By Demba Jobe
Pan-Africanists of all generations have warned against the Demagogic Pitfalls of White Liberalism with Dr. Kwame Nkrumah crowning it in the following words: “However well intentioned they (White liberals) may be; they almost always subconsciously seek solutions which are applicable to their mother country”.
Well, our probably well-intentioned friend Michael Scales has been writing several and varying seemingly interestingly though confusing signaled messages of late, his bit on the Gambia’s yellow Versus Green”, in which he compared the forthcoming elections “to the British Spring when all the yellow daffodils bloom and the trees hang out to their greenery.” By willful accident and/or by design Scales woefully left out the other equally beautiful colours (red, pink, rose, blue…) that make up the British Spring if ever we link the colours to the other Political Parties that partake in Gambian Elections.
How honest is he to the Gambian Political party Scenario in the very first step? Most importantly, Michael Scales fails to indicate that the majority of the Greens could be alien masquerades transplanted from outside of the Gambian Territory to make the winning difference over the authentically citizenry yellow, pink, sky-blue, rosy Gambian.
Maybe that is what he meant when he talked of luck over ability, route to force over education as the latter according to him counts to nothing where politics is real life! Yes Michael there will be more than 10,000 heads popping for Presidency up after the turmoil. This is not new: in The USSR the Mensheviks, USA underwent Years of Civil War to bring the right Person(s), the same in Uganda after Idi Amin, Liberia after Samuel Doe, Post Arab Spring. This is always the results, aftermath and relics of bad governance.
We Pray and Hope that Holy Sene-Gambian Peace, Tolerance and Terranga Prevails. At this stage of the game I would rather watch and see what would obtain on the ground as we have for the moment seen only the first few steps; One thing is certain: ‘There Is No Limit To The People’s Arsenal to Self-Defense” May i remind Michael that according to the Chronicles of the Manding Constitution, we are told: “No matter how long Wood Stays in the River (Gambia), it shall Never Ever be a Crocodile nor an Alligator! Suffice it to note that the most admirable African Football Teams are Homegrown. One last point Mr. Scales see you at polls if ever you are qualified to vote though I am not sure of my qualifications either!
End
Mr Jobe,,,, shall I compare thee to a summers day ?
You write well. You have that rare touch,,,, as soft as velvet.
For sure there are seven colours that make up the shimmering sight of any rainbow, after the rains have soaked the fertile earth,, with tears.
I have been reading the good book “Gambia” for 15 years. As we approach the final chapter, let us pray it comes with a happy ending.
,,and a peaceful new begining.
If not I expect to welcome many more of you,,,here with me in the land of my Fathers.
You are right,,, we do things differently.
.
Hahahaha!!! I didn’t know you got such a great wit in you MIKE. I think you should offer him a copy of the British Magna Carta of 1215.
Well said.
Thanks
You see!, You see!,you see it??? Really its been a long time……..isn’t it? Wellllllcome the landloooooord. How is Jammeh doing in Kanilai and Banjul??? What is the evil plan on his desk right now??? Please tell me ’cause I need to know.
Mr Jobe, Lafia and Ggapm are entitled to their opinions but it is regrettable that such a fine ,committed and dedicated person to the cause of our dear country is being questioned. Michael Scales has long supported the Gambian people way back at Gunjur and for political democracy to prevail in The Gambia.In my opinion, here is a genuine person whom progressive Gambians will not forget when the Third Republic comes and deserves more encouragement than baseless ridicule. When will some Gambians stop criticism when they have nothing to write about but only to appear in the press. Better we move on to remove the Dictator than engaged in constant gossiping.
Baboucarr Jatta, I have not criticised Mike. I gave him a thumb up in approval. Maybe you have a problem understanding English.
Thanks
Baboucarr Jatta, I am not that dumb as you may think. You really think I am entitled to my opinion?….no,…I don’t think you see it that way really, but I am sure, Michael Scales really knows I am entitle to my opinion.
Mr. Jatta, Gunjur is part of Gambia and so all the Britons who stay or visit Gambia don’t go to Gunjur alone, for you to have that opportunity to know all the wonderful Britons who undertook marvellous sacrifices in the Gambia, needless to mention their names because they may not like the idea. I thank you for expressing your concern for Scales but I have no idea who this person is except his comments online that I read and never ate. The word ‘ridicule’ seems to be an art in Mr. Scales language that you even fail to notice. You don’t want Mr. Michael Scales to be ridiculed because he is a good Gunjur samaritan? You are docile Mr. Jatta. The gentleman makes contribution in the discourse of our countries’ political dilemma and so I will respond to his comments ridiculously as he does and I like that.
By the way you are Mr. Jatta and so I think your dedication and commitment to the cause of our dear country is unquestionable, and for that reason, I advise you to thoroughly follow the Kairo News forums in general and not just following on peoples criticism of Mr. Scales, who knows how to write english more than most if not all of us in the Kairo news forums.
Jobe: “The old adage “No matter how long Wood Stays in the River (Gambia), it shall Never Ever be a Crocodile nor an Alligator” should be put in its proper context. Sometimes we should be humble enough to accept that someone considered an outsider could come to grasp an understanding of an inside situation than some of those who have been born and bred there. Such logics may not carry any meaningful observation. However, Jobe could have helped readers if he had stipulated exactly what observations he has on what Michael wrote and pin point what he considered wrong in it. This would have given a clue as to warrant response.
I think Michael has humbled himself but not convinced that he does not understand what obtains in the Gambia. His observations are usually objective as to make a critical reader thinks about the situation in Gambia. Michael simply accepts that we do things differently, but this does not mean he is insincere in his observations. The Chinese use sticks to eat, the Westerner use fork to eat and the African use hand to eat but what is important is they all take the food to the mouth to consume it.
The question is, are Africans doing their politics rightly? If White liberals seek solutions applicable to their mother country even if it regards Africa, Africans should also not only seek solutions applicable to their countries but look at those solutions advanced by outsiders and pick what augurs well for them.
I think Gambians like (crocodiles) should utilize the long staying log in the river (Michael) as an instrument to lean on to benefit from the rays of the sun without having to vacate the river, than making attempts to discourage him from the needed pursuits.
Thanks
Yerro, in reality and not in proverbs, crocodiles always sunbathe on the banks and never on floating logs. Logs don’t support their total weight!………they sink….lol
Gqapm,old adages are not reality, some are proverbs and others are metaphors and i think as a student of English you understand what i meant when i said:”I think Gambians like (crocodiles) should utilize the long staying log in the river (Michael) as an instrument to lean on to benefit from the rays of the sun without having to vacate the river”.
I am not a student of english Yerro! and I have never been. English just happens to be a language I can converse with. To tell you the truth, I don’t care if someone is or not. If you understand my simple english, I am trying to tell you that, by saying, ‘ I think Gambians like (crocodiles) should UTILIZE the long staying log in the river (Michael) as an INSTRUMENT to lean on to BENEFIT from the rays of the sun without having to vacate the river.
It is still enlish when I say, logs don’t support the total weight of crocidiles.They sink!
I hope Michael and his native community continue to support our political assylum status. If Michael and his native community will support us at home meaningfully to prevent us from being assylum seekers? I continue to doubt about it. The is the logic in my kind of english.
Yerro, Michael writes a very rich english and I don’t have to ask you why. If you have been following him well in his contributions in the forums, you wouldn’t have missed this ability in him. It does not mean that, not telling Mr. Scales; yes sir, yes sir, other contributors or I, lack respect for him. Haven’t you seen the sessions in the house of commons on tv? I always admire the atmostphere of tolerance out there.
Ggapm Agapm,I miss your literature lesson on Michael really, on vocation. You know you write English so well and that is why i thought you were a student of English.
Sorry that we cannot understand each other on this simple issue when we are saying the same thing.
Well what i am also saying is “I think Gambians like (crocodiles) should UTILIZE the long staying log in the river (Michael) as an INSTRUMENT to lean on to BENEFIT from the rays of the sun without having to vacate the river.” In that sense i used the word LEAN ON, to simply mean to give a helping hand but not necessarily to carry out total responsibility for citizens.
But then you said “logs don’t support the total weight of crocodiles.They sink!” Of course the logs would sink if they put their total weight on them instead of just lean on them.
And now you are also saying that:”I hope Michael and his native community continue to support our political asylum status. If Michael and his native community will support us at home meaningfully to prevent us from being asylum seekers? I continue to doubt about it.” That is why we should just lean on them rather than put total weight on them.
Thanks
Gentlemen, you do me great service by your attention..
The APRC took the head of Gambia, but banished the heart of Gambia to foriegn fields and lands..
My vision,, is that one day all Gambian’s will be free to stand together as one nation with one heart and one mind.
I have not a shaddow of doubt, that together, Gambia will show Africa,
what it can be and not what some would say is impossible.
Forgive the doubters…they don’t know the measure of Gambian resolve.
Thank you Michael for clearing my doubt that you are no doubter and thank you for coming back with hope.