task.
I think also we should go beyond this continuous chiding of western ideology. Culture is a living thing. It is always changing. It has never been static. For me, good cultural practices, good education and health practices are universal. They no boundaries.
Bravo Ms Herlund.
Regards,
Mboge