About 60 % of the Brazilian population (185 millions) is regarded as black but the majority of them live in deep-rooted poverty and misery. Brazil gives the impression of being the country of multiculturalism and hybridity from the outside but institutional racism is the norm rather than the exception in this South American Giant.
The number of blacks who have attended university studies or have had successful carriers are not more than the number of our fingers. You have all sorts of mixture in Brazil in terms of the human race. It is indeed a mosaic of different cultures and races. Yet blacks are not well represented neither in parliament nor in government. There were two black ministers once upon a time: Edson Arantes Do Nascimento Pele as a sports minister and Gilberto Gil as a minister of culture......OBRIGAdO :-)
The poorest of the poor, the most vulnerable of all and the most endangered group are blacks. The structures of Slavery and Colonialism are still kept in tact. There are thousands of Brazilian tourists here in Argentina but I have only seen three blacks out of all these Brazilians.
When I ask those white Brazilians who are staying at my hostel....why there are no black Brazilian tourists?....They would say....the blacks are poor and barely live but survive and
"they do not want to change their fate...". I was of course shocked by their answer and tried to shed some historical facts and lights but to no avail.
The middle and upper class white Brazilians do not seem to understand that they are part and parcel of the problem and they are the ones to be blamed for the situation. President Lula was once a poor man who worked as a shoe-shine boy but has not done what he promised during his presidential compaign...to eradicate poverty.
Some things have improved but institutional and structural racism exists and Brazil is the most racist country on the planet earth right now.
söndag 28 december 2008
Eat the rich!!!
Scenario 1
A poor guy in Arequipa, Peru.....goes into a boutique where they sale clothes. He throws away his trousers which are tornapart. He puts on a new one and tries to run away from the place. The owner catches him and calls the police which arrive at the spot and try to take off the new trousers from his body.
He refuses and tries to flee but he fails and is put under extreme pressue. He eventually gives up and has to return back the new trousers. He does not want to get back his old ones and just runs away naked from the spot by hitting violently everything on his way. .....
I just happened to be there and did not know what was happening until I found out that the guy was just trying to "buy" new trousers for free. I wanted to pay for him but at the moment when I realized the whole issue.....he had been chased away by the police and he was out of control. I felt very bad and could not understand the brutality of the shopowner and the police.
Scenario 2
The poor in Santa Cruz, Bolivia live in an extreme poverty while the rich white live in luxury. 18 farmers who were going home after a pro-government demonstration were gunned down by the oligarchi in september. This injustice and racism is a daily life for the majority of the Bolivians and Evo Morales is trying to change this situation.
Scenario 3
A man is put down on the street by ten policemen...in Buenos Aires, Argentina because he has tried to "rob" a shop. Hundreds of people who are shopping stand there and enjoy the scene. There was nothing I could do except feeling more frustration and rage over the whole thing. The masses are always the asses....
I am not advocating robbery or burglary.....but in a world full of socio-economic and political injustice, some individuals can not be denounced and described as different human beings because of their actions which probably are not in line with general wisdom but it is understandable to a certain extent. A hungry man is an angry man and has the right to obtain food by any means necessary.......
Whether that means using violence or not is another issue beyond the scope of this articele. I just want you to question "the new world order and Laissez fair state"..which does not take responsibility for the citizens of the country.....the market is our Godfather which shall create justice and equality.......bullshitting............
A poor guy in Arequipa, Peru.....goes into a boutique where they sale clothes. He throws away his trousers which are tornapart. He puts on a new one and tries to run away from the place. The owner catches him and calls the police which arrive at the spot and try to take off the new trousers from his body.
He refuses and tries to flee but he fails and is put under extreme pressue. He eventually gives up and has to return back the new trousers. He does not want to get back his old ones and just runs away naked from the spot by hitting violently everything on his way. .....
I just happened to be there and did not know what was happening until I found out that the guy was just trying to "buy" new trousers for free. I wanted to pay for him but at the moment when I realized the whole issue.....he had been chased away by the police and he was out of control. I felt very bad and could not understand the brutality of the shopowner and the police.
Scenario 2
The poor in Santa Cruz, Bolivia live in an extreme poverty while the rich white live in luxury. 18 farmers who were going home after a pro-government demonstration were gunned down by the oligarchi in september. This injustice and racism is a daily life for the majority of the Bolivians and Evo Morales is trying to change this situation.
Scenario 3
A man is put down on the street by ten policemen...in Buenos Aires, Argentina because he has tried to "rob" a shop. Hundreds of people who are shopping stand there and enjoy the scene. There was nothing I could do except feeling more frustration and rage over the whole thing. The masses are always the asses....
I am not advocating robbery or burglary.....but in a world full of socio-economic and political injustice, some individuals can not be denounced and described as different human beings because of their actions which probably are not in line with general wisdom but it is understandable to a certain extent. A hungry man is an angry man and has the right to obtain food by any means necessary.......
Whether that means using violence or not is another issue beyond the scope of this articele. I just want you to question "the new world order and Laissez fair state"..which does not take responsibility for the citizens of the country.....the market is our Godfather which shall create justice and equality.......bullshitting............
Save water....drink beer!
Water is the most important resource which is underrated. The next big conflict across the world is gonna be because of water...from the middle-east to the horn of Africa.....from Alaska to Tanganica.........From Titicaca to Antarctica......
Yet, people have not taken this issue so seriously........it is strange..........
Yet, people have not taken this issue so seriously........it is strange..........
lördag 27 december 2008
My nation is not without destination....despite the sophistification...
Discredited, dismantled, abandoned, dissenchented,
alienated, bewildered,exiled by the walls of Babylon-----------
It is not about black or white....
It is about what is right...........
Do not be afraid of your own shadow...
The shortest distance between people is smile
02:12 saturday morning.....Buenos Aires time...
Drunk people at hostel colonial.........
Many Brazilians......a Colombian,
An Eritrean who is the only one keeping the African flag up
Backpacking to where and from where......
Ainai..not running from myself.....
reflection, deflation in the abomination of my own nation..
I have not been where I am heading to.....
Oriental, occidental, accidental, incidential..
alienated, bewildered,exiled by the walls of Babylon-----------
It is not about black or white....
It is about what is right...........
Do not be afraid of your own shadow...
The shortest distance between people is smile
02:12 saturday morning.....Buenos Aires time...
Drunk people at hostel colonial.........
Many Brazilians......a Colombian,
An Eritrean who is the only one keeping the African flag up
Backpacking to where and from where......
Ainai..not running from myself.....
reflection, deflation in the abomination of my own nation..
I have not been where I am heading to.....
Oriental, occidental, accidental, incidential..
torsdag 25 december 2008
Boca juniors has Swedish connections!
Boca Juniors won the Argentinian championchip yesterday even if they lost the last match against my team TIGRE 1-0. I watched the match on TV with some friends in a bar.This city went crazy. .....
The two teams from Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors and River Plate shared the same neighborhood once upon a time. They had even the same jersey but once their rivalry got out of hand, one of them had to move out from the area called Boca.
That was going to be decided by a match between them and the loser had to leave. Boca Juniors won that match and River Plate left the neighborhood. The other question of which team should keep the original jersey had to be determined by another match once again. Boca Juniors lost that match and had to find a new jersey but they did not know which colour to have.
So they decided to go to the port and take the colour of the ship which would arrive at the port first. That boat happened to be from Sweden and Boca Juniors has therefore had the blue and yellow jersey since that time. An interesting piece of history....
I have started to like Buenos Aires more and more.... I am searching for a room to rent now. I would like to study or work with something in here as well. Education is free here in Argentina. I should probably try to get my driving licence if I am gonna be around for some time. I can have Buenos Aires as my base and travel around to the neghboring countries from here. I am intending to go to Urugay on friday. It is just a couple of hours journey by boat.
I currently live in a hostel where I have to the share the room with 8 people at times. Some snore and break the wind the whole night.......a nice experience for a short while but not in the long run.
I like the tango atmosphere where taxi drivers put a classic tango on the tape recorder or you would watch tango dancers performing on the street. One thing that I do not like is "cubierto" which means that you have to pay an extra charge for having used a fork in most of the restaurants here in Buenos Aires.
I hope that you are enjoying your X-mas. This is my fifth time celebrating it outside Sweden and I do not miss it at all......
The two teams from Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors and River Plate shared the same neighborhood once upon a time. They had even the same jersey but once their rivalry got out of hand, one of them had to move out from the area called Boca.
That was going to be decided by a match between them and the loser had to leave. Boca Juniors won that match and River Plate left the neighborhood. The other question of which team should keep the original jersey had to be determined by another match once again. Boca Juniors lost that match and had to find a new jersey but they did not know which colour to have.
So they decided to go to the port and take the colour of the ship which would arrive at the port first. That boat happened to be from Sweden and Boca Juniors has therefore had the blue and yellow jersey since that time. An interesting piece of history....
I have started to like Buenos Aires more and more.... I am searching for a room to rent now. I would like to study or work with something in here as well. Education is free here in Argentina. I should probably try to get my driving licence if I am gonna be around for some time. I can have Buenos Aires as my base and travel around to the neghboring countries from here. I am intending to go to Urugay on friday. It is just a couple of hours journey by boat.
I currently live in a hostel where I have to the share the room with 8 people at times. Some snore and break the wind the whole night.......a nice experience for a short while but not in the long run.
I like the tango atmosphere where taxi drivers put a classic tango on the tape recorder or you would watch tango dancers performing on the street. One thing that I do not like is "cubierto" which means that you have to pay an extra charge for having used a fork in most of the restaurants here in Buenos Aires.
I hope that you are enjoying your X-mas. This is my fifth time celebrating it outside Sweden and I do not miss it at all......
måndag 22 december 2008
Why should black leaders die so young???
Patrice Lubumba, Steve Beko, Thomas Sankara, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Marshall, Kabral, Nkurmah...e.t..c...have all been killed by the vicious murderers of the west.
Many fear that Obama shall face the same fate.............hope that it will not happen but I am pretty pessimistic about the American political landscape and its willingness to allow Obama change the status quo.
As we are heading for x-mas and New year's eve, we can only try to do our utmost to become even better individuals than ever before.
Promises come and go...........as years do but with some patience and persverance, we can get where we want to get no matter the obstacles and hurdles during the journey.
Many fear that Obama shall face the same fate.............hope that it will not happen but I am pretty pessimistic about the American political landscape and its willingness to allow Obama change the status quo.
As we are heading for x-mas and New year's eve, we can only try to do our utmost to become even better individuals than ever before.
Promises come and go...........as years do but with some patience and persverance, we can get where we want to get no matter the obstacles and hurdles during the journey.
söndag 21 december 2008
torsdag 18 december 2008
Cry blood Argentina!
Nothing impresses me these days........I arrived to Argentina on monday and the Argentinian army and police have already been unfriendly to me. They have a difficulty in accepting that I own my laptop and am travelling on my own across the continent.
Age is may be taking its toll.........but once I have come to my destinations......I just look forward to getting on board with the next bus to the next place. Restlesness and bewilderment is my mood right now.
Travelling is an internal and external journey which exausts both the mental and physical strength. I am extremly exausted right now......but the tangoland has a lot more to offer and I shall be enjoying my time here once I get myself on the right track.
Age is may be taking its toll.........but once I have come to my destinations......I just look forward to getting on board with the next bus to the next place. Restlesness and bewilderment is my mood right now.
Travelling is an internal and external journey which exausts both the mental and physical strength. I am extremly exausted right now......but the tangoland has a lot more to offer and I shall be enjoying my time here once I get myself on the right track.
fredag 12 december 2008
Masked Shoe-shine boys in La Paz!
I have been here in Bolivia for almost a week now........Copacabana, La Paz, Cochabamba and currently in Santa Cruz. It seems to be a rainy season in most part of Bolivia but here in Santa Cruz, it is 30 degree celsius......hot. It is not as a beautiful city as I thought it would be. Pretty boring so far but I might change my viewpoint in due time.....
The impression of La Paz was ....too many people, cars and a traffic chaos. It is understandable that there are many cars in this country as a liter of petrol costs below 0.10 cents $.
The unforgettable image is though the masked shoe-shine boys in La Paz......they walk around all over the city hoping to get somebody who wants to get his shoes shined. They are regarded as outcasts by the society and mask therefore their faces in shame. What a shameful world we are living in!
I have never seen as many volvo trucks as in Cochabamba...........I wonder why..... The cementry was a magnificent scene as well in this town as the grave monuments were so huge and looked like houses.
The sunny islands outside Copacabana are worth visiting.
The impression of La Paz was ....too many people, cars and a traffic chaos. It is understandable that there are many cars in this country as a liter of petrol costs below 0.10 cents $.
The unforgettable image is though the masked shoe-shine boys in La Paz......they walk around all over the city hoping to get somebody who wants to get his shoes shined. They are regarded as outcasts by the society and mask therefore their faces in shame. What a shameful world we are living in!
I have never seen as many volvo trucks as in Cochabamba...........I wonder why..... The cementry was a magnificent scene as well in this town as the grave monuments were so huge and looked like houses.
The sunny islands outside Copacabana are worth visiting.
lördag 6 december 2008
From Laptopia to Copacabana-A Bumpy Road and concrete jungle!!!!
I am in Copacabana, Bolivia now. I arrived here a couple of hours ago. The peruvian migration police fined me 8 dollars for having overstayed in the country and another 10 dollars for "adminstration purposes".
It is just a form of corruption because I am supposed to be able to stay in the country for 90 days without a visa. They told me that I had permission only for 60 days and therefore had to pay 1 dollar for each day I stayed over.
It has been very dramatic three days in Puno, Peru. I went to some islands close to Puno for a couple of days on tuesday morning and had left my laptop in a luggage and another backpacker in the reception at the hotel.
When I came back to the hotel on wodensday afternoon, I only got the backpacker but not the little luggage with my laptop. The guy in the reception could not find it and started calling around to find out where it was. He told me to take it easy and not to rush to the police.
As I was so angry and frustrated, I went to the police and informed them about the situation and came back to the hotel with a big policeman and woman who interrogated the guy who works there.
After a little while, the hotel owner arrived and gave some explanation about what might have happened to my bag. According to her, there had been a group of tourists from Lima who left in the morning and they might have taken it with them by misstake. It was hard to believe it and I told her that I would continue with the police procedure which I did with her.
Her version or theory turned out to be true as we were informed the next day early in the morning that the bag had indeed gone to Lima with the people from there and would be sent to me to Puno as soon as possible. The police were very cooperative and I took it cool and was at some point entertaining the idea of having lost my laptop.
The hotel owner allowed me to stay in the fine hotel room for 2 days with out paying as it was their fault. The papper work and the number of people involved in this case is beyond anyone's comprhension but that is the way things work here.
I am such a lucky person! I got back my bag with the laptop and the clothes yesterday evening. Only a couple of sandals are missed. Who really cares about that right now...::?
Sandal scandal!
The case has been cancelled. A lawyer worked out the legal aspect of the whole issue when I had to withdraw my complaint.
What an experience and adventure!
It is just a form of corruption because I am supposed to be able to stay in the country for 90 days without a visa. They told me that I had permission only for 60 days and therefore had to pay 1 dollar for each day I stayed over.
It has been very dramatic three days in Puno, Peru. I went to some islands close to Puno for a couple of days on tuesday morning and had left my laptop in a luggage and another backpacker in the reception at the hotel.
When I came back to the hotel on wodensday afternoon, I only got the backpacker but not the little luggage with my laptop. The guy in the reception could not find it and started calling around to find out where it was. He told me to take it easy and not to rush to the police.
As I was so angry and frustrated, I went to the police and informed them about the situation and came back to the hotel with a big policeman and woman who interrogated the guy who works there.
After a little while, the hotel owner arrived and gave some explanation about what might have happened to my bag. According to her, there had been a group of tourists from Lima who left in the morning and they might have taken it with them by misstake. It was hard to believe it and I told her that I would continue with the police procedure which I did with her.
Her version or theory turned out to be true as we were informed the next day early in the morning that the bag had indeed gone to Lima with the people from there and would be sent to me to Puno as soon as possible. The police were very cooperative and I took it cool and was at some point entertaining the idea of having lost my laptop.
The hotel owner allowed me to stay in the fine hotel room for 2 days with out paying as it was their fault. The papper work and the number of people involved in this case is beyond anyone's comprhension but that is the way things work here.
I am such a lucky person! I got back my bag with the laptop and the clothes yesterday evening. Only a couple of sandals are missed. Who really cares about that right now...::?
Sandal scandal!
The case has been cancelled. A lawyer worked out the legal aspect of the whole issue when I had to withdraw my complaint.
What an experience and adventure!
fredag 5 december 2008
Consumtion to death.....
I hope that your x-mas shall be a thoughtful one with less material consumtion. An AfricanAmerican man was killed in New York the other day when a stampede broke out while people were running to shop clothes from wal-mart.
This is a human tragedy ,for the 34 year old man who worked as a security guard, his family and friends, of a paramount magnitude.....yet ordinary people reacted as if nothing had happened and some were even heard saying...."I have been waiting since yesterday morning!"So they continued with their shopping.
I wonder what is going on with humanity.......globalization has meant consuming to death. People are afraid of confronting themselves and the reality which we are living in. They think that they will be more happy if they use more. What a horrible attitude!
This is a human tragedy ,for the 34 year old man who worked as a security guard, his family and friends, of a paramount magnitude.....yet ordinary people reacted as if nothing had happened and some were even heard saying...."I have been waiting since yesterday morning!"So they continued with their shopping.
I wonder what is going on with humanity.......globalization has meant consuming to death. People are afraid of confronting themselves and the reality which we are living in. They think that they will be more happy if they use more. What a horrible attitude!
lördag 29 november 2008
Cafe y Vino!
My dream life here in Arequipa,Peru is coming to an end tomorrow sunday. I shall be leaving to Puno in the southeast of Peru on monday. I will stay there for at least three days and then shall continue to Copacabana,Bolivia......Chile, Argentina by bus..............etc....
I had a farewell party at a friend's bar which is called Cafe y Vino.....the best one in this city. I was the DJ for the most of the night and we rocked it until the woe hours of the morning.
Two incidents stick out though: first I thought that I had lost the network card for the wireless connection of my laptop. One guy was suspected of stealing it and we had to look for him around the garden where a folklore musicfestival was taking place. We eventually found him and had to search his pockets and the whole body including his shoes but to no avail.
He was claiming to be innocent all the time but the people around were certain of his gultiness. He turned out to be a nice gentleman who took the situation easily. I had forgotten that I had put the staff in my bag.
The guy had left by the time I discovered it ........but had aplologized to him and bought him a glas of red wine before he departed from the bar. I still feel bad about it!!! I have only experienced one attempt of robbery here in Peru before. One guy tried to open my bag and when I felt that something was going on and confronted the guy.....he just pretended not to have done anything and walked away.
The other incident was that my friend/sister/ spanish teacher Milena fell down on the dancing floor while dacing to an Eritrean rythm with me. I was holding her up and lost my balance (may be I took one too many beer and wine....:-))........she hit the floor right on the face. For a moment, everybody thought that she was injured seriously and might need some medication...as she was crying and had a lot of pain.
I felt guilty and wanted to hurt myself. I inflicted a lot of injuries to her teeth which was bleeding a little bit. Fortunately, it was not that bad........and she was fit after some turbulent minutes which felt like hours. We are going to a dentist now........what a night in Arequipa, Peru!
Bolivia.....is the next destination and look forward to having a great time in there as well. The Bolivians advice foreigners: to avoid soroche(altitude sickness), in La paz.......camina lentito, come poquito....y duerme solito( walk slowly, eat only a little bit....and sleep by your poor little self), especially on the first day or two.
I had a farewell party at a friend's bar which is called Cafe y Vino.....the best one in this city. I was the DJ for the most of the night and we rocked it until the woe hours of the morning.
Two incidents stick out though: first I thought that I had lost the network card for the wireless connection of my laptop. One guy was suspected of stealing it and we had to look for him around the garden where a folklore musicfestival was taking place. We eventually found him and had to search his pockets and the whole body including his shoes but to no avail.
He was claiming to be innocent all the time but the people around were certain of his gultiness. He turned out to be a nice gentleman who took the situation easily. I had forgotten that I had put the staff in my bag.
The guy had left by the time I discovered it ........but had aplologized to him and bought him a glas of red wine before he departed from the bar. I still feel bad about it!!! I have only experienced one attempt of robbery here in Peru before. One guy tried to open my bag and when I felt that something was going on and confronted the guy.....he just pretended not to have done anything and walked away.
The other incident was that my friend/sister/ spanish teacher Milena fell down on the dancing floor while dacing to an Eritrean rythm with me. I was holding her up and lost my balance (may be I took one too many beer and wine....:-))........she hit the floor right on the face. For a moment, everybody thought that she was injured seriously and might need some medication...as she was crying and had a lot of pain.
I felt guilty and wanted to hurt myself. I inflicted a lot of injuries to her teeth which was bleeding a little bit. Fortunately, it was not that bad........and she was fit after some turbulent minutes which felt like hours. We are going to a dentist now........what a night in Arequipa, Peru!
Bolivia.....is the next destination and look forward to having a great time in there as well. The Bolivians advice foreigners: to avoid soroche(altitude sickness), in La paz.......camina lentito, come poquito....y duerme solito( walk slowly, eat only a little bit....and sleep by your poor little self), especially on the first day or two.
måndag 24 november 2008
Mi exilio ha terminado...yo soy Arequipeño....???
I have been here in Peru for almost two months now and love the country. I am currently having some thoughts about my next destination............Bolivia , Chile or both before I end up in Argentina around X-mas......what a life!!! I am expecting a high level delegation from Sweden to arrive in Buenos Aires on christmas day.
I have been studying and working as a voluntary for the last two months. My life as a backpacker has not therefore started as yet. Having lived with two different Peruvian families, my personal understanding of this society has enhanced enormously. I have also got a holistic perspective on the situation in here.
P.S. Have you ever thought why things are called as they do........why you have been given the name that you have, your country, city...e.t.c. ...?
Liberia comes from the word Liberty and the capital Monrovia got its name from the then president of the USA who forced thousands of "free slaves" to return "home." The capital of sierra Leone freetown has also the same historical background as a new "home" for "free slaves." Ethiopia means black or burned face.......Addis Ababa......meaning new flower.....Eritrea meaning .....Red Sea....
Having been born and lived in exile and exposed to many cultures for years....the question of where "home" is puzzling me as never before. This city Arequipa makes me feel comfortable thanks to all the wondeful people that I have met here but it would be more than exaggerating if I was gonna call this place my home.
There is nothing called home for me ....one can have different homes....HUMANIA is probably the closest to home I could get. Your are always self-exiled in different circumstances.....the search itself is the most interesting and fascinating part of being a homosapien.
I have been studying and working as a voluntary for the last two months. My life as a backpacker has not therefore started as yet. Having lived with two different Peruvian families, my personal understanding of this society has enhanced enormously. I have also got a holistic perspective on the situation in here.
P.S. Have you ever thought why things are called as they do........why you have been given the name that you have, your country, city...e.t.c. ...?
Liberia comes from the word Liberty and the capital Monrovia got its name from the then president of the USA who forced thousands of "free slaves" to return "home." The capital of sierra Leone freetown has also the same historical background as a new "home" for "free slaves." Ethiopia means black or burned face.......Addis Ababa......meaning new flower.....Eritrea meaning .....Red Sea....
Having been born and lived in exile and exposed to many cultures for years....the question of where "home" is puzzling me as never before. This city Arequipa makes me feel comfortable thanks to all the wondeful people that I have met here but it would be more than exaggerating if I was gonna call this place my home.
There is nothing called home for me ....one can have different homes....HUMANIA is probably the closest to home I could get. Your are always self-exiled in different circumstances.....the search itself is the most interesting and fascinating part of being a homosapien.
onsdag 12 november 2008
Haile Selassie is not a Messiah!
"The crowning of the King/Emperor in Ethiopia, Africa in 1930 was considered by many bible-reading lay/regular black folk to be the fullfillment of biblical prophecy."
In 1948 Emperor Haile Selassie I donated 500 acres (2.0 km2) of his private land to allow Black Ethiopian World Federation officers, members and other settlers from Jamaica including other parts of the Caribbean to return to their ancestral homeland in Africa.
Shashamane or Shashemene is a town in central Ethiopia. It is located about 150 miles (240 km) from the capital Addisababa. Many Jamaicans settled down in Shashamene. Around 200 individuals still live in this small and barren land . It is other than paradise on earth.
H.I.M.(his imperial majesty) visited Jamaica in 1966 and was surprised, (refused to leave the airplane at first because of the surrounding crowd),somewhat shocked and rather vocal about NOT being seen as divine or Divinity.
H.I.M. was neither a GOD nor a good leader. Thousands of Ethiopians died from famine and starvation while he was living in luxury in his palace and feeding his dogs and lions with the best meat which the country could provide. He was a feudal despot whose words were the laws of Ethiopia. He is regarded as a messiah, jesus and God by Rastafarians is a mystery for me.
H.I.M. loved the bible and believed it to be flawless. He belonged to the Ethiopic Coptic church (that Bob Marley was baptized into 3 weeks before his death).
Our rastafarian brothers have their own tangible reasons to worship H.I.M. but my version of Rastafarianism advocates equal rights and opportunities to all black folks across the world wherever they might be. I do not believe either that all blacks should return back to Africa. Why should we do that? Marcus Garvey´s blackstarliner was the product of xenophobia and rascism against blacks in the USA since time immomorial.
I love meat unlike other vegetarian Rastafarians. I have never smoked Ganjah even if many people,specially young white boys and girls, still come to me and ask if I have something for them because of my hair and colour. I do not like it.
tisdag 11 november 2008
lördag 8 november 2008
Do n't you forget the days of slavery!
" Do you remember the days of Slavery?" chants Burning Spear. It does not matter how much sympatatic and humble a white person could be.....he/she will never understand how it is to be black in a white man's world. Some feminist women would like to draw some similarities between the struggle for women's right and the black liberation.
There are of course somethings that we have in common but I am not sure that the resemblances are sufficient. The aspect of being a property for the white man and a commodity to be sold and exchanged is our mutual reality even in this so called global age and modern world.
I do not want to say more......just read the following Advertisement for the sale of slaves taken from Mabel Morsbach's book-The Negro American Life:
By
Hewlett & Bright
Sale of
Valuable
SLAVES,
(on account of departure)
The Owner of the following named and valuable Slaves, being on the eve of departure for Europe, will cause the same to be offered for sale, at the NEW EXCHANGE, corner of St. Louis and Chartres streets, on Saturday, may 16, at Twelve o'Clock, viz.
1. SARAH, a mulatress, aged 45 years, a good cook and accustomed to house work in general, is an excellent and faithful nurse for sick persons, and in every respect a first rate character.
2. DENNIS, her son, a mulatto, aged 24 years, a first rate cook and steward for a vessel, having been in the capacity for many years on board one of the Mobile packets; is strictly honest, temperate, and a first rate subject.
3. CHOLE, a mulatress, aged 36 years, she is, without exception, one of the most competent servants in the country, a first rate washer and ironer, does up lace, a good cook, and for a bachelor who wishes a house-keeper she would be invaluable; she is also a good ladies' maid, having travelled to the North in that capacity.
4. FANNY, her daughter, a mulatress, aged 16 years, speaks French and English, is a superior hair-dresser, (pupil of Guilliac,) a good seamstress and ladies' maid, is smart, intelligent, and a first rate character.
5. DANDRIDGE, a mulatoo, aged 26 years, a first rate dining-room servant, a good painter and rough carpenter, and has but few equals for honesty and sobriety.
6. NANCY, his wife, aged about 24 years, a confidential house servant, good seamstress, mantumaker and tailoress, a good cook, washer and ironer, etc.
7. MARY ANN, her child, a creole, aged 7 years, speaks French and English, is smart, active and intelligent.
8. FANNY or FRANCES, a mulatress, aged 22 years, is a first rate washer and ironer, good cook and house servant, and has an excellent character.
9. EMMA, an orphan, aged 10 or 11 years, speaks French and English, has been in the country 7 years, has been accustomed to waiting on table, sewing etc. ; is intelligent and active.
10. FRANK, a mulatto, aged about 32 years speaks French and English, is a first rate hostler and coachman, understands perfectly the management of horses, and is, in every respect, a first rate character, with the exception that he will occasionally drink, though not an habitual drunkard.
All the above named Slaves are acclimated and excellent subjects; they were purchased by their present vendor many years ago, and will, therefore, be severally warranted against all vices and maladies prescribed by law, save and except FRANK, who is fully guaranteed in every other respect but the one above mentioned.
TERMS:---one-half Cash, and the other half in notes at Six months, drawn and endorsed to the satisfactions of the Vendor, with special mortgage on the Slaves until final payment. The Acts of Sale to be passed before WILLIAM BOSWELL, Notary Public, at the expense of the Purchaser.
NEW-Orleans, May 13, 1835.
Printed By Benjamin Levy.
There are of course somethings that we have in common but I am not sure that the resemblances are sufficient. The aspect of being a property for the white man and a commodity to be sold and exchanged is our mutual reality even in this so called global age and modern world.
I do not want to say more......just read the following Advertisement for the sale of slaves taken from Mabel Morsbach's book-The Negro American Life:
By
Hewlett & Bright
Sale of
Valuable
SLAVES,
(on account of departure)
The Owner of the following named and valuable Slaves, being on the eve of departure for Europe, will cause the same to be offered for sale, at the NEW EXCHANGE, corner of St. Louis and Chartres streets, on Saturday, may 16, at Twelve o'Clock, viz.
1. SARAH, a mulatress, aged 45 years, a good cook and accustomed to house work in general, is an excellent and faithful nurse for sick persons, and in every respect a first rate character.
2. DENNIS, her son, a mulatto, aged 24 years, a first rate cook and steward for a vessel, having been in the capacity for many years on board one of the Mobile packets; is strictly honest, temperate, and a first rate subject.
3. CHOLE, a mulatress, aged 36 years, she is, without exception, one of the most competent servants in the country, a first rate washer and ironer, does up lace, a good cook, and for a bachelor who wishes a house-keeper she would be invaluable; she is also a good ladies' maid, having travelled to the North in that capacity.
4. FANNY, her daughter, a mulatress, aged 16 years, speaks French and English, is a superior hair-dresser, (pupil of Guilliac,) a good seamstress and ladies' maid, is smart, intelligent, and a first rate character.
5. DANDRIDGE, a mulatoo, aged 26 years, a first rate dining-room servant, a good painter and rough carpenter, and has but few equals for honesty and sobriety.
6. NANCY, his wife, aged about 24 years, a confidential house servant, good seamstress, mantumaker and tailoress, a good cook, washer and ironer, etc.
7. MARY ANN, her child, a creole, aged 7 years, speaks French and English, is smart, active and intelligent.
8. FANNY or FRANCES, a mulatress, aged 22 years, is a first rate washer and ironer, good cook and house servant, and has an excellent character.
9. EMMA, an orphan, aged 10 or 11 years, speaks French and English, has been in the country 7 years, has been accustomed to waiting on table, sewing etc. ; is intelligent and active.
10. FRANK, a mulatto, aged about 32 years speaks French and English, is a first rate hostler and coachman, understands perfectly the management of horses, and is, in every respect, a first rate character, with the exception that he will occasionally drink, though not an habitual drunkard.
All the above named Slaves are acclimated and excellent subjects; they were purchased by their present vendor many years ago, and will, therefore, be severally warranted against all vices and maladies prescribed by law, save and except FRANK, who is fully guaranteed in every other respect but the one above mentioned.
TERMS:---one-half Cash, and the other half in notes at Six months, drawn and endorsed to the satisfactions of the Vendor, with special mortgage on the Slaves until final payment. The Acts of Sale to be passed before WILLIAM BOSWELL, Notary Public, at the expense of the Purchaser.
NEW-Orleans, May 13, 1835.
Printed By Benjamin Levy.
I wish that all people could be multilinguals and forgiving like the majority of Africans!!!
I have never met a single African who is not at least bilingual. Most of the stupid folks that have existed and still exist speak only one language....their mother tongue. I believe that speaking several languages makes people understand the world better and feel the pain of others who are not related to you biologically in a much civilized and cultured manner. That is what I call transceding your personal limitations.
The devils like Adolf Hitler, Mussoloni, Tony Blair, George Bush, Winston Churchill e.t.c. could not be otherwise than narrowminded war criminals because of their distorted worldview and mindset. I am not exaggerating the significance of language in here or blaming everything on the white man but I am just reflecting upon my observations from several countries and cultures.
I, for instance, speak almost 9 languages : fluent Amaringa, Tigringa, English, Lundensiska with a Tourialistisk dialect, Danish, intermediate Arabic, French, Italian and Spanish. My Spanish is getting better here in Peru every day and in a couple of months...I shall master even this language. I am therefore feeling privilaged and lucky to have been able to widen my perspectives on different issues. I have some wise African proverbs which show the practical wisdom of our people:
"The lack of knowledge is darker than night."
"Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse."
"The dawn does not come twice to wake a man."
The devils like Adolf Hitler, Mussoloni, Tony Blair, George Bush, Winston Churchill e.t.c. could not be otherwise than narrowminded war criminals because of their distorted worldview and mindset. I am not exaggerating the significance of language in here or blaming everything on the white man but I am just reflecting upon my observations from several countries and cultures.
I, for instance, speak almost 9 languages : fluent Amaringa, Tigringa, English, Lundensiska with a Tourialistisk dialect, Danish, intermediate Arabic, French, Italian and Spanish. My Spanish is getting better here in Peru every day and in a couple of months...I shall master even this language. I am therefore feeling privilaged and lucky to have been able to widen my perspectives on different issues. I have some wise African proverbs which show the practical wisdom of our people:
"The lack of knowledge is darker than night."
"Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse."
"The dawn does not come twice to wake a man."
fredag 7 november 2008
Osama being chased by Obama......
The Obamania will cool down and the honeymoon will be over soon. Obama in the white house is something extraordinary.
I really hope that Obama will deliver and live up to our expectations. It is not gonna be an easy presidency but he shall turn around the economy and create the best preconditions for a prosporous USA. The big question is though how he is going to handle Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine.
He might be trying to chase Osama and fall into the same trap as Bush. I hope that he will not endanger the lives of millions blacks across the world by outbushing himself. But that is a scenario which is a realistic one. Is he gonna have any black and hispanics in his cabinet???? I hope that he is not gonna be another uncle Tom..........
P.S. I have managed to scare a lot of children here in the countryside of Peru. Many people had never seen a man who looks like me. It was an interesting experience. A couple of people asked me if I ate humanbeings ironically...........this people are indiginous Peruvians with little contact with the outside world. I ate my first Cuy and it was tasty...delicious........Guinea pig....marsvin......is a good one :-)
I really hope that Obama will deliver and live up to our expectations. It is not gonna be an easy presidency but he shall turn around the economy and create the best preconditions for a prosporous USA. The big question is though how he is going to handle Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine.
He might be trying to chase Osama and fall into the same trap as Bush. I hope that he will not endanger the lives of millions blacks across the world by outbushing himself. But that is a scenario which is a realistic one. Is he gonna have any black and hispanics in his cabinet???? I hope that he is not gonna be another uncle Tom..........
P.S. I have managed to scare a lot of children here in the countryside of Peru. Many people had never seen a man who looks like me. It was an interesting experience. A couple of people asked me if I ate humanbeings ironically...........this people are indiginous Peruvians with little contact with the outside world. I ate my first Cuy and it was tasty...delicious........Guinea pig....marsvin......is a good one :-)
lördag 1 november 2008
Peru TV and Halloween....
I started working as a voluntary worker at Peru TV yesterday. It was a fantastic experience to follow the media coverage in here. I attended demonstrations, church ceremonies and press conferences ..etc... with some collegues.
I shall be helping with translating some english documents into spanish.....of course with the help of dictionary, journalists who speak english and commonsense, update myself about the Peruvian society and learn a lot from the journalists who have been dealing with investigative journalism for years.
I was out yesterday with some friends and celebrated halloween.....the youth went wild in here and I enjoyed the night. Arequipa has impressed me and feel like staying here longer....may be until x-mas. The sun shines everyday and people are very friendly. Everything is great right now and I am looking forward to having a thrilling historical moment on tuesday when the US election is held.
I shall be helping with translating some english documents into spanish.....of course with the help of dictionary, journalists who speak english and commonsense, update myself about the Peruvian society and learn a lot from the journalists who have been dealing with investigative journalism for years.
I was out yesterday with some friends and celebrated halloween.....the youth went wild in here and I enjoyed the night. Arequipa has impressed me and feel like staying here longer....may be until x-mas. The sun shines everyday and people are very friendly. Everything is great right now and I am looking forward to having a thrilling historical moment on tuesday when the US election is held.
tisdag 28 oktober 2008
Arequipa!
This day has been an extraordinary day. I arrived to Arequipa on Sunday evening after having had an exciting journey on the bus from Cusco. We left Cusco around 7 o’clock in the morning and were supposed to be in Arequipa around 1600 in the afternoon but we never came here to Arequipa until 1930.
The farmers had blocked the roads in several small villages by putting big trees and stones from the hills. We had to negotiate with the farmers on several occasions to get the green light in order to clear up the roads and continue our travel. The farmers are showing their frustration and rage against the privatisation of water by the government which has not reacted to their protests in any positive manner. The farmers will be affected negatively as their access to the water will diminish and thereby their livelihood.
It was an interesting experience for me. I watched part of the movie “Malcolm X” on my laptop in one of the roadblocks where we had to stand still for more than an hour. I have seen this movie several times before and still think that it is one of the best movies that I ever seen. Give my respect to Denzel Washington and the MAN himself: - the honourable El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz ,alias,Mr.X!
When I eventually was in Arequipa, I just took a taxi to my host family where I was welcomed at the gate by a Dutch girl who has lived with this family for a while and left to Chile today. I like Arequipa so far. It is a beautiful city and is not crowded with tourists as Cusco is. It is clean, seems to be well-organised and much better-off than Cusco in many ways. Everyone is telling me though to watch out for the bad guys. I shall keep my vigilant eyes on duty as I usually do when I am in any big city. Only Lima is bigger than Arequipa.
I am gonna work as a voluntary “freelance journalist” in here for the coming four weeks. I was originally supposed to be working for the weekly newspaper “El Buho” but that plan has been changed as that paper has not got the need for my expertise as it is not running short of writers whose native is Spanish. They have not got that much interesting subjects that might be of interest for me either.
I might end up with the student TV which is sent through out this region on a daily basis. I was a guest at their studio tonight and was interviewed about my origin, journalism in Africa in general and in Eritrea in particular. The reasons for me being in here and many other questions. The radio did the same thing unexpectedly at around midday today when I was there just to check out things. My Spanish is not good enough as yet and had to have an English speaking translator with me. I was also interviewed by several English language university students in downtown about tourism and other staffs this morning.
What a day! Manic Monday!! It is amazing how fast things go sometimes!!!
The farmers had blocked the roads in several small villages by putting big trees and stones from the hills. We had to negotiate with the farmers on several occasions to get the green light in order to clear up the roads and continue our travel. The farmers are showing their frustration and rage against the privatisation of water by the government which has not reacted to their protests in any positive manner. The farmers will be affected negatively as their access to the water will diminish and thereby their livelihood.
It was an interesting experience for me. I watched part of the movie “Malcolm X” on my laptop in one of the roadblocks where we had to stand still for more than an hour. I have seen this movie several times before and still think that it is one of the best movies that I ever seen. Give my respect to Denzel Washington and the MAN himself: - the honourable El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz ,alias,Mr.X!
When I eventually was in Arequipa, I just took a taxi to my host family where I was welcomed at the gate by a Dutch girl who has lived with this family for a while and left to Chile today. I like Arequipa so far. It is a beautiful city and is not crowded with tourists as Cusco is. It is clean, seems to be well-organised and much better-off than Cusco in many ways. Everyone is telling me though to watch out for the bad guys. I shall keep my vigilant eyes on duty as I usually do when I am in any big city. Only Lima is bigger than Arequipa.
I am gonna work as a voluntary “freelance journalist” in here for the coming four weeks. I was originally supposed to be working for the weekly newspaper “El Buho” but that plan has been changed as that paper has not got the need for my expertise as it is not running short of writers whose native is Spanish. They have not got that much interesting subjects that might be of interest for me either.
I might end up with the student TV which is sent through out this region on a daily basis. I was a guest at their studio tonight and was interviewed about my origin, journalism in Africa in general and in Eritrea in particular. The reasons for me being in here and many other questions. The radio did the same thing unexpectedly at around midday today when I was there just to check out things. My Spanish is not good enough as yet and had to have an English speaking translator with me. I was also interviewed by several English language university students in downtown about tourism and other staffs this morning.
What a day! Manic Monday!! It is amazing how fast things go sometimes!!!
torsdag 23 oktober 2008
From Waynapicchu to Machupicchu!
”Far away from Babylon….Closer to Mount Zion…. I wanna be with my lion…the conquering lion…the tribe of Judah….I am on my way to take the blackstarliner to take a rest from the West and ease the tension by crossing the ocean…” Sings Queen Omega.
That was the feeling that I had when I went to MachuPicchu this weekend. It was a marvellious scene but I should admit that it did not live up to my expections though. I like being paradoxal as a philosopher :-).
It is of course an architectural and historical Miracle. It is a phenomenal engineering work which still puzzles the whole world.
I enjoyed the view from Waynapicchu better but the number of tourists who had to get up at 05:00 in the morning to take the buses from ”Agua Calientes” to MachuPicchu was beyond my imagination.
Backpackers and lonelyplanet are some of the things that I have started to dislike these days. We were nine people with the minibus driver who headed for MachuPicchu.
The Peruvian driver Henry was an amazingly nice person, then there were three Colombian girls ,who are nurses by profession, made the trip enjoyble, a young couple from Belgium did also their best to make everybody feel comfortable.
The youngest passengers were two German girls who were other than friendly towards any of us. Age can be blamed for their behaviour but some descency is always welcomed when one is travelling with other homosapiens. These girls refused to share a room with me and I had to sleep with the Belgian couple who were very happy to have me in their room.
P.S. Just for your information: one of the German girls was black if race and colour matters.I am afraid that it does not in this case. Some of the Israeli ”hippie tourists” that I have seen in here have not impressed me either.
There are no so many black people here in Cusco and people are very curious about my appearance and origin. When I tell them that I am from Eritrea, it does not ring any bell in their ears but as soon as I say Africa..They react with wonder and surprise.
Chillicorncarne made my stomach turmoil yesterday but I am hopefully fit again. To see colourfully dressed ladies with their lama here in Cusco is still a mesmerizing view for me.....I like the well-organized chaos in Cusco. A beautiful child is sleeping on two chairs where I am sitting at the internet coffe in my neghibourhood right now .....the relatives come and look at him now and then.....Bless the child!!!
”Understanding white privilage”:Creating Pathways to Authentic Relationships Across Race by Frances E. Kendall is a must book for those of you who care about human relationships across physical and mental borders.
”Soy de Eritrea pero vivo en Suecia…cuando tenia 18 anos, me trasladé a suecia a causa de guerra entre Eritrea y Etiopia duradé 30 anos…”
are my popular phrases of this month of october.
I am looking forward to learning about journalism during my stay in Arequipa with the newspapper ”El Buho”for a month from this coming Sunday the 26th of october.
That was the feeling that I had when I went to MachuPicchu this weekend. It was a marvellious scene but I should admit that it did not live up to my expections though. I like being paradoxal as a philosopher :-).
It is of course an architectural and historical Miracle. It is a phenomenal engineering work which still puzzles the whole world.
I enjoyed the view from Waynapicchu better but the number of tourists who had to get up at 05:00 in the morning to take the buses from ”Agua Calientes” to MachuPicchu was beyond my imagination.
Backpackers and lonelyplanet are some of the things that I have started to dislike these days. We were nine people with the minibus driver who headed for MachuPicchu.
The Peruvian driver Henry was an amazingly nice person, then there were three Colombian girls ,who are nurses by profession, made the trip enjoyble, a young couple from Belgium did also their best to make everybody feel comfortable.
The youngest passengers were two German girls who were other than friendly towards any of us. Age can be blamed for their behaviour but some descency is always welcomed when one is travelling with other homosapiens. These girls refused to share a room with me and I had to sleep with the Belgian couple who were very happy to have me in their room.
P.S. Just for your information: one of the German girls was black if race and colour matters.I am afraid that it does not in this case. Some of the Israeli ”hippie tourists” that I have seen in here have not impressed me either.
There are no so many black people here in Cusco and people are very curious about my appearance and origin. When I tell them that I am from Eritrea, it does not ring any bell in their ears but as soon as I say Africa..They react with wonder and surprise.
Chillicorncarne made my stomach turmoil yesterday but I am hopefully fit again. To see colourfully dressed ladies with their lama here in Cusco is still a mesmerizing view for me.....I like the well-organized chaos in Cusco. A beautiful child is sleeping on two chairs where I am sitting at the internet coffe in my neghibourhood right now .....the relatives come and look at him now and then.....Bless the child!!!
”Understanding white privilage”:Creating Pathways to Authentic Relationships Across Race by Frances E. Kendall is a must book for those of you who care about human relationships across physical and mental borders.
”Soy de Eritrea pero vivo en Suecia…cuando tenia 18 anos, me trasladé a suecia a causa de guerra entre Eritrea y Etiopia duradé 30 anos…”
are my popular phrases of this month of october.
I am looking forward to learning about journalism during my stay in Arequipa with the newspapper ”El Buho”for a month from this coming Sunday the 26th of october.
torsdag 16 oktober 2008
Inka is Mandinka - from Timbouktu to Cusco!
I am back in Cusco now. I just talked with my girlfriend Selamawit in Malmö via Internet skype for two hours and feel good about it. Taray was a nice experience. The people celebrated “Vergen Del Rosario” in that small village with a lot of music and dancing for four days and nights!
Their hospitality was amazing. I also visited the Inca ruins in Pisac and Ollantaytambo and met five Swedish students on my way to Taray. I have also been at the hot springs in Lares where there is a hot water bath from the mountains. We had a good bath there for roughly 15 Swedish crowns . There are many students from western Europe at my Spanish school specially from Holland and Switzerland.
There is an immense poverty in Peru. The life standard ,for most of Peruvians, is quite lower than I anticipated. The people are sick and tired of the government and had a one day strike against it lastweek. The government has resigned now and a new cabinet is being formed.
I like Peru so far and am gonna stay here in Cusco for another two weeks. Cusco used to be the capital city at the height of the Inca civilisation. There are a lot of buildings which are reminiscent of that great time here in Cusco. The Inka connection with the Mandinka can only be realized when you observe things that unite the two continents. Africa and Latin america have a lot in common. I am here to bridge the gap between the shared agonies,memories, history, culture and subjugation. We have to build new dams and work on our mutual causes. I hope to eventually launch a newspapper in this endeavour in the near future. It is gonna be called "Ras Humania" in english and "La Humanista" in Spanish. God willing!
On the 26 th of October, I shall be heading for Arequipa where I shall have my volunteer work at a newspaper called “El Buho”. It is gonna be an exciting adventure until the end of November.
I am planning to go to Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuella,Cuba and Jamaica after Peru but I am open to other options as well depending on what happens on the road and my economy which is pretty stable right now despite the economic turmoil across the globe.
Life is one big road which has got to be conquered. I am hopefully going to the mysteriously disappeared town of Machu Pichu this weekend.
I am listening to Leo Sayer´s song …”I love you more than I can say” and watching a documentary about The Venezuelan Revolution “ No Volveran!”on my laptop at the same time. How about Otis Redding´s “A change is gonna come”………Ali Farka Toure´s “cousins” lying in my bed and dreaming about a better world in the pleasant evening of Cusco.
BARRACK OBAMA shall rule …
Their hospitality was amazing. I also visited the Inca ruins in Pisac and Ollantaytambo and met five Swedish students on my way to Taray. I have also been at the hot springs in Lares where there is a hot water bath from the mountains. We had a good bath there for roughly 15 Swedish crowns . There are many students from western Europe at my Spanish school specially from Holland and Switzerland.
There is an immense poverty in Peru. The life standard ,for most of Peruvians, is quite lower than I anticipated. The people are sick and tired of the government and had a one day strike against it lastweek. The government has resigned now and a new cabinet is being formed.
I like Peru so far and am gonna stay here in Cusco for another two weeks. Cusco used to be the capital city at the height of the Inca civilisation. There are a lot of buildings which are reminiscent of that great time here in Cusco. The Inka connection with the Mandinka can only be realized when you observe things that unite the two continents. Africa and Latin america have a lot in common. I am here to bridge the gap between the shared agonies,memories, history, culture and subjugation. We have to build new dams and work on our mutual causes. I hope to eventually launch a newspapper in this endeavour in the near future. It is gonna be called "Ras Humania" in english and "La Humanista" in Spanish. God willing!
On the 26 th of October, I shall be heading for Arequipa where I shall have my volunteer work at a newspaper called “El Buho”. It is gonna be an exciting adventure until the end of November.
I am planning to go to Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuella,Cuba and Jamaica after Peru but I am open to other options as well depending on what happens on the road and my economy which is pretty stable right now despite the economic turmoil across the globe.
Life is one big road which has got to be conquered. I am hopefully going to the mysteriously disappeared town of Machu Pichu this weekend.
I am listening to Leo Sayer´s song …”I love you more than I can say” and watching a documentary about The Venezuelan Revolution “ No Volveran!”on my laptop at the same time. How about Otis Redding´s “A change is gonna come”………Ali Farka Toure´s “cousins” lying in my bed and dreaming about a better world in the pleasant evening of Cusco.
BARRACK OBAMA shall rule …
lördag 4 oktober 2008
Greetings from Peru!
I do not have to be philosophical and political all the time. I do not have to write long texts either. Take this as a diary book of my journey.I am in Cusco, Peru right now and trying to adjust my self to the situation in here. As this is my first week, I have felt the difference in being at a place of high altitude. I live with a Peruvian family who are very kind and understanding. My Spanish lessons are going well and I am travelling with the whole class to a place called Taray, close to Pisac, tomorrow sunday. We shall be staying there for week studying spanish in an environment which is surrounded by mountains and valleys. Taray is a small village just outside Cusco.
söndag 28 september 2008
VAD ÄR MENINGEN MED ALLTIHOP? LIVETS MENING......
Det är söndag morgon 05:23 och jag har inte kunnat sova sedan 02:45. Jag haft sömn problem på sistone...jag vaknar upp mitt på natten och sedan är det kört att somna om. Jag ska åka till Peru om ett drygt dygn och detta kan klart ha påverkat mitt tillstånd.
Det känns spännade att bryta det invanda och ge sig in på ett nytt liv på andra sidan jordklottet efter att ha vistats här i Sverige i nästan 19 år. Jag kan ändå inte låta bli att fråga mig som Thomas Nagel gjort: "Vad är Meningen Med Alltihop?"
LIVETS MENING är mycket kopplad till DÖDENS MENING. Meningslösheten i tillvaron är en förutsättning för vår existens . Enligt forskare krävs det en god familj, goda vänner, god hälsa, bra bostad och meningsfullt arbete och avkopplande fritid för att uppnå känslan av LYCKA :-). Faktum kvarstår dock att vi är långt ifrån lyckliga. Thomas Nagel skriver:
"Kanske har du någon gång tänkt att ingenting egetligen betyder något, för om tvåhundra år kommer vi alla att vara döda. Detta är en underlig tanke för det är alls inte uppenbart varför det faktum att vi kommer att vara döda om tvåhundra år skulle implicera att ingenting som vi gör nu egentligen betyder något.
Tanken tycks vara den att vi befinner oss i en sorts vild jakt där vi försöker nå våra mål och skapa något med våra liv, och detta bara är meningsfullt om det vi uppnår kommer att vara beständigt - och det kommer det inte att vara. Även om du skapar ett storslaget litterärt verk som man fortsätter att läsa i tusentals år, så kommer en dag solsystemet att svalna av eller universium att gå ner i varv eller kollapsa så att alla spår av din prestation försvinner. I vilket fall som helst så kan vi inte ens hoppas på en bråkdel av denna sorts odödlighet. Om det fins någon poäng med allt vi gör, så måste vi hitta den i våra egna liv.
Vad är det som är så svårt med det? Du kan förklara meningen med det mesta som du gör. Du arbetar för att tjäna pengar och försörja dig och kanske din familj. Du äter för att du är hungrig, sover på grund av att du är trött, tar enpromenad eller ringer upp en vän för att du känner för det, läser tidningen för att ta reda på vad som händer i världen. Om du inte gjorde någonting av detta så skulle du ha det trist, så vilket är problemet?
Problemet är att även om det mesta , stort som smått, som vi gör i våra liv kan rättfärdigas eller förklaras, så kan ingen av dessa förklaringar förklara meningen med livet som helhet. Den helhet som alla dessa aktiviteter, framgångar och misslyckanden, strävanden och besvikelser är delar av. Om du tänker på alltihop, så tycks det finnas någon mening med det. Utifrån betraktat skulle det inte ha haft någon betydelse om du aldrig hade funnits till; och efter det att du slutat existera, kommer det inte att ha någon betydelse att du har existerat.
Självfallet betyder din existens något för andra människor - dina föräldrar och andra som bryr sig om dig - men som helhet saknar även deras liv mening, så i slutändan har det ingen betydelse att du betyder något för dem. , och de betyder något för dig vilket kanske ger dig en känsla av att ditt liv betyder något. Men vad ni gör är egentligen bara att så att säga klia varandra på ryggen. Förutsatt att någon människa existerar så har hon behov och intressen som gör att vissa ting och människor i hans liv betyder något för honom. Men ALLTIHOP, helheten, betyder ingenting.
Men har det någon betydelse att det inte betyder någonting? " Än sen då?" kanske du säger. "Det räcker att det betyder något om jag hinner fram till stationen innan mitt tåg gått, eller om jag kommit ihåg att mata katterna. Det är allt jag behöver för att stå ut". Detta är ett helt godtagbart svar, men det fungerar bara så länge du verkligen kan låta bli att sträva efternågot högre och fråga vad meningen är med alltihop. För när du väl en gång gör det, då öppnar du dig för möjligheten att ditt liv saknar mening.
Tanken att du kommer att vara död om tvåhundra år är bara ett sätt att se ditt eget liv i ett större sammanhang, så att små ting inuti det framstår som otillräckliga och lämnar en större fråga obesvarad. Men om ditt liv som helhet verkligen hade mening i förhållande till något större? Skulle det betyda att det trots allt inte var meningslöst?
Det finns många sätt varpå ditt liv kan sägas ha en vidare mening. Du kanske tillhör en politisk eller social rörelse som har förändrat världen till det bättre, till förmån för framtida generationer. Eller du kanske bara hjälper till med att ge dina barn och efterkommande ett gott liv. Eller så kanske ditt liv anses få mening i ett religiöst sammanhang så att din tid på jorden bara var en förberedelse för en evighet i direkt kontakt med Gud.
Jag har redan pekat på vilket problemet är med de typer av mening som är beroende av andra personer i en avlägsen framtid. Om ens liv har mening som en del av något större, så kan man fortfarande fråga om detta större sammanhang: Vad är meningen med det? Antingen finns det ett svar i termer av något so är större, eller också finns det inte det.
Om det finns det, så bara upprepas frågan. Om det inte finns någon sådan mening, då har vårt sökande efter en mening slutat med något som saknar mening. Men om denna meningslöshet är acceptabel för det större som våra liv är del av , hur kommer det sig att det inte är acceptabelt för våra liv som helhet? Varför kan inte få vara meningslösa? Om det inte är acceptabelt där, hur kommer det sig att det är acceptabelt när vi ser på det större sammanhanget? Varför behöver vi inte fortsätta fråga: "Men vad är meningen med det?" (historien, artens fortlevnad eller vad som helst).
Det är lite annorlunda om man hänvisar till en religiös mening med livet. Om du tror att ditt liv får mening genom att du uppfyller Guds avsikt och möter Honom i evigheten, då tycks det inte på sin plats att fråga: "Och vad är meningen med det?". Det antas vara något som har mening i sig, och som inte kan få sin betydelse utifrån. Men detta leder till andra problem.
Tanken på en Gud tycks vara tanken på något som kan förklara allting annat, utan att själv behöva förklaras. Men det är mycket att förstå hur det detskulle kunna finnasnågot sådant. Om vi frågar "Varför är världen sådan den är?" och får ett religiöst svar, hur kan vi då hindras från att fråga "Och varför är det sant?". Vilket sorts svar skulle en gång för alla sätta stopp för dina frågor om "Varför?". Och om du kan sluta fråga när du fått ett religiöst svar, varför kunde du inte slutat tidigare?
Samma problem tycks uppstå om Gud och Hans avsikter ges som den yttersta förklaringen till meningen och värdet hos våra liv. Tanken att våra liv uppfyller Guds avsikter är tänkt att ge mening åt dem på ett sätt som gör ytterligare mening överflödig. Det är inte täkt att man skall fråga "Vad är meningen med Gud?". Och inte heller "Hur kan Gud förklaras?".
Mitt problem när det gäller den roll Gud spelar som yttersta förklaring består i att jag inte är säker på att jag förstår själva tanken. Kan det verkligen finnas något som ger mening åt allting annat genom att i sig innefatta allt, och och som självt inte kan eller behöver ha någon mening? Någonting vars mening man inte kan ifrågasätta utifrån på grund av att det inte finns någonting utanför?
Om Gud är tänkt att ge en mening åt våra liv som vi inte förstår, så är det inte mycket till tröst. Gud som den yttersta rättfärdiggöraren kanske, liksom Gud som den yttersta förklaringen, är ett obegripligt svar på en fråga som vi inte kan undkomma. Men å andra sidan är kasnke just det meningen. Jag kanske bara inte förstår religiösa idéer. Kanske går tron på Gud ut på att universium är begripligt, men inte för oss.
Låt oss lägga den frågan åt sidan och återvända till det mänskliga livets småskaliga dimensioner. Även om livet so helhet är meninslöst, så kanske det inte är något att bekymra sig över. Vi kanske kan medge det och ändå fortsätta som förut. Det gäller bara att hålla sig till det näraliggande och nöja sig med motiveringar inom sitt eget och sina medmäniskors liv. Om du någonsin ställer dig frågan "Men vad är meningen med att leva?" - att leva just det liv du lever, som student, bartender eller vad du nu råkar vara - så svarar du : "Det finns ingen mening. Det skulle inte spela någon roll om jag inteexisterade alls, eller om jag inte brydde mig om någonting. men nu gör jag det, och så är det med den saken".
Vissa människor tycker detta är en fullt tillfredsställande inställning. Andra tycker den är deprimerande, men oundviklig. Problemet är delvis det att vi har en obotlig tendens att ta oss själva på så stort allvar. Vi vill betyda något för oss själva betraktade "utifrån". Om våra liv som helhet tycks meningslösa, då är en del av oss otillfredsställd - den del som jämt och ständigt tittar oss över axeln och ser efter vad vi gör.
Det är många mänskliga ansträngningar, särskilt sådana som tjänar större projekt och inte bara välbefinnande och överlevnad, som får sin näring av en känsla av betydelse. En känsla av att det du gör inte bara betyder något för dig, utan har en vidare betydelse. Om vi måste ge upp dessa tankar riskerar vi att förlora vinden i våra segel.
Om livet inte är verkligt, om livet inte är något betydelsefullt och graven är dess mål, då kanske det är löjligt av oss att ta oss själva på ett stort allvar.
Om vi å andra sidan inte kan låta bli att ta oss själva på så stort allvar, då kanske vi måste stå ut med att vara löjliga.
Livet kanske inte bara är menigslöst, utan också absurt".
Det känns spännade att bryta det invanda och ge sig in på ett nytt liv på andra sidan jordklottet efter att ha vistats här i Sverige i nästan 19 år. Jag kan ändå inte låta bli att fråga mig som Thomas Nagel gjort: "Vad är Meningen Med Alltihop?"
LIVETS MENING är mycket kopplad till DÖDENS MENING. Meningslösheten i tillvaron är en förutsättning för vår existens . Enligt forskare krävs det en god familj, goda vänner, god hälsa, bra bostad och meningsfullt arbete och avkopplande fritid för att uppnå känslan av LYCKA :-). Faktum kvarstår dock att vi är långt ifrån lyckliga. Thomas Nagel skriver:
"Kanske har du någon gång tänkt att ingenting egetligen betyder något, för om tvåhundra år kommer vi alla att vara döda. Detta är en underlig tanke för det är alls inte uppenbart varför det faktum att vi kommer att vara döda om tvåhundra år skulle implicera att ingenting som vi gör nu egentligen betyder något.
Tanken tycks vara den att vi befinner oss i en sorts vild jakt där vi försöker nå våra mål och skapa något med våra liv, och detta bara är meningsfullt om det vi uppnår kommer att vara beständigt - och det kommer det inte att vara. Även om du skapar ett storslaget litterärt verk som man fortsätter att läsa i tusentals år, så kommer en dag solsystemet att svalna av eller universium att gå ner i varv eller kollapsa så att alla spår av din prestation försvinner. I vilket fall som helst så kan vi inte ens hoppas på en bråkdel av denna sorts odödlighet. Om det fins någon poäng med allt vi gör, så måste vi hitta den i våra egna liv.
Vad är det som är så svårt med det? Du kan förklara meningen med det mesta som du gör. Du arbetar för att tjäna pengar och försörja dig och kanske din familj. Du äter för att du är hungrig, sover på grund av att du är trött, tar enpromenad eller ringer upp en vän för att du känner för det, läser tidningen för att ta reda på vad som händer i världen. Om du inte gjorde någonting av detta så skulle du ha det trist, så vilket är problemet?
Problemet är att även om det mesta , stort som smått, som vi gör i våra liv kan rättfärdigas eller förklaras, så kan ingen av dessa förklaringar förklara meningen med livet som helhet. Den helhet som alla dessa aktiviteter, framgångar och misslyckanden, strävanden och besvikelser är delar av. Om du tänker på alltihop, så tycks det finnas någon mening med det. Utifrån betraktat skulle det inte ha haft någon betydelse om du aldrig hade funnits till; och efter det att du slutat existera, kommer det inte att ha någon betydelse att du har existerat.
Självfallet betyder din existens något för andra människor - dina föräldrar och andra som bryr sig om dig - men som helhet saknar även deras liv mening, så i slutändan har det ingen betydelse att du betyder något för dem. , och de betyder något för dig vilket kanske ger dig en känsla av att ditt liv betyder något. Men vad ni gör är egentligen bara att så att säga klia varandra på ryggen. Förutsatt att någon människa existerar så har hon behov och intressen som gör att vissa ting och människor i hans liv betyder något för honom. Men ALLTIHOP, helheten, betyder ingenting.
Men har det någon betydelse att det inte betyder någonting? " Än sen då?" kanske du säger. "Det räcker att det betyder något om jag hinner fram till stationen innan mitt tåg gått, eller om jag kommit ihåg att mata katterna. Det är allt jag behöver för att stå ut". Detta är ett helt godtagbart svar, men det fungerar bara så länge du verkligen kan låta bli att sträva efternågot högre och fråga vad meningen är med alltihop. För när du väl en gång gör det, då öppnar du dig för möjligheten att ditt liv saknar mening.
Tanken att du kommer att vara död om tvåhundra år är bara ett sätt att se ditt eget liv i ett större sammanhang, så att små ting inuti det framstår som otillräckliga och lämnar en större fråga obesvarad. Men om ditt liv som helhet verkligen hade mening i förhållande till något större? Skulle det betyda att det trots allt inte var meningslöst?
Det finns många sätt varpå ditt liv kan sägas ha en vidare mening. Du kanske tillhör en politisk eller social rörelse som har förändrat världen till det bättre, till förmån för framtida generationer. Eller du kanske bara hjälper till med att ge dina barn och efterkommande ett gott liv. Eller så kanske ditt liv anses få mening i ett religiöst sammanhang så att din tid på jorden bara var en förberedelse för en evighet i direkt kontakt med Gud.
Jag har redan pekat på vilket problemet är med de typer av mening som är beroende av andra personer i en avlägsen framtid. Om ens liv har mening som en del av något större, så kan man fortfarande fråga om detta större sammanhang: Vad är meningen med det? Antingen finns det ett svar i termer av något so är större, eller också finns det inte det.
Om det finns det, så bara upprepas frågan. Om det inte finns någon sådan mening, då har vårt sökande efter en mening slutat med något som saknar mening. Men om denna meningslöshet är acceptabel för det större som våra liv är del av , hur kommer det sig att det inte är acceptabelt för våra liv som helhet? Varför kan inte få vara meningslösa? Om det inte är acceptabelt där, hur kommer det sig att det är acceptabelt när vi ser på det större sammanhanget? Varför behöver vi inte fortsätta fråga: "Men vad är meningen med det?" (historien, artens fortlevnad eller vad som helst).
Det är lite annorlunda om man hänvisar till en religiös mening med livet. Om du tror att ditt liv får mening genom att du uppfyller Guds avsikt och möter Honom i evigheten, då tycks det inte på sin plats att fråga: "Och vad är meningen med det?". Det antas vara något som har mening i sig, och som inte kan få sin betydelse utifrån. Men detta leder till andra problem.
Tanken på en Gud tycks vara tanken på något som kan förklara allting annat, utan att själv behöva förklaras. Men det är mycket att förstå hur det detskulle kunna finnasnågot sådant. Om vi frågar "Varför är världen sådan den är?" och får ett religiöst svar, hur kan vi då hindras från att fråga "Och varför är det sant?". Vilket sorts svar skulle en gång för alla sätta stopp för dina frågor om "Varför?". Och om du kan sluta fråga när du fått ett religiöst svar, varför kunde du inte slutat tidigare?
Samma problem tycks uppstå om Gud och Hans avsikter ges som den yttersta förklaringen till meningen och värdet hos våra liv. Tanken att våra liv uppfyller Guds avsikter är tänkt att ge mening åt dem på ett sätt som gör ytterligare mening överflödig. Det är inte täkt att man skall fråga "Vad är meningen med Gud?". Och inte heller "Hur kan Gud förklaras?".
Mitt problem när det gäller den roll Gud spelar som yttersta förklaring består i att jag inte är säker på att jag förstår själva tanken. Kan det verkligen finnas något som ger mening åt allting annat genom att i sig innefatta allt, och och som självt inte kan eller behöver ha någon mening? Någonting vars mening man inte kan ifrågasätta utifrån på grund av att det inte finns någonting utanför?
Om Gud är tänkt att ge en mening åt våra liv som vi inte förstår, så är det inte mycket till tröst. Gud som den yttersta rättfärdiggöraren kanske, liksom Gud som den yttersta förklaringen, är ett obegripligt svar på en fråga som vi inte kan undkomma. Men å andra sidan är kasnke just det meningen. Jag kanske bara inte förstår religiösa idéer. Kanske går tron på Gud ut på att universium är begripligt, men inte för oss.
Låt oss lägga den frågan åt sidan och återvända till det mänskliga livets småskaliga dimensioner. Även om livet so helhet är meninslöst, så kanske det inte är något att bekymra sig över. Vi kanske kan medge det och ändå fortsätta som förut. Det gäller bara att hålla sig till det näraliggande och nöja sig med motiveringar inom sitt eget och sina medmäniskors liv. Om du någonsin ställer dig frågan "Men vad är meningen med att leva?" - att leva just det liv du lever, som student, bartender eller vad du nu råkar vara - så svarar du : "Det finns ingen mening. Det skulle inte spela någon roll om jag inteexisterade alls, eller om jag inte brydde mig om någonting. men nu gör jag det, och så är det med den saken".
Vissa människor tycker detta är en fullt tillfredsställande inställning. Andra tycker den är deprimerande, men oundviklig. Problemet är delvis det att vi har en obotlig tendens att ta oss själva på så stort allvar. Vi vill betyda något för oss själva betraktade "utifrån". Om våra liv som helhet tycks meningslösa, då är en del av oss otillfredsställd - den del som jämt och ständigt tittar oss över axeln och ser efter vad vi gör.
Det är många mänskliga ansträngningar, särskilt sådana som tjänar större projekt och inte bara välbefinnande och överlevnad, som får sin näring av en känsla av betydelse. En känsla av att det du gör inte bara betyder något för dig, utan har en vidare betydelse. Om vi måste ge upp dessa tankar riskerar vi att förlora vinden i våra segel.
Om livet inte är verkligt, om livet inte är något betydelsefullt och graven är dess mål, då kanske det är löjligt av oss att ta oss själva på ett stort allvar.
Om vi å andra sidan inte kan låta bli att ta oss själva på så stort allvar, då kanske vi måste stå ut med att vara löjliga.
Livet kanske inte bara är menigslöst, utan också absurt".
måndag 15 september 2008
Vad är meningen med döden?
Det händer väl rätt ofta att man tänker på meningen med döden......det finns inget enkelt svar. I en människas liv förekommer långa resor där medlen och målen överlappar. Jag finner Sven Lindqvist intressant när han resonerar om denna fråga i sin berömda bok "Utrota Varenda Jävel". Han citerar en norsk filosof vid namn Tönnessen som var gästföreläsare när han läste praktisk filosofi:
"Att födas är att hoppa från toppen av en skyskrapa.
Att leva är att oavbrutet störta mot döden.
Döden är det enda säkra i livet.
Döden är det enda vi behöver bry oss om.
Att tänka på något annat än döden är undanflykter.
Samhället, konsten, kulturen, hela den mänskliga civilisationen är bara undanflykter, ett enda stort kollektivt självbedrägeri, vars avsikt är att få oss att glömma att vi hela tiden faller genom luften och med varje ögonblick kommer närmare döden.
Somliga av oss kommer fram om några sekunder, andra om några dagar, andra om några år - men det är likgiltigt, tidpunkten är likgiltig, Det avgörande är att det bara finns ett enda slut som väntar oss alla".
"-och slutsatsen? undrade sven. Vad skall man göra under dessa sju sekunder eller sju decennier som återstår?
Tönnessen rekommenderade, om jag minns rätt, fullkomlig passivitet. Vi skulle inte göra någonting alls, eftersom vi ändå inte kunde undvika den ofrånkomliga döden som gjorde allting som hände på vägen dit meningslöst.
Det var en slutsats jag inte kunde instämma i.
Jag tyckte att det var fel på Tönnessens bildspråk.
Om man just hade hoppat från en skyskrapa och bara hade sju sekunder kvar att leva - OK, då var det inte mycket mening med att försöka börja något.
Men livet var inte som att hoppa från en skyskrapa. Det var inte sju sekunder utan sju decennier man hade på sig. det räckte för att hinna uppleva och uträtta en hel del.
Livets korthet skulle inte paralysera oss utan hindra oss från att leva utspätt och okoncentrerat.
Dödens uppgift var att tvinga människan till väsentlighet.
Så tänkte jag när ännu inte hade fyllt 30 och fortfarande hade långt kvar till stenläggningen därnere. Jag såg den inte ens.
Nu ser jag den komma rusande emot mig och känner hur handlöst jag faller.
Då inser jag bristen i min utbildning. Varför har jag aldrig fått lära mig att dö?" Så tänkte Sven.
Jag vill att ni kamrater: var ni än befinner är fysiskt och psykiskt ska tänka i dessa banor.
"Att födas är att hoppa från toppen av en skyskrapa.
Att leva är att oavbrutet störta mot döden.
Döden är det enda säkra i livet.
Döden är det enda vi behöver bry oss om.
Att tänka på något annat än döden är undanflykter.
Samhället, konsten, kulturen, hela den mänskliga civilisationen är bara undanflykter, ett enda stort kollektivt självbedrägeri, vars avsikt är att få oss att glömma att vi hela tiden faller genom luften och med varje ögonblick kommer närmare döden.
Somliga av oss kommer fram om några sekunder, andra om några dagar, andra om några år - men det är likgiltigt, tidpunkten är likgiltig, Det avgörande är att det bara finns ett enda slut som väntar oss alla".
"-och slutsatsen? undrade sven. Vad skall man göra under dessa sju sekunder eller sju decennier som återstår?
Tönnessen rekommenderade, om jag minns rätt, fullkomlig passivitet. Vi skulle inte göra någonting alls, eftersom vi ändå inte kunde undvika den ofrånkomliga döden som gjorde allting som hände på vägen dit meningslöst.
Det var en slutsats jag inte kunde instämma i.
Jag tyckte att det var fel på Tönnessens bildspråk.
Om man just hade hoppat från en skyskrapa och bara hade sju sekunder kvar att leva - OK, då var det inte mycket mening med att försöka börja något.
Men livet var inte som att hoppa från en skyskrapa. Det var inte sju sekunder utan sju decennier man hade på sig. det räckte för att hinna uppleva och uträtta en hel del.
Livets korthet skulle inte paralysera oss utan hindra oss från att leva utspätt och okoncentrerat.
Dödens uppgift var att tvinga människan till väsentlighet.
Så tänkte jag när ännu inte hade fyllt 30 och fortfarande hade långt kvar till stenläggningen därnere. Jag såg den inte ens.
Nu ser jag den komma rusande emot mig och känner hur handlöst jag faller.
Då inser jag bristen i min utbildning. Varför har jag aldrig fått lära mig att dö?" Så tänkte Sven.
Jag vill att ni kamrater: var ni än befinner är fysiskt och psykiskt ska tänka i dessa banor.
tisdag 9 september 2008
"Att våga är att förlora fotfästet en liten stund, Att inte våga är att förlora sig själv."
I am currently preparing my self for my adventure in South America and feel that I am on top of the world. It is a fantastic feeling which can not be expressed in words. I have been here in Sweden for almost 19 years and have had my ups and downs.
I still like this country but when you experience the society as stagnating and boring, then it is about time to leave for some other places in order to get new inspirations in life. We all strive for success in all the things we do and be happy even if that is not always the case.
"The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps called friends, red lights called enemies, caution lights called family. You will have flats called jobs. But, if you have a spare called determination, an engine called perseverance, insurance called faith, a driver called patience , you will make it to a place called success."
These wise words were sent to me by a good friend of mine from the art deco city Asmara, Eritrea some time ago. Life is indeed a journey of surprises and dissappointments but having the awareness that I am the designer of my destiny and hold the master key to open the shuttered doors is a first step in the right direction.
I believe that I am the manifestation of God and I am responsible for the outcome of my actions no matter the existing pre-conditions in life. I can always change my situation if I have the right attitude but it takes guts to be an eternal soldier in solitude.
I still like this country but when you experience the society as stagnating and boring, then it is about time to leave for some other places in order to get new inspirations in life. We all strive for success in all the things we do and be happy even if that is not always the case.
"The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called failure, a loop called confusion, speed bumps called friends, red lights called enemies, caution lights called family. You will have flats called jobs. But, if you have a spare called determination, an engine called perseverance, insurance called faith, a driver called patience , you will make it to a place called success."
These wise words were sent to me by a good friend of mine from the art deco city Asmara, Eritrea some time ago. Life is indeed a journey of surprises and dissappointments but having the awareness that I am the designer of my destiny and hold the master key to open the shuttered doors is a first step in the right direction.
I believe that I am the manifestation of God and I am responsible for the outcome of my actions no matter the existing pre-conditions in life. I can always change my situation if I have the right attitude but it takes guts to be an eternal soldier in solitude.
söndag 17 augusti 2008
Lasting tribute and homage to John Carlos and Tommie Smith!
The 1968 Olympics Black Power salute was a noted black civil rights protest and one of the most overtly political statements[1] in the 110 year history of the modern Olympic Games. African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos performed their Power to the People salute at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
On the morning of October 16, 1968,[2] American athlete Smith won the 200 metre race in a then-world-record time of 19.83 seconds, with Australia's Peter Norman second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and American Carlos in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. After the race was completed, the three went to collect their medals at the podium. The two American athletes received their medals shoeless, but wearing black socks, to represent black poverty.[3] Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride.[3] Carlos had his tracksuit top unzipped to show solidarity with all blue collar workers in America. Furthermore, Carlos wore beads which he described "were for those individuals that were lynched, or killed that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the middle passage."[4] All three athletes wore Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) badges, after Norman expressed sympathy with their ideals. Sociologist Harry Edwards, the founder of the OPHR, had urged black athletes to boycott the games; reportedly, the actions of Smith and Carlos on October 16, 1968,[2] were inspired by Edwards' arguments.[5]
On the morning of October 16, 1968,[2] American athlete Smith won the 200 metre race in a then-world-record time of 19.83 seconds, with Australia's Peter Norman second with a time of 20.06 seconds, and American Carlos in third place with a time of 20.10 seconds. After the race was completed, the three went to collect their medals at the podium. The two American athletes received their medals shoeless, but wearing black socks, to represent black poverty.[3] Smith wore a black scarf around his neck to represent black pride.[3] Carlos had his tracksuit top unzipped to show solidarity with all blue collar workers in America. Furthermore, Carlos wore beads which he described "were for those individuals that were lynched, or killed that no-one said a prayer for, that were hung and tarred. It was for those thrown off the side of the boats in the middle passage."[4] All three athletes wore Olympic Project for Human Rights (OPHR) badges, after Norman expressed sympathy with their ideals. Sociologist Harry Edwards, the founder of the OPHR, had urged black athletes to boycott the games; reportedly, the actions of Smith and Carlos on October 16, 1968,[2] were inspired by Edwards' arguments.[5]
Both Americans intended on bringing black gloves to the event, but Carlos forgot his, leaving them in the Olympic Village. It was the Australian, Peter Norman, who suggested Carlos wear Smith's left-handed glove, this being the reason behind him raising his left hand, as opposed to his right, differing from the traditional Black Power salute.[6] When "The Star-Spangled Banner" played, Smith and Carlos delivered the salute with heads bowed, a gesture which became front page news around the world. As they left the podium they were booed by the crowd.[7] Smith later said "If I win, I am American, not a black American. But if I did something bad, then they would say I am a Negro. We are black and we are proud of being black. Black America will understand what we did tonight."
Smith and Carlos were largely ostracized by the U.S. sporting establishment in the following years and in addition were subject to criticism of their actions. Time magazine showed the five-ring Olympic logo with the words, "Angrier, Nastier, Uglier", instead of "Faster, Higher, Stronger". Back home they were subject to abuse and they and their families received death threats.[9]
Smith continued in athletics, going on to play American football with the Cincinnati Bengals, before becoming an assistant professor of Physical Education at Oberlin College. In 1995 he went on to help coach the U.S. team at the World Indoor Championships at Barcelona. In 1999 he was awarded a Sportsman of the Millennium award. He is now a public speaker.
Carlos' career followed a similar path to Smith. He initially continued in athletics, equaling the 100m world record the following year. Later he played American football with the Philadelphia Eagles before a knee injury prematurely ended his career. He fell upon hard times in the late 1970s and in 1977 his wife committed suicide. In 1982 Carlos was employed by the Organising Committee for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles to promote the games and act as liaison with the city's African American community. In 1985 he became a track and field coach at a school in Palm Springs, a post which he still holds.
Norman, who was sympathetic to his competitors' protest, was reprimanded by his Country's Olympic authorities and ostracized by the Australian media.[10] He was not picked for the 1972 Summer Olympics, despite finishing third in his trials. He kept running, but contracted gangrene in 1985 after tearing his Achilles tendon, which nearly led to his leg being amputated. Depression and heavy drinking followed. He suffered a heart attack and died on October 3, 2006. Smith and Carlos were pallbearers at his funeral.[11]
San Jose State University honored former students Smith and Carlos with a twenty-two foot high statue of their protest in 2005.[12] In January 2007, History San José opened a new exhibit called Speed City: From Civil Rights to Black Power, covering the San Jose State University athletic program "from which many student athletes became globally recognized figures as the Civil Rights and Black Power movements reshaped American society."[13]
The last poets performed in Malmö yesterday and a song from the legendary album "Restless" was sung: Niggaz Are Scared of Revolution:
Niggers are scared of revolutionKwame Toure is not scared of revolution! The revolution is not gonna be televised!
But niggers shouldn't be scared of revolution
Because revolution is nothing but change
And all niggers do is change
Niggers come in from work and change into pimping clothes
and hit the streets to make some quick change
Niggers change their hair from black to red to blond
and hope like hell their looks will change
Nigger kill other niggers
Just because one didn't receive the correct change
Niggers change from men to women, from women to men
Niggers change, change, change
You hear niggers say
Things are changing? Things are changing?
Yeah, things are changing
Niggers change into 'Black' nigger things
Black nigger things that go through all kinds of changes
The change in the day that makes them rant and rave
Black Power! Black Power!
And the change that comes over them at night,
as they sigh and moan:
White thighs, ooh, white thighs
Niggers always goin' through bullshit change
But when it comes for real change,
Niggers are scared of revolution
Niggers are actors, niggers are actors
Niggers act like they are in a hurry
to catch the first act of the 'Great White Hope'
Niggers try to act like Malcolm
And when the white man doesn't react
toward them like he did Malcolm
Niggers want to act violently
Niggers act so coooool and slick
causing white people to say:
What makes you niggers act like that?
Niggers act like you ain't never seen nobody act before
But when it comes to acting out revolution
Niggers say: 'I can't dig them actions!'
Niggers are scared of revolution
Niggers are very untogether people
Niggers talk about getting high and riding around in 'els'
Niggers should get high and ride to hell
Niggers talk about pimping
Pimping that, pimping what
Pimping yours, pimping mine
Just to be pimping, is a helluva line
Niggers are very untogether people
Niggers talk about the mind
Talk about: My mind is stronger than yours
"I got that bitch's mind uptight!"
Niggers don't know a damn thing about the mind
Or they'd be right
Niggers are scared of revolution
Niggers fuck. Niggers fuck, fuck, fuck
Niggers love the word fuck
They think it's so fuckin' cute
They fuck you around
The first thing they say when they're mad: 'Fuck it'
You play a little too much with them
They say 'Fuck you'
When it's time to TCB,
Niggers are somewhere fucking
Try to be nice to them, they fuck over you
Niggers don't realize while they doin' all this fucking
They're getting fucked around
And when they do realize it's too late
So niggers just get fucked up
Niggers talk about fucking
Fuckin' that, fuckin' this, fuckin' yours, fuckin' my sis
Not knowing what they're fucking for
They ain't fucking for love and appreciation
Just fucking to be fucking.
Niggers fuck white thighs, black thighs,
yellow thighs,brown thighs
Niggers fuck ankles when they run out of thighs
Niggers fuck Sally, Linda, and Sue
And if you don't watch out
Niggers will fuck you!
Niggers would fuck 'Fuck' if it could be fucked
But when it comes to fucking for revolutionary causes
Niggers say 'Fuck revolution!'
Niggers are scared of revolution
Niggers are players, niggers are players, are players
Niggers play football, baseball and basketball
while the white man cuttin' off their balls
When the nigger's play ain't tight enough
to play with some black thighs,
Niggers play with white thighs
to see if they still have some play left
And when there ain't no white thighs to play with
Niggers play with themselves
Niggers tell you they're ready to be liberated
But when you say 'Let's go take our liberation'
Niggers reply: 'I was just playin'
Niggers are playing with revolution and losing
Niggers are scared of revolution
Niggers do a lot of shootin'
Niggers do a lot of shootin'
Niggers shoot off at the mouth
Niggers shoot pool, niggers shoot craps
Niggers cut around the corner and shoot down the street
Niggers shoot sharp glances at white women
Niggers shoot dope into their arm
Niggers shoot guns and rifles on New Year's Eve
A new year that is coming in
The white police will do more shooting at them
Where are niggers when the revolution needs some shots!?
Yeah, you know. Niggers are somewhere shootin' the shit
Niggers are scared of revolution
Niggers are lovers, niggers are lovers are lovers
Niggers love to see Clark Gable
make love to Marilyn Monroe
Niggers love to see Tarzan fuck all the natives
Niggers love to hear the Lone Ranger yell "Heigh Ho Silver!"
Niggers love commercials, niggers love commercials
Oh how niggers love commercials:
"You can take niggers out of the country, but
you can't take the country out of niggers"
Niggers are lovers, are lovers, are lovers
Niggers loved to hear Malcolm rap
But they didn't love Malcolm
Niggers love everything but themselves
But I'm a lover too, yes I'm a lover too
I love niggers, I love niggers, I love niggers
Because niggers are me
And I should only love that which is me
I love to see niggers go through changes
Love to see niggers act
Love to see niggers make them plays and shoot the shit
But there is one thing about niggers I do not love
Niggers are scared of revolution
torsdag 17 juli 2008
Why is Mandela a saint and Mugabe a demon in the West?
The fate of Mandela and Mugabe is mesmerising. These two leaders together with Julius Nyerere of Tanzania have been voted as the three greatest leaders of Africa for the last hundred years by Africans. I have more faith in the judgement of Africans on this issue than a western leadership and media whose mere interest is to keep status quo in the continent.
Mandela did exactly that in South Africa by compromising with the white minority instead of envisaging radical changes across the society. The murderers and criminals of the apartheid regime are free and enjoyng luxurious life under the premise of "Amnesty and Reconciliation".
The economy and the media is still owned by the whites thanks to Mandela who turned 90 lastweek. He has become an icon for that. He was yet on the US list of terrorists until few weeks ago and he needed a special permission to enter to the USA. Hypocracy and double standards are the trademarks of the West.
The whites dismantled the nuclear programme of the country in 1991 with the anticipation of a black takeover three years later and the approval of Mandela.The disenchantment and frustration of the blacks in South Africa won´t be contained anymore.
Mugabe on the other hand, has been demonized for years now because he wants to bring about change in the ownership of land which has been in the hands of the white minority for more than a century.
He refuses to sale out the country for western companies and wants Zimbabwe to decide its own destiny. I congratulate Mugabe for his latest election victory even if I do not believe in general elections as a solution for Zimbabwe where the oppostion is an agent of the west rather than its people.
Mugabe has also a lot of shortcomings and bloody hands but it is up to Zimbabweans to elect their own leaders. Honorary British knightwood and a lot of other precious prizes were given to Mugabe by the British and Americans in the 80s and 90s for his excellent leadership. The West is involved now in hypocratical play of emotions and weeping crocodile tears.
The so called "western liberal democracy" demands three things to function: educated population, working economy and instituitions. In the absence of these, mobilization of the population to eradicate poverty, investment on education and infrastructure under a unity government should be priority number one.
Mandela did exactly that in South Africa by compromising with the white minority instead of envisaging radical changes across the society. The murderers and criminals of the apartheid regime are free and enjoyng luxurious life under the premise of "Amnesty and Reconciliation".
The economy and the media is still owned by the whites thanks to Mandela who turned 90 lastweek. He has become an icon for that. He was yet on the US list of terrorists until few weeks ago and he needed a special permission to enter to the USA. Hypocracy and double standards are the trademarks of the West.
The whites dismantled the nuclear programme of the country in 1991 with the anticipation of a black takeover three years later and the approval of Mandela.The disenchantment and frustration of the blacks in South Africa won´t be contained anymore.
Mugabe on the other hand, has been demonized for years now because he wants to bring about change in the ownership of land which has been in the hands of the white minority for more than a century.
He refuses to sale out the country for western companies and wants Zimbabwe to decide its own destiny. I congratulate Mugabe for his latest election victory even if I do not believe in general elections as a solution for Zimbabwe where the oppostion is an agent of the west rather than its people.
Mugabe has also a lot of shortcomings and bloody hands but it is up to Zimbabweans to elect their own leaders. Honorary British knightwood and a lot of other precious prizes were given to Mugabe by the British and Americans in the 80s and 90s for his excellent leadership. The West is involved now in hypocratical play of emotions and weeping crocodile tears.
The so called "western liberal democracy" demands three things to function: educated population, working economy and instituitions. In the absence of these, mobilization of the population to eradicate poverty, investment on education and infrastructure under a unity government should be priority number one.
tisdag 3 juni 2008
Frantz Fannon!BBC-focus on Africa-april-june 1999!
Born in Martinque in the Carribean, this great philosopher, psychiatrist and freedom fighter devoted his entire life for the liberation of Algeria,Africa and black people as a whole. His books The wretched of the earth and Black skin and white masks continue to have a great impact on readers.
Even though he was from the Carribean, he regarded himself as an African whose duty was to fight for the freedom of Africans.
He helped us to remember that as long as one is a black man one is an African. Slavery and colonialism may have cut us from our roots, but men like Fannon did not give up fighting against colonialists and racists until the last minute of his life.
Fannon died of leukaemia in 1961 when he was only 36 years old, while struggling for the liberation of Algeria.
Even though he was from the Carribean, he regarded himself as an African whose duty was to fight for the freedom of Africans.
He helped us to remember that as long as one is a black man one is an African. Slavery and colonialism may have cut us from our roots, but men like Fannon did not give up fighting against colonialists and racists until the last minute of his life.
Fannon died of leukaemia in 1961 when he was only 36 years old, while struggling for the liberation of Algeria.
måndag 2 juni 2008
There is only a human race!NewAfrican-November 1998!
Martin Bernal writes in Winston A. van Horne´s book, Global convulsions, that:
"The population of Ancient Egypt was extremely mixed. Nubia and Upper Egypt where pharonic civilisation was formed, had a basic population very similar to that of the modern Nubians, that is to say East African with central African admixture. Lower Egypt had a basic population of North Africa 'Caucasoids'. However, after the Fifth Millennium BCE this was differentiated from that of northwest Africa or the Maghreb, because the latter was separated from the rest of Africa by the growing sahara, the Nile continued to link Lower Egypt to the rest of the continent. The mixture of populations between Upper and Lower Egypt accelerated with the establishment of a single Egyptian state."
So it is quite difficult to to discuss issues in terms of race and I, therefore, find it hard who to regard as black or not because in the eyes of Europeans we are all "coloured" - from the Chinese,Indians to indigenous Africans. Whites are the only "colourless" people in this world, but as we all know they are more pink than white.
Anyway, it is my conviction that race shouldn't be used as an explanation for failure or succcess of anyone. The very fact that my black ancestors built the Egyptian pyramids and many other obelisks doesn't help me today in my endeavours to make life worth living. So our past glories and civilisations are not so much significant when it comes to changing our situation today. As the present is here, we have to make the best of it and seek the causes for our failure in Africa.
We need to see the whole issue in historical perspective and holistically. Africa has never been free and its people haven't been given the opportunity to decide their own destiny since the arrival of the Europeans. It isn't my intention to blame the white man for the evils of Africa, but the Europeans, truth be said, have a lot to answer for in the underdevelopment of Africa. Their rule of divide and share has left us ethnicised and rootless.
To me, it is not African "shorttermism" as Baffour calls it, or lack of education and organisation that are the root causes of Africa's failure, but rather it is Europeans and their everlasting meddling in our affairs that undermine the internal African capacity to develop.
We shouldn't forget that there are at least seven million Europeans who live in luxury in Africa and have economic and political power. I would like to see many Africans doing the same in Europe and America. Every development and democratisation process in Africa should be based on the sentiments of the African people and on their own terms.
Lastly, the pre-colonial African heritage of decentralised and participatory rule should be considered for inclusion in the present endeavour of reforming the African state.
"The population of Ancient Egypt was extremely mixed. Nubia and Upper Egypt where pharonic civilisation was formed, had a basic population very similar to that of the modern Nubians, that is to say East African with central African admixture. Lower Egypt had a basic population of North Africa 'Caucasoids'. However, after the Fifth Millennium BCE this was differentiated from that of northwest Africa or the Maghreb, because the latter was separated from the rest of Africa by the growing sahara, the Nile continued to link Lower Egypt to the rest of the continent. The mixture of populations between Upper and Lower Egypt accelerated with the establishment of a single Egyptian state."
So it is quite difficult to to discuss issues in terms of race and I, therefore, find it hard who to regard as black or not because in the eyes of Europeans we are all "coloured" - from the Chinese,Indians to indigenous Africans. Whites are the only "colourless" people in this world, but as we all know they are more pink than white.
Anyway, it is my conviction that race shouldn't be used as an explanation for failure or succcess of anyone. The very fact that my black ancestors built the Egyptian pyramids and many other obelisks doesn't help me today in my endeavours to make life worth living. So our past glories and civilisations are not so much significant when it comes to changing our situation today. As the present is here, we have to make the best of it and seek the causes for our failure in Africa.
We need to see the whole issue in historical perspective and holistically. Africa has never been free and its people haven't been given the opportunity to decide their own destiny since the arrival of the Europeans. It isn't my intention to blame the white man for the evils of Africa, but the Europeans, truth be said, have a lot to answer for in the underdevelopment of Africa. Their rule of divide and share has left us ethnicised and rootless.
To me, it is not African "shorttermism" as Baffour calls it, or lack of education and organisation that are the root causes of Africa's failure, but rather it is Europeans and their everlasting meddling in our affairs that undermine the internal African capacity to develop.
We shouldn't forget that there are at least seven million Europeans who live in luxury in Africa and have economic and political power. I would like to see many Africans doing the same in Europe and America. Every development and democratisation process in Africa should be based on the sentiments of the African people and on their own terms.
Lastly, the pre-colonial African heritage of decentralised and participatory rule should be considered for inclusion in the present endeavour of reforming the African state.
Clinton: charity starts at home!NewAfrican- May 1998!
President Clinton has been in six countries in Africa in a bid to improve the relations between Africa and the US. But it is a well known fact that the US is just interested in having new markets in Africa in the aftermath of the cold war and Asian crisis.
So his visit was just another attempt to recolonise the continent in the name of globalisation and internalisation.
Globalisation is just another name of imperialism and does not make any difference to the life of the ordinary African.
The fact that people watch US-made movies in Burkina Faso does not make them global citizens. What we see is the Macdonaldisation and cocacolonisation of the world which is run by the West.
Africa has been part and parcel of this planet for more than 500 years in the form of slavery and colonialism by which the Western world enriched itself.
Clinton talked about the people of Africa demanding change from Cape Town to Kampala, from Dar es Salaam to Dakar, but I wonder if he has ever been to Harlem and Brooklyn? What has he done to alleviate the human tragedy among African-Americans?
Charity starts at home Mr Clinton. Leave Africa alone please! We have had enough of both the East and the West and we need time to be on our own for the first time since 1500.
We will work out our problems ourselves without your so-called aid and trade. African problems deserve African solutions.
So his visit was just another attempt to recolonise the continent in the name of globalisation and internalisation.
Globalisation is just another name of imperialism and does not make any difference to the life of the ordinary African.
The fact that people watch US-made movies in Burkina Faso does not make them global citizens. What we see is the Macdonaldisation and cocacolonisation of the world which is run by the West.
Africa has been part and parcel of this planet for more than 500 years in the form of slavery and colonialism by which the Western world enriched itself.
Clinton talked about the people of Africa demanding change from Cape Town to Kampala, from Dar es Salaam to Dakar, but I wonder if he has ever been to Harlem and Brooklyn? What has he done to alleviate the human tragedy among African-Americans?
Charity starts at home Mr Clinton. Leave Africa alone please! We have had enough of both the East and the West and we need time to be on our own for the first time since 1500.
We will work out our problems ourselves without your so-called aid and trade. African problems deserve African solutions.
Issayas Afeworki, may not be champion of democracy!NewAfrican-December 1997!
THE WESTERN media has been portraying the Eritrean president Issayas Afeworki as some sort of saint, sent from heaven to bring salvation to Africa, as a so-called new generation leader. The last six years since Eritrea got its independence after 30 years of war against Ethiopia tell also a different story compare to the rest of Africa.
One may as Where the democratic institutions, the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press are in Eritrea but all that is missing because of the devastating war with Ethiopia for 30 long years.It takes generations to bring about radical changes in conservative societies as the eritrean one. No one is in any illusion about that.
Afeworki may not be champion of democracy but it is important that the world community know the very fact that the country is progressing in terms of soicio-economc and health sector relatively well in comparison to the countries in the region.The horn of Africa is not probably the most stable and prosporous region, Eritrea seems though to be the exception at this moment.
One may as Where the democratic institutions, the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press are in Eritrea but all that is missing because of the devastating war with Ethiopia for 30 long years.It takes generations to bring about radical changes in conservative societies as the eritrean one. No one is in any illusion about that.
Afeworki may not be champion of democracy but it is important that the world community know the very fact that the country is progressing in terms of soicio-economc and health sector relatively well in comparison to the countries in the region.The horn of Africa is not probably the most stable and prosporous region, Eritrea seems though to be the exception at this moment.
onsdag 23 april 2008
The Mis-Education of the African elite!
Every child should have the right to think and dream in his/her native language. The colonial languages English, French, Portugese are the official languages in many African countries. I feel that the failure in terms of education, development and democracy in many countries can not be undestood holistically unless the aspect of language is embodied in the whole picture.
Carter Godwin Woodson explains in his famous book: "The Mis-Education of the Negro" the fact that the "educated negroes" have the attitude of contempt toward their own people because in their own as well as in their mixed schools, "Negroes" are taught to admire the Hebrew, the Greek, the Latin and the Teuton and to despise the African......
Those who speak one of the colonial languages fluently and have obtained western education are regarded as "the best ones" and given special treatements. This stems from the way Europeans have dealt with black people for many centuries.
"When you control a man´s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his "proper place" and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to tha back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His questions of education makes it necessary."
Leah Taylor asserts that although published more than six decades ago, the impact of these poignant words by Dr. Carter G. woodson in The Miseducation of the Negro has continued to resonate throughout the minds and hearts of Black people around the globe. With an equal if not greater level of pertinence than it held in 1933, it enlights each reader on controversial issues such as revers dicsrimination, reparation and affirmative action....
Education in vernacular languages is the key for emanicipation from mental slavery and for total human freedom. Vernacular refers to the native language of a country or locality. In general lingustics, it is used to describe local languages as opposed to linguae francae, official standards or global languages. The panafricanist professor Kwesi Prah is working hard to make all education in Africa in vernaculars. We have to help him to this end.
Carter Godwin Woodson explains in his famous book: "The Mis-Education of the Negro" the fact that the "educated negroes" have the attitude of contempt toward their own people because in their own as well as in their mixed schools, "Negroes" are taught to admire the Hebrew, the Greek, the Latin and the Teuton and to despise the African......
Those who speak one of the colonial languages fluently and have obtained western education are regarded as "the best ones" and given special treatements. This stems from the way Europeans have dealt with black people for many centuries.
"When you control a man´s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his "proper place" and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to tha back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His questions of education makes it necessary."
Leah Taylor asserts that although published more than six decades ago, the impact of these poignant words by Dr. Carter G. woodson in The Miseducation of the Negro has continued to resonate throughout the minds and hearts of Black people around the globe. With an equal if not greater level of pertinence than it held in 1933, it enlights each reader on controversial issues such as revers dicsrimination, reparation and affirmative action....
Education in vernacular languages is the key for emanicipation from mental slavery and for total human freedom. Vernacular refers to the native language of a country or locality. In general lingustics, it is used to describe local languages as opposed to linguae francae, official standards or global languages. The panafricanist professor Kwesi Prah is working hard to make all education in Africa in vernaculars. We have to help him to this end.
fredag 4 april 2008
The revolution is not gonna be televised! It is your thoughts that matters, brothers and sisters!!!
Eritrea is not a failed state in terms of democracy, respect for human rights and socio-economic prosperity. The revolution in fighting poverty and diseases is not being sent on TV. Eritrea is actually one of the few countries in the African continent to be able to reach the united nations millenium goal!!! It has been almost 17 years since liberation and independence but so much has already been achieved in such a short time.
Eritrea was described as "the new hope of Africa" in 1991 and its Leader Issayas Afeworki belonged to "the new generation of African leaders" with an anti-corruption policy as his trademark. The guy has not changed that much but the west´s perception of him and Eritrea has changed a lot since then.
This audacity of hope and dream has not been crushed in Eritrea as yet. Eritreans are of course feeling frustrated and dissenchanted by the so called international community as never before. The country is in a constant state of war after the latest conflict with Ethiopia which erupted once again in 1998.
The Eritrean population is estimated to be around 3.5 million and 10 % (350 000!)of it is recruited in the Eritrean army through a compulsary military conscription. All men between 18-44 years old either are in a military or national service for an unlimited time. You can imagine how devastating the human and material cost is for every Eritrean and the country as whole but the question is, does Eritrea have any other option? The threat from Ethiopia and USA remains real and this fear should be taken seriously if any earnest dialogue is going to be possible with the west which has sided with Ethiopia.
The No War and No Peace situation in the current stalemate is having a tremendous negative impact on the population of both countries. Young people are doing everything possible to survive the situation. Eritrea and its population has been taken as a hostage due to the border tension with Ethiopia.
The state of war and conflict has engulfed the country for over a decade now. People are sick and tired of the situation where territorial integrity and sovereignity has demanded a lot of sacrifices so far. Ethiopia has manuplated the whole situation to its own regional and continental interest.The population in Ethiopia is more oppressed and saphocated than in Eritrea but the western media is not interested in portraying that reality. Ethiopians are generally showing an indifferent reaction and signs of resignation.
It is now about time for all Eritreans and peace loving people to take a stand against the status quo.The descion of the border commision should be implemented immediately. Eritrea had taken a courageous initiative to diffuse any immediate confrontation by allowing the united nation to create a 25 kilometer buffer zone inside the country but it was to no avail.
The UN has failed entirely and is not doing enough to solve the conflict. International law has been sidelined and double standard is being applied. The establishment of the buffer zone has literally been in vain and Eritrea rightly questions the relevance of UN and other organizations/individuals associated with it. The Eritrean people who have struggled for freedom and justice for all citizens, feel betrayed once again.
I have been an outspoken and a critical citizen against the injustice for some time but I feel now that it is high time that I joined forces who have the same vision, values of humanity, democracy and freedom and application of international law.
I have not seen any international response to the current stalemate between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The indifference is very much concerning. The border commission has finished its job and has given the assignment of demarcating the border to the concerned bodies. This actually happened in april 2002 when a virtual cyberbased border was delineated on a map and sent to both countries.Period!
Working out some policies on issues of reconciliation and conflict-resolution is something grassroot organizations should be invoved about. Compensation to the victims of the war and the deportees is another burning issue.
The general situation in the horn of Africa is highly impacted by the outcome of the conflict.The detailed policies and programmes of a post-war relationship need to be hammerd-out. I am not sure if these issues were being outlined by the border commission members but an African managed conflict resolution that involves the whole of the horn of Africa is a must. Proposals and ideas to get out of the stalemate has got to be presented and debated across the region.
An African revolutionary movement as HUMANIA and pan-Africanism could not be other than a party for the people whose human dignity and rights have been violated by colonialists and imperialists for centuries. Ethiopia has become a puppet state dictated by the CIA which makes it look like a pawn in a chase game being played by a giant.
You are therefore urged to join us and share your contribution to this noble cause. The evolution needs to be revolutionized by non-violent resistance. Enough is enough. Do not forget the fact that the revolution is not gonna be televised and you can make a difference as long as you have the will.Whereever there is a will, there is always a way.........Robert Nestan Marley Ohem, Berhane Meskel, alias, Bob Marley has said that!Do not forget it!
Eritrea was described as "the new hope of Africa" in 1991 and its Leader Issayas Afeworki belonged to "the new generation of African leaders" with an anti-corruption policy as his trademark. The guy has not changed that much but the west´s perception of him and Eritrea has changed a lot since then.
This audacity of hope and dream has not been crushed in Eritrea as yet. Eritreans are of course feeling frustrated and dissenchanted by the so called international community as never before. The country is in a constant state of war after the latest conflict with Ethiopia which erupted once again in 1998.
The Eritrean population is estimated to be around 3.5 million and 10 % (350 000!)of it is recruited in the Eritrean army through a compulsary military conscription. All men between 18-44 years old either are in a military or national service for an unlimited time. You can imagine how devastating the human and material cost is for every Eritrean and the country as whole but the question is, does Eritrea have any other option? The threat from Ethiopia and USA remains real and this fear should be taken seriously if any earnest dialogue is going to be possible with the west which has sided with Ethiopia.
The No War and No Peace situation in the current stalemate is having a tremendous negative impact on the population of both countries. Young people are doing everything possible to survive the situation. Eritrea and its population has been taken as a hostage due to the border tension with Ethiopia.
The state of war and conflict has engulfed the country for over a decade now. People are sick and tired of the situation where territorial integrity and sovereignity has demanded a lot of sacrifices so far. Ethiopia has manuplated the whole situation to its own regional and continental interest.The population in Ethiopia is more oppressed and saphocated than in Eritrea but the western media is not interested in portraying that reality. Ethiopians are generally showing an indifferent reaction and signs of resignation.
It is now about time for all Eritreans and peace loving people to take a stand against the status quo.The descion of the border commision should be implemented immediately. Eritrea had taken a courageous initiative to diffuse any immediate confrontation by allowing the united nation to create a 25 kilometer buffer zone inside the country but it was to no avail.
The UN has failed entirely and is not doing enough to solve the conflict. International law has been sidelined and double standard is being applied. The establishment of the buffer zone has literally been in vain and Eritrea rightly questions the relevance of UN and other organizations/individuals associated with it. The Eritrean people who have struggled for freedom and justice for all citizens, feel betrayed once again.
I have been an outspoken and a critical citizen against the injustice for some time but I feel now that it is high time that I joined forces who have the same vision, values of humanity, democracy and freedom and application of international law.
I have not seen any international response to the current stalemate between Eritrea and Ethiopia. The indifference is very much concerning. The border commission has finished its job and has given the assignment of demarcating the border to the concerned bodies. This actually happened in april 2002 when a virtual cyberbased border was delineated on a map and sent to both countries.Period!
Working out some policies on issues of reconciliation and conflict-resolution is something grassroot organizations should be invoved about. Compensation to the victims of the war and the deportees is another burning issue.
The general situation in the horn of Africa is highly impacted by the outcome of the conflict.The detailed policies and programmes of a post-war relationship need to be hammerd-out. I am not sure if these issues were being outlined by the border commission members but an African managed conflict resolution that involves the whole of the horn of Africa is a must. Proposals and ideas to get out of the stalemate has got to be presented and debated across the region.
An African revolutionary movement as HUMANIA and pan-Africanism could not be other than a party for the people whose human dignity and rights have been violated by colonialists and imperialists for centuries. Ethiopia has become a puppet state dictated by the CIA which makes it look like a pawn in a chase game being played by a giant.
You are therefore urged to join us and share your contribution to this noble cause. The evolution needs to be revolutionized by non-violent resistance. Enough is enough. Do not forget the fact that the revolution is not gonna be televised and you can make a difference as long as you have the will.Whereever there is a will, there is always a way.........Robert Nestan Marley Ohem, Berhane Meskel, alias, Bob Marley has said that!Do not forget it!
torsdag 3 april 2008
Nyamko Sabuni och Birgitta Ohlsson skrämmer mig!
Folkpartiet fiskar i grumligt vatten och använder Nyamko Sabuni som täckmantel för att dölja sin främlingsfientliga politik. Nyamko Sabunis föräldrar kommer från Kongo-kinshasa och hon kom till Sverige som 12 åring 1981. Hon är en sekulariserad muslim och pratar om integration utifrån överklassens perspektiv. Hennes uppfattningar om muslimer är negativa.
Hon har gjort sig känd för sina ogenomtänkta utspel och uttalanden. Av hennes mest uppmärksammad utspel kan nämnas: obligatorisk gynekolog-kontroller på alla flickor för att komma åt problemet med könsstympning samt slöjförbud. Hon tillhör också de mest kritiska inom folkpartiet till religösa friskolor vilket i och för sig kan jag sympatisera med.
Hon säger sig ha bestämt sig för att bli politiker efter det rasistiska mordet på flyktingen från Elfenbenskusten Partic Gbeyo i Klippan 1995. Hon har självklart sina svaga och starka sidor som alla andra men att alliera sig med makten och sparka på den som redan ligger är dock inget jag förstår mig på.
Birgitta Ohlsson är en annan ung kvinna inom folkpartiet som profilerat sig på utrikespolitik. Hon förespråkar bl.a. införandet av republik i Sverige vilket gillas även av Humania. Hon har också rätt i sina feministiska antagande i jämställdighetsfrågor.
Hon går dock för långt i sin kritik av "diktaturer" ibland. Hennes senaste och mest flagranta övertramp är att svartmåla Mugabe och Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe har stora ekonomiska och politiska problem men att skylla allting på en gubbe och välja att inte se de övergreppen som folket i landet utsatts av Engelsmännen är att göra det lätt för sig. Maktskifte kan bara äga rum när folket vill det och tar kommandot själva.
Birgitta Ohlsson själv var i Zimbabwe nyligen och uppviglade folk till att demonstrera mot Mugabe. Hon filmade när valaffischer revs sönder och intervjuade människor som misshandlats. Hon berättade detta på SVT i söndags och beskrev Mugabe som en av historiens värste dikatatorer.
Vem har gett henne rätten att åka ner till Zimbabwe och ställa till det för folket? Tänk hur absurd det skulle vara om en poltiker från Zimbabwe skulle komma hit och förhålla sig som hon på en svensk valkampanj..?
Jag har nu polisanmält henne för uppvigling och subversiv verksamhet i Zimbabwe och hoppas att hon lämnas ut till polisen i Zimbabwe för att ställas inför rätta där.
För övrigt hoppas jag att Mugabe åtminstone vinner i presidentvalet när det nu är klart att oppositionen vunnit i parlamentsvalet!!!
Hon har gjort sig känd för sina ogenomtänkta utspel och uttalanden. Av hennes mest uppmärksammad utspel kan nämnas: obligatorisk gynekolog-kontroller på alla flickor för att komma åt problemet med könsstympning samt slöjförbud. Hon tillhör också de mest kritiska inom folkpartiet till religösa friskolor vilket i och för sig kan jag sympatisera med.
Hon säger sig ha bestämt sig för att bli politiker efter det rasistiska mordet på flyktingen från Elfenbenskusten Partic Gbeyo i Klippan 1995. Hon har självklart sina svaga och starka sidor som alla andra men att alliera sig med makten och sparka på den som redan ligger är dock inget jag förstår mig på.
Birgitta Ohlsson är en annan ung kvinna inom folkpartiet som profilerat sig på utrikespolitik. Hon förespråkar bl.a. införandet av republik i Sverige vilket gillas även av Humania. Hon har också rätt i sina feministiska antagande i jämställdighetsfrågor.
Hon går dock för långt i sin kritik av "diktaturer" ibland. Hennes senaste och mest flagranta övertramp är att svartmåla Mugabe och Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe har stora ekonomiska och politiska problem men att skylla allting på en gubbe och välja att inte se de övergreppen som folket i landet utsatts av Engelsmännen är att göra det lätt för sig. Maktskifte kan bara äga rum när folket vill det och tar kommandot själva.
Birgitta Ohlsson själv var i Zimbabwe nyligen och uppviglade folk till att demonstrera mot Mugabe. Hon filmade när valaffischer revs sönder och intervjuade människor som misshandlats. Hon berättade detta på SVT i söndags och beskrev Mugabe som en av historiens värste dikatatorer.
Vem har gett henne rätten att åka ner till Zimbabwe och ställa till det för folket? Tänk hur absurd det skulle vara om en poltiker från Zimbabwe skulle komma hit och förhålla sig som hon på en svensk valkampanj..?
Jag har nu polisanmält henne för uppvigling och subversiv verksamhet i Zimbabwe och hoppas att hon lämnas ut till polisen i Zimbabwe för att ställas inför rätta där.
För övrigt hoppas jag att Mugabe åtminstone vinner i presidentvalet när det nu är klart att oppositionen vunnit i parlamentsvalet!!!
onsdag 26 mars 2008
God bless Jeremiah Wright and God damn USA!
Jeremiah Wright is the only pastor who speaks his mind. What goes around ,comes around...We were many who thought that the issue of race would not be a big deal in the USA election at this stage but those hopes have been dashed. The pastor is definately right when he describes USA as the land ruled by the Ku Klux Klan.The chicken has indeed come home to roost in a country which has turned blind eyes and deaf ears to the sufferings of AfricanAmericans for over 500 years.
Senator Barack Obama is doing his utmost to distance himself from the pastor without disowning him entirely and frustrating AfricanAmericans which is a very delicate balance. The audacity of hope Obama spoke about is loosing momentum and white America seems not to be ready to listen to its history of racial dicrimination and murder past. Obama can not be held guilty by association because of his friendship with the pastor who has just spoken the truth.
AfricanAmericans are still the most oppressed and impoverished group. 44 % of all prisinors(2.3 million) in USA are black even if they only account for 12 % the US total population of 300 million.
Wright had officiated at Obama's marriage, baptized his children, and Obama was a member of the congregation of the Trinity United Church of Christ for over 20 years.
Senator Barack Obama is doing his utmost to distance himself from the pastor without disowning him entirely and frustrating AfricanAmericans which is a very delicate balance. The audacity of hope Obama spoke about is loosing momentum and white America seems not to be ready to listen to its history of racial dicrimination and murder past. Obama can not be held guilty by association because of his friendship with the pastor who has just spoken the truth.
AfricanAmericans are still the most oppressed and impoverished group. 44 % of all prisinors(2.3 million) in USA are black even if they only account for 12 % the US total population of 300 million.
Wright had officiated at Obama's marriage, baptized his children, and Obama was a member of the congregation of the Trinity United Church of Christ for over 20 years.
Critics have accused Wright of using Black liberation theology to promote black separatism.[14] Wright has rejected this notion by saying that "The African-centered point of view does not assume superiority, nor does it assume separatism. It assumes Africans speaking for themselves as subjects in history, not objects in history." [15]In one sermon Wright is quoted as saying "All of God's children white, black, red, yellow, male, female, all together".[16][17]
Wright once stated that Zionism has an element of "white racism", but the Anti-Defamation League says it has no evidence of any anti-Semitism by Wright.[14]
In March 2008, ABC News caused a public uproar by broadcasting spliced sound bites from a sermon that Wright gave shortly after September 11, 2001,[18][19] in which Wright paraphrased Edward Peck,[20] former U.S. Chief of Mission in Iraq, former deputy director of the White House Task Force on Terrorism under the Reagan Administration and former U.S. Ambassador to a number of countries, who was appearing on Fox News, as allegedly having said:
"We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye...and now we are indignant, because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought back into our own front yards. America's chickens are coming home to roost."
Wright went on to state: "Violence begets violence. Hatred begets hatred. And terrorism begets terrorism. A white ambassador said that y’all, not a black militant. Not a reverend who preaches about racism. An ambassador whose eyes are wide open and who is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice upon which we are now poised. The ambassador said the people that we have wounded don’t have the military capability we have. But they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them. And we need to come to grips with that."[21]
In another sermon from which sound bites were taken out of context and widely aired in March 2008[19], Wright first makes the distinction between God and the government, and points out that many governments in the past have failed:
"Where governments lie, God does not lie. Where governments change, God does not change."[22] Wright then states: "And the United States of America government, when it came to treating her citizens of Indian descent fairly, she failed. She put them on reservations. When it came to treating her citizens of Japanese descent fairly, she failed. She put them in internment prison camps.
When it came to treating her citizens of African descent fairly, America failed. She put them in chains, the government put them on slave quarters, put them on auction blocks, put them in cotton field, put them in inferior schools, put them in substandard housing, put them in scientific experiments, put them in the lowest paying jobs, put them outside the equal protection of the law, kept them out of their racist bastions of higher education and locked them into positions of hopelessness and helplessness."[22]
Wright concludes by stating:" The government gives them drugs, built bigger prisons, passes a three strike law, and then wants us to sing God bless America. No, no, no, not God bless America, God damn America, that's in the Bible, for killing innocent people. God damn America, for treating her citizens as less than human. God damn America, as long as she pretends to act like she is God, and she is supreme. The United States government has failed the vast majority of her citizens of African descent."[22]
I appreciate jeremiah Wright and hope that Obama will still manage to become the president of US.
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