May the best party win

MAY THE BEST PARTY WIN!

As you may know, in a few weeks time we here in the UK will be deciding on which political party will be forming the next Government. Although we may be eligible to vote, not all of us choose to do so. I, for instance, have not voted in a general election for a number of times now. I should feel ashamed really as we are lucky to be in a country where we have freedom of choice unlike many countries that don't. However, I am not alone in thinking that it is very difficult to decide which party to vote for. Many people years ago were either staunch Labour or Conservative voters with a few Liberals thrown in.

At one time we had quite a strong class system here. Generally speaking we had 'The Working Class' which mainly consisted of those who worked in the manual industries like coal mining, factories, farm labourers and shopkeepers. Then there was the 'Middle Class' who would be professional people like doctors, dentists, bankers, solicitors etc. The 'Upper Class' were usually those that had been born into the aristocracy or had inherited money from their forefathers. Most of us knew which class we fell into and so with the three main parties being Labour, supported by the 'Working Class'; Liberal, supported by the 'Middle Class' and Conservative, supported by the 'Upper Class', the choices were simple.

Nowadays it isn't quite as easy as that. The class system still exists to a certain extent although the parties involved deny this. There is, however, a very fine line dividing them. Lots of people who would once have been classified as working class now consider themselves to be middle class. Some of those that were perceived at one time to be upper class like to think that they are no longer so. They feel embarassed in this day and age to be thought of as superior even though their ancestors may once have been Lords! Does all this sound complicated? Well it is. That is why it is anyone's guess as to who will win the election. We are as a nation capricious and are likely to change our minds at the last minute depending upon who we last saw give a good speech!

Story by Barbara Scott

'SPRING HAS SPRUNG'

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

At last Spring has decided to show signs of having arrived after one of the worst winters we have seen here in the UK for over 30 years. It's a funny thing but it never lets us down even if it does sometimes take awhile to appear! The first signs are the flowers like daffodils, crocus and primroses. Then comes the green buds on the trees and bushes that look as if they will never show leaves again. When the cold wind has abated the sunshine is pleasantly warm, you notice that people are shedding their heavy coats in favour of light jackets or, if they are brave enough, even going about in shirtsleeves! Also we start to smile at one another instead of marching along with our heads down, faces grimacing against the cold, hurrying to get into somewhere warm.

For someone coming from a country such as yours (The Gambia), it must be such a delight to feel the warmth of the sun once again. I was born and bred here but I welcome the signs of Spring. It always gives me a feeling of 'joie de vivre' as they say in France. A sense of a new beginning and wellbeing. I sometimes envy people in countries who have year round warmth and sunshine as I am very much a 'summer person' but then I think that without the changing seasons there wouldn't be this excitement over the beauty of the landscapes that evolves with each season. Where I live we are lucky to have some of the most spectacular scenery in England. Rolling hills and green valleys that are a joy to behold even in winter. I think people who live in inner cities probably hardly notice any of this although most have green areas or parks as we call them. London has some beautiful parks like Hyde Park and Kew Gardens. Yes, the British Isles can be wet, windy, bleak and cold but come in the Spring, Summer or even Autumn and you will be amazed at the show they can put on for you.

By Barbara Scott

Mother's Day?

Mother's Day. Has it become commercialized?

By Barbara Scott

Today, March 14th, is Mother's Day. I am not sure whether this is celebrated in The Gambia but I know it is elsewhere in the world. I am not exactly sure of its origins but what I do know is that it is a day that no son or daughter would be forgiven for if they forgot it!!

I, sadly, no longer have a Mother but being one myself I can honestly say neither of my two sons have ever let me down. It is not that I expect anything from them but of course it is nice to know that they are thinking of me. The cards or flowers are lovely to receive but most of all it is 'the thought that counts'! Whilst I was shopping in our local town yesterday it was quite astonishing to see the amount of people, both young and old, carrying bunches of (very expensive!) flowers or colorful bags full of chocolates and goodies. Even the most unlikely people like the lad I saw who was covered in tattoos, had a shaven head and looked like the sort of person who even his mother couldn't love, was striding along with a bunch of daffodils (a yellow flower synonymus with Spring), clutching the biggest Mother's Day card I had ever seen! So, has this day become as commercialized as many people think? Yes, indeed it has but it always has been. Nobody has to buy all the expensive flowers or over priced chocolates or the huge cards but most do, no matter how their mother's protest that 'they don't want anything'!

My mother used to be content with a bunch of handpicked wild flowers that my sister and I had lovingly gathered on the day during a walk with our father through the woods near our home. I can still see now the tiny bunches of primroses and violets tied with a piece of ribbon that we used to make. We didn't have the money to buy flowers from the florist but our mother's face when we presented her with these offerings was a picture of happiness. That is what the day is all about. Showing someone who has cared for you and loved you, nurtured you, wiped away your tears, put up with your tantrums and is always there for you, that you love them very much even though through most of the year you don't show it!

BACK TO BASE

Remember in the beginning we jetted into the snow, we melted away at the United Nations where we were almost buried for most of the days in New York. At long last, when we've returned to the JFK airport, the story turned dramatically as 'Mother Nature' sturbornly interfered with our schedule thus leading to the cancelation of our flight.

When I could not understand myself, I turned at the bookstore within the airport to redicover my steam, Andrew Young's new and thought provoking book on the life and times of U.S Senator dogged in a serious sex scandal neatly stucked in the shelves. I quickly grabbed it and once again, read more about the side that we don't know about John Edwards.


I folded the books in my bag, carrying my laptop on one side, holding another plastic bag containing the remainin items required for Tv.

Here I'm back to base and trying to explain the story to the Gambian audience.

'My words were rightly written' - Barbara

My words were rightly written

After my article about the dangers of the social networking sites I felt perhaps I had sounded like a prophet of doom and slightly regretted writing it. However, I feel I am now vindicated because sadly my comments have proven to be only too true.

This week we have been reading here in England about the sad case of a 17 year old girl who was lured to her death by a serial rapist who 'befriended' her on Facebook. He posted an entirely false photograph and identity and, as a lonely and vulnerable teenager, she was taken in and persuaded to meet up with him with fatal and tragic results. It beggars belief that this man was able to hide his true identity, even though he was known to the police, due to our human rights laws! Even our Home Secretary has attacked the site for it's 'irresponsibility'. So what was set up originally as a way of people corresponding and chatting to one another has now become much more sinister. Obviously most people who are on these sites are genuine. Maybe they exaggerate or 'big up' themselves somewhat but only to attract more 'friends' (it has to be said mostly of the opposite sex) but it also has it seedier and more dangerous side which, I for one, find very disturbing. I sometimes despair of the culture of 'social networking' or rather what it is now becoming. Not something I want any part of at all even though I am always being urged to do so. I'll stick to writing my e-mails, phoning my friends and family for chats and ofcourse contributing to your blog.

Blogger's comments:

Well I just don't know whether we should call them 419 ners of cyber criminals, nowadays a lot of people are using the internet to engage in dubious activities. We, the younger generation find facebook, twitter and other social networking sites fascinating but the danger is that we might be communicating with the wrong people thus getting closer to their ulterior motives. Barbara's letter should definately serve as an eye opener for our readers.

Out but still IN

Two interns working at the United Nations Development Programme office in New York said they want to acquire experience while studying hard for their master's degrees in Political Science.

Coincidentally, the two are Africans; one from West Africa and East Africa - Ivory Coast and Ethiopia. I did not understand why they were hellbent on pursuing their post graduate degrees, I did not know where the inspiration was coming from until I set my eyes on these portraits fixed at the entrance of the main UN building.

A number of Africans have held respectable positions at the United Nations, when Egyptian diplomat Boutros Boutros Ghali occupied the post; it marked a turning point in the history of the United Nations at long last African from the Arab peninsular has been appointed to serve in most of the most highest offices on land. Boutros served at the UN from January 1992 to December 1996. May be those interns have been told that one of the best ways of serving the UN is to be armed with a Master's degree so that they too can make their mark like Ghali and Annan.

History was recorded again in 1997 when Kofi Annan another African from sub saharan Africa was appointed to take over from Boutros at the end of his tenure of office. While both of them have played their part very well depending on how you judge them, one can say without any iota of doubt they have stepped aside, working [possibly] in other fields. The point we want to hammer home is that at the United Nations history does not anyway forget them, their portraits and other S.Gs who had served before them are beautifully displayed prominently in the UN building.

History students, and the younger generation who were not fortunate to see them in action would look at them and say, 'this man is from Egypt and that man is from Ghana'

They are out but they are STILL IN.