Today's judgments...

Just because you're so weak in morals doesn't justify your belief that everyone else is. Hold on! I mean just because you would've been corrupted if you were in some position doesn't prove that the person in that position is as corrupt. Stop judging others by your own misguided inclinations and choices. People are different, and integrity still exists.

Gambia, declaration of assets...

How a political system is ruled can be culture-specific, hence from generally accepted practices we derive specific conditions. That's why in Ghana, public office holders submit a written declaration of their assets and liabilities to the Auditor-General. In Nigeria, it's done through their Code of Conduct Bureau. In Uganda, the Inspectorate General of Government receives such, and it's called Wealth Declaration; some Latin American countries go further to publish it, and some just file it with their parliament or some anti-corruption body - etc.

So, if the Government of the Republic of The Gambia weighs the options and reaches the decision that declarations be done through some government entity but available on a need to know, I wouldn't be too fussy about them publishing the information only for us to come on here to give vent to envy by indicting wealthy ministers, or taunting those ministers who are still living in their fathers' houses, like it was the avoidable banter during that flawed Justice Paul Commission of 2004.

The idea of assets declaration is to check potential conflicts of interests and to keep eye on extraordinary increases in the wealth of public officials. To that, the Constitution made it easy by providing for an independent Auditor General's office, and we have also elected a representative body that will hold government to account, and give the electorate assurance as to the fiscal discipline and actions of public officials. So if you ask me, the chosen mode of declaration is sufficient means to the end intended.

I remember when 'ngunu-ngunu' used to be so rife round here, when the only way that some of us knew to give vent to our political grievances was by not giving vent to it at all, or at best in parables. I remember how I admired those folks in the "Struggle," especially those ladies whose online programmes I religiously followed because they spoke for me, though from beyond boarders.

I remember how listening to sister MamaLinguere's take on the "Fass standoff" got me so pissed at myself and by what seemed the emasculation of the average Gambian young man, and to my friend I taunted: bwoi, with the way shit's going, when freedom's attained and these ladies come back, it'll behoove some of us (men) to ohdu malan (wear wrappers) and go give them the heroes' welcome that they deserve - y'know, go to the airport to 'tachu' for them like: 'la e lay la lah, jiguen yu meun gorr yi nyow nanj.'

I'm glad that's history now. But on a serious note, the point I'm trying to make is that you can only say you weren't, because I know people who have never been a part of the "mumu" crew, who have been speaking up when speaking up wasn't as easy, and when speaking truth to power wasn't as popular. So today, speaking up is perhaps mass-produced and somewhat tautological, but it's not a new product. It's just that... well, rookies will always overdo, but that's alright!

Mtcheew...

Gambia - the prejudices, the 'defa fog neh' accusations, the ‘I think it is, so it is' typa facts, if we do not check the drift, wolahi it will tear us apart, and it'll be a very nasty implosion because we are not as populated... watch it, I have daleel!

For my part, I'm just putting up with the BS because I cannot cut free yet, but really, I so hate to be within a social system where each one's hellbent on indicating some guilt about the next person, and usually falsely like 'jaama jex...' Mtcheew, 'wo buwa ya!'

Not so far from hypocrisy…

"Everything in life takes time, prayer and patience" - that's what most elders bring to play when their kids make demands that they cannot meet; when for instance a certain kid develops that strong impulse to travel on to greener pastures ('napseh' we call it: wanderlust in English).

Well, faithful assurance if you ask me, but the irony is, when it comes to the things that they want these kids to do, like securing a job, getting married, or becoming the 'soutien de famille,' some elders don't empathise at all. In fact, patience and timing no longer apply and I think that's unfair.

Loner!

Certain things in life you can only achieve through others - that's a fact. Does that make you enjoying your own company a bad thing?

The answer's no! Call it self love, especially when the day's the same 'ol, y'know, just a different day perhaps.

You may be accused of being full of yourself, misanthropic or something. I wouldn't judge you because I do that all the time. I do have my own leave me the hell alone moments, so I know better.

The price of altruism…

Being selfless, giving, and standing up for people will always be noble. And from once you’re imbued with the spirit, you may get worked up sometimes but you can’t quit. However, each time you do it, steel yourself for one of two or both - ONE: the ingratitude of the one(s) you stood up for, and/or TWO: the displeasure of the many who’d rather you’d for them 😀 It’s a cold world, yo!

Criticisms for where? Egotistical rubbish more like…

In this new "New Gambia" on here, political standards of right and wrong are usually so subjective, and views so, so unfair because they're largely derived from personal feelings of regard for the politician under discussion.

If the regard is positive, folks will find ways to justify whatever that politician says or does, because it's him. Otherwise, God help the politician for folks will find ways to falsify his and everything about him. Or they'll say "kudos" because his accomplishments are obvious, then they'll append the praise with a big fat "BUT..." [often followed by another unfair negation].

So as I saw the same being done to the Interior Minister, and after watching his interview, I took all the sensational, unreasoning, distorted and irrelevant charges against his, put them all in the bin and labeled it "egotistical rubbish" - y'know, hoping it'll allow him to continue to be active in the production of results.

If you must vent...

If you feel treated in a way that isn't right, and you're gonna vent your spleen, try directing it at the actual cause; it's the honourable thing to do. Taking it out on irrelevant targets, or saying very hurtful things to innocent people is so uncool.

In the event you do the uncool and find it pleasurable, or you feel so relieved afterward, you're a bully. Even Chris Brown believes that bad things are always going to happen in life; he said people will eventually hurt you, but you can't use that as an excuse to hurt someone else.

The state of our democracy...

[Gambia] discounting what's really and truly happening on the ground and taking the seemingly hallucinogenic political pen games and wailings on social media at face value, you'll think that the state of our democracy is ailing and it's not.

In fact, if there's any threat, it's the cantankerous slacktivism on social media, the agenda analysts with vindictive agendas, disgruntled exes and disappointed aspirants, fake Robin Hoods and pretended Edward Snowdens - y'know: of people looking for followers but going nowhere in particular, except for being on every case, jumping to illogical conclusions and thinking the worst of everything, like:

'WAIT, DID THE INTERIOR MINISTER SAY THE SENEGALESE ARE OUR BROTHERS? OH SHIT, THIS GOVERNMENT'S SOLD ITS SOUL TO SENEGAL. RUN DREAD, RUN TO CASSAMANCE AND SAFE YOURSELF.' - but, really?

So naive...

He bumped into this marabout pretending con somewhere in town, told him that if the doors to his success were seven, only one was accessible, and that he could get him access to the other doors, if he pays him a certain amount of cash. To back this theory up, he was told stories about himself. But as usual, the stories did add up because they were obvious.

Dude couldn't refuse to budge on the offer - he paid through his nose. At least two years now, no call, no show from the marabout and dude's still in denial. He's still acting smart because he went to school, consoling himself by taking the con for a "jinn," and said spirits like that appear but usually once. So he still awaits that beneficial fortune... Idiot! I wish I could ask this fraud to come and dupe you more.

Rats, they are everywhere..

Every environment has at least two spineless, backstabbing, two-faced rats - always into everybody's business just to tell everyone's business.

Zero loyalty - so they can lie about the same people they lie to, just to save their own skin. When they need attention or favours, or are scared of losing what they undeservedly have, they will bitch, snitch and ditch even those thought to be their friends.

I don't know, sometimes I think they just want to create conflict between people; y'know, perhaps some malicious enjoyment they derive from seeing others in trouble. May we not be like them, but may we know them, shame them and burn them.

A'udhu billahi min al munafiq and nifaq like that.

Priorities and pry-orities...

We can achieve a lot if we try to prioritise our own goals rather than pry-oritising other people's for them. Don't look up the word “pry-oritise,” because you won’t find it. I coined it to mean: snooping or prying into someone else’s personal life, with a view to pointing out the things you prejudicially think should be most important for the person; meanwhile, your own priorities are so messed up.

It's like what Mavado said in his "Progress" song: "Duppy bat na'ave no direction. And a dem a try lead you." LOL

Example - Karim used his own money to buy a car, because where he lives is so remote that owning a good ride is a necessity. Now some snooper who'd rather the man struggles with mobility like everyone else is calling Karim wasteful, and identifying gratuitous things on which the man should've spent his money. Around people like that, you cannot even disclose how much you buy your stuff for, lest they'll say it's a waste (yaha la), or you were duped (denjla nax), and that can be so annoying.

Patience is still a virtue...

In this crocodile world, I wish I could confirm that hard work will always meet with success. What I can assuredly say is that patience always pays off. It's a virtue; it vindicates.

Once upon a time, shit happened and I thought I couldn't take it. Almost vindictive I became - so I averred: bring it on! War you want? War you'll bomboclaat get.

A trusted adviser suggested unto I: "I know you're pissed and it's justified. Still, seek help through patience and prayer." Spare me that consolation, I retorted. But I tried anyways. Today, I see eyes that cannot even look at me, humiliated tongues and disgraced fingers once pointed at me. Now I am here 'effing their feelings and it feels good.

2017 Gambia and the July 22 1994 Celebration...

Like some disgruntled divorcée insisting upon her ex to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Ain't that funny? Same way, the July 22 Revolution was overtaken by the Democratic Revolution of December 2016. If for democratic reasons we cannot celebrate the anniversary of that political divorce, celebrating the ex-union is open disrespect, willful disobedience and a show of disdain for the will of the people.

Really, when they say a democratic government is one in which the populace is so free that they're feared by powers that be, the fear is metaphorical. It's about the government recognising their own boundaries beyond which they'll oppress, respecting the rights and powers of the populace, and treating them as worthy of it. But that doesn't mean that the populace can go about terrorising the state and its administration in the name of democracy.

Wait, even if the AFPRC was a kind of causation by which the APRC was born, even with the same DNA, politically, the entities were different. One was a council of a military dictatorship and the other (as was supposed) a democracy. So, just like the party cannot be credited for July 22nd 1994, hijacking the rest of the junta's to celebrate the day as APRC's rather than some day in 1996 when the party was formed was an anomaly, perhaps just condoned against the will that we now have.

We don't have to agree - we just need to understand each other...

Before going to bed, she’ll say: “yalnanj ehwor bena bena” (may we wake up on our own - one at a time) - amen!

A whole community NOT waking up at precisely 04:30 in the morning is a sign of situational normalcy. It confirms the absence of communal chaos. Same way, not agreeing on everything all the time is healthful. It means that thoughts, inclinations and choices are unforced.

However, we gotta listen to each other to cultivate respect, and knowing that even in the desert you'll find an oasis. I mean even my wrist watch that seems to be stuck at 8:30 is correct twice a day. By listening, we understand, and when we are willing to understand each other, we will become more tolerant, even if we don’t accept each other's position(s).

Yay, I was a source of inspiration! lol

Wowed by her almost flawless command of the English language, I asked where she schooled at. She said: "I'm a dropout." Don't say that girl; it's belittling, I replied. Where I come from, we'll call you "an early school leaver," and I suggested she says so.

It was one hell of a chat, but the good thing was, we agreed that school that she left perhaps provides the most popular access to education, but not the only source. The discussion ended in her motivation to learn a skill.

Couple years later - last week precisely, we met, and I was like: wow, look at you. I won't ask; you're definitely doing good. She laughed and said: "I know. I'm now a cosmetologist, and largely thanks to you," she added.

Now ain't that a beautiful feeling - I mean knowing how uplifting you're perceived? In this our age, like DJ Khaled, I believe it's one thing watching one's back, but more importantly when you get out the shower, dry your back. It's a cold world out there, especially for a young lady.

Our fleeting support...

So I checked my subscriptions; half the Facebook forums that used to be the thing on here are dead alive, and it's not like they were no longer serving their purposes. But that's what's up when typical Gambia supports your cause. Enjoy and make the most of it while it lasts.

Whether a thing of loyalty or we just get bored too quickly I don't know. What I know is, patronage round here is at best a honeymoon, at worst a crush. We can give you the benefit of the doubt, treat yours like there’s no other, but that’s usually because a fresh alternative hasn’t presented itself yet. Look what we did to Sultan when McCaesar's came and what we are about to do to them too and that’s no threat.

The "#NewGambia" Debates still...

On the sidelines on Facebook, I see folks cry foul as if they're being denied the right to become today's Bayard Rustin  - y'know, "speaking truth to power" and all. In one forum, one couldn't vindicate an argument, so he blamed it on the spirit of moderation being upheld. He was like: "Dammit! Why y'all catch feels when people attack (he meant criticise) the government... is it a crime?" He rabbled.

In my head I was like, certainly not; speak up, bredda! But, wait... must you also forcibly impose your dissent on others like that; or is assent the new crime? Is it fair to refer to others as "sheep," just because they haven't seen the crying shame and incompetence that you see in everyone and everything? Can't you see that ours is a society where beliefs (including yours) are largely driven by emotions? Why must what's deserving criticism or not deserving praise be absolute?

So, before taking my sabbatical I concluded that in this New "#NewGambia" one here, political debate is just one big old seesaw between preferences and facts, hence a political roller-coaster. This is why one minute everything seems democratic, then it resembles partisanship straight up, and next: 3, 2, 1, bam! It's antiestablishmentarianism, yo!

And once upon a time, we did it so well that I was so naive thinking that our solidarity for change was all love. Apparently, it wasn't. Now it's clear that we were because of the suffering at the time. Ours was solidarity without attention to the active opposition within. We were sparing no effort against tyranny... Here's to wishing this assessment is wrong.

The Gambia - interesting times...

Any system of leadership that succeeds idiocracy will resemble geniocracy, but until a situation arises where successor-bashing alone is not enough, a situation where there's conflict between what needs to be done and what people would rather see you do, and you have to decide; a decision that may appear as if a leaf borrowed from the predecessor's playbook.

Those followers who are imbued with reason will overstand. Those who took the change of leadership for a grant to operate outside established laws and norms will start to reevaluate their patronage. Me? I spectate still. By the way, I see KMC's trending; interesting times in The Gambia... even seen people squelching logic with metaphors. So creative if you ask me.

The "#NewGambia" today...

Once upon a time, my friend was coming from school in Banjul. At the Bakau junction, OJ (then a Minister under the First Republic) drove past as they look for a ride home. He pulled over, reversed to where they were. In his ministerial Mercedes he took in the kids and gave the rest D25 each. From that day on, my boy became an OJ disciple, and by his account I also became one. This is just to show how inexpensive goodwill is, and how I love it when a person of influence is imbued with the spirit of the common man.

Couple years ago, I was coming from the Traffic Lights going to the Independence Stadium to play ball. By the Glory Baptist, I saw a speeding presidential convoy coming. Typical of the time, the escort was occupying both lanes and even parts of the walkway, narrowing my options to making a shoulder drop-off, risking a scrape, or even breaking my bottom plate than getting into a head-on.

Today, July 5, 2017, between the Pipeline Mosque and Africell, I chanced upon President Barrow's convoy. As undivided a highway as Kairaba Avenue is, his kept to its lane without disturbing the opposing flow of traffic. Cosmetic or genuine I don't care, it was an honourable act. It rebuilt my faith in the restoration of my rights and dignity as a citizen of this country, like we have all the time been yearning for.... and the convoy though militarised, it was so moderate in speed that I could see and confirm that indeed, a lady doesn't come much classier than our First Lady. If you know her, tell her I said her presidential wave is dope. In fact, tell the First Family to stay as humble as I think they are; it will take them far.

Humans...

We think we are so smart that we can modify the natural order of things and nothing will happen. We think we can defy the twelfth verse of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew and be loved regardless.

So we create a harmattan in Manhattan, and we say: oh, it’s just climate change - serious troubles! Then we spend our whole existence trying to troubleshoot the same troubles that we created by doing all what God said we shouldn't. You see, Confucius is right: “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

Another thing: correcting one’s mistake doesn’t operate on autopilot; it requires hands-on. So the onus is on the one who committed the mistake to accept and make up for it. Otherwise, one may end up devoting a huge amount of one’s time trying to fix what the military calls: ‘SNAFU’ (Situation Normal, All Fucked Up) or ‘FUBAR’ (Fucked Up Beyond All Repair).

Tribalism...

Just like Buju said: "tief neva love fi see tief wid long bag." Same way, most whose decisions would've been tribally driven tend to tribalise other people's decisions and preferences because they themselves are tribalists.

According to me, their tribalistic sentiments and cooking of allegations from non-issues are usually because their preferred or tribe-favoured options aren't possible, and because they're tribal supremacists like that, they stoke the tribal card.

Can't vibe with someone like that...

Even more depressing than dealing with apathetic people is trying to vibe with someone who's so self invested that he trivialises everyone else's just to impose his emergencies upon others.

Someone said such people can see you on life support, pull the plug just to charge their phone. Like: what that hell, can't you see I cannot breath? Oh, just a few minutes, I'm expecting an international call... fyah burn buwa ya like that!

Survival isn't a fair fight...

Survival isn't a fair fight, that's a fact. But in this our privatised world where obligation is becoming increasingly exclusive, where who wins and who loses is premeditated, where the name one drops as reference is proof of ability, more like all one needs to get a fight rigged in one's favour, like dad's father's once did pops, you wonder if the root cause of this unfair fight is in fact natural.

Here's my "conspiracy" theory regarding perpetration: the powerful few, those who keep tipping the scales when they want theirs to win the fight, those who unduly raise the bar so that some will live and die as peons, and the selfish complacency of some doormats. Allow that to marinate whilst I sell some dope... oops! I mean some hope to the hopeless.

Like I told the young man selling socks and hand towels at Westfield: never let anyone to downplay your grind. Screw all the lies that they'll indict you for. Some people were born to succeed and you're one of them. I told him that he doesn't necessarily have to inherit it or win it to be it, that it takes time, persistence and a lot of going against the odds, but by God, he'll break out. For the record, I'm not disgruntled. I'm just glad that God did not grant my request for a pistol at eighteen, because I might not have lived beyond nineteen, and certainly wouldn't have seen things the way I see them at these post-teens.