A Tradition of Ignorance and Stupidity in the West.
In the wake of the current cases of Racist killings which have taken
place both in Britain and America, I am compelled to elaborate on
these issues and to share my thoughts on these matters which i view
with grave concern to every decent resident on both sides of the
Atlantic, both black and white alike.
Stephen Lawrence, young black man from south London, an A Level
student at the time a gang of racist thugs stabbed and drained out his
youthful life on the pavements of Eltham in south London. Stephen's
school grades were one that exhibited brilliance, he was loved by his
teachers because of his courteousness and excellence, a young man with
all the makings and pedigree of a fine architect.
The reason of this heinous crime was because Stephen was 'unfortunate'
to be born black. His parents Neville and Doreen Lawrence in their
middle class neighbourhood instilled discipline, love and respect in
their eldest child from an early age, with the ultimate aim of him
becoming a good citizen and productive in society. On the fateful
night in April 1993, Stephen and his best friend Duwayne Brooks now 25
and an engineer were waiting for a bus in Eltham enroute to Plumstead
where a gang of five white youths walking towards them taunted them
with derogatory and racist slurs, Duwayne could anticipate the
situation so he urged Stephen for them to run away, Stephen was late
and these hobos pounced on him like the hungry cayote on an antelope -
like the ones that you see on the discovery channel, Lawrence was
stabbed in the neck, and back and left to bleed to death, Duwayne
sensing alarming danger rushed and called the ambulance, The police
were first to arrive and INSTEAD of them to apply first aid to
Lawrence, they interrogated and suspected Duwayne as a gangster who
may have provoked the situation - a blunt character deformation. The
police did nothing to help persue the killers in those 'golden hours'.
Few weeks later the police were bombarded with numerous anonymous
witness information quoting the names of five white youths which the
police neglected claiming a lack of 'hard evidence'.
The police began to feel the strain and stress from the public which resulted in the
arrest of the five white youths who were later acquitted from lack of
'sufficient evidence'.The parents who understandably so relentlessly
utilised all resources with the help of pressure and civil liberty
groups and of course black organisations complained and prompted the
then conservative government to act on what they percieved as lack of
rigour and cooperation from the Metropolitan(London) police. The case
was given a lukewarm reception and hollow promises were made by the
conservative government. The new Labour governent vowed to conduct a
public enquiry when they came into power, They appointed a retired
judge Sir Macpherson to oversee the process, and after eight agonising
years of the parents and family persue to find justice in the British
judiciary system, Sir Macpherson has published a 335 page scathing
verdict report ACCUSING the police of 'Institutionalised Racism' in
the Police. He defined Institutionalised racim as "unwitting
Prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and stereotype practices within
the establishment".
The prime minister in a rather sombre mood
denounced racism in all shape and form in British society. Now, the
fact of the matter is that every black person in the UK know that
there is RACISM in the governmental forces because no one monitors
their actions,well, the police complaint commission is as inactive as
it might as well be defunct, i personally wouldn't fudge with words
and rewrite the Oxford dictionary and kid myself with the new cover up
definition, so why does it have to take a precious and promising life
such as Stephen's to expose this to the wider communities - why does
this case has to revolutionalised an entire establishment, and be used
as a catalyst for permanent and irrevocable change, and a watershed in
race relations while the evidence is all too ripe on the streets of
London-Racism is Endermic in British society. what may be interesting
is the recomendations that may follow in the aftermath.
We also witnessed John William King - A class A moron disillusioned by
white supremacist philosophies who somehow decapitated James Byrd Jr
by dragging him several miles tied at the back of a pick up truck.
This is sickenning to say the least and it sends a cold chill in the
hearts of any decent person irrespective of colour. It is undoubtedly
factual that America suffers from an acute and chronic form of racism
that can't compare with no other Western Nation, and makes a mockery
of the subtle form experienced across Europe. It is not like the ones
where the bartender will ignore to serve you at a bar because God
created you black, or your boss assigns all high profile projects to
your colleague you always wondered whether his Algebra goes beyond x
and y's. It is far more engraved in the whole American culture accross
the board, a culture born out of ignorance of various diversities of
ethnicity, considering Americans know the least among Western Nations
when it comes to foreign cultures. Presumeably because of the over
empasised projections of capitalism, The NYPD don't even recognise and
acknowledge that the institution from top down practise prejudice,
that's what is alarming considering the number of blacks and hispanics
in penetentiaries across America is one that defy the concept of ratio
and simple proportions at common entrance level.The statistics are
all too plain and evident of police malpractices, brutalities, lack of
understanding, and insensitvities of the cultures that prevail in
Urban America. Affirmitive action implementations is a joke if one is
percieved as the 'lucky fish' caught through the marginal fringes of a
race bessoted with low IQ's.
The British Government have started to
realise(at least that what the say) the cancer of racism and have
promised a major overhaul within both the private and public sector,
ie,schools, hospitals, immigration, police, armed forces and the other
public sectors, all these sound over ambitious for a country which
have constantly refused to talk about and admitted racism in the wider
public, time will tell, BUT for now my advice to you all is for you in
the diaspora not to be 'too comfortable' in the West with a false
sense of complacency thinking things will get better' folks that is a
delusion in its severest form. If they refuse to cancel our loans in
Africa and insist on compounding it with higher interest rates, and
certain American scientist( i must add these are minority)
hypothesizing that your folks in Africa are having sex with chimps on
tress, and eating them after orgasm, then what makes you think that
you can possibly claim equality with the European. FUNNY indeed, Steps
and contingency plans should be made to do sometime good for our
country to create sustainable developments where we naturally belong
before the race war becomes a reality.
Perhaps, because we live in an increasingly pluralistic world, we have repeatedly witnessed a clash of orthodoxies during our troubled century.Today, in all leading faiths, religious fundamentalists insist
that only their interpretation of traditions is correct. They arederided and even reviled by the more liberal establishment, which has however spawned a form of secular fundamentalism which is similarly
reductive and intolerant. Finally there is a widespread scientific orthodoxy that also demands our total and exclusive allegiance.Talking about tolerance (both sexual and political orientation),the year 2000 draws near, The date has certain resonance especially for
those of us in the software industry. We cannot know what it's historic significance will be, but it invites tremendous speculation.
If there is one prediction that can be made with certainty, it is that most predictions will turn out to be wrong, but then again don't quote
Stanley on that when the big bug resident on your computer and your household chip embedded systems spring out and devour you alive!
In
1939 psychologist Lewis Terman predicted that by the 1960's no American would be a virgin on her wedding day. At least 50 percent of
brides in the 1960's have proved him wrong . The 1990's saw the so-called sexual revolution: cohabitation became more open,
contraceptive techniques improved, homosexuality came of the closet,swinging couples became less coy about their activities and communal
lifestyles were experimented with. I think Eric Kubi's manifestations at his uncle's funeral in Efiduase last christmas cements and proves
this case. Jeremiahs by the score foresaw an end to 'civilised' moral code . Now as we approach the year 2000, we can look back and say that
the sexual revolution was not really a revolution at all. At most it was an evolution. Most of the behaviour trumpeted as new in the 1960's
were not really new at all and those behaviours which caused most stir - premarital and extramarital sex, swinging, homosexuality, divorce -
have in fact levelled off and come to be accepted, or at least better understood. Most people still see in themselves and others the reality
that tommorows' behaviours will be much like today's. We have not, it turns out, descended into sexual anarchy or risen to sexual heaven.
Nevertherless, since World War II, choice in sexual matters has broadened enormously. That does not mean that everyone takes advantage
of the possibilities open to them - the possibility of sleeping around, protected by the pill, condoms, and antibiotics, does not make
every adult promiscuous, nor does the legality of the same-sex sex mean that more people are homosexually active. Broader choice in
sexual matters is a trend that can be expected to continue. And when choice is available, consumers generally become more discriminating,
more demanding, and surer of what they want.
Many of the changes that will come about in the next decade will be
won by conflict and confrontation rather than negotiation and mediation. The battle lines will be drawn not only between different
religious beliefs and different ideas of morality and the greater good, but between different socio-economic groups, between cultures
(east versus west, north versus south), and between men and women.These divisions have already made themselves felt over issues such as
about abortion. Gays and Aids campaigners will escalate their political activities. Proponents and opponents of sex education will
plead their causes with equal gusto, Many groups will be playing into the media. Whatever the issue, all sides will lay claim to moral high
ground, and there will be good points on all sides. So again I state my case that whatever opinion you may hold about sexual ethics into
the next millenium, prepare to be plunged into a world dictated by choice and freedom. The conflict will be furious. Let's hope that the
contestants will lob good research data and not just emotional hunches into the fray. Till the next editorial take care folks.
There is a saying that goes something like this" A man is an architect
of his own destiny" the cliche is that if you develop a habbit of
misleading people, you are bound to be misled at a certain point in
time, again if you build a relationship based upon lies, deceit , and
disloyalty you know you're on a hell bound express train. Forgive me
if i sound like a doomsday prophet. Since we've been graced with a new
year, and this being the first editorial, I have refined the editorial
topic from what i would normally write and have decided to get a
little serious and reflect on the years gone by.
As we enter into a new year can we really be hopeful of achieving
our goals, be it academic, relationships, security and most
importantly can we strive to be a better person this year, because
quite frankly without understating it, we can only reap what we sow.
It is quite difficult in this age and day to strive to attain self
enlightenment while values are undoubtedly skewed to materialism, self
appeasement and insularity. Lifestyles are becoming livid, void of
true substance, politicians are becoming more insidious by the day.
Amorality has become the order of the day making it difficult to trust
even your next door neighbour. An insatiable yearn for dolci vita in
today's world has caused societal breakups, and the demise of true
community spirit where people took care of each other - a family
member wouldn't think twice of stabbing you in the back if he/she can
anticipates richness in doing so. We are living in a world where
people have evolved to develop a third eye to see beyond the obvious
and the obscure. Education and righteousness are weighed less on the
statutory scale, because as the saying goes 'if it ain't dollars, it
don't make sense' go to school and earn all those colourful
qualifications, if you don't make enough dough at the end of the day,
your wife will be attracted to 'Mr Earn a lot next door' and she will
tell you what's love got to do with it, you can't change it, you'll
have to adjust to it. It's less than a year before we reach the two
thousand year mark after the death of Jesus - the new millenium, ask
yourself the question has the life of humanity improved, or
deteriorated. Does more people have peace of mind, Do we have more
diseases now than ever before. Societies might be richer now than
before but does riches and affluence ensure long term happiness. You
can't help but to think that the world is in a state of emergency,
something of a critical moral decadence, Yes, it may sound dismal but
it's true.
Now to something i really care about - stability in Ghana, infact it
came on top of my new year's wishes. Freddie Ofori i admire you
immensely for the brilliant piece written about the present economical
climate in Ghana, I just hope that there are more people like you in
Ghana. Without delving too deep into the realm of Ghanaian politics,
something i'll leave it up to Freddie who's political insight is worth
noting, and should be well respected, however, i would like to stress,
perhaps re-iterate how the new year will change the unscrupulous and
unsavoury human maggots lurking in Ghanaian Politics, Are things going
to change for the better in the political scene in Ghana in the next
millenium or should we brace ourselves for yet another
neo-revolutionary roller-coaster ride antics from 'Dr' Rawlings and
co. or should i say cronnies as Freddie would put it. Never in our
short history (Ghana) has intense brutalities and fatalities been
executed than in His regime, all in the name of total eradication of
corruption, now, doesn't that makes you laugh, Mr Rawlings giving a
lesson in honesty and how to be a good citizen, not to mention
mismanagement of national funds and assets. However big the crime
certain past politicians commited, does Mr Rawlings had the right to
take away the lives of these individuals all in the name of revolution
- Mr Rawlings the saviour.
Three o'clock AM, and my uncle Dr Twumasi
had to run away from the UST campus to save his life from an
unjustified persecution just because he questioned the motive behind
why University students had to pay fees, while the Government on the
contrary were spending 5 times on national budget on arms we really
didn't need than on the educational sector (email me for more
details). It didn't stop there, you only had to have a substantial
amount in your account to be labelled an embezzler, swindler and a
fraud for him to set his wolf pack bubble head truculent army to not
only seize your whole life savings and assets but also do you the
honours of disfiguring your body parts. I remember vividly when my
uncle S K Manu suffered this fate under Sir squeaky clean, Mr don't do
wrong Rawlings. A country where Politicians allegedly sleep freely
with Miss Ghana contestants, simply because they have the power to
twist and bend the results. We may have forgiven Rawlings for
insulting our intelligence, But, we have not forgotten Mr Rawlings for
the mysteries of cloud that hang on the deaths of the prominent
judges, and his so called revolution days when fear unfolded a thick
blanket over Ghana.
No sir, Ghana do not belong to you and and your
churlish family, so don't patronise us like a saint while you order
vehicles with national funds for your political campaign, and your
selfish political aspirations when it should have been better spent on
Education and healthcare . I have no respect for Dr Rawlings as a
politician, I am not one of those people who fall under the spell of
Mr Rawlings' subtle false pretences and hollow rhetorics. As long as
there are people like Harold and Alaska who have harnessed the power
of the internet we will continue to disseminate our views freely.
I
have said certain things in the past about what i percieved to be
political and economic improprieties and imprudence, only to wake up
to read a barage of unsubstantiated accusations levelled against me
for being arrogant, and if i didn't like the way the country was
governed i should complain to Jerry. This attitude wouldn't help us in
anyway, but will only exacerbate and deepens our current economic
crises and only suppresses transparency in our political atmosphere.
Let's hope the new year and more generally the next millenium
reinstates harmony, understanding, tolerance, honesty and integrity in
the agenda of our politicians. Till the next politics free editorial
Happy new year folks.
Let's create a scenerio, A guy and a girl go out to dinner, the girl can't stop thinking, is this guy
good enough to grow old with me and be a father of my children? The guy is spending the whole
time wondering how to rush the girl home and get 'some of that'. I think i have driven you folks to
the essence of this piece and yes it is the mystery of extra-marital affairs. - the 'why files'.
I mean guys what astounds me greatly is that why are there so many married men who on the
surface glow with marital bliss would endulge themselves in chains of extra marital 'kicks'.
Some guys do it in ad-libitum, sometimes the stake of pleasure is too high that it robs even the
most noble of men into bogus altruism and priggish behaviours in the company of their
mistresses. At home though, there is a feeling of a contrived ambivalence of love and hate with
their partners.
Human nature and behaviour have always fascinated me, so it makes sense for me to wonder
why people commit to each other in marriages while the statistics of break-ups concurs alarm,
one that even makes the wildly optimist think twice. I think i have an idea of the common
mistakes, Could it be that so many enter marital relationships from a superficial viewpoint , ie,
he/she looks good? we have a lot in common?, or the sex is good - ok, lets break it down,
Looks fade away, and one will always look for a fresher look, a lot in common? I have a friend in
London who once said to me when she was courting her now ex-hubby "Gary and i have so
much in common it's incredible" At that time they were students at Kings College( University of
London ), they were both free-spirited, loved Sci-Fi movies, name any episode of Star Trek and
Gary and Tania will give you a rendition of Captain Kirk and Captain Janeway respectively, They
adored classic movies and gothic architecture. With time they grew apart and Gary hated with a
passion the ideals that formed the basis and culminated the strong bonds of their relationships,
now Gary is now a staunch postmodernist and a bit of a "flashy - bashy". This goes on to prove
that the phrase "lots in common" can be a big red-herring. Now to my last assertion about the
"sex thine", guys how long does it take nature to keep allowing the big gun to fire from all
cylinders, well, there you go guys. So what do i think should be the determinant and the magic
recipe for a lasting relationship, the key word here is COMPROMISE, you can or can't be all
she/he wants you to be but understand that fact and strive to appreciate each other with the
ultimate hope of everlasting unity. Nothing in history is more depictably acknowledged for the
cause of the downfall of great men than the inappropriate engagements of "silly willy" - men's
most potent asset, so why do we do it, i mean women know that this weakness is perhaps the
most dominant of all the male weaknesses, so it doesn't take them a century to sing the right
notes for us to dance to it.
Believe me if one is neither an Amish nor a catholic priest, life can SOMETIMES be unbearably
challenging trying to stay faithful. This leads to my main rostrum sermon which is how we can
try and keep our own going strong against the backdrop of temptations, as you may know or
may not know, i am not an agony aunt, neither am i a relationship therapist nor a marriage
counsellor, but then again i have always had my suspicions about these professions, The
question i ask myself is how do they make their professions secured if everything in marriages
were to be cushy, so i tend to listen to the old folks who i know have the experience of marriage,
for me marriage is not like a spectator sports, you have to live it to prescribe a love potion, i
wouldn't trust anyone with a Ph.D from Harvard, never been married but have read and
analysed some conjectural literature to tell me what's wrong with my relationship. I think the only
people that can solve marital abyss somehow are both partners. So guys i will tell you what the
old guys have said to me and the answer is adoring our partners, always listening to them and
to find a unique quality in our partners and say ok "only my partner have this quality" until the
next editorial stay happy and Happy Christmas folks.
