SOME LIFE CHALLENGES - BRACE IT!

Life is full of challenges perhaps I should coin it this way – ‘ups and downs’. But our approach in confronting these life challenges depicts who we really are and scrutinize our temperaments.
At times we are faced with certain negative disposition in life judging from the rudiments of life’s journey which is hardly smooth. As such, we encounter hardship, obstacles and difficulties for which when we lose our grip and wit we could be force to plunge into waywardness thereby indulging in criminal intents and outrageous acts just to have a breakthrough.

In my humble opinion as I have noticed, such negative path might initially seem pleasant and successful but in the long run nemesis set in. Apparently, no matter the circumstances, it would be wise for us to always endeavor to maintain positivism, uprightness above all if you are a Christian and belief in the only Supreme God and strive to acquire a certain spiritual standard then challenges in life is a test to examine our prowess in overcoming difficulties and temptations. This can be derived through faith, honesty, dedication, diligence and consistent and persistent prayers. The books of book – the Holy Bible informs us our Father in heaven will never withhold that which is good for his children. From such a promise we are endowed with self confidence and trust.

No matter our background, whether poor or lowly, sex, ethnicity, race, we should have the determination to excel. We should not relent in our efforts and aspirations to strive for progress. More so, it is a known fact that with education the marginalized can seek equity. Hence, education formal or informal is necessary for developmental purposes and growth.

I personally hold no one should be considered an illiterate, for I acknowledge literacy transcends just reading and writing for cultural literacy is the condition or quality of being knowledgeable in a particular field or subject; which of course unless otherwise, everyone must be equipped by nature with certain abilities. There are aspects or deeds which certain people who cannot read and write perform accurately with expertise but those who are literate are not in the know neither do they have the competence or aptitude.

As they say,’ manners maketh a man’ this statement illuminates and justifies that in spite of our level of education our comportment counts or matters. As such, we lose our self respect, dignity when we embark on self exaltation disregarding, minimizing and intimidating others because we happen to be more educated or affluent and healthy than they are.

By the legend of life, no one has it all. There is something someone’s got that another might need. This per se indicates that some people have abundant wealth yet lack happiness. Even so, some women have children they can’t even cater or provide for yet another who has all the means is not blessed with the fruit of the womb. These are the complexity of life we all have to reckon with.

Human defaults

MY CREATOR ‘MISFIRED’!

Our present society is plagued with immorality, criminal intents, personal insecurity and lack of self confidence, deceit, promiscuity, inventors, abuse, and violation of human rights. Romans 2: 29 – 31 has cited more of these human defaults.

I always say to myself, God of Mercy will you still keep your promise not to destroy earth? As a Christian, I am familiar with the end time message of strange happenings, nevertheless, I remain agape, bemused when I read, listen and see what happens daily in our contemporary society- humans transforming from their original form, known as transsexual, we also have other absurd human practices like homosexuality, incest and the most disgusting and ridiculous humans copulating with animals and birds.

Biblically Romans chapter 2 from verses 21 – 32 delve on this. Verse 25 states – ‘who changed the truth of God into a lie…..’ the following verses 26 and 27 goes on- ‘for this cause God gave them vile affection; for even their women did change the natural use in to which is against nature; and likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman. Burned in their lust one towards another, men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was meet’.

Unfortunately most of our Christian churches that are to procure moral rectitude in our society are not helping out much. I ponder if our Evangelists, Preachers and others so- called Men of God are perhaps more interested in the fact that offerings, tithes and sowing of seeds in a larger congregation brings in more revenue and swells up the church coffers which some refer to as - Church Business; an easy way for some people to enrich themselves with the pretext of spreading the Good News.

I am absolutely in the know that God came for the unrighteous but I guess if we have to convince and convert people to Christ we are to tell them the gospel truth and encourage them to abide by it. The Lord God is not a compromising God for we cannot say we are ‘born again’, ‘born of God’ yet we continue with our hidden and evil tendencies.

I belief the reason why the scripture says “many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity’’ the book of Mathew 7: 21 -24 expatiate on this.

With such human tendencies, I perceive an impending doom because when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, their atrocities were not as grave as what we have today considering science has evolve substantially. Sometimes though with recurring natural disasters, I hold we have started experiencing the wrath of God. As the saying goes – ‘the evil that men do lives after them’ but I reckon – the evil that men do lives with them.

According to an internet report on - Transsexual Women's Successes: Links and Photos by Lynn Conway
Approximately 30,000 to 40,000 postoperative transsexual women live in the United States, and many thousands more are now in the process of gender transition here. These numbers are much larger than commonly assumed by the public because a veil of invisibility hides the true nature and extent of the transsexual condition. Especially hidden are large numbers of highly successful women who have fully transitioned. The reason is that most successful women live in "stealth mode" or are "woodworked". They leave their pasts behind and hide in plain sight in order to avoid social stigmatization and get on with their new lives. Their personal successes insure that they assimilate and blend right into society.

The social invisibility of successful women who have undergone gender corrections supports the notion that male-to-female transsexualism is extremely rare. However, intense transsexualism is not all that uncommon. Recent calculations indicate that the condition occurs in about 1 out of every 250 to 500 children born as boys, and that about 1 in every 2500 males in the U.S. has already undergone surgical sex reassignment. Transsexualism is thus more than twice as prevalent as multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy or cleft lip/palate conditions.

The invisibility of these successes supports notions that gender transitions often have rather sad outcomes. At present, the media only spotlights transsexual people on two occasions, namely when "someone well-known changes sex" and when someone is a victim of discrimination, harassment or attack. Media stories about someone's "sex change" are never followed-up to find out what happened years later. Instead stories always focus on pre-transition life and struggles during transition and never on their life afterwards. This lack of balance in exposure shapes society's notion that transition leads to social marginalization or worse, because we "never hear about them again". Only stories of occasional social failures and victims of harassment and attacks remain visible longer term.

Lacking successful role models, and confronted with deliberately staged, stereotypically-prurient images of "transsexuals" from media like the Jerry Springer Show, young trans girls are often terrified to tell anyone about their condition. Constantly reminded of the violence and discrimination that Trans people face, but unaware that large numbers of successful women get beyond such difficulties, many young transsexual girls can't see any way out of their awful predicament. Social stigmatization of transsexualism leads many young people to internalize a lot of undeserved shame, embarrassment and guilt about their condition. As a result, young transsexual girls often waste precious years before they seek help, and many never find a way to correct their gender condition.

Recently the veil of invisibility has been lifting, as many post-operative women all around the world have begun creating websites to help others. Some of these women are quietly "out" within the TS community. Others share their stories by being "virtually out" (VO) only via the web (while otherwise remaining woodworked or in stealth). We are very fortunate to finally be able to learn about their lives, as they become listed on Webpages such as this one. Lynn hopes that more and more successful women will quietly come out, and feel comfortable sharing their stories this way via the web….

Many of these women had to suffer terrible trials in order to transition, especially those who did so years ago. Some rose from extremely humble beginnings, including living on the streets, and yet succeeded anyways. Others had easier transitions in more recent times in the more enlightened western countries. A few were even fortunate enough to have had the support of their parents when they were young. As you'll see, this webpage isn't meant to be an "honor roll" or whatever. Instead it is meant to be place where these many diverse yet representative role models can come forward and become more visible - role models who are mostly accessible via the internet for interactions and help…..

The thing that makes these women "successes" isn't how far they've gone in their careers, or how much money they've made, or how pretty some of them are, or how well known some are as entertainers. Those accomplishments are very meaningful, and show that transitioning doesn't have to hold a woman back from achieving traditional social measures of success. However, the real successes we find here are ones of the heart. They are successes in living "life in the large". We see it in the happy faces, and sense it in between the lines of their stories. These are the successes of women who have survived and corrected their earlier transsexualism, and gone on to find joy and comfort and peace in their lives.

Taken together, our stories will gradually help change people's views of the transsexual condition. After all, we are happy and productive contributors in all walks of life: as doctors and lawyers, as scientists, engineers and programmers, as airline pilots, as entrepreneurs, managers and office workers, as university professors and students, in politics, in education, in law enforcement, in the skilled trades, in modeling and in entertainment. The realities and completeness of our physical gender transformations cannot be denied. Many of us are wives, lovers or partners in long-term loving relationships. You can put a compelling human face on the transsexual condition by browsing the websites linked from these pages, which contain information about the experiences of these successful women.

Lynn hopes that these women's stories provide hope, encouragement and role models to others, especially to those young transsexual girls-to-be who are facing gender transition. As teenagers they (and their parents and loved ones) need to learn that a complete correction of their gender condition is now possible by applying the knowledge gained by the pathfinders who have gone before, and by exploiting the miracles of modern medicine. They also need to learn of the profound advantages of undergoing gender correction while young, as opposed to living in angst in the wrong gender for decades and then finally transitioning, in desperation, late in life. If parents can just learn to see that their transsexual child is really a "girl with a physical problem" rather than a "boy with a mental problem", then that child's future is especially hopeful. With parental love and support, a young transsexual girl can now reach for her dreams, and go on to live a full and joyous life as a woman.

It is sad to know that the wisdom and knowledge bestowed on us for providence, science is now using it to defile what God created and said it was good thereby challenging the rules of nature. I therefore suppose the Transgender/ Transsexuals, Homosexuals – Gay/Lesbians and a host of other natures violators would just have it – My Creator Misfired, made a drastic mistake, this is suppose to be my real and actual anatomy.

What irks most is the fact that the Gay/ Lesbians have the effrontery to desire children, how can they expect to make these children with their kind of lifestyle? Then they go adopting and mislead an innocent child. If they hold what they have opted for is the best kind of life which the society most accept and abide – what do the hold for posterity with regards to the fact that with their kind of relationship having kids is unlikely.

As a teenager I used to love the group ABBA and equally learnt to sing some of their lyrics especially the song titled - On and On and On. That was in the 80s but today as an adult what I perceive around me makes me understand better the actual meaning of the first verse of the song. It goes thus-

I was at a party and this feller said to me "Something bad is happening, I'm sure you do agree People care for nothing, no respect for human rights Evil times are coming, we are in for darker nights" I said, "Who are you to talk about impending doom" He got kinda wary as he looked around the room He said, "I'm a minister, a big shot in the state" I said, "I just can't believe it, boy I think it's great Brother can you tell me what is right and what is wrong" He said, "Keep on rocking baby, 'til the night is gone"

By Enie Cecile

POLITICAL FOCUS

The Despicable Aspects of Biya's Regime
By Cecile Ndoh Enie

"There is no place like home”. A critical look at Cameroon today, I fear if this statement still holds.Cameroon is Africa in miniature, blessed with abundance of natural resources, gifted with the most favourable climatic conditions, yet majority of the people live in abject poverty and deplorable conditions.

After late Amadou Ahijo long term reign many longed for a change, hardly did they know the purported propaganda of ‘Rigour and Moralization’ was a mere sham. Just as they say, ‘ from fry pan to fire’.Citing our petroleum sector, where our neigbours Nigeria the African giant enjoyed an economic boom and Equatorial Guinea under the leadership of Obiang Nguema for about forty years, the exploitation of their petroleum sector can be perceived considering the new face-lift of this country.Whereas, the citizens of Cameroon are yet to pinpoint where the dividends of our petroleum sector goes, for there is absolutely little or nothing to show as benefits.

The beginning of Biya’s reign started with Economic Crisis and Multi-party politics igniting uproar within the nation. Today ,bribery and corruption, inflation, exploitation and subordination are the order of the day.The most outrageous is the economic situation of Cameroon. Unemployment level is rocketing, some of the employed are yet to be paid or receive just a token vis-à-vis their qualification or working hours in the name of earnings.To make matters worse, the private sector which is supposed to assist the public sector in creating employment is being levied what many describe as uncompromising tax rates ,this way drowning most feasible business projects.The most awful is the small- and medium -sized businesses, which in other systems are limited in tax payments, but on the contrary in Cameroon, they are instead subjected to pay multiple taxes without an actual fixed value. While the so called ‘Big Guns’ under the guise of CPDM top Disciples are exempted from paying taxes or should I say exempted from taxes; so they enjoy what can be termed – Tax Free Economy.

On a more serous note, this unprogressive taxing system has hampered many business and investment initiative. The situation is not only unfavourable for the indigenes but equally to potential foreign investors. Many Cameroonians living abroad have tried to invest back home, to help create unemployment opportunities . But the procedure to establish and then the taxes involve beginning from excessive custom charges have turned many off, especially those who want to be straight. As a result, most of our citizens especially the youths have decided to stay on while many are planning to travel out in search for greener pasture, since they are not comfortable with the situation back home.

Every damn thing is just ridiculous, the civil service, healthcare, education, agriculture, poor road infrastructure, utilities and the list continues.Unfortunately some people opt to eat and drink today forgetting tomorrow, so during political campaigns those sitting on the economic vault throw away money as if they are feeding pigeons in the parks.

Today we are all complaining of the increased prices of basic commodities . I remember back home with the tricky CPDM victory celebrations in Buea and in a taxi a lady dressed in CPDM attire was very happy. With the present situation now in Cameroon the words of the cab driver comes back to me today. ‘Be happy now, but tomorrow we shall all go to the same market, because when prices are increased there is no specific market reserved for CPDM Militants.’

To the Cameroon government the word maintenance or renovation is far-fetched. Thus, official buildings are erected the structure usual below the cost value. And within a few years these administrative buildings with big titles looks dilapidated.

Money circulates regularly within the elitist ruling class and I guess they really cannot fathom what the common man goes through since their children study abroad and they spend their holidays abroad and enjoy the comforts they cannot enjoy in their own country.

I ponder what stops them from developing their own country and make life comfortable for all. The rural sector slaves to farm and provide food with little or no incentive. The tax collectors ignore the bad roads to collect taxes from these people; meanwhile the living conditions in these rural areas are pathetic – no proper sanitary, educational facilities, poor water supply and no power supply. Yet each day there is fuel increase, I always imagine how those in the rural area cope, since they need constant supply of kerosene to light their lanterns.

Cameroonians are known to be hospitable, patient, tolerant, but I guess enough is enough, when people are pushed to the wall at a certain point they are bound to react. Some people say those causing unrest are fools but I ask what caused them to be such. If those who graduate cannot get jobs what is going to spur youths to be educated. Considering that to be educated stipulates to live a better life.

Again a wise saying states ‘ ‘ a hungry man is an angry man’. Since Paul Biya got to power in 1982 and 1985 to present day, with the CPDM anniversary celebrated yearly, what have been the achievements, what maturity has the party exhibited and if I may ask what has Biya’s regime to Show?

A Cameroonian in the investment market in the US remarked, ‘If the Government of Cameroon could invest properly those at the top would even have more funds to siphone"

CORRUPTION AND LAXITY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE

Years back as measures to combat the economic crises, as declared by the State of Cameroon under the leadership of the Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM), with their Zeus Paul Biya at the helm; the salaries of Civil Servants were slashed.
It could be supposed that, the government had employed more workers and for convenience in order to facilitate payments they had to consider such stringent measures.

Intrinsically, this has ignited and kindles corruption and laxity in the civil service. Civil servants now lack diligences and job satisfaction.
The atmosphere in administrative offices and other public institutions is a cause for concern. Workers come to work and leave when they like, such that some do not even spend up to three hours in their offices.

They expect money before rendering services and above all their offices have been transformed to shops, where they sell wares.
Equally, State teachers, have this laissez- faire and nonchalant attitude and it tells on the students.

At the Ministry of Finance for instance, just to go in to visit or business, along side ones identification document, one is expected to give money, before the one can be allowed to go into the building.

Officially, tariffs are neatly displayed on walls of offices, ultimately; one is made to pay more than the stipulated amount on display. The actual amount paid is not indicated on the receipts and no explanation is accorded.

To sit for a professional exam, commonly referred to as ‘concour’, the compilation includes all sort of certificates, meanwhile it is usually lost effort for those without godfathers or fairy godmothers, who can secure their successes without even going through such hurdles or even sitting for the exam.
All in a bid to exploit and extort citizens, any small registration or application that has to do with the State, numerous certificates requiring official stamps are requested.

In the judiciary and public security, laws are passed, like the new criminal procedure code by law no. 2005/007 of 27th July 2005. Thus far, the application of the penal code on issues of police custody, bail, and arrest are usually not accurately implemented.

It is openly announced that, road check points or illegitimate and unaccountable road check points have been banned or closed; still they spring up like mushroom from each corner in the towns and along the highway. Nobody has absolutely anything what so ever to say or do about it to correct such discrepancies.
I wonder if those who came up with the decision do not ply our roads to notice, that their order is being violated.

However, as they say, ‘A fish starts getting rotten from the head’. As such, the rottenness of bribery and corruption, has eaten deep in to the fabrics of our public sector, sailing from top to bottom and now contaminating the private sector and individuals, - Contractors takes contracts, which of course must have bribe their way through to secure the contract, then they either do an incomplete or completely poor job, butchers have phony weighing scales, a taxi driver will not want to give you the right change or as a stranger fake the distance to charge you more. A technician will do fake repairs and even sell parts of the item brought for repairs. A tailor or seamstress will collect money then disregard the agreed appointed collection date and then hide from you. Entrepreneurs or their employees inflate bills like in drinking joints or restaurants, filling station attendants fake the gauge pump and sell limited amount of fuel for money paid.
Vendors especially those by the roadside, sell fake wares and sometimes trick you by giving you trash instead of the attractive item you purchase in the process of packaging.
This is the actual image of our country Cameroon. Providence is now required in dealings while trust is now farfetched.

To shamelessly stage a show of rigor and moralization, in checking the epidemic which has eaten deep, causing our economy to suffer, leaving many in deplorable situations and abject poverty, it is openly publicized that this or that Minister or Director has been arrested for mismanagement of state funds and embezzlement.

By the way, some civil servants stay for months without salaries, pensioners may even die before receiving their pension that is; if they succeed in compiling the required documents, roads, public offices and school infrastructures are way below standards, social amenities limited. Yet, the amount of money announced to have been embezzled leaves some of us bewildered, whether that amount of money actually existed in our state coffers. More so, how- be-it if not anarchy that, an individual can have complete access to such gross sum.

Whatever the names of the various operations staged – ‘Antelope’, lion, cat or fox, the State embarks on in the pretext of combating corruption is all drama. For years this aspect has just been a merry-go-round. The Presidency more or less a monarchy, a Minister is appointed to head a particular ministry or rotate ministries; same as Directors and when he must have enriched himself enough, they are dismissed on grounds of mismanagement and embezzlement.

We are never in the know of the exact verdict - whether they are compelled to give back what they had stolen – sorry, embezzled is a more classic term to use. The seizure of their declared properties and freezing of their bank accounts is a logical approach.
Perhaps, if they have been obliged to pay back, how have these monies been accounted for? These are questions that answers are sort. Whereas, the game or play continues another brother in the brotherhood is also given an opportunity to enjoy the national cake, all in the guise of cabinet re-shuffle.

Apparently, there are certain unnecessary implementation of policies, projects and activities, in which the state fund is used at taxpayer’s expense.
For instance, the Prime Minister displaces to launch the construction of a road and then after opening. This certainly requires out station allowance for him, Minister, Directors, drivers and all others in the entourage. Thence, much is spent on entertainment. Still months after months the road launched is still untouched.

For those with the responsibility of objective reporting, they are subjected to treats.
The truth is always bitter but must be said.


Enie Ndoh Cecile,

POLITICAL FOCUS

AUTOCRACY IN GOVERNANCE UNDER BIYA’S REIGN

It is sad to absorb Cameroon a once peaceful nation, has today become a nation of political turmoil, unrest and agitation. Many allude to the fact that, those perpetuating the riots are societal dropouts, idle and frustrated people; but the question is who, did they expect to speak out? Is it the Directors and Ministers who are on the tree top harvesting as much as they deem fit?The bottom line is every one is bitter. To my utter astonishment, even some members of the Arm forces have expressed their dissatisfaction on the situation of things.It would not surprise me that, behind are hypocrites in the system, who stay back instigate these hoodlums or hooligans to carry out their treats.

Fredrick Douglass states, ‘without struggle, there can be no progress’.Obviously, no one with right senses can opt for war. But to go by Fredrick’s’ concept, history has shown, like the apartheid in South Africa, the 2008 power struggle in Kenya and in the USA with an African American rise to power after decades of cries of non-violence and freedom, thereby bringing Dr. Martin Luther King Juniors’ dream to be realized.Evidently, there are times that silence can’t just bring about progress.

To therefore attain solutions necessary for communal growth, we need to combat whatever ills we face in our society, and speaking out in one solid voice can only do this.It is quite understood that most of us are totally not responsible for our actions, holding it on the system and putting aside our virtues and moral precepts. May be, some times we decide to stick to the general principles rather than the particular.Meanwhile, general tendencies or reactions are usually not the best approach to handle or treat issues of life.

Consequently, autocracy in governance and centralized governing system has invoked a lot of falsehood, detrimental to nation building. In both the public and private sector, inelasticity in rendering services provokes disappointment, dismay and frustration, thus slowing down progress.

Sometimes, we cannot comprehend whether this situation is associated with the office being under-staffed, causing some people to have cumulative functions, thereby being overworked or some of these workers vehemently have to stay as ‘Alpha and Omegas’ (the beginning and the end.)

Furthermore, those at the helm of services are not assisted or cannot be assisted. Whichever or whatever the situation is actually. But, it has been noted that such operational tendencies dampen spirits especially when one cannot have an instant ‘d’accord’ because the one to certify is absent and no other bona fide person can act as deputy.

Lets visualize some critical situations faced with such harden policies or stumbling blocks. Imagine someone with an important document to sign, payment voucher, marriage or death certificate, and contract authorization, you list them.Then figure out the dilemma the one may face, if the sole person in charge of signing the document falls ill, dies suddenly or is probably called up by hierarchy for an extraordinary official duty or appointment. The consumers at this juncture are bound to wait inconveniencing them one-way or the other.

In our court of law, cases are adjourn over and over because the Magistrate ‘the Lordship’ cannot be present to preside,People are thereby displaced, causing waste of precious time and money. Mark you; the defendant and the plaintiff have a price to pay for their Attorneys to appear in court.

Yet, individually we are expected to be productive in order to boost the economy.With such references, when our activities are prolonged or at a stand still, how are we then expected to make ends meet? Is this not rather ridiculous?
It is hoped that this point is taken, for it is needless to cite examples, which have cause much tension, embarrassment and loss. It is said that’ when the going gets tough, the tough gets going’ likewise, ‘when the tough get going the going gets tough’. In this wise, our Leaders and Service Heads should at least ease up things for the common man, to make life worthwhile.

Apparently, if this of course happens to be management procedures, then it is high time for this condition to be revamped. For elasticity and liberalization is the manure for a progressive nation.Those at the head should not assume dictatorship and be authoritative with an- I- don’t- care attitude.

It is absurd and preposterous that, with a lot of pitfalls in the system and recent global development and crises, Members of Parliament (MPs) of the ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) and their comrades in different parties, despite opposition, and boycott from authentic opposition parties, could consider the only issue at stake to amend in an old and outdated constitution was the removal of the clause on the term limit for the president set at two, seven – year term, paving the way for President Biya who has been in office since 1982 to stand for the next presidential election.

It is ridiculous and horrendous to imagine that a gigantic movement in the likes of the Cameroon’s People Democratic Movement (CPDM) can have just one person to rule till his death as age is certainly catching up on him. We can see, like the case of America how many Democratic and Republican candidates set up for the presidential race. Yes, it could be said it is America, so CPDM cannot nominate even two candidates. With little or nothing to show as the party’s achievement for the past 26 years in power, it can only be greed and dictatorship to steer or advise him to accept to stand again for an election to rule indefinitely.

THE PERCEPTION OF MORALITY

As a Christian I am vest with the scriptural passage which states “we are all born sinners”, “judge not so not to be judged”, and the story of the man and woman caught in the act of adultery. The law of the land forbids such acts and anyone guilty is to be stone to death. Now when the people of the land was about to execute their punishment by stoning the lady, the Master came up to them and challenged them saying “if there is anyone amongst you with no sin, let that person be the first to throw a stone”. Definitely, no one had the guts for they were all guilty of one sin or the other.
I needed to go back to the book of life, to cite this tendency that plagues our today’s society especially in the US.

As human beings, we have one body yet carry out diverse functions or activities and most at times one of the functions does not necessarily affect or influence the other.
The point I’m trying to drive through is that, once there is some one who is affluent or have a high official rank, the media always delve more on the person’s negative aspects and pitfalls, just to tarnish the person’s reputation bringing about their downfall and popularity. We seem to disregard the fact that human beings are vulnerable and susceptible to certain natural weaknesses.

Individually depending on the instances, we can be viewed as mothers/fathers, wives/husbands, sisters/brothers, children, cousins, administrators and all the titles to go by. But then, we do have different official or civil, social and private lives. We have our weak and strong points peculiar to each one of us.

There have been scandals of people in high ranking positions who have lost their jobs because of their lust and involvement in illicit sexual affairs. What puzzles me is that, does their involvement in these acts play on their official roles and commitment thereby causing them not to function accordingly?

Please I pray that my intention should not in any way be misconstrued. I don’t approve of immorality or irresponsible conducts in any form, ‘NO’. My viewpoint centers on the way this issue is perceived and the big deal about the whole situation. Most times these people try to be discreet but the Paparazzi are all over them like swam of bees. I wonder why some people would spend their entire life to be nosy, minding other peoples business and focusing mainly on their negative tendencies.

Even so, we are individuals and responsible for our actions, as such the misdeed of any of our family members should not be hold against us, nor should it plague us.
As a matter of fact, my parents might not have been successful but that does not limit me to strive for success and be successful.
Some of us, our parents are jerks and irresponsible, but this does not inhibit us from being responsible parents to our own children.

To throw more light for a better understanding of this view point, I will like to use the news about Sarah Paulin’s daughter’s pregnancy as an example.
I dare say some parents face the ordeal to have children who do not live up to their expectations, because their offspring’s choose to ignore the precepts of moral rectitude imbued in them. As a result, no matter how hard they try to harness their children’s morals these children go contrary to their upbringing. None the less, we are bound to show them love.

Sarah Paulin’s daughter was already pregnant before she was nominated to run for the post of Vice President for the Republican Presidential nominee John Mccain.
Then the media turns erratic. In fact, in an internet article a Writer stated that Paulin as Vice President accepting her daughter to keep her pregnancy; is by all means stipulates she will encourage teenage pregnancy. Why must her daughters’ odds be linked to her?
I find this really absurd. I wonder if the scandal would have simmer down if it was known that she did opt for her daughter to commit abortion.
Besides how does her daughter’s pregnancy interfere with her leadership capacities?
She is a Governor and might be Vice President tomorrow but that does not conflict or cancel the fact that she is also a mother, wife, sister and daughter too. Naturally, she is to function under these roles with management strategies.

Bill Clinton’s profile rates him one of the best President’s that ever ruled in the US with several achievements, yet the Lewinsky episode was used to make him unpopular.

The Paparazzi haunt those in the limelight of showbiz, just to get a glimpse of their private lives and make money of it.

Apparently, why are we more interested or concern to broadcast, publish and read about the vices and sometimes ignore the virtues of the aforementioned group of persons in this write-up. In essence, they could only be reprimanded when they are not apt in carrying out their official duties judiciously and then allow their families to deal with their illicit affairs.

My question is those who have opted for the profession and delight in prying and exposing others negative attitudes and pitfalls, how decent are they? Are their moral stances unquestionable?

By Cecile Enie

IS OBAMA FIT TO LEAD?

I guess this question should be the focus and issue for all Americans to reckon with.
It is downright irritating to watch racist delve on the issue of color to determine his leadership prowess, putting aside or rather ignoring his intellect, intuition and charisma.

Elected already as the Democratic Presidential nominee; I really can’t fathom why at this juncture the press and racist should belabor on the point of color.
It is a trivial matter to concentrate on; meanwhile there are lots of stuff that plagues our contemporary society to be preoccupied with.

More so, is it not true that Barack Obama has proven his worthiness as an ambitious and successful young American, which I belief qualify him to run for the presidency.
And how many of those who parade their superiority because of their white color against black can qualify or excel as Obama.

I must say, it is indeed sad to know the entire world view America as a world power that perpetuate and advocate equality, human rights and freedom in every sphere.
Yet some of its citizens who are naïve are contrary to the precepts of viewing and treating all humans as equals despite their color, race or ethnicity.

I do have reasons to belief that an American is an American thus, they all have the right despite their color to equally enjoy their civic rights. To this I say, Obama is a bona fide American. It is a fact that, many white color people have not the guts and talents he posses.

When I have the misfortune to listen to how some of these whites view blacks and sometimes even mistreat them, I asked myself if it has been proven that being a black or hybrid is a deficiency as such, affects their human anatomy thereby limiting their skills and aptitude.

By my observation, those who grudge Obama and openly vent their bias and prejudice by using his color as a base to acknowledge his incapacity to lead, are those who suffer from self complex because in their wildest dreams they could never accomplish or measure up with Obama’s accomplishments.

Basically, instead of lauding and appreciate his vision for bringing change, they center on his color, African background and name to discredit and debase him; trying to intimidate and play on his self complex.
Perhaps just maybe Obama was totally white he might not have excelled as he has done with his present statues quo.

By Cecile Enie