Author Essa Bokarr Sey
Once upon a time I heard this from an old Chinese friend during a friendly conversation. He said this to me..."My good friend from Gambia.Mao Tsetung said, there are those who admire the revolution,there are blind loyalists,whereas there are those who fully understand what the revolution is all about" My old Chinese friend finally said Mao prefered those who understood what the revolution was all about.
There is indeed wisdom in Mao Tsetung's way. Why? Because blind loyalists are dangerous elements! These elements are like shadows. Shadows follow their objects or subjects everywhere but never will they help the two fight back when the need arises. Shadows repeat actions good or bad even if they do not understand what these actions entail.
Mao's became an International competetor because he worked with a team,he was not self-centered. Mao was "seasoned" he was not "seasonal". Alas! "seasonal" leaders change for no reason. Dreams help them where reality should have. That could be more dangerous. "Dreamology" as an Ideology? Catastrophe!!!
When leaders are "seasoned" means they learn along way. Learning cannot be done where the learner sees a teacher in him or herself during sessions. A learner is a learner, a teacher is a teacher period. Who is the teacher here? Society! Has July 22nd been a good classroom within society? Thats the question before The Gambia today.... Suspense within suspension breeds day dreamers.
Tolerance has been expelled not even suspended. Peace has been suspended.
The trajet we are using is thorny and smoky. Today we are reflecting on the past.
The mathematics has produced two results. 2 years of forced rule and 11 years of scary rule. The number is 13 before. Here it is standing before our eyes. These eyes are still soaked in tears. Why cry when peace is near? Is this real peace? Does silence mean peace?
Today number 13 is seeing gun butts at fort bullen in Barra. Madness calling for unseen enemies! Today number 13 is seeing coups and counter coups. Today number 13 is seeing whirling accusations against long time good neighbours. Today number 13 is seeing the charred remains of Koro Ceesay. Today number 13 is seeing the limping kids who were whipped and chopped near the red cross premises in 2000. Today number 13 is seeing the legacy of Deyda Hydara. A fine gentleman of a noble profession who was shot dead all in defending the name of the revolution? Today number 13 is seeing and remembering the deadly bullets that pierced thru the flesh of a noble man called Ousman Sillah.Today number 13 is seeing the betrayed faces of Sang Pierre Mendy,Tamsier Jasseh,Alieu Jobe,Abdoulie Kujabi and many more. Today number 13 is seeing the betrayed face of Baba Jobe. Today number 13 is seeing the crying family of Daba Marenah and other orphans all in the name of defending the revolution?
A revolution not like Mao's! A revolution not like Mandela's! A revolution not like George Washington's! A revolution not like Lumumba's! A revolution calling for narrow nationalism within myth. This is a revolution that I saw before me. I saluted it,others saluted it. Why have I and many more chosen to remove their palms from the saluting hands of this pseudo revolution? Revolutions are not for imitation. Revolutions are for innovation. Innovate! Do not imitate! I can smell similarities in Banjul. I can smell similarities coming from the fangs of the Abacha catch! I can smell similarities creeping from the outskirts of Eyadema's village. I can smell similarities coming from the legacies of blood-hungry Idi Amin Dada.
I can smell similarities oozing from the veins of the killing rebels of Charles Taylor. Every killer justifies the reason of killing because killers send pain they do not receive pain.
Today number 13 is seeing heightened security alerts in small Gambia. Today number 13 calls smart Intellectuals "dissidents". Today number 13 calls journalists "dissidents".Today exile causes "positive" excitement for the mamba snakes in camouflage, all in the name of defending a revolution!
Hurray! society has won! Njagga Mbaye the great singer of Senegal said:"Sool Kerr douko terreh fegne"-No one can bury shade! Where eyes are covered,tongues are twisted,hearts are blinded,minds cannot be caged! Do we see minds? Not at all. That is why Njagga sang the song of wisdom.
Do we really understand what the revolution is all about? No. We cannot because we are yet to see a revolution. This was an accident within evolution. Time moves like a train some areas are dark and thick. Others are bright,others give us beautiful scenery of green valleys.
The Gambia is a train thats moving along the rails,it will pass through these places while rolling on. Faith is never late,because it is omni present.
Once upon a time we heard the story of a man who built a storey building for a shepherd without asking the shepherd what he needed. Upon completion of the gorgeous structure the shepherd came with his sheep,goats and cats. The carpet was stained,the bath room stained,the curtains were torn off. The builder was furious whereas the shepherd was excessively happy. Why? because the shepherd saw water. He wanted to help his animals drink. Are structures the answer? The shepherd has given us the answer.
Development has major pillars. One of them is social,one of them is material.
The latter means nothing to faith. The former means a lot to the hearts and minds.
Hello Mr Revolutionary! Do you understand what your revolution is all about.
Dummies in a taylor's workshop look smart and cute. Are they real? They aren't!!!
Paradox all the way!
Too shallow,it is not yet deep bro! Dig!
Time is up,the waves are coming stand up and read the real meaning of the revolution.There are pages under the pillow case. Will you be able to finish the texts before the real meaning arrives?
"Katta Bowlou? Kokou Bo!"
"Anyilaw Ou-jan-teh-naaw!!!!"
Authored:
Essa Bokarr SEY.