SOUTH SUDAN CRISIS ANALYSIS: THE BAD, THE GOOD , THE UGLY AND THE INNOCENT LIVES LOST!

SINCERE CONDOLENCES

I'd like to express my condolences to everyone who’s lost loved ones.

INCITING TRIBALISM: NOT JIENG vs NUER BUT GOVERNMENT FORCES vs NUER

Those comparing what is happening in South Sudan to 1994 Rwanda don’t understand the nature of what is happening in South Sudan. To call the issue Jieng vs. Nuer is to mischaracterize the situation. It was not the average Jieng civilians who were killing Nuer civilians in Juba. It was government security forces.

This problem was started by the government by calling the Mutineers Riek’s loyalists because of their ethnicity. It’s the government that tribalized the tension and no one else. Besides, why was the security force going house to house and why were they mostly Jieng? Where there Nuer forces among those who went house to house? If this security force was made up of members from all tribes including Nuer, Nuer civilians would not have been targeted.

Now, whose fault is it that the security force was predominately Jieng people? Were there Nuers in the security force that went from house to house but allowed their fellow Nuers to be targeted? A presence of Nuer soldiers would have prevented this mess. However, the government came out to talk to South Sudanese who have nothing to do with this mess!

Civilians didn’t start this and they are not the ones killing themselves. The government and its security forces started this mess and they have to end it.

NO EVIDENCE OF A COUP

SPLM in Crisis: School Boys on the School Playground!

South Sudanese are becoming too simple-minded. Even worse, we’re starting to adopt a culture of ‘if you’re not with us then you’re with them.’ This Bushitic, Reaganitic and Thatcheritic political simplism wouldn’t be in anyone’s favor in South Sudan.

No! South Sudanese society is more complicated than that simplistic, scare-tactic sorry politicking.

The current wrangling within SPLM is not only an embarrassment to the current leaders and the ‘party’. It’s also a desecration of liberation history and abuse to the fallen heroes and voices of the liberation struggle starting from 1947.

Who is clean in the SPLM? Who has built and developed his/her constituency to raise any voice against anyone? Leaving the government doesn’t translate into being free of corruption! SPLM leadership is corrupt to the core.

Good leaders don’t whine; they initiate methods that lead to resolution of the problems in hand regardless of how such methods affect their lives. It’s time for the SPLM leadership to stop accusations and counter-accusations and come up with workable solutions to the country’s problems.

Stop telling us what we already know. We know what problems the country is facing and we know how incompetent SPLM leadership is! What we need to hear are appreciable strategies to solve the problems.

Riek Machar, Pagan Amum and Nyandeng de Mabior, among others, came out in force to accuse the party (mostly confused with the government) of failures of its leadership. The failure of the party (government) is apparent. We know it. But we don’t know of anyone who’s come out to clearly spell out the best way out.  We are sick of hearing complaints against Kiir and failures of the party by members of the same party!

Kiir Mayardit, Wani Igga and Kuol Manyang, in response to Riek and company, acted like schoolboys: “You abuse me, I abuse you! You tell me I’ve done this, I tell you you’ve done that!” How old are these people again?

If leadership is lacking in South Sudan, then what happened to the wisdom of tribal Africanness, of age? What happened to the integrity of the African elder man?

We all know 1991 was a disaster that almost derailed the people’s struggle. This is a historical fact Riek Machar and Lam Akol have to deal with forever; whether they are dead or alive; whether they like it or not. However, reminding us of 1991 all the time is political blame and grand irresponsibility we don’t need. We need history mentioned to improve the country not to destroy it, to divide it and win apologists!

And then president Kiir is talking of having never ever betrayed the people’s struggle! Really? Isn’t that same Kiir who was part of those sent by the Sudanese government to kill their brothers in Anyanya II in the late 70s and early 80s? Wasn’t it Riek Machar who convinced the same Kiir in 2004 to come back to the movement? Kiir almost betrayed South Sudan at the eve of CPA signing! The saddest thing is that President Kiir is doing exactly what he accused John Garang of in 2004.

Mr. President, we are writing history down so protect your legacy!

Riek is corrupt and so is Kiir! Riek once betrayed the aspirations of the people! Kiir is betraying the aspirations of the people now! Riek showed his incompetence in his handling of Nasir-group! Kiir has proven now beyond any reasonable doubt that he’s incompetent. So, gentlemen, we’ve seen you! Can you now sit and talk before you embarrass yourselves even more…and destroy the nation?

Mr. Wani Igga, you terribly failed South Sudan in your response to complaints raised by the 14 members of the Political Bureau. Instead of acting like a leader, you acted like a teenage boy in a school backyard. You need to show leadership!

We know Riek Machar and the group are not any better. They are equally corrupt and they publicly criticize the party they assume to be protecting. That we know is wrong! They need to seek internal avenues to solve the problem.

However, what they are saying is the natural truth. SPLM is a mess and things need to change! Small minded people are saying Nyandeeng de Mabior is spoiling her legacy by standing with Riek Machar. They see Riek Machar as dirty and untouchable.  Well, they are either too self-righteous to acknowledge the  problems, bigoted or they are those who see the world in black and white: “If you don’t agree with us then you agree with them.”

This is very common among the Jieng of Jonglei; especially the Nyarweng, Hol, Twi and Bor people. They are very self-righteous as if the world revolves around them. Okay, a number of prominent liberation leaders come from their tribes: Dr. John was Twi, Arok Thon was Twi, Akuot Atem was Twi, Kuol Manyang is Bor, Majier was Bor …and Nyandeeng herself being Twi…among others. However, that doesn’t make you better than anyone. Stick with ideas rather than personalities.

As much as we don’t like Pagan and company as they are, like Kiir and company, two sides of the same coin, we have to learn to acknowledge the truth. Why convene National Liberation Council (NLC) meeting before the Political Bureau (PB) meeting? Leaders don’t avoid problems, they solve them!

Those bashing Nyandeeng need to grow up and look at what’s happening in South Sudan. John Garang stood with Riek Machar in Nairobi and welcome him back after their bloody disagreement. He also made Riek Machar the third senior leader in the SPLM. Maybe we should blame John Garang for bringing Riek back to the SPLM. History is known, but it should not divide us!  

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Kuir ë Garang is the editor of 'The Philosophical Refugee' website. Twitter: @kuirthiy

An Encounter with Dr. John Garang de Mabior - Part II

The temperatures had dipped into danger zone; the snow piled up with wicked mockery. Simply put, the average speed was 5km/hr.  Sadly, the average speed on a ‘happy day’ is 60 km/hr on that road. And by ‘happy day’ I don’t mean warm days nor do I mean days with no snow.  Indeed, that’d not be Canada...at all. So what am I bitching about if this is Canada?

   Listen, buddy, if that’s what you think!

A good day is a day when temperatures are between -10 and -20 and the snow only 10 cm thick. For folks in the tropics, you’d think I’m a crazy fellow for calling such a condition a ‘good day’ condition. Look, here, the temperatures dip down to over -35 and snow piles up to more than 30 cm. So you now know what I’m talking about. That’s about it.

   Now, I’d just driven to the clinic to have a check-up with my doctor. Everything went well and the jolly fellow, the doctor I mean, took only 30 seconds to tell me what was wrong and scribbled some prescriptions.

 So I walked out of the clinic, to the car and to those roads again. It was a nice drive until I was almost one kilometer from my place. I’d stopped at the T-Junction. Bad idea! Well, it’s a good idea given the fact that that’s what traffic regulations require. The old man winter and his son snow thought otherwise. After the stop just like any good citizen, I tried to turn right but the tires only spun around.

“You gotta be kidding me!” I said and got out of the car.

With no doubt, I was emotionally torn between feeling sorry for myself and being angry at the weather.

“Stupid weather!” I finally blurted it out.

“I’d focus my energies on how to get the car out if I were you!” a voice said from behind.

It was a familiar voice so I slowly turned.

“You gotta be kidding me!” I said.

Standing behind me were the two old men. Yes, the two Garangs! Of all the days they had to show up on that day. They were dressed up like FBI agents in a Hollywood crime drama. Neat, I mean!

“Need some help?” John Garang asked.

“Duh…isn’t that obvious?”

“Some sense of humor, eh?” Dad said.

“What exactly have I done to you two?”

“We didn’t cause the snow nor did we make your car to get stuck in the snow,” John Garang said.

“Let’s suppose I go to my acquaintances and tell them that my dad and John Garang have been visiting me…”

They all laughed. I felt insulted.

“Was that funny?”

“Kuirthiy, this happens to you all the times even when you tell your friends about something you heard from people who’re alive.”

“I don’t understand!”

“Do all your friends take you seriously all the time?” dad asked.

Madiba, You Can Go Now!

Tribute to Mandela

Remarkable! You not only existed, you truly lived

Blessed generations to be endowed with peaceful deeds
True greatness is never lost across all times
Through the rough of it all the peace bell still chimed
We walk every day in the shadows of oppression
Weakness of heart you tied down in joyous suppression
They called you Rolihlahla in tribal symbolism
And what a good trouble you brought us in true nationalism
You troubled the trouble to breed precise humility
You broke the back of oppression with crystal simplicity
Our heavy hearts rewind to your remarkable African-ness
All the dark faces have been shown the truest kindness
It’s remarkable the inspiration wasn’t foreign
You twined the mind and heart in a consistent run
We could have picked up guns and spears
But Madiba’s emerged to simplify our fears
We’ve always been trampled on for so much a time
We’ve absorbed immorality and divine crime
But darkness and hatred is what you despised
27 you weathered so simply with no hate inside
Who knew hatred is weakness presented as spite?
You’ve shown that spite and hatred is a weakness desire
Who now talks fondly of your jailors except the stinky mire
Values and virtues the true height and driver of civilizations
If only they become the light for every nation
You’ve shown with remarkable fervor their validity
The African Self is a box full of values quiddity
The ingenious tradition and African-ness unmatched
Generations will smile-in Madiba’s life from scratch
Forgiveness always is what you’ve forever sown
Humility in deeds is what we’ve come to know
Race is only a concept if not an intellectual quest
Madiba, you’re gone but we’re left with a clean path, I guess
Why should we cry when your humility is here?
Why would we mourn when your deeds I hear?
We’ve not built rockets and cars
But Mandela has been ours
You can go now, Madiba!
The life you lived is the way the world should be!

Copyright 2013 Kuirthiy

Savagery, Cowardice or Racism? Australia understood through the conscience of law enforcement officers

The Police and Civilization!

Europeans and people of European descent, and to some extent, the rest of the world, have been taken in by the erroneous notion that ‘civilization’ means skyscrapers, cars, computers, rocket science and everything else that comes with science and technology. You ask anyone and that’s what they’d tell you.

But how civilized is a PhD student who kills innocent civilians in a movie threater? How civilized is a medical doctor who kills his kids to get at his wife? How civilized is a well-known physics professor who coordinates a web of child pornography? We never think about them, do we?

In essence, those who don’t have the materials mentioned in the first paragraph are considered to be outside the ‘civilized world’: primitive, savages!  However, we seem to have forgotten the atmosphere that made or still make all these things possible: the cordial treatment of fellow human beings; the forging of meaningful coexistence; the capacity to know that other people have feelings and needs; the capacity to empathize and sympathize, and the ability to realize that pain in you is as bad as pain in another person. Without these realities, we are just vicious savages with cars and computers!

Anyone in this world knows the phrase ‘POLICE BRUTALITY.’ This is a ghastly sight to say the least. These people, mostly men, treat humans like animals; beating them with no remorse or human compassion. What comes to mind immediately one sees such brutality is: do these officers have feelings? Do they feel anything inside them? Are they humans? Does police academy teach them to be beastly in their treatment of suspects?  Anyone who views these brutal images would be convinced that police officers acting in such a devilish and inhumane manner aren’t themselves humans. They are an epitome of exemplary and contemporary savagery!

WHERE'S OUR IMAGINATION?!

Failure of thought among Africans and people of African descent

- Most of us frown (or even get angry) if people of other races try to put down our race or if they praise their races over and above what we all know our race is. Some of them call us unflattering names and all we do is seek refuge in the cliché that "they're 'racists.'"

The question I ask myself and our people is where's our imagination?

We've been described by a color that's unflattering and we've embraced it like nobody's business. We've gone to the extent that the color has become us and we the color. We've become so lost in the color itself that who we are has become a mystery! We've been forced to see no difference between who we are and the supposed color that has been assumed to describe our skin pigmentation. However ridiculous that comparison is, we appear to have no choice. The color has become our identity when it doesn't capture anything about who we are: our physique, our values, our traditions, our ingenuity, our humanity...

My question is....where's our imagination...?

The people who call us names come up with names to denigrate us and go ahead and suggest how we should feel, and how we should respond to the names they came up with to denigrate us. Sometimes they say nasty words to us because they know "I'm terribly sorry' is something they'll always say afterwards to pacify us!

My question is....where's our imagination?! Why get angry when you can think? Why get angry when you know who you are, your amazing humanity -

~ inspired by the book "Is 'Black' Really Beautiful?" Did you read it? ~

 

Twitter: @kuirthiy

Why do people try to change their skin pigmentation: bleaching and Tanning!

Bleaching is brought about by being hyper-conscious of how one's skin looks like. The more one gets obsessed with one's skin pigmentation in a negative manner the greater the chance that one might bleach. 

The statement 'Black is Beautiful' is part of an obsession with one's skin pigmentation. What's beautiful is not 'black' but the person uttering the statement. 'So and so is beautiful or X is beautiful.' 'Black' as applied to people is a social construction but X is not. X is a human being. Instead of glorifying a social construction meant to debase a human population, we should glorify Xs...human beings.

And remember, what is important is not that someone is bleaching, what is important is that someone is not comfortable with their skin pigmentation or how one's nose looks or how one's chest looks. This is all about self-esteem and it applies to all races.

People of European descent tan because they believe tanned skin is more beautiful than pale skin. Tanning can result in skin cancer. Others go through dangerous plastic surgeries or facelifts...
Any attempt to change one's natural looks is a function of low or questionable self-esteem no matter the race.