African professionals have been flocking Western countries en masse in the last decade or so in search of the proverbial 'green pastures'. This has put African economies in such a grave spot
Our dear friends in the medical profession have dominated in the "efflux" of professional brains from this continent. In the recent past, statistics have shown that female nurses from African countries are landing lucrative jobs in The UK and America. With the green bucks, the Euro and Pound smiling at them they are left with little else to do but to bid farewell to penury and embrace the 'fatter' checks.
The story is told of a fifty-year old nurse, a widow and a mother of five (three boys, two girls) who made the painful decision of relocating to the UK to work as a nurse. She had to leave her children behind (three of them had jobs and families of their own, one was at the university and the last one was in secondary school).
Her new job entailed taking care of the aged – their waking up, their eating, their toilet, their bathing, their pains and sorrows, practically everything. This was quite a change of the work environment for her. She was used to wards and patients. She was used to doing rounds in wards and getting to know how patients were coming along. Anyway, for the bucks she could do anything.
We are giving our professionals a raw deal here in Africa. Their pay is low as compared to their contemporaries in other countries in the world. In view of this, I don't see the reason why they shouldn't 'drain' their 'brain' anywhere east or west so long as the pay is good. I know this is not the best of situations.
• We need to benefit from our own brothers' and sisters' brains right here in Africa.
• We want our Africa to stand on its feet and have a say in this world.
• We want our economies to stabilize and grow.
• We want all the good brains that are being churned out at our universities and colleges to help redeem Africa economically and politically.
Sadly, this can only be realized if all the key players in our governments are keen enough to come up with lasting solutions to our woes as Africans. Some of the people at the helm of our governments are self-centered and only look to their own interests and those of their families. They fail to realize that there are millions looking up to them and that the very strokes of their pens could spell death to generations. This is why corruption and nepotism are still weighing us down up to now.
Brain drain is decimating our output and curtailing our progress. Yes, and rightly so. The millions of dollars that were used to educate the people who now opt to go and work outside Africa have to be recovered somehow. It is no secret that most of them were educated on loans they took from their governments. As you well know, governments principally get money from taxpayers. So here, we are talking of the cream of the nation funding these guys' loans.
Shouldn't our countries then benefit from the education that they helped afford our dear brothers and sisters? African legislators and statesmen, please wake up to this fact and act pronto. We are waiting for your clarion call, Sirs.
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Saturday, September 30, 2006
The most misused word in the whole wide world – love!
Do we really understand what love means?
Love is everywhere: the airwaves (radio & TV music), cyberspace, magazines, books, and one-to-one encounters. It's simply everywhere.
I started hearing the 'love' phrase when I was an adolescent.
Scores of adolescent boys and girls could be seen skirting around the dark places at night probably to meet their 'dates' at their pre-arranged rendezvous. In my day, there were no mobile phones to ease communication. We just had to wait for our 'girls' and hope against all hope that they would turn up otherwise our 'dare devil' antics would just go to waste. Don't even mention all the priceless things we wasted in our quest to look macho.
We wasted our time, energy, good old virginity, and the chance to understand the dynamics of the most wonderful word in the world – love.
In retrospect, though, I am happy that I went through adolescence in those years. Today, everything is so different. The moral guard has been slackened far too much that most of the things that were considered no-brainers in my day are part of the normal lives of people nowadays.
The airwaves are 'rotten' – what with music that uphold immorality and the overuse of 'the love word' without meaning any bit of it.
Please don't mention the internet and its sisters. Appalling is the word to use here.
Recently I came across a story that, to me, seemed to leap from the page and shout aloud about the true meaning of love. I have reproduced it here for us to have a rethink about this word that we have taken for granted for a long, long time.
There was a young couple, Della and Jim, who were very much in love. Each had one unique possession. Della's hair was her glory. When she let it down it almost served her as her robe. Jim, on the other hand, had a gold watch which had come to him from his father and which was his pride.
It was the day before Christmas, and Della had exactly one dollar eighty seven cents to buy Jim a present. She did the only thing she could do. She went out and sold her hair for twenty dollars. And with the proceeds she bought a platinum fob for Jim's precious watch.
Jim came home at night, when he saw Della's shorn head he stopped as if stupefied. It was not that he did not like it or did not love her anymore. She was lovelier than ever. Slowly he handed her his gift. His gift was a set of expensive tortoise-shell combs and he had sold his gold watch to buy them for her.
Each had given the other all he or she had to give. Real love cannot think of any other way to give.
This, I think, is the true meaning of love: Giving your best for the benefit of another person without asking what you'll get out of it.
Love is everywhere: the airwaves (radio & TV music), cyberspace, magazines, books, and one-to-one encounters. It's simply everywhere.
I started hearing the 'love' phrase when I was an adolescent.
Scores of adolescent boys and girls could be seen skirting around the dark places at night probably to meet their 'dates' at their pre-arranged rendezvous. In my day, there were no mobile phones to ease communication. We just had to wait for our 'girls' and hope against all hope that they would turn up otherwise our 'dare devil' antics would just go to waste. Don't even mention all the priceless things we wasted in our quest to look macho.
We wasted our time, energy, good old virginity, and the chance to understand the dynamics of the most wonderful word in the world – love.
In retrospect, though, I am happy that I went through adolescence in those years. Today, everything is so different. The moral guard has been slackened far too much that most of the things that were considered no-brainers in my day are part of the normal lives of people nowadays.
The airwaves are 'rotten' – what with music that uphold immorality and the overuse of 'the love word' without meaning any bit of it.
Please don't mention the internet and its sisters. Appalling is the word to use here.
Recently I came across a story that, to me, seemed to leap from the page and shout aloud about the true meaning of love. I have reproduced it here for us to have a rethink about this word that we have taken for granted for a long, long time.
There was a young couple, Della and Jim, who were very much in love. Each had one unique possession. Della's hair was her glory. When she let it down it almost served her as her robe. Jim, on the other hand, had a gold watch which had come to him from his father and which was his pride.
It was the day before Christmas, and Della had exactly one dollar eighty seven cents to buy Jim a present. She did the only thing she could do. She went out and sold her hair for twenty dollars. And with the proceeds she bought a platinum fob for Jim's precious watch.
Jim came home at night, when he saw Della's shorn head he stopped as if stupefied. It was not that he did not like it or did not love her anymore. She was lovelier than ever. Slowly he handed her his gift. His gift was a set of expensive tortoise-shell combs and he had sold his gold watch to buy them for her.
Each had given the other all he or she had to give. Real love cannot think of any other way to give.
This, I think, is the true meaning of love: Giving your best for the benefit of another person without asking what you'll get out of it.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
African cities stinking, littered – a way of life
One of the things that is very conspicuous as you traverse the cities and towns in Africa is litter and garbage. However, as development and the so-called 'social wellness' are causing ripples across some African economies, things are brightening up.
It leaves so many questions begging for answers when I see, read and watch people's unbridled activities that are detrimental to the states of our towns, environmentally speaking.
Picture this. A car is speeding down a highway. A window is rolled down and a hand wantonly throws out, onto the busy highway, banana peelings and biscuit wrappers. If the occupants of twenty different cars do the very same thing in, say, three hours, what would be the state of the said highway? Appalling to say the least.
Picture all the highways in that city or town undergoing the same (in the three hours) what a city or town that would be! But, according to me, people have some "respect" for the roads so littering on the roads is not as bad as bad could be.
Our estates are the worst hit by this 'scourge'. Garbage disposal systems are just not working and if they are, then people don't even notice. Why? This is simply because we are the same ones who incapacitate their smooth running by our sick actions.
Few questions too many
• What is so hard with disposing off garbage in the rightful places & containers?
• What is so hard with doing the right thing at the right place (as far as garbage/litter is concerned)?
• Do we do the things we do because we like doing them or are we forced to?
• Do we really 'enjoy' living in insalubrious surroundings, our public image notwithstanding?
My opinion is that this is a typical African mindset. It is more a 'mental malady' than the lack of resources.
Sometimes we throw litter about, unknowingly (someone would say 'unconsciously' to mollify the guilt that goes with it!). We were born with it, in it and have grown into it.
So if we are to extricate ourselves from this state of affairs we have to redefine our systems. I suggest, too, that legislation that is more rigorous be put in place to nip this deleterious 'malpractice' in the bud.
We need cleaner cities and fresher air in our cities, towns and countries. And a pinch of manners to boot... Let's stop throwing papers, wrappers and peelings in all the wrong places. Save peelings for your farm and not the road! Do the guys attending the Africities summit in Nairobi catch the drift?
I am setting my sights too high, aren't I?
It leaves so many questions begging for answers when I see, read and watch people's unbridled activities that are detrimental to the states of our towns, environmentally speaking.
Picture this. A car is speeding down a highway. A window is rolled down and a hand wantonly throws out, onto the busy highway, banana peelings and biscuit wrappers. If the occupants of twenty different cars do the very same thing in, say, three hours, what would be the state of the said highway? Appalling to say the least.
Picture all the highways in that city or town undergoing the same (in the three hours) what a city or town that would be! But, according to me, people have some "respect" for the roads so littering on the roads is not as bad as bad could be.
Our estates are the worst hit by this 'scourge'. Garbage disposal systems are just not working and if they are, then people don't even notice. Why? This is simply because we are the same ones who incapacitate their smooth running by our sick actions.
Few questions too many
• What is so hard with disposing off garbage in the rightful places & containers?
• What is so hard with doing the right thing at the right place (as far as garbage/litter is concerned)?
• Do we do the things we do because we like doing them or are we forced to?
• Do we really 'enjoy' living in insalubrious surroundings, our public image notwithstanding?
My opinion is that this is a typical African mindset. It is more a 'mental malady' than the lack of resources.
Sometimes we throw litter about, unknowingly (someone would say 'unconsciously' to mollify the guilt that goes with it!). We were born with it, in it and have grown into it.
So if we are to extricate ourselves from this state of affairs we have to redefine our systems. I suggest, too, that legislation that is more rigorous be put in place to nip this deleterious 'malpractice' in the bud.
We need cleaner cities and fresher air in our cities, towns and countries. And a pinch of manners to boot... Let's stop throwing papers, wrappers and peelings in all the wrong places. Save peelings for your farm and not the road! Do the guys attending the Africities summit in Nairobi catch the drift?
I am setting my sights too high, aren't I?
Bush – Kikwete rigmarole: Kenyan question
The Monday meeting in New York between Presidents George Bush (US) and Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) was only good to a point. The suspect nature of the meeting came to the fore when Kenya's "political instability" was brought into the picture. (Political instability indeed!)
What was George Bush doing discussing Kenya's political situation with Kikwete while Kenya's Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju (leading the Kenyan delegation to the UN General Assembly) could have been called upon to comment?
To further mar the already stained picture, no explanation was forthcoming as to why Bush spoke about Kenya's domestic issues with Kikwete.
Methinks, Mr. Bush ought to have been wise enough not to hold such discussions with the president of a neighbouring country while our own delegates were within 'calling' range.
What does this portend? Does this go to emphasize (drive a point home!) how our own administration is lowly esteemed by the president of the world (Bush!)? What is the meaning of this goings-on?
What was George Bush doing discussing Kenya's political situation with Kikwete while Kenya's Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju (leading the Kenyan delegation to the UN General Assembly) could have been called upon to comment?
To further mar the already stained picture, no explanation was forthcoming as to why Bush spoke about Kenya's domestic issues with Kikwete.
Methinks, Mr. Bush ought to have been wise enough not to hold such discussions with the president of a neighbouring country while our own delegates were within 'calling' range.
What does this portend? Does this go to emphasize (drive a point home!) how our own administration is lowly esteemed by the president of the world (Bush!)? What is the meaning of this goings-on?
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Phobia and fear: much of a muchness
Phobia is defined by the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English as a strong, unnatural, and usually unreasonable fear and dislike. The same dictionary defines fear as an unpleasant and usually strong feeling caused by the presence or expectation of danger.
All of us have something we fear and dread. There is no gainsaying that. If you say that you there is nothing you fear, however infinitesimal, then you will have to forgive me when I call you one big liar. Moreover, ofcourse, what you fear should not necessarily be what I fear.
People fear anything ranging from ants to lions and snakes. It is only when your fear is unreasonable that you can start worrying of being phobic.
A phobia is said to be a 'learned anxiety' that has formed around a real or imagined situation. The original source of the anxiety is gradually replaced by symbols that come to represent it. In time, the symbols become the source of fear and a phobia is born.
Phobias about different things have names that I find very rib tickling if not strange.
Here I share with you some that I came across recently:
• Kakorraphiaphobia - fear of failure
• Aulophobia – fear of the flute
• Papaphobia – fear of the pope (God forbid!)
• Acrophobia – fear of heights
• Agoraphobia – fear of open spaces
• Claustrophobia – fear of closed places
• Triskaidekaphobia – fear of number 13
• Xenophobia – fear of foreigners
• Zoophobia – fear of animals
• Arachybutyrophobia – fear of eating peanut butter
• Cyberphobia – fear of computers
• Keraunothnetophobia – fear of falling man-made satellites
• Cibophobia/Sitophobia/Sitiophobia – fear of food
• Anglophobia – fear of Britain
• Didaskaleinophobia – fear of going to school
• Anuptaphobia – fear of staying single
• Brontophobia – fear of thunder and lightning
• Agyrophobia – fear of streets or crossing streets
• Agateophobia – fear of insanity
• Hellenologophobia – fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology
• Venustraphobia – fear of beautiful women (what a phobia!)
• Levophobia – fear of things to the left side of the body
• Athazagoraphobia – fear of being forgotten or ignored or forgetting
• Gephyrophobia /gephysrophobia/ghephydrophobia – fear of crossing bridges
• Siderodromophobia – fear of travelling by train
• Xenoglossophobia – fear of foreign languages
• Xanthaphobia – fear of colour yellow or word yellow
• Paraskavedekatriaphobia – fear of Friday, 13th
• Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – fear of long words
• Chronomentrophobia – fear of clocks
• Arrhenphobia – fear of men
• Erythrophobia/erytophobia/ereuthophobia - fear of red lights or of blushing
• Rhabdophobia – fear of being punished severely with a rod or being criticized
• Bromidrosiphobia/bromidrophobia – fear of body smells
• Ablutophobia – fear of bathing (I bet that classmate of mine in boarding school had this phobia. What with bathing only once in months!)
• Ancraophobia/anemophobia – fear of wind
• Amaxophobia – fear of riding in a car
• Felinophobia/ailuophobia/elurophobia/gatophobia – fear of cats
Phobias are strange things altogether. If there are others you know, please feel free to post them on this column. We'll be more than eager to read from you.
All of us have something we fear and dread. There is no gainsaying that. If you say that you there is nothing you fear, however infinitesimal, then you will have to forgive me when I call you one big liar. Moreover, ofcourse, what you fear should not necessarily be what I fear.
People fear anything ranging from ants to lions and snakes. It is only when your fear is unreasonable that you can start worrying of being phobic.
A phobia is said to be a 'learned anxiety' that has formed around a real or imagined situation. The original source of the anxiety is gradually replaced by symbols that come to represent it. In time, the symbols become the source of fear and a phobia is born.
Phobias about different things have names that I find very rib tickling if not strange.
Here I share with you some that I came across recently:
• Kakorraphiaphobia - fear of failure
• Aulophobia – fear of the flute
• Papaphobia – fear of the pope (God forbid!)
• Acrophobia – fear of heights
• Agoraphobia – fear of open spaces
• Claustrophobia – fear of closed places
• Triskaidekaphobia – fear of number 13
• Xenophobia – fear of foreigners
• Zoophobia – fear of animals
• Arachybutyrophobia – fear of eating peanut butter
• Cyberphobia – fear of computers
• Keraunothnetophobia – fear of falling man-made satellites
• Cibophobia/Sitophobia/Sitiophobia – fear of food
• Anglophobia – fear of Britain
• Didaskaleinophobia – fear of going to school
• Anuptaphobia – fear of staying single
• Brontophobia – fear of thunder and lightning
• Agyrophobia – fear of streets or crossing streets
• Agateophobia – fear of insanity
• Hellenologophobia – fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology
• Venustraphobia – fear of beautiful women (what a phobia!)
• Levophobia – fear of things to the left side of the body
• Athazagoraphobia – fear of being forgotten or ignored or forgetting
• Gephyrophobia /gephysrophobia/ghephydrophobia – fear of crossing bridges
• Siderodromophobia – fear of travelling by train
• Xenoglossophobia – fear of foreign languages
• Xanthaphobia – fear of colour yellow or word yellow
• Paraskavedekatriaphobia – fear of Friday, 13th
• Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia – fear of long words
• Chronomentrophobia – fear of clocks
• Arrhenphobia – fear of men
• Erythrophobia/erytophobia/ereuthophobia - fear of red lights or of blushing
• Rhabdophobia – fear of being punished severely with a rod or being criticized
• Bromidrosiphobia/bromidrophobia – fear of body smells
• Ablutophobia – fear of bathing (I bet that classmate of mine in boarding school had this phobia. What with bathing only once in months!)
• Ancraophobia/anemophobia – fear of wind
• Amaxophobia – fear of riding in a car
• Felinophobia/ailuophobia/elurophobia/gatophobia – fear of cats
Phobias are strange things altogether. If there are others you know, please feel free to post them on this column. We'll be more than eager to read from you.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
The missing piece in the jigsaw
The other day I found myself 'inadvertently' eavesdropping on the conversation of some two young men. They were talking about Aids, sex and marriage.
One of them was saying that men (quite an outlandish generalization) cannot do without sex. He went on to say that as long as a man is 'functioning' then sex is the sure release of his building pressure.
Then the insalubrious 'party pooper' was brought into the picture: Aids. They fear Aids. Talking of Aids as if talking of the weather is sheer madness (what I learnt from what they were saying). They said that with Aids lurking somewhere in the shadows of 'after sex' then a tricky situation had plunged headlong onto the scene.
One of the two (a bachelor, I learnt) said that with Aids marring the beautiful picture that once gleamed in the light, marriage had become a no-tread zone to many a young man. He said that he would 'marry' for two or three years and, after getting a kid or two, tell the woman (read wife),
"Your time's up. Pack your bags and leave!" He would retain the children (with that he would have accomplished his goal in life!).
They viewed sex as a way of letting off 'steam' and marriage as a 'factory' for making children; after that: to hell with it!
This is a dim view of reality. Sex and marriage are beautiful things created by God. Sex serves its purpose divinely in the context of marriage. And marriage is more than just 'where children are made' but rather where we learn to use our God-given talents to benefit each other (the married) in exciting ways that increase the gushes and torrents of love.
Still on the issue of marriage, sample what Bishop T.D. Jakes has to say to the married and the ones aspiring to be married one day.
What it means to be married
"To the one you are marrying you are saying: when my time comes to leave this world, when the chill of eternity blows away my birthdays and my future stands still in the night, it's your face I want to kiss goodbye. It's your hand I want to squeeze, as I slip from time to eternity. As the curtain closes on all I have attempted to do and be, I want to look into your eyes and see that I mattered. Not what I looked like or how much money I made, or even how talented I was. I just want to look into the eyes of someone who loved me and see that I mattered."
This is quite a huge price tag attached to the marriage institution and certainly the missing piece in the jigsaw. What do you think?
One of them was saying that men (quite an outlandish generalization) cannot do without sex. He went on to say that as long as a man is 'functioning' then sex is the sure release of his building pressure.
Then the insalubrious 'party pooper' was brought into the picture: Aids. They fear Aids. Talking of Aids as if talking of the weather is sheer madness (what I learnt from what they were saying). They said that with Aids lurking somewhere in the shadows of 'after sex' then a tricky situation had plunged headlong onto the scene.
One of the two (a bachelor, I learnt) said that with Aids marring the beautiful picture that once gleamed in the light, marriage had become a no-tread zone to many a young man. He said that he would 'marry' for two or three years and, after getting a kid or two, tell the woman (read wife),
"Your time's up. Pack your bags and leave!" He would retain the children (with that he would have accomplished his goal in life!).
They viewed sex as a way of letting off 'steam' and marriage as a 'factory' for making children; after that: to hell with it!
This is a dim view of reality. Sex and marriage are beautiful things created by God. Sex serves its purpose divinely in the context of marriage. And marriage is more than just 'where children are made' but rather where we learn to use our God-given talents to benefit each other (the married) in exciting ways that increase the gushes and torrents of love.
Still on the issue of marriage, sample what Bishop T.D. Jakes has to say to the married and the ones aspiring to be married one day.
What it means to be married
"To the one you are marrying you are saying: when my time comes to leave this world, when the chill of eternity blows away my birthdays and my future stands still in the night, it's your face I want to kiss goodbye. It's your hand I want to squeeze, as I slip from time to eternity. As the curtain closes on all I have attempted to do and be, I want to look into your eyes and see that I mattered. Not what I looked like or how much money I made, or even how talented I was. I just want to look into the eyes of someone who loved me and see that I mattered."
This is quite a huge price tag attached to the marriage institution and certainly the missing piece in the jigsaw. What do you think?
Friday, September 08, 2006
Aids awareness programmes: unnecessary semantics?
Today, I am an angry African. No, I am miffed and annoyed. "Why?" you may ask.
I have been trying to educate people on the right course of action to take as far as prevention of Aids is concerned. I have tried to do this through my writing (newspaper and magazine articles, my blogs), public speaking and one on one encounters.
I go to such lengths, not because I suffer from Aids (which I don't) or because I benefit in any way, but because of the love of humanity and human life. Life is one of the most priceless things that God has given us. We should never, I repeat, never, use our lives as guinea pigs and swim in the morass of ludicrous experimentations.
Our foremost cry should not be how we can cure Aids but rather how we can stop promiscuity and immorality (HIV's open highway). I know you'll not agree with me but truth be told, we can never expect to cut the tree's branches and wish the tree away after that – we should rather cut the trunk, uproot the stump and cut the branches while the tree is lying vertically on the ground!
What makes me choke is the laxity that most people exhibit when it comes to Aids issues. Aids awareness programmes have become too common that most of us guys have dropped our guard and forgotten the danger that we are exposing ourselves to. My view of the whole thing is that people have heard so much about Aids that their 'ears' have become numb. Is it the case of too-much-of-something-is-poisonous? This depends on ones perceptions and priorities. According to me, poison, in this case, is what you get when you do not heed the call: Aids.
Let us refuse to be dragged to such a level. Whether we like it or not, Aids is the stark truth of our dangerous times and if we do not take heed then our continent will not have tomorrow's leaders. So hurting but a very potential outcome.
Compromise and complacency should never be allowed in our neighbourhood – if not always then at least when we are dealing with this grave problem.
To sum up, can we expect to extricate ourselves from this menace if promiscuity and immorality are still a principal part of our moral fabric? If we do, then it's like expecting a snowball to survive in hell.
I have been trying to educate people on the right course of action to take as far as prevention of Aids is concerned. I have tried to do this through my writing (newspaper and magazine articles, my blogs), public speaking and one on one encounters.
I go to such lengths, not because I suffer from Aids (which I don't) or because I benefit in any way, but because of the love of humanity and human life. Life is one of the most priceless things that God has given us. We should never, I repeat, never, use our lives as guinea pigs and swim in the morass of ludicrous experimentations.
Our foremost cry should not be how we can cure Aids but rather how we can stop promiscuity and immorality (HIV's open highway). I know you'll not agree with me but truth be told, we can never expect to cut the tree's branches and wish the tree away after that – we should rather cut the trunk, uproot the stump and cut the branches while the tree is lying vertically on the ground!
What makes me choke is the laxity that most people exhibit when it comes to Aids issues. Aids awareness programmes have become too common that most of us guys have dropped our guard and forgotten the danger that we are exposing ourselves to. My view of the whole thing is that people have heard so much about Aids that their 'ears' have become numb. Is it the case of too-much-of-something-is-poisonous? This depends on ones perceptions and priorities. According to me, poison, in this case, is what you get when you do not heed the call: Aids.
Let us refuse to be dragged to such a level. Whether we like it or not, Aids is the stark truth of our dangerous times and if we do not take heed then our continent will not have tomorrow's leaders. So hurting but a very potential outcome.
Compromise and complacency should never be allowed in our neighbourhood – if not always then at least when we are dealing with this grave problem.
To sum up, can we expect to extricate ourselves from this menace if promiscuity and immorality are still a principal part of our moral fabric? If we do, then it's like expecting a snowball to survive in hell.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Tribalism: Kenya’s oldest ‘living skeleton’ in the closet
There've been heated debates on the tribalism issue, mooted and dissected on a motley of forums. The internet(blogs & sites), newspapers, magazines, tabloids and pamphlets have helped potray the dynamics of this 'touchy' issue.
I've been following the goings-on with bated breath and each time I read or hear about tribalistic issues this question always screams for an answer: when will our people open their eyes and see that tribalism (tribalistic mindsets)'help' to sever the cords of national unity and harmony?
Having lived outside Kenya for sometime, I've seen Kenyans of different tribal origins working together as brothers and sisters, their tribalistic mindsets notwithstanding. I've seen, for instance, Kikuyus and Luos working in harmony and calling each other 'bro' or 'sis'. I've seen them doing things together, things they would not have attempted or a brotherliness that would never have materialised were it in Kenya.
This is a sorry state of affairs. Must we go out of the country to realise that tribalism should never be an issue and that we can work as brothers and sisters (AS KENYANS) even at home.
If we can live and work as brothers outside Kenya how much more in our homeland!!
Outside Kenya we call ourselves Kenyans, in Kenya we call ourselves 'Luos', 'Kikuyus', 'Kambas', Kalenjins'... the list is endless. What does someone in his right senses make of this? "HYPOCRISY!" You scream, and I pat you on the back and smilingly tell you, "You've hit the nail on the head."
We are hypocrites, God forgive us. We always want to be molly coddled and told that we are on the right path. But in this matter we are wide off the mark.
Hello Kenyans. We are Kenyans whether Luo, Kikuyu, Nandi, Luhya, name it. We'll always be Kenyans. Let's behave, eat and live as Kenyans should. Let the strength of brotherhood be our bastion.
Let's elect people, not because they are Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba or any other tribe, but because they can steer us to the acme we aspire. The decisions we make today will go a long way in defining our lives and nationhood, whether rash or well-thought out!
Did I hear you smack your lips in dissatisfaction?
My plea: Let's treat each other as Kenyans. Treat fellow Kenyans as you would your beloved brother, sister, son or daughter: with love, respect and sincerity.
I've been following the goings-on with bated breath and each time I read or hear about tribalistic issues this question always screams for an answer: when will our people open their eyes and see that tribalism (tribalistic mindsets)'help' to sever the cords of national unity and harmony?
Having lived outside Kenya for sometime, I've seen Kenyans of different tribal origins working together as brothers and sisters, their tribalistic mindsets notwithstanding. I've seen, for instance, Kikuyus and Luos working in harmony and calling each other 'bro' or 'sis'. I've seen them doing things together, things they would not have attempted or a brotherliness that would never have materialised were it in Kenya.
This is a sorry state of affairs. Must we go out of the country to realise that tribalism should never be an issue and that we can work as brothers and sisters (AS KENYANS) even at home.
If we can live and work as brothers outside Kenya how much more in our homeland!!
Outside Kenya we call ourselves Kenyans, in Kenya we call ourselves 'Luos', 'Kikuyus', 'Kambas', Kalenjins'... the list is endless. What does someone in his right senses make of this? "HYPOCRISY!" You scream, and I pat you on the back and smilingly tell you, "You've hit the nail on the head."
We are hypocrites, God forgive us. We always want to be molly coddled and told that we are on the right path. But in this matter we are wide off the mark.
Hello Kenyans. We are Kenyans whether Luo, Kikuyu, Nandi, Luhya, name it. We'll always be Kenyans. Let's behave, eat and live as Kenyans should. Let the strength of brotherhood be our bastion.
Let's elect people, not because they are Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba or any other tribe, but because they can steer us to the acme we aspire. The decisions we make today will go a long way in defining our lives and nationhood, whether rash or well-thought out!
Did I hear you smack your lips in dissatisfaction?
My plea: Let's treat each other as Kenyans. Treat fellow Kenyans as you would your beloved brother, sister, son or daughter: with love, respect and sincerity.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
The prick that draws the line between life and death
A few weeks ago, in a movie theatre, a person felt something poking from her seat. When she got up to see what it was, she found a needle sticking out of the seat with a note attached saying "You have just been infected by HIV". The Disease Control Center (in Paris) reports many similar events in many other cities recently. All tested needles were HIV Positive.The Center also reports that needles have been found in cash dispensers at public banking machines.They ask everyone to use extreme caution when faced with this kind of situation; All public chairs/seats should be inspected with vigilance and caution before use; A careful visual inspection should be enough.
Recently, one doctor has narrated a somewhat similar instance that happened to one of his patients at the Priya Cinema in Delhi. A young girl, engaged and about to be married in a couple of months, was pricked while the movie was going on. The tag with the needle had the message "Welcome to the World of HIV family". Though the doctors told her family that it takes about 6 months before the virus grows strong enough to start damaging the system and a healthy victim could survive about 5-6 years, the girl died in 4 months, perhaps more because of the "Shock thought".
Quite a heart-rending account. It's harrowing, ain't it?
Sunday, August 13, 2006
This guy said it just right (without spicing the whole shooting match!)
The other day I saw something in the news that confirmed something that I've been feeling all along.
A certain Diorus Kamala(Naibu waziri of EAC in Tanzania) has told Tanzanians not to freak as our three countries go into integration( an integration some Kenyans feel highly unlikely to materialise because of recent goings-on in Tanzania: literal dilly-dallying)
Most Tanzanians think and even are convicted that when the borders are opened then Kenyans and Ugandans will rake the gold from their very door steps, under their noses!
He has presented it as a challenge for Tanzanians to take up and work on. As he says," The employer will not look at where you are from, that is, whether you are Tanzanian, Kenyan or Ugandan. The employer will look at whether you can deliver the goods with the preciseness it deserves.
He's urged them to to equip their arsenal of expertise, skills and knowledge to be able to brave their way forward when push comes to shove.
As the bottom line he's told them to look beyond East Africa and see how they can fit in the global jig-saw puzzle as far as job opportunities are concerned.
One thing stands out quite conspicuously( in his speech): Put down all propaganda kind of mindsets in the East African issue. Work your way to the top and, basically, opportunities will smile at you afar off.
I fervently laud him for voicing this facet of thought so loud and clear for all East Africans to hear and act upon. Let's stop resting on our laurels and work our way up the ladder.
A certain Diorus Kamala(Naibu waziri of EAC in Tanzania) has told Tanzanians not to freak as our three countries go into integration( an integration some Kenyans feel highly unlikely to materialise because of recent goings-on in Tanzania: literal dilly-dallying)
Most Tanzanians think and even are convicted that when the borders are opened then Kenyans and Ugandans will rake the gold from their very door steps, under their noses!
He has presented it as a challenge for Tanzanians to take up and work on. As he says," The employer will not look at where you are from, that is, whether you are Tanzanian, Kenyan or Ugandan. The employer will look at whether you can deliver the goods with the preciseness it deserves.
He's urged them to to equip their arsenal of expertise, skills and knowledge to be able to brave their way forward when push comes to shove.
As the bottom line he's told them to look beyond East Africa and see how they can fit in the global jig-saw puzzle as far as job opportunities are concerned.
One thing stands out quite conspicuously( in his speech): Put down all propaganda kind of mindsets in the East African issue. Work your way to the top and, basically, opportunities will smile at you afar off.
I fervently laud him for voicing this facet of thought so loud and clear for all East Africans to hear and act upon. Let's stop resting on our laurels and work our way up the ladder.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
The drive, move and push in a fresh breath of words
Everyday we are in desperate need of the impetus to go that extra mile and advance in all that we are and do. Sometimes we feel we are incredibly deficient of the 'cutting edge' mettle that we hanker for.
Sample these quotations to get the drive...
1. Africa is not a poor continent; it is filled with people of poor mentality.
-Dr Handlie Leslie
2. One of life's greatest tragedies is that majority of the world's population is composed of individuals who have negotiated an agreement with mediocrity, signed a contract with the average and pledged allegiance to ordinary.
-Myles Monroe
3. If I wanted to become a tramp, I would seek information and advice from the most successsful tramp I could find. If I wanted to become a failure, I would seek advice from people who have never succeeded. If I wanted to succeed in all things, I would look around me for those who are succeeding and do as they have done.
-Joseph Marshal Wade
4. I'll go anywhere as long as it's forward.
-David Livingstone
5. You don't luck into things. You build them step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities.
-Barbara Bush (American First Lady, wife of President George Bush)
6. When the past wants to dominate your thoughts, let your dreams ignite your day.
7. If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live.
-Martin Luther King Jnr
8. A man could do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault with what he has done.
9. You can achieve anything you want in life if you have the courage to dream it, the intelligence to make a realistic plan and the will to see that plan through to the end.
10. Most men stop when they begin to tire. Good men go until they think they are going to collapse. But the very best know the mind tires before the body and push themselves further and further beyond all limits. Only when all these limits are shattered can the unattainable be reached.
You can be that bit better if you try.
Don't give up: do all that's in your power to perform.
Face each day positively. And give to the world the best that you have,
and the best will, definitely, come back to you.
Sample these quotations to get the drive...
1. Africa is not a poor continent; it is filled with people of poor mentality.
-Dr Handlie Leslie
2. One of life's greatest tragedies is that majority of the world's population is composed of individuals who have negotiated an agreement with mediocrity, signed a contract with the average and pledged allegiance to ordinary.
-Myles Monroe
3. If I wanted to become a tramp, I would seek information and advice from the most successsful tramp I could find. If I wanted to become a failure, I would seek advice from people who have never succeeded. If I wanted to succeed in all things, I would look around me for those who are succeeding and do as they have done.
-Joseph Marshal Wade
4. I'll go anywhere as long as it's forward.
-David Livingstone
5. You don't luck into things. You build them step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities.
-Barbara Bush (American First Lady, wife of President George Bush)
6. When the past wants to dominate your thoughts, let your dreams ignite your day.
7. If a man hasn't discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live.
-Martin Luther King Jnr
8. A man could do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault with what he has done.
9. You can achieve anything you want in life if you have the courage to dream it, the intelligence to make a realistic plan and the will to see that plan through to the end.
10. Most men stop when they begin to tire. Good men go until they think they are going to collapse. But the very best know the mind tires before the body and push themselves further and further beyond all limits. Only when all these limits are shattered can the unattainable be reached.
You can be that bit better if you try.
Don't give up: do all that's in your power to perform.
Face each day positively. And give to the world the best that you have,
and the best will, definitely, come back to you.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
This is heart-rending and pitiful (I know these words don't do justice to what you are about to read and see!)
...This is how she looked when she breathed her last
The other day I received a heart-rending email from a friend of mine. The story encapsulated in the mail is so touching that I've decided to post it here for your 'perusal'.
(The photo is a 'disturbing' one)
Here it is as sent to me by this friend of mine.
In Reference to the girl who infested over 124 masculines, I have the details from her for you to read through and know what happened thereafter and actually how she really looked when life was still available.
START!!
READ THIS......
RUINED LIVES
When I joined Moi University in September 2001, I promised myself "That it's in Moi University I got it and it's here I will leave it". I have indeed lived to keep my promise.
I was in Form Three when a student on his attachment in our school proposed for a relationship. He had all the qualities a woman would want in a man so I gave in. He told me all a form three girl would want to hear. In my innocence, I succumbed to his pressure to have sex with him, consequently, I lost my virginity to him.
After his placement, he reported to college for his final year and we still had contacts. I visited him on a number of occasions, (I've even lost count of the number of times I visited him). He was my first and only love and therefore hang on every word he told me.
My boy friend later graduated and we lost contact until last month (March) when his sister told me about his whereabouts (details of this later).
Before registration in the Faculty of Law, in PSSP, I went for medical tests as is the requirement. I then opted for an HIV test, which unfortunately turned out to be +ve. It then dawned on me that I had traded the rest of my life for a university student who had deliberately and intentionally preyed on my innocence.
My first impulse was to take my life, counseling sessions did not mean much to me and I quickly walked out of the session. I however did not confide my status to anyone until today.
The following day I went to a different Health facility and the results were still +ve. Therefore there was no doubt that I had been infected by this teacher-student. Since as the sister said, he had passed away after 6 months of being bed-ridden, besides, I had never had any other sexual relationship with anybody – No blood transfusion and the last time I used a syringe was in 1989.
Now, since whoever infected me did not mind about my life, I will also infect as many as possible as long as there are university guys oblivious of my status.
So guys, anyone of you out there who may have crossed my "path" should count himself unlucky and should quickly place an order for ARVs supply before it's too late!
I decided to spread the virus indiscriminately in the Campus, (and have no apologies), because it's here I got it and I intend to leave it here.
I've a well-documented report of all those guys who "crossed my path" since I joined this college. I will be posting their full names and registration numbers on the Students' Notice Board after the end of Sem. II Exams (August).
So far, I've had 124 students, yes one hundred and twenty four. Out of these, only 6, yes six used a condom.
I still reiterate the fact that I owe nobody an apology and am still on a spreading spree till August.
Otherwise, I wish you success in your end of First Semester exams as you wait for your slow and sure DEATH.
N.P.
( Guys pliz take care. You've got only one life and it's the most precious thing you've got!)
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Tanzanians' Gripe
The other day I was in Tanzania on a a business mission. I travelled to the coast of the country and found myself in Bongo(this is swahili for brain.This is the name given to Dar es Salaam, the country's business hub, implying that you've got to use your brains to survive here).
This particular day was exceptionally hot(but I was made to understand that this was the 'normal' weather of the place). To avoid an 'involuntary' sun tan(what am I saying? My dark complexion beggars description!) I decided to spend some two or three hours in a certain restaurant before going about what had taken me to Dar es Salaam in the first place.
I took a table at a corner, ordered a drink and a local English daily. I nursed the drink as the contents of the daily paper gave my eyes something to look at.
My peace and quiet was 'forcefully' intruded upon by the voices of some three young men who sat at a table a few metres from mine. I folded the newspaper and furtively cast them a glance.
The threesome were well groomed and the subject of their engrossed conversation forced me to pay even more attention. One of them was saying: "There are so many Ugandans, Kenyans and Congolese in our country. They are taking up every opportunity that would have helped us Tanzanians." One of the other two interjected, "They are surely a pain in the ****!" We Tanzanians are like tourists in our own country." The last one quipped, rather rhetorically, "Most employers want to employ these guys. If it is school, we've gone to school and have an education. Maybe even a better education than most of those who come here. What do they have that we don't, anyway!"
By this time I was wide-eyed and straining my ears to get every word, fullstop, exclamation, all. I was to learn later that many a Tanzanian thinks on the same lines as these three guys. Their discussion of foreigners in their country is, most of the time, negative.
They see them(guys from other countries especially neighbouring ones) as people who've come to 'steal their opportunities'. This is highly unlikely. one can never steal an opportunity. An opportunity is taken advantage of. Simply 'lapped up'. opportunities are quite evasive 'creatures'. When they are not taken up the moment they present themselves, then the next thing is you realise they've done the disappearing act.
My word of advice to Tanzanians: If people from other countries do see the innumerable opportunities that your country has to offer, open your eyes and see them too! The more you continue complaining, the more you close your eyes to the opportunities.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Check out our sister blog...
Hi everynone. Pliz check out our sister blog on Career and Workplace.
Address: http://www.ritch-career.blogspot.com
Thanx.
Address: http://www.ritch-career.blogspot.com
Thanx.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Ghana's game nearly outsmarted the Brazilians but...
Watching Ghana playing Brazil last week in their Round of 16 match made me so proud of being an African. Their game was inundated with expertise, vim, vivacity and a host of good pointers that really spoke well of them. Of course, I don’t want to overlook the fact that they had a flaw in their finishing style. Yes, they got a number of very good chances of scoring but they wasted them due to their lack of finishing tricks. Does this speak to the whole of Africa and in essence tell us that we have so much to tighten if we are ever to do better than most of these so-called ‘world class’ teams? The answer is, of course, a big YES! No doubt about that.
Ghana’s newness to the world cup scenario also was a good pointer that this team has firm ‘guts’ to take on a team as good as Brazil.
After the tug-of-war of a match, some guy who was in the same room as I shouted, rather harshly, that Africa’s dreams had been dashed and that Ghana had let us down. I cast him a rather icy look and, unlike me, felt like slapping him right across his meaty face.
I was just about to open my mouth and try to put one or two points clear to him but decided against it. It would have been a waste of my breath.
Africans, Ghana did not let us down but rather elated our spirits that there are at least some teams in Africa that can do something good in Africa and for Africa.
Their strikers, goalie and defenders kept us at edge of our seats as we moved and swayed with the ball as it ‘fled’ from one corner of our screens to the other.
It was quite a match to watch; and a spectacle to behold.
As we prepare for World Cup 2010 in South Africa, the following are politic thoughts to ponder about:
• African teams need proper training in order to compete effectively in these games.
• African teams need exposure to occidental and oriental football in order to deal effectively with situations that present themselves at these games.
• Our coaches should be ‘state-of-the-art’ and with enough experience and know-how.
• We should not dwell too long in antediluvian ways of playing football. We should modernize our approach to the whole shooting match.
• Allocations for serious strategies should feature in our annual budgets: the stadiums and facilities should be up-to- date. What is happening now is that when African teams go for matches outside the continent they are overly mesmerized by the standards they find in their host countries. So, in essence, instead of playing they are left to rolling their eyes round and about trying to take in the whole scenery and bring it back to Africa! So they end up losing their matches!! {The only logical outcome given the situation}.
I am not a pessimist; neither do I enjoy pessimistic sermons. But I love the truth because it liberates and sets free. Truth be told, Africa has a long way to go as far as good football is concerned but that should not discourage us. We just need to be resilient, tenacious and ready to learn.
Africa 2010 will be a whole new experience. This is my ultimate dream. But a pessimist would say, “That would only happen if the sky opened and a miracle ‘dropped’ from heaven!” But I would quip, “Miracles are very much with us. Miracles do happen and are bound to happen to Africa, in Africa and for Africa!”
See you in the 2010 World Cup matches in South Africa.
Do you think Africa has a chance to show its ribs, brawn and form in the matches?
I need to hear from you…
Ghana’s newness to the world cup scenario also was a good pointer that this team has firm ‘guts’ to take on a team as good as Brazil.
After the tug-of-war of a match, some guy who was in the same room as I shouted, rather harshly, that Africa’s dreams had been dashed and that Ghana had let us down. I cast him a rather icy look and, unlike me, felt like slapping him right across his meaty face.
I was just about to open my mouth and try to put one or two points clear to him but decided against it. It would have been a waste of my breath.
Africans, Ghana did not let us down but rather elated our spirits that there are at least some teams in Africa that can do something good in Africa and for Africa.
Their strikers, goalie and defenders kept us at edge of our seats as we moved and swayed with the ball as it ‘fled’ from one corner of our screens to the other.
It was quite a match to watch; and a spectacle to behold.
As we prepare for World Cup 2010 in South Africa, the following are politic thoughts to ponder about:
• African teams need proper training in order to compete effectively in these games.
• African teams need exposure to occidental and oriental football in order to deal effectively with situations that present themselves at these games.
• Our coaches should be ‘state-of-the-art’ and with enough experience and know-how.
• We should not dwell too long in antediluvian ways of playing football. We should modernize our approach to the whole shooting match.
• Allocations for serious strategies should feature in our annual budgets: the stadiums and facilities should be up-to- date. What is happening now is that when African teams go for matches outside the continent they are overly mesmerized by the standards they find in their host countries. So, in essence, instead of playing they are left to rolling their eyes round and about trying to take in the whole scenery and bring it back to Africa! So they end up losing their matches!! {The only logical outcome given the situation}.
I am not a pessimist; neither do I enjoy pessimistic sermons. But I love the truth because it liberates and sets free. Truth be told, Africa has a long way to go as far as good football is concerned but that should not discourage us. We just need to be resilient, tenacious and ready to learn.
Africa 2010 will be a whole new experience. This is my ultimate dream. But a pessimist would say, “That would only happen if the sky opened and a miracle ‘dropped’ from heaven!” But I would quip, “Miracles are very much with us. Miracles do happen and are bound to happen to Africa, in Africa and for Africa!”
See you in the 2010 World Cup matches in South Africa.
Do you think Africa has a chance to show its ribs, brawn and form in the matches?
I need to hear from you…
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
ARTUR MARGARYAN, SARGASYAN
The guys with the move
For a time now the Kenyan media has been replete with the Artur saga: Artur this…Artur that…Artur here…Artur there.
These brothers clearly got themselves a following. What with the media and ‘celebs’ alike giving them celeb status that they did not deserve{or did they?}
I am made to understand that one of them, Artur Margaryan, was an arrogant type.
He was given to shooting off his mouth at every possible chance and delivering a cocktail of ‘blue blistering barnacles!’.
He was an amorous type too. His fling with Winnie generated heated public debate. We are told that he had a way with ‘them’ ladies. Anyway, I wouldn’t blame them for falling for his money {first thing} and then his looks {second thing}. And with some of us in financial and pecuniary handicaps who wouldn’t anyway.
Then followed their ‘abracadabra’ stunt at the airport {JKIA} that really made us doubt the security even at our very door steps. They had the effrontery to brandish a gun {or how many guns had they?} at one of the presumably well secured areas in our Kenya.
What security, therefore, do you expect at Kayole or Mathare, for instance?
But still they got state security and some top guys in the Kibaki government threw their weight round about them. One of them was Michuki {the guy with rattle snakes in his pockets} who said they were ‘genuine businessmen’. What mid summer madness!!
This guy said ‘…rattling a rattle snake’ after the Standard raid which left many a Kenyan crawling and slithering and steaming and breathless and…hissing!
He came up with a new one ‘genuine businessmen’. Maybe that’s how he viewed them {Arturs} but whom should we blame for his hindsight?
Anyway, all said and done, they were deported. But you and I know it only too well: this was a belated action…belated deportation…belated everything.
Good riddance to the Arturs and we hope this is the last we hear and/or see them. We are already tired of our ‘indigenous’ Arturs. There is no need for ‘expatriate’ ones. But that’s a story for another day.
Winnie, please don’t knife me for making such scathing remarks about your guy, Margaryan. Suffer me this once.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Hail Ghana, Hail Africa
Ghana's goalie Richard Kingson in a merry mood after his team beat the Czechs 2-0
Ghana did us proud yesterday after beating Czechoslovakia 2-0 in their world cup group match.
Sure enough I felt a surge of exhilaration and relief as those goals whizzed past the Czech goalie.
I know that's the same feeling that went down the spines of Africans in the continent and the world over.
Hail Ghana, Hail Africa.
We are with you every step of the way.
Beat the US and you'll have done us a whole world of good.
Climb up that mountain. Go for gold! Go, go, go for it guys... http://www.bigfoto.com/africa/ghana/ghana-80.jpg
Thursday, June 15, 2006
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This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.
The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers’ own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Stop this sleaze; it is driving us mad
Journalists and other media practitioners have their specific place in the society. Without them there would not be balance and justice.
They can and do highlight events. By exposing attempts to cover up criminal activity, they help to restore law and order. The aim of the law is activated and faithfully watched in the formidable spotlight of the media.
Thus the term ‘watchdog of society’ fits it[media] like a ring.
Be that as it may, there is a dark side. Media professionals can and do abuse their freedom some of the time.
Media organizations can and are tempted to peddle lust under the guise of news and entertainment. The so-called “soft porn” [say sexually arousing dancing in music videos] is so rife nowadays that it is just a way of life, thanks to media outlets.
Our streets are littered with countless numbers of publications, newspapers and all, that regularly carry splashes of bare-chested or half-clad women leaving little, if anything, to the imagination.
The centre-folds and subsequent pages carry stories and pictures that are aimed at stirring sexual desire in their faithful readers.
Readers just pay a pittance to make sure that they[readers] keep coming for more of this deleterious, sickening filth!
The very instruments that are the watch dog of the society are the first ones to corrupt the minds of the people they invariably claim to protect.
To protect from what?
To protect from injustice of any kind and manner.
To protect, the young and old alike, from information that would poison the mind.
To allow only the right, clean information to be channeled to the multiple audience stake holders so they can up their minds about what to think.
This is the tall order of the media.
Journalism’s first loyalty is to citizens: always working for the good of the citizen; determined to stand on the roof tops and shout down any manner of moral vice – not trying to glorify the inglorious!
Pornography, in its raw and unexpurgated form, is being flaunted all around our towns courtesy of magazines, newspapers and the internet.
The outlets that release such stuff are increasing by the day. It leaves a question begging for an answer: is censorship an antediluvian, medieval idea that has no place in our present society? [Censorship in the sense of rooting out all manner of ignominy?].
I tend to think censorship is tricky business. In this age of freedom of expression, it is mind-racking to decide what should be blue-penciled and what should not.
The Late Pope John Paul’s Council for Social Communications summed it this way: “The presumption should always be in favour of freedom of expression, for when people follow their natural inclination to exchange ideas and declare their opinions, they are not merely making use of a right. They are performing a social duty.
“Freedom of expression is not an absolute norm. There are obvious instances – for example, libel and slander, messages that seek to foster hatred and conflict, obscenity and pornography, the morbid depiction of violence – where no right to communicate exists.”
The sure fire way to rid society of obscenity and pornography in our mainstream media outlets, that leave distorted minds in their wake, is for the government to use coercion in the censorship practice.
Pornography, in its every sense, makes horrid gaping holes in the right and correct perception of sex.
According to the National Coalition Against Pornography[NCAP], whose offices are in Nairobi, pornography affects all and sundry: men, women, children, marriages and society.
It corrupts and pollutes the invariable user such that impure thoughts constantly flood the mind.
Pornography depicts a woman’s value as solely to provide sexual gratification.
Early exposure to pornography may lead children to promiscuity, criminal sex or even bestiality.
Porn kills marriages. It creates unrealistic demands about sex frequency, specific styles/acts and a woman’s response to sex.
Porn endangers society. Statistics show that most rapists, child abusers and serial killers are insatiable porn consumers.
In these days of HIV/AIDS we cannot afford to continue basking in media ignominy that is otherwise known as entertainment. We have to forcefully extricate ourselves from this abyss. Surely, Africa, if we are to rise up against all odds, then we have to take matters of utter import seriously. Otherwise our children, marriages, youth and literally everything we are and have will forever be lost in this quick sand.
If the media lives up to what it should be, then the society represented will be a well-guarded one.
Someone once said: The press is the people’s university.
How very true. People of all walks glean snippets of knowledge and information from the press that go a long way in influencing them to form personal judgments and opinions.
Information that gives no hoot about moral credence breeds opinions and judgments of the same strain and nature. Journalists have a specific brief. Why should their special mandate be sacrificed on the altar of compromise and complacency?
Let’s take a stand on this and refuse to be blown about by every foreign wind that blows our way.
And that’s the bottom line.
They can and do highlight events. By exposing attempts to cover up criminal activity, they help to restore law and order. The aim of the law is activated and faithfully watched in the formidable spotlight of the media.
Thus the term ‘watchdog of society’ fits it[media] like a ring.
Be that as it may, there is a dark side. Media professionals can and do abuse their freedom some of the time.
Media organizations can and are tempted to peddle lust under the guise of news and entertainment. The so-called “soft porn” [say sexually arousing dancing in music videos] is so rife nowadays that it is just a way of life, thanks to media outlets.
Our streets are littered with countless numbers of publications, newspapers and all, that regularly carry splashes of bare-chested or half-clad women leaving little, if anything, to the imagination.
The centre-folds and subsequent pages carry stories and pictures that are aimed at stirring sexual desire in their faithful readers.
Readers just pay a pittance to make sure that they[readers] keep coming for more of this deleterious, sickening filth!
The very instruments that are the watch dog of the society are the first ones to corrupt the minds of the people they invariably claim to protect.
To protect from what?
To protect from injustice of any kind and manner.
To protect, the young and old alike, from information that would poison the mind.
To allow only the right, clean information to be channeled to the multiple audience stake holders so they can up their minds about what to think.
This is the tall order of the media.
Journalism’s first loyalty is to citizens: always working for the good of the citizen; determined to stand on the roof tops and shout down any manner of moral vice – not trying to glorify the inglorious!
Pornography, in its raw and unexpurgated form, is being flaunted all around our towns courtesy of magazines, newspapers and the internet.
The outlets that release such stuff are increasing by the day. It leaves a question begging for an answer: is censorship an antediluvian, medieval idea that has no place in our present society? [Censorship in the sense of rooting out all manner of ignominy?].
I tend to think censorship is tricky business. In this age of freedom of expression, it is mind-racking to decide what should be blue-penciled and what should not.
The Late Pope John Paul’s Council for Social Communications summed it this way: “The presumption should always be in favour of freedom of expression, for when people follow their natural inclination to exchange ideas and declare their opinions, they are not merely making use of a right. They are performing a social duty.
“Freedom of expression is not an absolute norm. There are obvious instances – for example, libel and slander, messages that seek to foster hatred and conflict, obscenity and pornography, the morbid depiction of violence – where no right to communicate exists.”
The sure fire way to rid society of obscenity and pornography in our mainstream media outlets, that leave distorted minds in their wake, is for the government to use coercion in the censorship practice.
Pornography, in its every sense, makes horrid gaping holes in the right and correct perception of sex.
According to the National Coalition Against Pornography[NCAP], whose offices are in Nairobi, pornography affects all and sundry: men, women, children, marriages and society.
It corrupts and pollutes the invariable user such that impure thoughts constantly flood the mind.
Pornography depicts a woman’s value as solely to provide sexual gratification.
Early exposure to pornography may lead children to promiscuity, criminal sex or even bestiality.
Porn kills marriages. It creates unrealistic demands about sex frequency, specific styles/acts and a woman’s response to sex.
Porn endangers society. Statistics show that most rapists, child abusers and serial killers are insatiable porn consumers.
In these days of HIV/AIDS we cannot afford to continue basking in media ignominy that is otherwise known as entertainment. We have to forcefully extricate ourselves from this abyss. Surely, Africa, if we are to rise up against all odds, then we have to take matters of utter import seriously. Otherwise our children, marriages, youth and literally everything we are and have will forever be lost in this quick sand.
If the media lives up to what it should be, then the society represented will be a well-guarded one.
Someone once said: The press is the people’s university.
How very true. People of all walks glean snippets of knowledge and information from the press that go a long way in influencing them to form personal judgments and opinions.
Information that gives no hoot about moral credence breeds opinions and judgments of the same strain and nature. Journalists have a specific brief. Why should their special mandate be sacrificed on the altar of compromise and complacency?
Let’s take a stand on this and refuse to be blown about by every foreign wind that blows our way.
And that’s the bottom line.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Corruption: miry bog of all manner of scam in Africa
Corruption has been seen as the mainstay of African countries. Many African leaders have soiled their hands with it; Corrupt dealings and corrupt everything...
It pains me, especially, when I think of the many people whose hard-earned money is taken and used by corrupt officials. This is, as they say, to grease their hands so that whatever is being pursued can be accomplished in half the time.
But should people 'pay' for services that are their right to receive without paying for them?
There is also what we call 'high-level' corruption.
This one takes place in the background. This is to say,the players in this game are well cushioned against any kind of detection, especially by the man in the street.
This is corruption that takes place in the 'high' offices; and the stakes in this game are big time!
Paper, pen and computer files do all the 'stealing' of precious tax payers 'coins'.
This really hurts the common man who has entrusted his 'life' to the leaders who engage in such kind of turpitude.
This is the same feeling that drove me to 'scribble' the poem below when I heard and read about the Anglo Leasing scam Kenya recently.
In the days of yore kenyans' political ken suffered such dearth,
Political simulation, stimulation incomprehensible,
Legion political 'achilles heels' looming large in stormy seas,
Such was the tune, of such no panacea promised respite.
With the advent of a new regime,
Political turbulence 'seemed' to be 'burnt to a frazzle',
Hodge-podge politicking was thrown out the window,
Magnified promises to the masses graced the billboards.
Time flew fast and with it came a 'new' breeze,
A recrudescence of past ills set in on our soil,
Power wrangling, 'power fisticuffs' so to speak,
Were replete in our mainstream press.
Then it came our way, a giant two-headed bug,
As it set in, a loud bang ensued,
Then silence, a silence reminiscent of a calm in a storm,
The 'eye of the storm' spinning in murderous frenzy.
Everything in disarray, in shambles,
As the bug wend its way into the coffers,
Lining many a ministers insatiable pocket,
With dollars, pounds, Euros, shillings.
Anglo Leasing's the giant bug,
That has sucked the blood of the 'common mwananchi',
It 'engulfed' my hard-earned supper yesterday,
And cast me a look that bespoke penury in my posterity.
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