Alagi Yorro Jallow
Fatoumatta: When bigotry disguises itself as patriotism, The Gambia faces a important dilemma. We should confront the uncomfortable fact: political conceitedness and tribalism won’t merely vanish on their very own. It is alarming that lots of these spreading hate and sycophancy are younger, educated people, which is deeply troubling.
The Gambia is a nation ruled by the rule of legislation, not by the whims of people. As residents, after we really feel wronged, we should search justice by means of the courts, moderately than nurturing hatred, contempt, and prejudice. Those who consider somebody is unfit to serve the federal government or the nation because of illegal actions ought to problem this in a court docket of legislation, not cling to grievances. Every Gambian has the inherent proper to serve and contribute to any authorities except explicitly barred by legislation.
We should decisively finish tribalism, selective justice, and discrimination inside our society. It is especially disheartening when selective justice and discrimination are directed at people whose actions and statements pose far much less hazard than these of their tribespeople or political allies. Activists and feminists should rise above bias, tribal loyalties, and discrimination when calling out wrongdoers. We can’t defend these accused of heinous acts or who embody the oppression of previous regimes.
It is a tragic actuality when ethnic ties are prioritized over the values of integrity. We urgently must domesticate a Pan-Gambian identification to revive our faltering sense of unity. When tribal bigotry masquerades as patriotism, it reveals a profound disaster in The Gambia. It is excessive time we dispel the phantasm that tribalism will naturally fade away.
Disturbingly, lots of these perpetuating hate are younger women and men, typically well-educated. We should acknowledge the nice line between patriotism and tribalism. True patriotism is outlined by a love for and dedication to 1’s nation, whereas tribalism displays an intense loyalty to a single tribe.
Fatoumatta: For The Gambia to thrive, our dedication to our nation should eclipse our allegiance to the tribe. It is simple to level fingers at others for the dearth of unity, however all of us play a job on this divisive narrative. The circumstances of our existence won’t ever be good; nonetheless, we are able to and should discover widespread floor, coming collectively to construct a nation that’s robust, united, and inclusive.