2008 a time to...

Somewhere in Africa...Baba Mvula is sat on his chair gazing at the sunset. Florence, his granddaughter, sits beside him “Baba, tomorrow is the last day of the year….according to the calendar of the wazungu. What do you see for the next year?” Baba Mvula closes his big dark eyes, takes a deep breath and says, “Our land begins to open its eyes. Our people awake from their deep sleep, and decide that the present situation is no longer acceptable. Our land is shedding tears of blood; the wind carries the cry of our people throughout the world.” Florence starts having goose-skin; Baba Mvula continues “we need to go back to our roots: we need strong tribes, we need our chiefs and kings back; we need our healers back (not these false ones, whose sole interest is making money, not helping people); we need tribal counsellors; warriors…” the old man takes another deep breath and proceeds “our roots combined with what the wazungu taught us can, and will, change our land. What I see now is not good: the children of Mohammed killing the children of Abraham and Jesus, what is the point of that? Our women being stoned because of bearing children (in our tradition any child is a blessing regardless where, when and how it was conceived); these people covering our women’s head; excising our girls, controlling their femininity; arranging marriages; brain-washing our people to follow the words of a man instead of the words of The Creator; these excessive powers given to men…[nodding] This is not us, this is not Africa!” in awe Florence stares at her grand-father and says “so, 2008 is a time to…open the African horizon!” in shock Baba Mvula states “what horizon?! I’d say that 2008 is time for the African people to wake up from their worst nightmare!”…

Somewhere in Portugal…“My dear mama, I have arrived to Portugal and I am well. I can hardly believe that I am finally in Fernando Pessoa’s country: it is beautiful!! I already had the opportunity to interact with some of the locals: they are African, Asian and Gypsy descendants…extremely affable people!
What I did find odd, mama, is the fact that although Portugal is so cosmopolitan it does not respect its cultural diversity: did you know that most TV commercials do not include all the ethnic communities living here? Appalling!! I heard a politician speaking of social integration the other day; but under these circumstances how can there be integration if people do not relate with nor feel welcomed by the Portuguese culture?
I don’t mean to shock you, mother (heavens no…never!), however I must present four shocking aspects of this society: 1- the Gypsies are despised, they are practically outcast (people do not want them in their neighbourhoods)…and to think that Spain offered Joaquín Cortés to the World; 2- most curricula vitae whose photo is of a black person or Brazilian are put aside (even if he/she has better qualifications than any other), and most black people are not promoted; 3- apart from the Eastern Europeans, most ethnic communities are encouraged to live in the same places; 4- their agendas do not include other religious holidays…only Catholic…and I thought England could be awkward sometimes! How I miss the Carnival at Notting Hill…*sigh*…ah, the weekly fair in Bradford…
Anyway, mother…I wish you a Happy New Year! And to Portugal I say: 2008 is a time to stop suffering from the Hitler-Germany-wanna-be Anxiety!"

Somewhere in the world…A group of enlightened men and women of all ethnic backgrounds, religions and philosophies of life gather to enter 2008 in great joy and harmony. Music is loud, laughter slashes the air, bodies move to the sound of music…23:58…everybody raises their glass in the air…10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1…2008!!!! Champagne, water and juice flow; kisses, hugs and firm hand-shakes are given; the dancing proceeds; the hope of a better and more peaceful world invades everybody’s heart…

Happy New Year! May 2008 bring loads of love, spiritual progress, health, joy and prosperity (in its many forms)!


Now follow me to next door…let’s see Livingsword’s perspective of 2008…knock here