I was in Tunis when I heard of the news of Michael’s passing. Surprisingly (or maybe not) the tunisians in the hotel seemed much more touched than the bunch of americans I was around. Still, though I felt sadness, that was about it, maybe because I had my own demons to fight. Upon getting back to the US, it actually hit me more and more that a prodigy was gone. It’s unbelievable how much time I’ve spent on youtube watching the man’s videos and concerts and remembering some songs I had forgotten about. Gosh! He had so many, kinda reminds you he’s been singing since he was 6. At times, I couldn’t help but feel pitty. Knowing how much he’s been through while watching every and anyone paying tribute to his life, I kinda wish someone, anyone would’ve stood up while he was still alive to stop the madness and circus the media made about his life. Even the coverage right after his passing was offensive: talks of prescription drugs and all the rest. Yes the man had flaws, try living your life in the spotlight since childhood and being held up to some  impossible standard. My sister and I were wondering yesterday if his fame and fortune were worth all that he had to go through, and both answered Hell no! no one should have to go through what he did. And in the end, he was more of a soul in need of help than anything else.

So let’s keep celebrating the best that ever did it, and the best that ever will. I don’t think we’ll get to see such a genius for a long time. It wasn’t just his dancing, but also his persona, his character, his smile, his sensitivty, his high-pitched voice that all got lost in a masquerade of surgery and singularity that everyone just labeled as mere weirdness. But that was him, with all his greatness and his flaws.

God bless him and may he rest in peace!

As soon as people are asked of their favorite michael song, it’s either Beat It, Thriller, Billie Jean, Bad or Smooth Criminal. Those were GREAT and I can listen to them over and over, LOVE them. But I like the more subtle ones, the underrated, but nonetheless great: Heartbreak Hotel, Who’s loving you, PYT, Another Part of Me, Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough and my ultimate favorites: Human Nature,  Give into Me and The Way You Make me Feel.

  ” La Bande a Bono” in LA- January ’09

Dance Away!

M.

Amina (from the Coup de Coeur Blog) sent me an email yesterday about missing my posts. Though I meant to answer over email first, I didn’t get around to it before going to bed. I have gone M.I.A for a while. Last you heard from me, I was coming back from travels and getting slammed by a wicked agenda between thesis, papers, internships and work… Though I was able to finish and graduate, the unthinkable happened: my dad left on May 2nd at 1:05 AM. I was on the plane taking me to Dakar after my mom told me dad wasn’t feeling really well since the day before.

 He never got to see me graduate. My reason for ambition and determination had left a week before I graduated.

You see, the worst part of that nightmare that got me curled up in a ball when I woke up,was not about being chased around, but rather because of my dad’s absence in that nightmare. To this day, a month and 29 days later, I go around, back to routine day after day, after day and yes I’m able to smile, joke around, even laugh. But every once in a while, something, and it’s never something precise, makes you break down. In the middle of nowhere, in the middle of people, in public places, in the shower, behind the wheel…anytime, anyplace. I went to Tunis for work last week and though it did me some good, I broke down in the middle of a meeting. No triggered word, no triggered image… just thoughts alone, and a heavy & bleeding heart… Anytime, anyplace…

Everyone said: it was God’s will and the funniest part is, I have said that to people before, but I don’t think I could’ve ever realized what it meant, and I still don’t. If there was a plan out there for my dad to pass and life to go on, I don’t know what that plan is for because the pain my sister, brother and I have gone and still go through is only made worst by seeing my mom’s world completely shattered and having no idea what to do with herself. Despair alone is enough to break you to pieces, let alone missing him.  Heaven should’ve waited…

… Or picked me. If there was ever a way to designate oneself before God called my everything back to Him, then I would’ve volunteered to go over him. Because there’s so much my dad was looking fwd to, because there’s so much more coming from me that I would’ve wanted him to see and be proud of, because there’s so much good he could’ve still done for people around him. It’s unbelievable how many stories I’ve heard after he passed that almost made me feel like I didn’t know him. People coming fwd with stories about how he helped or even saved their lives. And closer to my heart, stories about him, his reactions, temper, character, habits, likes, dislikes and it made me smile under puffy, teary eyes because I realized right then, tough I had an idea already, that I am my dad’s carbon copy. And though it makes me proud, it also leaves me ever sadder. Everyone has a story about dad but the same theme keeps coming around: “Un homme de paix, mais avant tout un homme de principes”. Avoiding drama like the plague, but ready to stand up for what he thought was right. 

If nothing else, my mom, sister, brother and I were proud. Even from his place in the cemetery, next to his mom and dad,  he made us proud. If today indeed I’ve lost 1/2 of me, lost all of my ambition, lost quite a bit of my reason for being, God only left me with pride, memories and a whole lot of questions. Can I add anger? Because I kinda am, but that’s blasphemous, isn’t it?

If only heaven would’ve waited, he would’ve seen his grandson (that little devil!) turn one the day before he passed, me graduate 6 days after he passed, his wife’s bday a month later… And God knows he wanted to see all of that, he was getting ready for all of that. Even he didn’t know he was leaving. 2009 started off very well for each and everyone of us 5 in the family and all was going smoothly, until May 1st when he suddenly got stomach pains…

So here’s why I haven’t posted anything in so long. It might just be that way for a while because I have to admit, not much matters to me right now, not even myself. I will get through this. They say tough times do not last, but tough people sure do, and family and I will.

For now, despair and a big empty hole are all I got… And no one can help.

God grant me the serenity

To accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;

And wisdom to know the difference.

M.

 

Well, you know what I think of all these people, “African leaders”… I don’t have to repeat it! (Not all of them, but let’s say 99.9% of them)

*Bongo, the only man shorter than Sarkozy…  They only froze a tiny part of what he stole… Freeze more! With all its potential, Gabon is still one of the poorest country in the world. You’d think it’d be otherwise given the size of the country and small population… not sure this will hurt in any way, but it’s clearly publicity not needed

* Al Bashir, it’s sad that there is even a debate about whether there should be an international warrant for his arrest. It is the right thing, is it what’s needed? Unfortunately not… Of course, the dire situation humanitarian agencies and peacekeeping mission are going to take a it and be retaliated against… BUT, the bigger picture you ask me? This will show any and everyone no one is above the law, not even a Pdt.

Overall, it’s about time the Internaltional justice community took notice of Africa’s woes. Now, I’m not calling for radom intrusion. Call me bias, but any warrant against Kagame for example, I’ll stand against… Now people like Al Bashir, I salute the “intrusion”, that is if you call trying to stop a genocide an “intrusion”. It is certain more need to be tried, more injustices need to be highlighted and more atrocities condened and swift action to be taken, in many places accross the globe. BUT, some intervention is better than no intervention.  Some are saying, why randomly assess who gets tried, and who doesnt. Sudan’s case is not random. It’s long overdue!

*As to Vieira, well the man is gone. Rest in peace, and may your people finally get out of misery… AT LAST!

AND CAN SOMEONE ASK WADE (Senegal’s pdt) TO SHUT HIS TRAP? That I know, he’s never done anything to allievate Darfurians suffering, hell, doesn’t do half nearly enough for his own people in Senegal, except for his pockets getting fatter…. So Puh-Lease….Actually, that all these leaders (Tanzania, Senegal to cite a few) would rather ask for more patience, I’m bewildered. It’s been going on for so long, how much more time do you need? 400,000 dead and 2 million displaced. More time for what? The cowards only fear for themselves and one other importance of this arrest warrant: precedence. If it happens to Al Bashir, it can happen to anyone of them. Meanwhile, they all sit around him in meetings, they may not congratulate him, but they might as well! It’s sad this has to be taken care of by international community. I hear the argument about making the situation more volatile…because Al Bashir and his people are senseless murderers. The issue is not that there shouldn’t be a warrant out for his arrest, the issue is the lack of action: unlilateral, miltary use of force to back it up…

All pigs, and will all burn in hell: I said it! Ocampo is a hero. The chances of arresting Al Bashir are not so low. As soon as he flies in international space, he can be arrested by UN agents,according to Intl Law. Bottom line, people are slowly dying: women are massively gang raped, 500,000 die each month of excrutiatingly painful deaths… in th end, maybe, just maybe al Bashir acts eraticly, then action will be taken.

Allright! I’m out… I’ll have to come back and profess my love for Kigali,  Rwanda overall …AND Kagame, my skinny hero!

I’m watching his monthly press conference on TV: when asked about the situation, he doesn’t agree with the ICC and the selective nature of how it deals with its programs. He finds the institution too political. He acknowledges his bias and that he might not be the best person to ask about the ICC. Now, about Al Bashir, he sees as a separate issue than the ICC, and doesn’t want to take a stand about his being guilty or not. BUMMER! Very disappointing answer. What happened to fighting for the vulnerable and defenseless. He of all people should know. Didn’t he cry foul and hammer the Intl community for not standing up for his people. He’s had to take charge in a country that went through the horrors of Darfur and worst… I really thought his answer would be different, but then again maybe Sudan is geographically too close, maybe all african pdts know in the back of their minds not to disavow each other (god knows they’re almost all alike anyway!), and mayb it might be the fact that some judges are on his case as well.

I’ ll say more next time.

Peace out!

Got a lot to do and not much time to do it all:

* I have a seminar this weekend on: the “Methodology of Peace”.

*  I just chose my thesis “Business Engagment in Conflict settings: How Foreign Direct Investments help or hinder fostering peace in Africa”. Due by the end of the semester.

* I have to do some work/school study and my topic will be: “International Public Health System in Post Conflict Countries: How NGOs should better gear their policies to ensure sustainable peace”.

* AND on top of it all, I’ll be traveling  for work over the next month to: Addis, Kigali, Bujumbura, Nairobi and Geneva (in that order). Hopefully, winter will be done (or almost) by the time I come back (March 18th).

So my plate Is definitely full (and I thought things would slow down in the beginning of the year, HA!). I will try to post as often as possible, but given the scope of what’s waiting, I wouldn’t hold my breath!

So, I’m signing off for a little while, packing my ballerines and short sleeves and leaving the boots and coats behind. But i’m sure i’ll be reading your blogs from my hotel room on weekends!

Any suggestions for good books ?(French or English)? You’d think I’d have enough reading to do with the thesis and studies I have due soon but I’d like to read stuff non work/school related as well. I have to admit I haven’t followed up in the literature department  lately. I’ll need some for the time I’ll be spending in planes and airports.

Smooches,

M.

issue/problem/conflict (pick one)

Mr Pdt came out today on Al-Arabiya TV to discuss US-Arab world relations. 1st interview on Arab television, al-Arabiya’s Hisham Melhem, this has to be an event (especially coming from a US pdt, how different). It’s like fresh air. I just hope they take time to listen, let him prove himself and show the new direction he wants to take.

See I take issue with the amalgam people make about muslim and Arab world. All muslims aren’t arabs, all arabs aren’t muslims. If you read part of Obama’s inauguration transcript, I think he could’ve done a better job at separating those 2 worlds. It’s not the muslim World you have a problem with. Now, I’m sure Obama knows that, but maybe it would be a good start to stop spreading that into American media.  As muslims, we’re even asked, why don’t you stand up for what you believe and defend your religion against terrorists who want to hijack it. My answer: I don’t feel i have to defend anything because if you only knew better, just a little better, you’d know they’re not speaking for all of us out there, they’re not even speaking for the majority of us out there.. So yes, I’ll educate people when asked about it, but it’s pretty hard to educate people when you spend most of your time defending your position when being attacked (because fighting stereoptypes and prejudice means being defensive everytime you’re asked about it). Now, not to overstate, it’s not like we’re being persecuted. But if you just listen closely to what is being said out there, it’s not a comfortable feeling. I’m confident enough in my faith that it doesn’t bother me in my day to day activities, my faith is not written on my face, and you would’ve thought ignorance would’nt be such an issue by now. But 95% of americans do not know 95% of Senegal is of muslim faith. I guess ignorance is bliss. That being said, I can only imagine a woman walking with her veil in the US or some religious sign accross her chest.

So I applaud him for tackling this issue so early on in his presidency. I guess he’s trying to set the tone Biden, Clinton and Mitchell will have to follow (because god knows he’s going to have to focus on domestic issues: job losses, stimulus plans and market crashes)

Hopefully, the bitterness and pettiness he wanst to kick out of DC, he’ll be able to kick out of that region. What needs to be clear though, which I think he touched on (around 4:10 of the video) is that thought Israel is an ally, they need to bring something to the table as well, and even moderates in Israel agree they’ve been given a blank check these past 8 years.

If you ask me, I’ll tell you straight up, Israel doesn’t have the right to exist. I said it. agree, disagree? That’s my opinion. Now, is  Israel’s annihilation a solution? Maybe not given the alliances they were able to built (don’t think the US is the only one, it’s their biggest ally, but they have some in the muslim world and the Egyptian government has been accused time and again to be part of it). I don’t think it’s fair to impose Israel, but if Palestinians want to be better off, then they have to put aside some of the differences. I think the Arab community in the Middle East did a very bad job at building alliances.

Mitchell is a breath of hope. He was very efficient in brokering a sustainable Irish-Catholic peace agreement in Northern Ireland. let’s see where this ends… It’ll be long and it’ll be tedious. But I do think if someone can do it, it’s Obama and we can only go uphill from where the whole matter stands today. It was  about time someone thought of reaching out to the ArabMuslim world (I call it that because the conflict is mostly with those who belong to both). It’s only right that in trying to broker a peace deal between two sides, you’d TALK TO BOTH sides. Even during the campaign, you hear talk of Israel all the time but only hear of Palestine as in the Israeli-Palestine conflict. It’s like Palestine only exists in a conflict paradigm.

On my way to work this morning, I was listening to Radio MPR (I use to put on music all the time, but I’m so sick of TPain and Akon every 2 seconds). They had this Palestinian student who lives in the US call and told of the story of his father and deceased brother who died last month in one of Israel’s show of force. Israeli soldiers came into their house, shot the brother and refused for the father to call an ambulance. They made sure to stay until the 18yr old  (freshman in college) died in his father’s arms. Worst part is, after the father was able to sneak for a moment and call an ambulance, the soldiers asked the ambulance to turn around. The boy bled to death while the hospital was less than a mile away. The father begged to even let them walk, he would carry his son to the hospital himself, but they refused. It’s such a sad story, but then again it makes you think and wonder how they think they can get away with such behaviors. I’m not discounting that of the Palestinians, by all means, this just all has to stop. Both need to be called back to order and hopefully Obama will and stop with the unfair one sided policies. That is only a recipe for failure.

Here’s a link to the full transcript.

No need to tell you, DC’s been hijacked by out of towners. Out of town licenses everywhere, people don’t know how to use the DC Metro (major slow downs…) but the atmosphere is jovial and happy all around filled with sea of faces from all around the world. Iwent to the Inaugural concert on Sunday and today’s inauguration as well. Estimates talk of nearly 2 mil people, but in 9 years that i’ve been in DC, I’ve never seen such crowds, such excitement and such pride. There’s a feeling out there that America is beautiful again.

At The National Mall

Political leader and cultural icon…

So now the weight of the world is on his shoulders, litterally, and what a weight! I don’t really envy him. As the saying goes: to whom much is given, much is required. He’s been given a whole lot,  and a lot of optimism is going around. Today’s a day for celebration, but tomorrow is time for work. He is in trouble. He’s the most powerful man in the world, but he’s in big trouble.

There’s loads of optimism and confidence in his ability to lead. A lot of hope, inspiration and joy. And that might help him damper people’s high expectations. Also, he’s such a rock star and popular right now that no one dares oppose him. In times of hardship, no one likes to see catfights, all they want is action and going against the Pdt’s will is seen as being catty.

Going down Constitution avenue...

Extraordinary party for an extraordinary man…

I cheered when he said his full name… So so proud!Many raised the question as to whether it was appropriate to have such a grandiose party in such harsh economic times. The answer from one CNN reader on Cafferty: “America has been going through 8 years of mental recession, spare us one day to celebrate and then we’ll all get back to work.” The Inauguration Committee spent $160 million for the day. This will be the campaign, the inauguration, the era that will break all the records.

Ushering in a new era…

More than just a party with random people crying, hugging and kissing in the streets of DC, his speech rang true on every note. Given how interested I am in American Foreign Policy, the most important moment, was this part of the speech:

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

If that is the guiding principle of his American foreign policy, then the world can only be a better place. The message is clear and direct. I guess all these African leaders that are in town, UNinvited, throwing their own “unofficial” inaugural ball (pittyful!) must, or at least, should feel a bit ashamed. If anybody wants to claim the dream he was able to achieve, then they clearly now know who can cling to it, and who cannot.  So to african leaders, please refrain in your celebration because he sure was talking to you about clinging to power.

His speech is all that it should’ve been. Concise, direct and with a clear message and purpose. He touched on every single issue that is important to America and the world to a certain extent. Magnificent speech overall, not that we expected any less of him. There was also an underlined criticism and backhanded compliments to Mr. Bush… i actually felt sorry for the guy because where I was standing, people booed everytime his name came up… Both him and Cheney were booed: “Nah nah nah nah; nah nah nah nah; hey hey hey Goodbye!”

Did you guys notice Cheney on his wheelchair?… talk about hurting his back the day before officially leaving office. People saying it’s too bad this is the last image we get of him… To all those, I say, you have seen nothing yet as to what happens to this man. Just watch…

And what’s with Justice Roberts messing up Obama’s oath…

The town’s going back to normal tomorrow. Roads will be open again and all out of towners will go home.  It’ll be business as usual and back to work for me. The first daughters are going back to school (how cute are those 2 with their cute outfits, beautiful!)… to a remarkable day…

The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping the old ones, which ramify, for those brought up as most of us have been, into every corner of our minds. ~John Maynard Keynes

…To another great left-handed personna! You know how US lefties do…

M.

Tom Cruise as Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg. The cast was brilliant. If you’re wondering what movie to watch, you HAVE to run see this one. We were ecstatic at the end of the movie and the story is so inspiring. The movie is directed by Brian Singer (Usual Suspect and XMen, 2 movies I Luv!)

Though initially, there was much ado about nothing because Cruise was playing the role of Von Stauffenberg, German Ministry and the Colonel’s family expressed concern over his following of Scientology, and that’s sad. Though I’m very puzzled by the teachings of Scientology, Cruise has always delivered on all of his roles and that shouldn’t determine whether he does a good job or not. Tensions flared then settled and in the end, he delivered with oozing charisma and presence. I feel this was his best role ever and should be nominated for an Oscar. His performance and that of others in the movie were electrifying. Add a great plot, loads of suspense and a touch of heroism and humanism, and you get one of the greatest movie ever produced. Really, it was THAT good! Tom Cruise NAILED IT…

So run see it. You’ll learn some history and better yet, it’ll inspire to make a difference. As I said many times: IF YOU DON’T STAND FOR SOMETHING, YOU’LL FALL FOR ANYTHING.  So often we only celebrate those that were able to make a difference and tend to completely disregard unsung hero.

The movie and the personality cult around Hitler is very reminiscent of most of our leaders in Africa. It’s a little tough to get passed Von Stauffenberg being a father of four, to put his family aside and work for the greater good of Germany (and the world to a certain extent). The greater sacrifice imaginable. Though I’d like to think of myself as a humanitarian in the flesh, I can’t ever imagine leaving my family off for any cause. But then again, those were extraordinary times…

Only spoiler to the whole thing: we already know how it ends. V. Stauffenberg doesn’t get to kill Hitler and the atrocities of WW2 keep going, we know for a fact. On the other hand though, knowing all of that doesn’t stop you from staying on the edge of your seat. D turned around to tell me how nervous he was at some point and we were both trying to figure out who the “traitor” was going to be: someone had a funny look on their face, so-and-so doesn’t seem to be 100% on board, why did he say it this way? why did this other not act according to the plan?. Overall, the director and the cast did a great job not spoiling the thriller and though you know how it ends and where it starts, you only know as much as you watch and the suspense keeps you boiling with excitement, to the point where you even ask yourself: wait… Hitler committed suicide at the end of the war right? You feel like going back to your history book, but ultimately and unfortunately as you’ll find out, we’re not rewriting history here… But makes you wonder about the turn of events had they succeeded and only wish for them to succeed. It’s like American Gangsta. You watch it knowing Denzel’s character goes to jail and gets caught, but Denzel plays it so well and is so charismatic, you almost dismiss all the harm his character has done for his community and hope he doesn’t get caught. This set of events is a little different because it would’ve been the right thing to happen.

10 out of 10, so go catch it!

I dunno about you guys, but for me, 2008 went by so fast. I remember celebrating  2008 so vividly, it feels like it was yesterday. Anywhoo, i’m not big on resolutions (I would just break them the next day!), so I never make any. On the other hand, I look back on 2008 and think long and hard. Turned a couple of pages and that’s for the best. Like I said in the “About ME” tab, NEXT, the world is my playground and life is pushing my wings!

The break was Fan-TasTic and felt very well deserved. Now it’s back to work. Can’t believe these 2 weeks went by so fast, even faster than 2008.

In other news, I would’ve hoped 2009 would’ve started better for the rest of the World. It seems every year’s end, something goes array.  Gaza hospitals are filling up with civilians mostly. Whether you have a stance on the whole Arabo-Palestinian conflict, and putting aside history, one has to admit 500 deaths on one side vs 5 on the other screams unfair and abusive use of force.  It’s startling to me that a country would think a show of force in such a volatile region surrounded by enemies will get you anywhere. If anything, it only fosters extremism and hardens moderates.  I tend to be very pessimistic about a sustainable peace in Africa, but the light is ever and even dimmer in the Middle East stemming out from a very unfair situation created by a repentant  Europe for having let Hitler’s atrocities go on for way too long. 

Let me not dwell on this too much. Here’s how you can help:

UNRWA, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East : http://www.un.org/unrwa/emergency/donation/emergency_activities.html

ANERA, American Near East Refugee Aid: https://secure2.convio.net/anera/site/Donation2?df_id=1280&1280.donation=form1&s_src=googlegrants&s_subsrc=gazatermshelpgaza&gclid=CMm4tbrn95cCFQGHHgodPjIJDw

SAVE THE CHILDREN: http://www.savethechildren.org/emergencies/middle-east-crisis/gaza-children-in-crisis.html?gclid=CJ3qxdTn95cCFQFvGgod6hQbDg&WT.mc_id=x_gg_emer_middle_east_txt_3&WT.srch=1

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/

I now have to get back to the chaos I left in the office. Fun, right?

SO, NO resolution as always, BUT… Food for Thought for this new year: 

Don’t be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve.

Watch your Thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your Habits, they become character.

Peace out!

M.

Anyhoo, been watching the History Channel Saturday night and Sunday, mostly about religion. With Xmas season, it seems everyone’s more interested in religion (at least for the last 2 weeks of December). Saturday, there was this documentary on the Da Vinci Code. I think we’ve not only all read the book but also seen historians break down what was true and false in the book.

Today though, just finished watching a documentary: Angels: Good or Evil? I just caught the last hour about Angels and Jinns in Islam. It’s fascinating. Being from Senegal, and I’m sure the same could be said about a lot of cultures, you can’t grow up dismissing the idea of supernatural forces out there, as scary as it may be. There’s just so much that happens that cannot be explained by humanity, you can’t help but believe in higher powers, be it God or other forces. Islam talks of God, angels, and Jinns.

The book of Marie talks of 9 angels, in groups of 3, who can address our needs that humans can’t.

In Islam, each angel has a specific calling. Spells are used in amulets to keep newborns alive, to treat impotence, to help your business grow… I always thought these magic spells were only used back home, it’s quite interesting to see there is a history throughout the world of using magics to cure people’s problems. You know:  amulets, spells which are used back home for good reasons as well as bad ones. They are so scary to me that I usually try not to think about it because they give me the creeps. It’s almost become customs for Senegalese to run to Marabouts and “charlatans” to resolve their issues. Worst part, is now they’ve learned how not to do anything about their situations other than using magic: to get a job, to get a wife/husband, get rich, but also, get rid of competition, get their bosses fired, get rid of the cumbersome wife/husband out of their way… And don’t get it twisted: almost everyone is doing it, even people you wouldn’t suspect. Whether they’ve been educated or not, Senegalese or not… they all do it. And it’s not only in Senegal. It’s actually worst in many other counties. I’m talking about Mali, Togo, Benin, Haiti and so many others… those are the ones I’ve heard about the most. So in the end, if you’re not resorting to magics to get what you want, you use it to protect yourself anf loved ones, protect the little success you’ve been able to make for yourself, the good wife/husband you have at home, from jealousy and envy.  You’re taught very early on, not to expose your financial or personnel success so as not to attract the evil eye, the envy of people and people’s talks. Unlike in the U.S.  for example, you have to “hide” what you’ve accomplished.

To be honest, it’s one of the things that make me re-think about whether I ever go home or not. But like many have told me,  especially my father, it doesn’t really matter where you are in the world, if they want to get you, they’ll try. All you have for yourself is your belief  and faith in god and praying to him nothing human made can hurt you. And that’s more powerful than any spell. To be honest, (and maybe go into more personnel that I have ever on this blog), from talking to my grandmother and mother, they’ve often told us about amulets, and eggs they’ve so often found hidden in the family home when they were younger. My grandfather had done well for himself throughout his life alongside Senghor (Senegal’s first Pdt), and his children, thank god, did mostly well for themselves too.  Sometimes, at family reunions, they’ve made it a point to tell all of us (about 70 grandchildren) about how vile and ugly people can be, but also how good they can be too. My grandmother has always refused to resort to magic and says all she needs is for God and her departed husband to protect her and she will be alright. With all that has happened to her, it’s pretty amazing for her spirit never to have broken.

Ok, I’ve gone  a little off topic here…

It’s very easy nowadays to put aside religion or the existence of a supernatural world because of new technologies and science. It’s the issue addressed by Dan Brown (author of The Da Vinci Code) in angels and Demons. How science and religion fight each other because it is believed one cancels the other out. The book is about the fight the Vatican has put on for so many years to avoid certain secrets about Jesus, Mary and Christianism that would make that would divulge religion to look more “human”. Through the sect of the ILLUMINATI, the plot takes place in Rome where scientists try to protect the Vatican from a bomb threat from Illuminati who vowed to uncover the Vatican for its hypocrisies and contradicting values ready to kill to keep secrets. Read it if you get a chance, I liked it better than Da Vinci Code.

Angels represent the best and worst of human kind, the struggle between good and bad which I believe we’re all capable of, each and everyone of us. While being a scary thought, it’s also reassuring to know you have angels and people watching over you. I believe when people are taken away, they may not become angels, but they watch over you. It might be just a way to keep them present in your life and thinking about them, but I believe in it.

 Anyway, the documentary was fascinating. I wasn’t able to find the scheduled reruns, but an upcoming documentary to watch is God vs. Satan on Dec 25th at 8PM and Dec 26th at 12AM on the History Channel. Not sure anybody has time to watch TV these holidays, but hey…

Honestly, I’m done with school, and trust me I’m glad to catch a break, but with everyone asking me about the PhD (hunh dad , I always thought if I went back to school it would be to study Law (humanitarian Law), I’m seriously, very seriously now thinking about studying theology. I just find it fascinating and I want to know more about it. How realistic is it to make it into a degree? I don’t know. So maybe just a certificate or on my own time …

“Reputation is what men and women think of us. Character is what God and the angels know of us.”
   - Thomas Paine

Barcelona-Villareal is about to start… I have my Barcelona jersey on (Thx Ishoum;)… Cross my fingers and toes!

Peace my people,

M.

I’ve never been obsessed with my weight..Gain some, loose some. It’s never been hard for me to lose any, and I don’t gain weight easily (j’entend deja les mauvaises langues so daccord… except when I was in Geneva ou jai du prendre 20 kilos ok!). Hell, I can skip one meal and fit in the dress I didn’t fit in the day before. But it’s like people like to remind you and talk about it. It’s funny how every time I’ve lost weight people tell you how good you look. When they tell me I’ve gained weight and don’t make any comments, I feel awkward… what do you mean exactly? It’s like you wait for a comment of approval. Because when I loose weight you never forget to tell me how good i look, but when I gain some… there’s just no comment at all.

People make it a point to make you self conscious about your weight… I’m lucky my metabolism is fast enough that I don’t have to worry much, but it might catch up with me once I get kids. Hopefully, I look at my sister now and maybe it won’t. She had a baby and looks slimmer than me even. But then again, I’ve always had more hips and been a little heavier… I’m anti diet anyway. I belive in Mark Twain’s :”Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” I’ll get to the gym whenI have more time, which is NOT NOW! I’ll do Yoga next year…

So with a car accident last week, exams killing me, a crazy work schedule getting off of work around 8 or 9 at night, having a root canal and a dentist that won’t let me be and wants to do all kinds of procedures… (that I’m not sure are necessary at all)..of course I’m going to lose weight.

So next time you see me, just say you look great or don’t say anything at all and don’t mention the weight. Gracias!

“Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.”  ~Voltaire

Peace Out!

M.

Work is busier than ever, end of year, wrapping up some projects that are closing AND my boss had a baby boy on Thursday. It is a happy event, but then again what the both of us usually did now falls on me. Fun, right?

School: classes are OVER… I have a couple of papers due next week, then it’s done. I still have to write my thesis in January, but no more campus…not that I have anything against AU, but hey! Juggling between work and classes especially around exam time was excrutiatingly tiring. After this thursday exams and classes will be done, so I’m psyched!

What’s next? I dunno. What is sure is I’m tired of DC. So Dakar or Geneva… probably!

Other than that, I haven’t really followed on anything happening…haven’t had time… but I look forward to some free time and some me time.

I’m watching Christiane Amanpour’s “SCREAM BLOODY MURDER” on CNN. Though I’m not a big fan of Amanpour, given her not so unbiased reporting on “religion and faith”, I have to admit she delivered on this one. Basically, the documentary is about the gross human rights violations, genocides and civil wars that have gone unreported by the International community: in Cambodia, Iraq, Rwanda, Bosnia and Sudan. She reports on the people who stood for something at times it could cost one’s life, those who fought for what was right and took it to heart to alarm the international media and intl community. It’s like the world will never learn. One instance can be an accident but this many can only be a lack of interests. This december marks the 60th anniversary of the Genocide convention.

A French priest in Cambodia. An idealistic U.S. Senate staffer in Iraq. A Canadian general in Rwanda. Each one tried to focus the world’s attention on genocide. Each time, they were shunned, ignored or told it was someone else’s problem.

She interviewed Kagame and I have to say I’m such a big fan of his. I understand there are some mixed feelings about him, but I consider him a hero. Are his hands blood free? NO. But in the end, he was the only one to care enough to rescue his people. Like Kagame, I can only see the international community’s lack of will to intervene as a lack of desire, not having hands tied up as they so often pretend. This is why I regret the lack of pressure on China, especially during the Olympics.

What an Obama Administration will do for Africa and torn places in terms of Foreign policy?

Eventhough Obama’s victory was cause for celebration in Kenya and throughout Africa, Obama himself will not do anything for Africa, at least not more than any other president. Not that he doesn’t care, but let’s just say the man has a lot on his plate. He will and has to focus on domestic affairs. Now his administration can. He nominated Dr. Susan Rice as UN Ambassador. Nothing could be more of a good news for people like me who’ve been waiting for an intervention. Rice is a role model (at least for me). She was a fellow at the Brookings Institute, was under secretary for African affairs under Clinton. She was also Obama’s foreign Policy advisor during his campaign and this woman is a tough cookie. Intervention and stopping the genocide in Darfur was a mainstay of Obama’s campaign speeches.  And when he nominated Susan Rice to be the UN ambassador, she ticked off a list of priorities and challenges, including ending genocide. Also, a Clinton as secretary of state won’t hurt either. Hopefully, she doesn’t act like her husband when it comes to us and actually does something when she can.

 S. Rice’s stance: intervention, intervention and that’s what we want to hear.

Amanpour interviewed Michael Barnett: Eyewitness to a Genocide, which I read while in Geneva. Bartnett was a fellow at the UN at the time of the genocide. Read it if you get a chance.

“He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Peace out … and Happy Eid Al Adha to everyone!

Rakin visited the Mugunga refugee camp with Oxfam and his photographs are now being shown in a exhibition outside the National Theatre in London’s Southbank until December 21, 2008. The exhibition is called Cheka Kidogo, Swahili for “laugh a little.” The photos were taken and posed as a fashion shoot and are very different to the images usually coming out of war zones.

Tumani (Hope), 38. Tailor 

“This sewing machine is all I could take with me. It was heavy, difficult to carry, but I couldn’t leave it behind. This sewing machine feeds my eight children and me. If someone were to take this from me, they would be taking my life.”

 

 

Seraphine, 42. Entrepreneur 

“I came from Rutshuru in Katwiguru. My own husband was killed in front of my eyes. There is still no peace in Rutshuru. Laurent Nkunda (leader of CNDP) is still oppressing us. We lived with the Interahamwe and there was no problem with them. But when Laurent Nkunda came, we started suffering a lot. He shot many people. Many people.

“Please help us get rid of those enemies so that we can go back to home. That is what we want. If you help us with this, really, we can finally heal.”

 

 

Antoinette, 70. Wife and Granny 

“ My husband was a businessman. He is dead. One night those men entered the village. They were assaulting us, shooting people, and setting fire to our homes. My husband was shot. I found his body on the street. I didn’t attempt to bury him. I couldn’t. I had to run. I want my message to be heard. I want an end to this war.”

 

 

Rehema Buera, 52. Restaurant owner 

“I lost my husband and four of my children because of this war. After the attack, there were dead bodies everywhere in my village. I found the dead bodies of my husband and my four eldest children – all shot in the head. That day, 175 people from my village were murdered.”

 

 

Furaha Vumilia, 65. Basket maker 

“It takes two weeks to make a basket – but it only sells for 260 francs (25p). How can you work for two weeks to make 25p? I fled when the war came. People were throwing bombs into our houses. I was living with my son. He and his wife were killed. I fled with my two grandsons. One is 15 and the other 13. They are orphans now.”

 

 

Karo Redi, 14 (with baby Happiness)

 

 

Banza Masamba, 47. Hairdresser  

“There are 24 of us in the camp, living in four small huts. The worst moment in my life is right now. We want peace. That’s all. Peace so that we can go back home. We want you people to talk to the politicians and ask them to stop this war.”

 

 

 

Jasmine, photographer 

Jasmine turns her make believe camera on to the photographer. 

 

_________________________________________________________________________

June 20th is World Refugee Day (it’s forever stamped on my brain from my time working for UNHCR). It shouldn’t be the only day when you do something about it though:

Educate yourself, get involved. Go to: 

http://www.oxfam.org./en/emergencies/congo 

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1857758,00.html

.

“We are not myths of the past, ruins in the jungle, or zoos. We are people and we want to be respected, not to be victims of intolerance and racism.” 
– Rigoberta Menchu, REFUGEE, Guatemala Nobel Peace Prize Winner, 1992

.

Peace,

M. 

 

Other than that, Obama parties all over the city. It was crazy! I think people are milking it now! Anyway, great times to be in DC. It seems this blog has turned into an Obama blog, when at first, that wasn’t my intent at all. I actually started the blog while doing some research about one of my papers and wandered around the internet. And given that I refuse to express myself on Facebook and other “social” website , well, I decided to express myself here. Now that he’s my “Mr. Pdt”, well, I’ll still talk about him, but to a lesser extent. And the Master’s done in a month too. Really people, what am I going to do with myself. Just work? At least the Bball season has started. I love soccer too, but I can only watch it on weekends. That might compensate…

I was curious to see what the most recurring themes on the blog were. Apparently, I’ve talked about religion quite a lot. And of course, Africa, home, war, activism and politics. I’m starting to get known out there as a political/activist freak. I’m really not, but I like to keep on top of current issues, and I have to given my field of work and studies. So, from now on, less politics, more… (I dunno).

Just wanted to tell you to run watch Madagascar II.

Fox News reports that Palin didn’t know Africa was a continent and did not know the member nations of the North American Free Trade Agreement — the United States, Mexico and Canada — when she was picked for vice president.

Newsweek reports that Palin spent far more than the previously reported $150,000 on clothes for herself and her family.

Several publications say she irked the McCain campaign by asking to make her own concession speech on election night.

 Palin Aide: Campaign Drove Wardrobe Controversy:

However, Stapleton told ABC News the Fox News report on Africa and NAFTA was taken out of context. She explained that during a briefing session, someone asked Palin to explain the McCain-Palin stance on an issue, and as she was responding, “in the middle, she said ‘country of Africa’ and somebody instantly wrote it down and said, ‘Oh, my God, she thinks it’s a country.’”

I didn’t know people like that still existed. Actually, nah…I did. I know there’s rampant ignorance in this country about far away places, especially if those places don’t hold any type of interest. One of those: Ya know: Dark Africa. BUT, not too sound corny or cheesy, you would’ve thought Gov Palin, in her running for Vice President and going against an African American ( litterally AFRICAN American), she would’ve at least known Africa was a continent. Well, turns out she didn’t. I’m sure this only reinforces the sentiment the elctions went the right way. ANd just in case you want to cut her some slack, fine. How about living in the US and not knowing the countries that signed NAFTA? I don’t doubt there might be many others out there, but it sure is a scary thought coming from an elected official seeking the oval office.

Yes, the race is over and the gloves are out. A time for victors to rejoice and for loosers to blame and point fingers. In this case, they’re all pointing to Alaska. It might be unfair to portray her as THE reason for the Republican’s loss, but one has to admit she and her many screw ups played a huge role in McCain’s slamming defeat. Ultimately, McCain would’ve still lost given the disappointing and divisive campaign he ran, or so I think. Many have praised him for his speech, I do too, but to a lesser extent. That’s what the candidate who lost does, especially after they loose by such significant margins. Remember, the day before, according to him, Obama was a socialist, maybe even worst, a comunist (the ultimate insult right?). So excuse me while I wipe my tears of joy and please step aside. He either completely lost his way during the campaign and had his eyes way too focused on the end, by any means necessary, or he just believed half of what he said on the 4th.

Oh well, I think Palin is  going be in the news for a little longer, giving ammunition to SNL and comedians, but other than that she is and will remain a joke. As to calling her the future of the Republican party, that’s what people always call the loosing Pdt or VPdt. But never for too long. If she is, then the Republican Party is more lost and confused than I thought. So long Sarah…

It is now time for CAMELOT… and I STILL refuse to work…

The Era of CAMELOT

Here’s a breakdown of the results and categorized by the average IQ of those states… NO COMMENT.

WoW!

Off to another Obama party tonight to celebrate with some friends (like we didn’t celebrate enough on Tuesday night! My voice is still not back…) But there are tons of parties this weekend throughout DC… and the Obamas are coming to meet the Bushes on Monday for a tour of the White House. You know MD, DV and VA will be back in the streets again to celebrate, and so wii I! It’s so exciting, I can’t even contain myself…

By the way, if you want to attend the inauguration on January 20th, start calling your Congressinoal Representative NOW.

Friends,

Please take the time today to call your Member of Congress. Each Congressional Office will be allotted a certain number of tickets to give to their constituents to attend the inauguration. Do your research, call the office and ask for one/two tickets to attend the Inauguration. They will put your name on a list immediately. You can mention that you volunteered, this helps. They won’t ask you where or how. Each member of your family can call to request a ticket. There is no cost for the ticket (FREE!). Please be certain to take down the name of the person you speak to and keep that on hand for when they say you must call back to check on when the tickets can be picked up.

Call today. Many Members of Congress are closing their lists this week.

“Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee Releases Ticketing Information for
56th Presidential Inauguration

 

Cheers,

M.

We were actually waiting for the results for Virginia and California, so we were all very surprised that they called the election for him so early. We all bursted into joy and hugged for 5 minutes. Then, we danced… oh, and the DJ, imagine this: the whitest crowd ever and all of a sudden some “coupe Decale”…let me just tell you us africans went BIZIRK… and that was to celebrate Obama’s Africanism. IT was beautiful. Of course then there was McCain’s speech that everyone calls gracious. I admit, it was. Maybe I look too much to the past and can’t get past certain things he said on the campaign trail, I was moderately impressed. (Je suis rancuniere, je sais!). How about President Obama all cool, calm and collected while the rest of the country was loosing its mind over his victory.

As to our 44th President’s speech, I already knew I was going to tear up. My eyes got wet when he walked on the stage with the ” First Family”. Then, he started talking, I started crying, then he talked about the 106 Yr old African American who cast her ballot in Atlanta. That’s when I LOST IT. I cried and wept to the point I couldnt breathe anymore (sorry for all those I scared). Then again, even Powell said he wept.

At the White House, Yesterday. Looked like a mutiny. It was actually very close to a mutiny.

Here’s a video showing the Madness in DC. We left U Street and walked to the White House around 2 am. U know how it was in the streets of Paris after France 98, when they won the World Cup + New Year’s… add some, and you only then can you  imagine what yesterday was like. This is coming out of U street and going towards the White House. MAYHEM:

So, thank you for all the calls, MSNs, Bberry msgs, Text msgs from all over… from Dakar to Geneva to Montreal to South Sudan to Jeddah… (Yes Ismael, you way over there in Jeddah . I know I was vehement in my support for him and it paid off. Only now do I only realize how many people’s ears I was bashing about Obama. I’d like to believe I converted, or reinforced your view of him. And if I did, then I’m the happiest woman in the world. So thks for those who’ve let me know I was the one who did that and told them about Obama. Imagine telling your kids: “Obama got elected President on November 4th, and your auntie Marie was the first one to tell me about him.” WoW!

Anywhoo, I still refuse to work… because:

YES WE DID my people! Last night, AMERICA made us PROUD!

“Beautiful Day” is one of my favorites from U2, and oh, so appropriate… check it out on the week’s pick.

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don’t let it get away
Beautiful day

M.

Happy Bday Marieton!