Discussions centered on gender are usually very controversial.Many individuals feel that the classification of human beings along the line of gender is the main cause of gender inequality.This belief has led to the development of feminism-a movement that sees women as a specie that needs to be protected from abuse and neglect by men.This movement has become so popular that virtually every country has its own fair share of feminists.
I am not a feminist.I do not also believe in feminism.I am a masculinist.Masculinism believes that the gender inequality in the world is bad.It also believes that such inequlity is skewed against the men-contrary to what feminists believe.I can amass tons of evidence to show that men are the chief sufferers in today's world.I would refrain from doing so here because I do not want to digress from the topic.
Gender differences are real and are as old as mankind. There would always be men and women.What causes problems and frictions in society is the promotion of a particular gender's interest at the expense of the interest of the other gender.All human beings are equal and ought to be treated equally.The same opportunities for development ought to be available to all human beings irrespective of gender.If this is done, the unnecessary controversy generated by the issue of gender would subside and the society would be the better for it. There would always be males and females. The males need the females to survive just like the females need the males to survive too.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
WORDS AND PHRASES THAT ARE TABOO IN MY CULTURE
In the culture of the people of southeastern Nigeria,there are many words and phrases that are considered taboo.The list is so large that writing down all of them would lead me into writing a book instead of the simple blog topic I set out to write.There are too many of them.However,I would discuss a few of them.
Firstly,the expression "burukwa okuko uzo lakpuo ura" means "may you go to bed before the chickens".This is a very terrible thing to say to anybody.It is considered a bad wish of abnormal proportions.It is believed that the speaker wishes the addressee dead.The chickens usually go to roost at about 4pm when ordinarily, all healthy men and women are supposed to be in offices and factories working.
Again, the expression "sikwa n'ala nuo mmanya" literaly translated, means " may you drink from the ground". This expression is also a terrible one and is considered a taboo.It is believed that anybody who says that to another wishes the addressee dead.Quite naturally, the use of the expression on another may attract very bizzare consequences.
That is not all.Telling a man or woman that he or she has two hands is also considered a huge insult. It is a figurative way of saying that such man or woman is a thief.It is believed that if the addressee is a child,he or she may grow up into a thief.
Outside the expressions above, there are still a host of others.It is forbidden to mention a snake by name at night. The elders believe that doing so may attract a snake.Instead,it is called "eriri" which means "rope".Tuberculosis is such a dreaded disease that it is forbidden to mention its name to the hearing of healthy people.It is instead, called "ukwara nta" which means "the small cough".The same applies to leprosy or "ekpenta". Anybody who suffers from the disease is called "onye oria ocha" or "the white disease". Sometimes, the person is called "onye ocha" which means "the whiteman".
At the risk of repeting myself,the taboo expresssions are too many to be exhausted in this essay.I do believe that the few I have discussed here would enlighten the reader to the fact that the color of human beings may look different,but we are all the same.
Firstly,the expression "burukwa okuko uzo lakpuo ura" means "may you go to bed before the chickens".This is a very terrible thing to say to anybody.It is considered a bad wish of abnormal proportions.It is believed that the speaker wishes the addressee dead.The chickens usually go to roost at about 4pm when ordinarily, all healthy men and women are supposed to be in offices and factories working.
Again, the expression "sikwa n'ala nuo mmanya" literaly translated, means " may you drink from the ground". This expression is also a terrible one and is considered a taboo.It is believed that anybody who says that to another wishes the addressee dead.Quite naturally, the use of the expression on another may attract very bizzare consequences.
That is not all.Telling a man or woman that he or she has two hands is also considered a huge insult. It is a figurative way of saying that such man or woman is a thief.It is believed that if the addressee is a child,he or she may grow up into a thief.
Outside the expressions above, there are still a host of others.It is forbidden to mention a snake by name at night. The elders believe that doing so may attract a snake.Instead,it is called "eriri" which means "rope".Tuberculosis is such a dreaded disease that it is forbidden to mention its name to the hearing of healthy people.It is instead, called "ukwara nta" which means "the small cough".The same applies to leprosy or "ekpenta". Anybody who suffers from the disease is called "onye oria ocha" or "the white disease". Sometimes, the person is called "onye ocha" which means "the whiteman".
At the risk of repeting myself,the taboo expresssions are too many to be exhausted in this essay.I do believe that the few I have discussed here would enlighten the reader to the fact that the color of human beings may look different,but we are all the same.
MY MOST INTERESTING ADVERTISEMENT
My favorite magazine is the TELL magazine of Nigera.The advertisement I am about to review is contained in it's edition of February 26th 1999.It is an advertisement of the omega wristwatch.I believe that the members of the target audience of the advertisement are exclusively men.To begin with,the product being advertised is a masculine writ watch.The catch words and phrases used in the advertisement are also directed at men.The photograph of the wristwatch which appears in the magazine shows the wristwatch on a man's wrist.
The advertisement uses a combination of persuasive words and images to sell the product to a male reader.The words are not verbose. They sound simple and straight to the point.In truth, the words are contained in just one sentence-"Omega, worn by men who rule the world".As simple as these words may sound, they seem to give the impression that anybody who wears the wristwatch would end up ruling the world or that anybody who is already ruling the world needs to prove that fact by buying an omega wristwatch.The picture of a successful-looking, handsome man that appears on the page seems to be the icing on the cake.The picture lures,persuades,and appeals to the male reader to either prove his level of success by going for an omega wristwatch or to prove the extent of his aspiration for success by going for the wristwatch.All together,I consider the advertisement a great one.
The advertisement uses a combination of persuasive words and images to sell the product to a male reader.The words are not verbose. They sound simple and straight to the point.In truth, the words are contained in just one sentence-"Omega, worn by men who rule the world".As simple as these words may sound, they seem to give the impression that anybody who wears the wristwatch would end up ruling the world or that anybody who is already ruling the world needs to prove that fact by buying an omega wristwatch.The picture of a successful-looking, handsome man that appears on the page seems to be the icing on the cake.The picture lures,persuades,and appeals to the male reader to either prove his level of success by going for an omega wristwatch or to prove the extent of his aspiration for success by going for the wristwatch.All together,I consider the advertisement a great one.
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HAVING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET AND SUCCESS OPPORTUNITIES
Technological advancements have turned the world to a village.It is now very usual to hear several individuals talk or even write about the "global village".Similarly, the distance between time and space has been significantly compressed.There is no doubt therefore that having access to the internet has a connection to success.
There may be a temptation to argue that intelligence, more than any other factor, contributes the most to success.While not excluding intelligence as one of the factors that influence success positively,it is quite obvious that awareness of the existence of opportunities is fundamental to success.The internet represents awareness and information.As a reputable professor,J.O.J Nwachukwu-Agbada, put it;the internet has made it possible for individuals to take a tour of the entire world from the comfort of their living rooms.
Any institution that is serious with its concern with the academic advancement of its students must make arrangements to give its students unhindered access to the internet. Most institutions seem to have realized this fact. That is why getting connected to the internet has become a fundamental issue for all academic establishments.It is hoped that the zeal with which students embrace the awareness culture represented by the internet would eventually translate to a new order in which all things negative would have no place.
There may be a temptation to argue that intelligence, more than any other factor, contributes the most to success.While not excluding intelligence as one of the factors that influence success positively,it is quite obvious that awareness of the existence of opportunities is fundamental to success.The internet represents awareness and information.As a reputable professor,J.O.J Nwachukwu-Agbada, put it;the internet has made it possible for individuals to take a tour of the entire world from the comfort of their living rooms.
Any institution that is serious with its concern with the academic advancement of its students must make arrangements to give its students unhindered access to the internet. Most institutions seem to have realized this fact. That is why getting connected to the internet has become a fundamental issue for all academic establishments.It is hoped that the zeal with which students embrace the awareness culture represented by the internet would eventually translate to a new order in which all things negative would have no place.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
MEN ARE NOT SMARTER THAN WOMEN.
A lot of men consider women inferior to men.Such men believe that women are not genetically equipped to handle complex problems or engage in tasking assignments.This belief became so widespread around the world that it led to a lot of injustice against women.It took the efforts of many feminists to draw a lot of attention to this injustice.
However,the truth is that men are not smarter than women.There is no scientific evidence to show that a person's intelligence may have any connection with such person's gender.Across the world,many women had at one time or the other,distinguished themselves in many professions.Many of them had also risen to become the leaders of their countries.
Besides, a lot of women are the breadwinners of their families.They work hard night and day to make sure that things move smoothly at the home front.Other women who are not exclusively breadwinners in their homes contribute meaningfully to the affairs of their homes.It would therefore be unfair to rubbish the contributions of women like them by asserting the superiority of the contributions of their male counterparts.
A persons smartness may be influenced by genetics,education and environment.But it can never be influenced by gender.
However,the truth is that men are not smarter than women.There is no scientific evidence to show that a person's intelligence may have any connection with such person's gender.Across the world,many women had at one time or the other,distinguished themselves in many professions.Many of them had also risen to become the leaders of their countries.
Besides, a lot of women are the breadwinners of their families.They work hard night and day to make sure that things move smoothly at the home front.Other women who are not exclusively breadwinners in their homes contribute meaningfully to the affairs of their homes.It would therefore be unfair to rubbish the contributions of women like them by asserting the superiority of the contributions of their male counterparts.
A persons smartness may be influenced by genetics,education and environment.But it can never be influenced by gender.
A CASE AGAINST FEMALE PROSTITUTION IN COLLEGES
Prostitution is considered the oldest"profession" in the world.This is largely because no one can give a clear and easily acceptable account of the origin of the trade.A lot of women embrace prostitution because of an inexplicable desire for sexual satisfaction.However,a greater percentage of prostitutes were forced into it as result of the need to make ends meet.Many females in the later group are college students who resort to the trade in order to finance their education.
Many people who support prostitution have argued that the end justifies the means.They argue that women should be free to use what they have to get what they desire.This argument is however, Machiavellan.
Irrespective of the reason for embracing it,prostitution is an obnoxious trade.It debases womanhood.Most women who eventually quit the trade discover too late that their psychological balance had been negatively affected for life.Additionally,such women may sometimes end up contracting deadly sexually-transmitted diseases including the dreaded HIV virus.
That is not all,any female student who prostitutes in order to pay her way through college may discover too late that the accompanying emotional torture may diminish the happines associated with graduation.It is therefore hoped that the current efforts of government to disuade women. from taking to the profession would be sustained.
Many people who support prostitution have argued that the end justifies the means.They argue that women should be free to use what they have to get what they desire.This argument is however, Machiavellan.
Irrespective of the reason for embracing it,prostitution is an obnoxious trade.It debases womanhood.Most women who eventually quit the trade discover too late that their psychological balance had been negatively affected for life.Additionally,such women may sometimes end up contracting deadly sexually-transmitted diseases including the dreaded HIV virus.
That is not all,any female student who prostitutes in order to pay her way through college may discover too late that the accompanying emotional torture may diminish the happines associated with graduation.It is therefore hoped that the current efforts of government to disuade women. from taking to the profession would be sustained.
AAMU SHOULD OFFER MORE COURSES UTILIZING DISTANCE LEARNING
Alabama A&M University has come a long way.From its modest beginning in 1875,the university has grown to enviable heights.It is remarkable that its long period of existence notwithstanding,AAMU remains very conservative.Almost all of its courses are offered on campus.A lot of people argue that this has helped to retain the high academic standard of the university.Such people believe that offering more courses utilizing distance learning may ultimately water down the already established academic standard of the university.Such argument may contain certain elements of truth.The arguments notwithstanding,I believe it would be good for the university to offer more courses utilizing distance learning.
The world is increasingly becoming a village as a result of technological developments.By offering more courses which utilize distance learning,AAMU would be able to exploit this technological advancement to its benefit.There is no doubt that more students would be attracted to the university as problems associated with constant journeys to the campus would be eliminated to a very large degree.What this means is that the revenue base of the university would also appreciate.In as much as generating revenue is not the main reason for setting up a university,money remains very important in ensuring the maintenance of acceptable academic standards.
Moreover,offering more courses which utilize the distance learning would create employment for several classes of people.With the expected increament in student population,more staff and faculty would also be needed to accommodate this increment.
On a personal note,offering more courses which utilize distance learning would benefit me immensely.I would stop shuttling to the university campus each day to receive my lectures from my home which is far from the campus.Additionally,I would save a lot of money which hitherto,I had spent on transportation.
Expectedly,embracing the program would not lower the quality of education since a lot of machinery can be put in motion to make sure that fraudsters do not exploit the opportunity.
The world is increasingly becoming a village as a result of technological developments.By offering more courses which utilize distance learning,AAMU would be able to exploit this technological advancement to its benefit.There is no doubt that more students would be attracted to the university as problems associated with constant journeys to the campus would be eliminated to a very large degree.What this means is that the revenue base of the university would also appreciate.In as much as generating revenue is not the main reason for setting up a university,money remains very important in ensuring the maintenance of acceptable academic standards.
Moreover,offering more courses which utilize the distance learning would create employment for several classes of people.With the expected increament in student population,more staff and faculty would also be needed to accommodate this increment.
On a personal note,offering more courses which utilize distance learning would benefit me immensely.I would stop shuttling to the university campus each day to receive my lectures from my home which is far from the campus.Additionally,I would save a lot of money which hitherto,I had spent on transportation.
Expectedly,embracing the program would not lower the quality of education since a lot of machinery can be put in motion to make sure that fraudsters do not exploit the opportunity.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
A CASE AGAINST THE CREATION OF A CAUCASIAN CURRICULUM
Almost all the universities in the United States have incorporated African-American studies into their curricula.Following this development,many critics have started advocating for the incorporation of Caucasian or European studies into the curricula of colleges and universities in the United States.This argument sounds very attractive.As many of such critics say,what is good for the geese is also good for the gander.However,I believe that the incorporation of Caucasian or European studies into the curricula of colleges and universities is unnecessary.
To begin with,Caucasian or European studies already form a substantial aspect of the curricula of such institutions. According to Professor D.D. Smith,over seventy percent of the books and materials used across different schools, colleges and universities in the United States were written by Caucasians.It would therefore be a time-wasting effort to advocate for the inclusion of what is already included.
Futhermore, the African-American experience is peculiar.It is the result of an avoidable accident of history.The Caucasians did not have such historical experience.The Caucasian history is rich,no doubt.But it lacks the peculiar experiences that characterize African-American history.
Lastly,materials are not just incorporated into the curricula of schools on the basis of race or color.Doing so would promote racism instead of fighting it.Other racial groups like the Hispanics or Asians would also start advocating for the inclusion of their own programs into the curricula of schools.The result would be an endless chain of cacophony that would certainly do more harm than good to education.
It would therefore be more beneficial to the country if emphasis is placed on the constant upgrading of the standard of education available in schools rather than on the mundane factor of racial studies.
To begin with,Caucasian or European studies already form a substantial aspect of the curricula of such institutions. According to Professor D.D. Smith,over seventy percent of the books and materials used across different schools, colleges and universities in the United States were written by Caucasians.It would therefore be a time-wasting effort to advocate for the inclusion of what is already included.
Futhermore, the African-American experience is peculiar.It is the result of an avoidable accident of history.The Caucasians did not have such historical experience.The Caucasian history is rich,no doubt.But it lacks the peculiar experiences that characterize African-American history.
Lastly,materials are not just incorporated into the curricula of schools on the basis of race or color.Doing so would promote racism instead of fighting it.Other racial groups like the Hispanics or Asians would also start advocating for the inclusion of their own programs into the curricula of schools.The result would be an endless chain of cacophony that would certainly do more harm than good to education.
It would therefore be more beneficial to the country if emphasis is placed on the constant upgrading of the standard of education available in schools rather than on the mundane factor of racial studies.
THE FAMOUS 'OCTOMUM' SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RAISE HER KIDS
A couple of months ago,the world woke up to the story of a woman in California who delivered a set of octopulets following the fertility treatment she received.The story was more captivating because the woman already had six other children before the birth of her newest babies.The birth of the octopulets turned their mother into a celebrity overnight as pressmen laid ambush for her at the clinic and later, her home, seeking to get juicy stories and interviews related to the birth of the infants.This interest in her situation also sparked off debates across the world as to the propriety or otherwise of the woman conceiving and delivering the children in contravention of medical advise.Many commentators have also advocated for the governmet of the state of California to take away the children from their mother in order to look after them.
The campaings to take away the children from their mother sounds attractive.This is because the ability of one woman to take care of fourteen children by herself seems very doubtful.Besides,some others argue that taking the children away from their mother would serve as a deterrent to other ladies in the future who may wish to ride on the back of such childbirths to stardom.
However,I believe the children should be left to their biological mother.To begin with, there is no legislation that makes it illegal for a woman to have any number of children she desires.Similarly,no legislation empowers the state of California or any other state in the United States for that matter,to seize babies born under such situations from their biological parents.Without any legislation authorizing that,such seizure would be an abuse of the woman's fundamental rights.
Furthermore,it would be reasonable to allow the children grow up under the tutelage of their biological mother.Nobody can treat the children the same way as the children's biological mother.Therefore,the welfare of the new babies ought to be considered first before any decision affecting them is taken.
It would be good for the government to assist in raising the children.Such assistance should not be given because the mother of the babies deserves it after risking her life and those of her babies just to make history.Rather, the assistance should be given because the babies are first and foremost innocent and also because they are citizens of the United States of America.
The campaings to take away the children from their mother sounds attractive.This is because the ability of one woman to take care of fourteen children by herself seems very doubtful.Besides,some others argue that taking the children away from their mother would serve as a deterrent to other ladies in the future who may wish to ride on the back of such childbirths to stardom.
However,I believe the children should be left to their biological mother.To begin with, there is no legislation that makes it illegal for a woman to have any number of children she desires.Similarly,no legislation empowers the state of California or any other state in the United States for that matter,to seize babies born under such situations from their biological parents.Without any legislation authorizing that,such seizure would be an abuse of the woman's fundamental rights.
Furthermore,it would be reasonable to allow the children grow up under the tutelage of their biological mother.Nobody can treat the children the same way as the children's biological mother.Therefore,the welfare of the new babies ought to be considered first before any decision affecting them is taken.
It would be good for the government to assist in raising the children.Such assistance should not be given because the mother of the babies deserves it after risking her life and those of her babies just to make history.Rather, the assistance should be given because the babies are first and foremost innocent and also because they are citizens of the United States of America.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
EDUCATION IS THE BEST PROVISION FOR THE JOURNEY TO OLD AGE
Aristotle, the ancient Greek philosopher, is a man whose aphorisms are often quoted across several academic disciplines.The topic above is perhaps,one of the most famous quotations credited to him.During the time of Aristotle,many people had not realized the value of education.Therefore,it would not have been out of place to hear people debate the authenticity of the statement above.However,today,thousands of years later, it is suprising that a lot of people still doubt the truth of that assertion.
Many illiterates argue that education is time wasting and too expensive.Such persons believe that more emphasis ought to be placed on wealth than education.According to them,a man's children can inherit his wealth but not his education.
This might sound clever.A scrutiny of the argument would however,reveal the weak points therein.To begin with,education is expensive all right but illiteracy is much more expensive than education.In the long run,the illiterate loses more money than he or she would have saved by not going to school. Again,wealth can be inherited unexpectedly by any person.That same way,wealth can equally be lost unexpectedly.Education cannot be inherited in any way.If a professor does not take the necessary steps to educate his child,such child would become an illiterate, his or her father's academic status notwithstanding.That same way,education once acquired,does not expire and cannot be lost unexpectedly.It abides with the educated man or woman until death.
Educated persons age gracefully.This is not because they are always wealthy in old age.It is because they do not allow situations to weigh them down.Educated persons study books which address such difficult situations and emulate others who had traveled on the same route.Educated persons may not be very rich,but they understand the vicissitudes of life more clearly than illiterates.
There are many types of investments.However,each of them pales into insignificance when compared to investments made in favor of education.The above statement which was true during the time of Aristotle,would continue to be true till the end of time.
Many illiterates argue that education is time wasting and too expensive.Such persons believe that more emphasis ought to be placed on wealth than education.According to them,a man's children can inherit his wealth but not his education.
This might sound clever.A scrutiny of the argument would however,reveal the weak points therein.To begin with,education is expensive all right but illiteracy is much more expensive than education.In the long run,the illiterate loses more money than he or she would have saved by not going to school. Again,wealth can be inherited unexpectedly by any person.That same way,wealth can equally be lost unexpectedly.Education cannot be inherited in any way.If a professor does not take the necessary steps to educate his child,such child would become an illiterate, his or her father's academic status notwithstanding.That same way,education once acquired,does not expire and cannot be lost unexpectedly.It abides with the educated man or woman until death.
Educated persons age gracefully.This is not because they are always wealthy in old age.It is because they do not allow situations to weigh them down.Educated persons study books which address such difficult situations and emulate others who had traveled on the same route.Educated persons may not be very rich,but they understand the vicissitudes of life more clearly than illiterates.
There are many types of investments.However,each of them pales into insignificance when compared to investments made in favor of education.The above statement which was true during the time of Aristotle,would continue to be true till the end of time.
THE MEANING OF THE WORD 'CONSUME' AND HOW OUR HABITS OF CONSUMPTION CAN PROVIDE A PICTURE OF OUR ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The word 'consume'is polysemous.This implies that it has more than a single meaning.Basically,it means to utilize.It may also mean to devour or destroy.In this essay however,it is the initial meaning of the word that is intended.The act of consuming is known as consumption.
Often,an individual's habit of consumption provides a clear picture of such individual's ethical responsibilities.Democracy entails freedom.Such freedom includes the freedom of consumption.However, it is very easy to measure an individual's attitude to the society he or she lives in by looking at such individual's taste.Doing so may also help to provide an insight into such individual's lifestlyle especially as concern decorum.
Every person is free to spend his or her income the way he or she likes.This notwithstanding, there are people who despise ostentatious lifestyles and instead, prefer giving back to the society in order to help out the less privileged.Many libraries,schools,or churches are known to have been built out of the selfless habits of such men and women.On the other hand,many persons have been known to come into good fortune and fritter it all away on expensive houses, cars and other gadgets.
It would be relevant to point out that this does not concern the wealthy alone.Sometimes,a poor person's taste says a lot about the person too.Some poor persons spend money on mundane things.In that circumstance,it would be easy to dismiss such poor person as mundane,greedy and wasteful.
It is therefore easy to assess a person's attitude to his or her neighbors or indeed the entire society by looking out for that individuals'taste and method of expenditure.It is my wish that all men and women would at all times, be their neighbor's keeper.
Often,an individual's habit of consumption provides a clear picture of such individual's ethical responsibilities.Democracy entails freedom.Such freedom includes the freedom of consumption.However, it is very easy to measure an individual's attitude to the society he or she lives in by looking at such individual's taste.Doing so may also help to provide an insight into such individual's lifestlyle especially as concern decorum.
Every person is free to spend his or her income the way he or she likes.This notwithstanding, there are people who despise ostentatious lifestyles and instead, prefer giving back to the society in order to help out the less privileged.Many libraries,schools,or churches are known to have been built out of the selfless habits of such men and women.On the other hand,many persons have been known to come into good fortune and fritter it all away on expensive houses, cars and other gadgets.
It would be relevant to point out that this does not concern the wealthy alone.Sometimes,a poor person's taste says a lot about the person too.Some poor persons spend money on mundane things.In that circumstance,it would be easy to dismiss such poor person as mundane,greedy and wasteful.
It is therefore easy to assess a person's attitude to his or her neighbors or indeed the entire society by looking out for that individuals'taste and method of expenditure.It is my wish that all men and women would at all times, be their neighbor's keeper.
THE EFFECT OF THE NEWS MEDIA ON OUR SOCIETY
The News media are unarguably, the backbone of all decent societies.Whether we are refering to the print or electronic media, the effect is the same.Information is important.It defines the society and enlightens the citizens of every nation.Disemination of information is the business of the mass media.If the citizens cannot find out what the government of the day is doing,there will be a lacuna.The news media ensures this does not happen by bridging the gap between the governor and the governed.
Additionally,the news media shapes the opinion of the society.It is very common to see individuals in every society whose opinions on issues are shaped by newspaper reports they read,radio stations they listen to or news reports they see on television.In this sense therefore, the news media become opinion moulders.Any government ignores the news media at its peril.
The effect of all these on the society is that from government to private persons,everyone is kept in check by these societal watchdogs.In effect, the society runs smoothly as nobody would like to be found wanting.The consequences of doing otherwise is always grave.
Additionally,the news media shapes the opinion of the society.It is very common to see individuals in every society whose opinions on issues are shaped by newspaper reports they read,radio stations they listen to or news reports they see on television.In this sense therefore, the news media become opinion moulders.Any government ignores the news media at its peril.
The effect of all these on the society is that from government to private persons,everyone is kept in check by these societal watchdogs.In effect, the society runs smoothly as nobody would like to be found wanting.The consequences of doing otherwise is always grave.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
THE INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON MY PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD.
No two individuals are exactly the same.Even among persons born of the same parents,differences in height,intelligence,complexion and temperament exist.These differences exist because each person's background and experiences are peculiar to such person.There is no gainsaying the fact that the perception of the world by all individuals are to some extent, be influenced by gender. I am not an exception.Being a man has influenced the way I look at several issues.There are many aspects of my life and beliefs that reveal this.I will illustrate with only two of them.
Firstly, I am not a feminist and I detest feminism.Like Chinweizu and many other notable writers around the world, I am a 'masculinist'. Men are endangered species.Almost all the laws of all countries are skewed against them.Most of the time men end up in jail for many offences women get away with.Sometimes when a fight breaks out between a man and a woman, the law enforcement agents are more eager to save the woman than the man. The man is always considers the assailant if when he may have been on the receiving end.The statistics of the gender of all persons in jail all over the world would prove this fact.Sometimes, such men were sent to jail to please one woman or the other.
In many homes, the man makes all the money but the woman is the person in charge.The man can only offend her at his own risk.In Africa,boys are deliberately denied tutelege in cooking in order to subjugate them to their future wives whose mothers had already started teaching the tricks of controlling a man at an early age.This is because the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Not being adept at cooking therefore places the man in perpetual bondage to the woman.
All these frustrations sometimes end up sending the man to an early grave.When this happens, the woman and the children settle down to enjoy the man's wealth after a brief period of 'mourning'. The statistics of widows and widowers would reveal that there are three times more widows than there are widowers. Many of the men went to their graves early.Of course,women have peculiar ways of making the children love them at the expense of the man.Available statistics show that most children buy four times more gifts for their mothers than their fathers.I feel disheartened when feminists argue that women are oppressed and treated with disdain.It is in fact, the other way round.Men are the weaker sex that need to be protected.
Secondly,I believe that women are more emotional and irrational while taking sensitive decisions.Sometimes,decisions taken at the heat of emotional turbulence tumble like a pack of cards at critical times.On the other hand,men are critical, thorough and deft.
I must acknowledge that there are exceptions to this rule. Some women are wonderful while some men are disappointing.However,the percentage of persons that fall into the exceptional group is very negligible.
A lot of men deny reality by pretending their decisions are not influenced by gender.But such men are living a lie.No man or woman can exist outside the influence of gender.
Firstly, I am not a feminist and I detest feminism.Like Chinweizu and many other notable writers around the world, I am a 'masculinist'. Men are endangered species.Almost all the laws of all countries are skewed against them.Most of the time men end up in jail for many offences women get away with.Sometimes when a fight breaks out between a man and a woman, the law enforcement agents are more eager to save the woman than the man. The man is always considers the assailant if when he may have been on the receiving end.The statistics of the gender of all persons in jail all over the world would prove this fact.Sometimes, such men were sent to jail to please one woman or the other.
In many homes, the man makes all the money but the woman is the person in charge.The man can only offend her at his own risk.In Africa,boys are deliberately denied tutelege in cooking in order to subjugate them to their future wives whose mothers had already started teaching the tricks of controlling a man at an early age.This is because the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Not being adept at cooking therefore places the man in perpetual bondage to the woman.
All these frustrations sometimes end up sending the man to an early grave.When this happens, the woman and the children settle down to enjoy the man's wealth after a brief period of 'mourning'. The statistics of widows and widowers would reveal that there are three times more widows than there are widowers. Many of the men went to their graves early.Of course,women have peculiar ways of making the children love them at the expense of the man.Available statistics show that most children buy four times more gifts for their mothers than their fathers.I feel disheartened when feminists argue that women are oppressed and treated with disdain.It is in fact, the other way round.Men are the weaker sex that need to be protected.
Secondly,I believe that women are more emotional and irrational while taking sensitive decisions.Sometimes,decisions taken at the heat of emotional turbulence tumble like a pack of cards at critical times.On the other hand,men are critical, thorough and deft.
I must acknowledge that there are exceptions to this rule. Some women are wonderful while some men are disappointing.However,the percentage of persons that fall into the exceptional group is very negligible.
A lot of men deny reality by pretending their decisions are not influenced by gender.But such men are living a lie.No man or woman can exist outside the influence of gender.
MY CULTURAL IDENTITY
I am an African by birth. My ethnic group is called Igbo and the group inhabits southeastern Nigeria.The first language I ever used was Igbo language and the first friends I had were also from my ethnic group.My fundamental cultural identity is therefore the same with that many other Igbo people who like me, grew up in southeastern Nigeria.
Among the members of my ethnic group, culture and tradition are ways of life. These are rules and regulations that govern our day to day activities.These rules are not written down anywhere.But every one of us knows the rules like the palms of his or her hands. Again,there are no special policemen whose duties include effecting these rules of culture.Each of the members of my ethnic group is a policeman or policewoman in his or her own right.The sanctions associated with flouting the rules are also swift and severe.These traditions and cultures are too many to be exhausted in a write up such as this.I will write down just a few.
To begin with,among my native Igbo ethnic group,it is a taboo for a young unmarried girl to become pregnant.Such is considered as a reproach on not only the girl herself but the parents as well.Young persons are allowed to date only under the very watchfull eyes of parents on both sides.Additionally,such dating must have marriage as its goal.Of a truth,some young persons break this rule once in a long while.However, the consequences of breaking this rule are disastrous.The offending persons are ostracised by everyone.They also become the butt of bitter jokes as negative songs are composed with their names.These songs are used to ridicule them and also teach lessons to other unmarried persons.
Additonally,among the Igbo of South Eastern Nigeria,a man's family does not mean just himself, his wife and children only. The term stretches to include brothers,uncles,aunts,cousins and maternal relations.Each of these persons are treated like and given all the rights and privileges that go with the membership of a family.They also inherit all the responsibilities that go with it too.This is called the extended family system and is found not only among the Igbo but all over Africa.
Again,among the Igbo,relatives cannot either get married or have sexual relations of any kind.Persons within this prohibited degree of consanguinity include even very distant relations.There is the belief that if anyone flouts this tradition,such individual will spend his or her life in grief.The consequences of flouting this rule are so harsh that till date,everybody is afraid of testing the efficacy of the consequences.
To a large extent, these traditions have helped to shape my personality.I realized early in life that in all societies, there are always laws that must be obeyed.I also realized that breaking those laws would attract some form of punishment.As a resident of the United States therefore,it is much easier for me to adapt to the system of obeying the laws of the land.
I have never rebelled against the rules.Most of the traditions are compatible with simple morality. I therefore consider their existence in the community necessary for the guidance of all persons within the community.
It is my wish that future generations would continue to hold these traditons sacred.
Among the members of my ethnic group, culture and tradition are ways of life. These are rules and regulations that govern our day to day activities.These rules are not written down anywhere.But every one of us knows the rules like the palms of his or her hands. Again,there are no special policemen whose duties include effecting these rules of culture.Each of the members of my ethnic group is a policeman or policewoman in his or her own right.The sanctions associated with flouting the rules are also swift and severe.These traditions and cultures are too many to be exhausted in a write up such as this.I will write down just a few.
To begin with,among my native Igbo ethnic group,it is a taboo for a young unmarried girl to become pregnant.Such is considered as a reproach on not only the girl herself but the parents as well.Young persons are allowed to date only under the very watchfull eyes of parents on both sides.Additionally,such dating must have marriage as its goal.Of a truth,some young persons break this rule once in a long while.However, the consequences of breaking this rule are disastrous.The offending persons are ostracised by everyone.They also become the butt of bitter jokes as negative songs are composed with their names.These songs are used to ridicule them and also teach lessons to other unmarried persons.
Additonally,among the Igbo of South Eastern Nigeria,a man's family does not mean just himself, his wife and children only. The term stretches to include brothers,uncles,aunts,cousins and maternal relations.Each of these persons are treated like and given all the rights and privileges that go with the membership of a family.They also inherit all the responsibilities that go with it too.This is called the extended family system and is found not only among the Igbo but all over Africa.
Again,among the Igbo,relatives cannot either get married or have sexual relations of any kind.Persons within this prohibited degree of consanguinity include even very distant relations.There is the belief that if anyone flouts this tradition,such individual will spend his or her life in grief.The consequences of flouting this rule are so harsh that till date,everybody is afraid of testing the efficacy of the consequences.
To a large extent, these traditions have helped to shape my personality.I realized early in life that in all societies, there are always laws that must be obeyed.I also realized that breaking those laws would attract some form of punishment.As a resident of the United States therefore,it is much easier for me to adapt to the system of obeying the laws of the land.
I have never rebelled against the rules.Most of the traditions are compatible with simple morality. I therefore consider their existence in the community necessary for the guidance of all persons within the community.
It is my wish that future generations would continue to hold these traditons sacred.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
CONVINCING A PROSPECTIVE STUDENT TO APPLY TO ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY.
Alabama A&M University is a citadel of intellectualism that has come a long way.Despite its existence for over a century, the institution has maintained its rich academic culture. From the instructors to the students and other members of the university community, everyone guides the 'bulldog' spirit very jealously. It would therefore be very easy to convince a prospective student to come to this wonderful university.
The first information I would volunteer to a prospective student is that the institution itself is a monument to the triumph of the human spirit over segregation. William Hooper Councill, the founder and first president of the university, was an ex-slave. The school is therefore a testimony to the fact that determination is the key to success. I would urge the prospective student to register at the university in order to imbibe this spirit of triumph firsthand.
Additionally, I would give the prospective student enough statistics to prove that tuition at the universty is affordable. The students of the university pay less tuition than their mates in other nearby institutions of similar category. This should be attractive to a prospective student especially if this fact is viewed alongside the economic catastrophe which the country is battling.
That is not all. I would urge the student to take a trip to the university beforehand in other to witness the breath-taking aesthetics of the campus. I would paint a clear picture of the beautiful sceneries observable on campus- the beautiful flowers,neatly-mown lawns and well-built brick houses. This would not be a hard thing to do. Telling the truth is fun!
Finally, I would draw the attention of the prospective student to the sophisticated educational equipment which the school boasts of. I would let the student know that irrespective of the student's intended program of study, the university has enough facilities to ensure that upon graduation, such student would be able to compete with other graduates in an increasingly complex society.
After taking the prospective student through all these, I have no doubt in my mind that the student would not only come to register with the university, but would also convince his or her friends on the need to become students of the wonderful institution called Alabama A&M University.
The first information I would volunteer to a prospective student is that the institution itself is a monument to the triumph of the human spirit over segregation. William Hooper Councill, the founder and first president of the university, was an ex-slave. The school is therefore a testimony to the fact that determination is the key to success. I would urge the prospective student to register at the university in order to imbibe this spirit of triumph firsthand.
Additionally, I would give the prospective student enough statistics to prove that tuition at the universty is affordable. The students of the university pay less tuition than their mates in other nearby institutions of similar category. This should be attractive to a prospective student especially if this fact is viewed alongside the economic catastrophe which the country is battling.
That is not all. I would urge the student to take a trip to the university beforehand in other to witness the breath-taking aesthetics of the campus. I would paint a clear picture of the beautiful sceneries observable on campus- the beautiful flowers,neatly-mown lawns and well-built brick houses. This would not be a hard thing to do. Telling the truth is fun!
Finally, I would draw the attention of the prospective student to the sophisticated educational equipment which the school boasts of. I would let the student know that irrespective of the student's intended program of study, the university has enough facilities to ensure that upon graduation, such student would be able to compete with other graduates in an increasingly complex society.
After taking the prospective student through all these, I have no doubt in my mind that the student would not only come to register with the university, but would also convince his or her friends on the need to become students of the wonderful institution called Alabama A&M University.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
THE GREATEST INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE
Various individuals have equally diverse things that have influenced their lives. For some, their greatest influence comes from a person or a group of persons. For me however, I have been influenced the most by my books. I discovered the overwhelming influence of books quite early in life. My books are my most consistent companions. I do have human companions, no doubt. But whereas human beings change their opinions and facial expressions unexpectedly, my books never change their opinions. Each time I open a book I read the previous day, its contents remain the same.
My dream of being a university professor is very much alive. I know that my books remain the main vehicle that can help to transport me to the promised land. They console me in times of sorrow,rejoice with me in moments of bliss and advise me in periods of confusion. I have embraced my books warmly. I know for sure that so long as I do not abandon them, they would never abandon me. And so long as they do not abandon me, my goal remains achieveable.
My dream of being a university professor is very much alive. I know that my books remain the main vehicle that can help to transport me to the promised land. They console me in times of sorrow,rejoice with me in moments of bliss and advise me in periods of confusion. I have embraced my books warmly. I know for sure that so long as I do not abandon them, they would never abandon me. And so long as they do not abandon me, my goal remains achieveable.
MY FUTURE GOAL
Many of my friends confess to adjusting their goals from time to time to suit the realities of the time. In my case, I prefer adjusting the realities of the time to suit my goals. I have many goals in life. However, out of all my goals in life, one stands out. I wish to become a university professor.
University professors are intelligent and well respected in the society. The respect accorded to them stems largely from the fact that they are masters in their various fields of academic endeavor. Unlike businessmen who can make millions of dollars overnight, it takes brilliance, patience, hardwork and a combination of a host of other qualities to become a professor. Anybody can become wealthy unexpectedly. But nobody becomes a professor unexpectedly.
I hope to continue studying until I earn a doctoral degree. This would unarguably assist me to realize my life-long dream. Doctoral programs are not earned on a platter of gold. I have no doubt therefore that the assignment is tough and the road rough.
I sincerely believe that hardwork, consistency, and level-headedness will not only keep me on track towards the eventual realization of my dreams, but would also make me a role model for younger persons who may wish to follow in my footsteps.
University professors are intelligent and well respected in the society. The respect accorded to them stems largely from the fact that they are masters in their various fields of academic endeavor. Unlike businessmen who can make millions of dollars overnight, it takes brilliance, patience, hardwork and a combination of a host of other qualities to become a professor. Anybody can become wealthy unexpectedly. But nobody becomes a professor unexpectedly.
I hope to continue studying until I earn a doctoral degree. This would unarguably assist me to realize my life-long dream. Doctoral programs are not earned on a platter of gold. I have no doubt therefore that the assignment is tough and the road rough.
I sincerely believe that hardwork, consistency, and level-headedness will not only keep me on track towards the eventual realization of my dreams, but would also make me a role model for younger persons who may wish to follow in my footsteps.
THE LAST TIME I HAD A MORAL DILEMMA
Morality is a very subjective term. It varies across different cultures. Even among individuals raised within the same cultural setup, opinions on morality normally vary in accordance with race, religion and sometimes, educational level. I therefore acknowledge that the reader may not share the same view on morality with me.
The last time I had a moral dilemma was six years ago. I was an instructor in a university somewhere in Africa then. I was young, handsome and bohemian. Many of the students used to admire me. The very bold ones also summoned courage to reveal their feelings about me to my face. Quite naturally, the girls made up the largest number of the bold students. Among the girls, Becky was the boldest and perhaps, the most reckless. She was simply infatuated with me. She refused to pay attentiom during classes and instead, spent her time winking at me and making other grotesque gestures that could tempt even a bishop.To be truthful, somewhere along the line, I began to take an interest in her. My heart was resistant. But my body was weak.
The university rules and regulations frowned at an instructor dating a student. I knew about a couple of my colleagues who disregarded this golden rule and ran into grief. To make matters worse for me, I also had a girlfriend, Kaycee, who worshipped and adored me. I was most certainly caught in a moral logjam.
I summoned courage and invited Beck to my office after class one afternoon. I made her understand that she looked beautiful and that any man would be lucky to have her as a girlfriend. I explained to her that having a relationship with her was most likely to cut my career short. I also revealed the name of my girlfriend to her. Kaycee was not a student in my university. But her family was very popular in the city. Her father was a member of Becky's church.
The revelation had a magical effect on Becky who wiped a tear or two off her face, apologized to me, and left my office less confidently than she had entered. Initially, the temptation to recall her and withdraw my statements was high. But as time went on, I was convinced I took the right decision. Becky developed a very clever way of always hiding behind a classmate during classes. Suprisingly, she did well in the examination at the end of the semester. The matter effectively came to an end for both of us when she graduated one year later and travelled to London for further studies.
Till today, I have never stopped shuddering each time I consider what could have happened to me if I had obeyed my instincts.
The last time I had a moral dilemma was six years ago. I was an instructor in a university somewhere in Africa then. I was young, handsome and bohemian. Many of the students used to admire me. The very bold ones also summoned courage to reveal their feelings about me to my face. Quite naturally, the girls made up the largest number of the bold students. Among the girls, Becky was the boldest and perhaps, the most reckless. She was simply infatuated with me. She refused to pay attentiom during classes and instead, spent her time winking at me and making other grotesque gestures that could tempt even a bishop.To be truthful, somewhere along the line, I began to take an interest in her. My heart was resistant. But my body was weak.
The university rules and regulations frowned at an instructor dating a student. I knew about a couple of my colleagues who disregarded this golden rule and ran into grief. To make matters worse for me, I also had a girlfriend, Kaycee, who worshipped and adored me. I was most certainly caught in a moral logjam.
I summoned courage and invited Beck to my office after class one afternoon. I made her understand that she looked beautiful and that any man would be lucky to have her as a girlfriend. I explained to her that having a relationship with her was most likely to cut my career short. I also revealed the name of my girlfriend to her. Kaycee was not a student in my university. But her family was very popular in the city. Her father was a member of Becky's church.
The revelation had a magical effect on Becky who wiped a tear or two off her face, apologized to me, and left my office less confidently than she had entered. Initially, the temptation to recall her and withdraw my statements was high. But as time went on, I was convinced I took the right decision. Becky developed a very clever way of always hiding behind a classmate during classes. Suprisingly, she did well in the examination at the end of the semester. The matter effectively came to an end for both of us when she graduated one year later and travelled to London for further studies.
Till today, I have never stopped shuddering each time I consider what could have happened to me if I had obeyed my instincts.
THE ROLE OF MY FAMILY IN MY ACADEMIC LIFE
In Africa where I was born, a man's family is made up of not only his wife and kids but also his brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins and other distant relations too numerous and remote to mention. This is called the extended family system. It has a lot of advantages and disadvantages. But the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by a very wide margin. I would not waste the time of the reader by going into how this peculiar family system works because doing so would take me away from the topic above.
My family has been very supportive of my academic exploits. Each person in the family makes effort at all times to find out how my program is progressing. During holidays, I receive gifts and money from the members of my family who are well-to-do and words of advise and encouragement from the ones who are not wealthy. The younger persons in the family who have neither gifts nor advise to offer, call me on the phone several times each week to inquire after my health and progress.
There are many members of my family who are more educated than myself. They are also scattered across different continents of the world. They all receive the same encouragement as I do. This serves to motivate not only myself but all of us. We always dread doing anything that may drag the name of our family into mud. We take pride in the fact that our family has never produced a criminal or ex-convict. And surely, no one in the family wants to create the record.
My family has been very supportive of my academic exploits. Each person in the family makes effort at all times to find out how my program is progressing. During holidays, I receive gifts and money from the members of my family who are well-to-do and words of advise and encouragement from the ones who are not wealthy. The younger persons in the family who have neither gifts nor advise to offer, call me on the phone several times each week to inquire after my health and progress.
There are many members of my family who are more educated than myself. They are also scattered across different continents of the world. They all receive the same encouragement as I do. This serves to motivate not only myself but all of us. We always dread doing anything that may drag the name of our family into mud. We take pride in the fact that our family has never produced a criminal or ex-convict. And surely, no one in the family wants to create the record.
A COMPARISON OF MY VIEW OF LIFE WHEN I FIRST BEGAN COLLEGE AND MY VIEW OF LIFE NOW.
I was admitted into college to study English language as a fifteen-year old boy. For someone at my age then, I was already very experienced. My love for books was also very apparent. Among my mates, I used to consider myself very experienced. I used to view life seriously as I believed that the world was created for daring and adventurous people. I viewed people who shed tears in the face of difficulties with disdain. I was also more serious-minded than most boys at my age.
While in college, I studied authors who wrote books that were distinct in form and orientation from the elementary and high school novels and story books I had become accustomed to. This exposed me to other views about life which were not only different from mine, but were in fact the exact opposite. It dawned on me that the world is filled with persons of diverse views and opinions. The more the number of authors I read, the more my love and crave for reading increased.
After my first degree, I enrolled into another academic program different from what I had studied at the onset. My exposure to other views about life increased. I have earned four degrees in various areas of study. I have also enrolled for a fifth one. My love for books has not diminished. On the contrary, it seems to be on the increase. There is no doubt that the complexities and vicissitudes of life have reduced the number of hours I spend each day reading one book or the other. But I still love reading all the same.
The result is that my view of life now is sharply distinct from my view of life when I first began college. I do not hastily jump to conclusions on issues without first seeking to find out the other side of the issue. I do not also judge people by their appearance as I have since discovered that most of the time, appearance could be very deceptive. Above all, I have learnt that all human beings were created equal. There may be differences in race,opinion, height,religion or even intelligence. But we are all equal.
While in college, I studied authors who wrote books that were distinct in form and orientation from the elementary and high school novels and story books I had become accustomed to. This exposed me to other views about life which were not only different from mine, but were in fact the exact opposite. It dawned on me that the world is filled with persons of diverse views and opinions. The more the number of authors I read, the more my love and crave for reading increased.
After my first degree, I enrolled into another academic program different from what I had studied at the onset. My exposure to other views about life increased. I have earned four degrees in various areas of study. I have also enrolled for a fifth one. My love for books has not diminished. On the contrary, it seems to be on the increase. There is no doubt that the complexities and vicissitudes of life have reduced the number of hours I spend each day reading one book or the other. But I still love reading all the same.
The result is that my view of life now is sharply distinct from my view of life when I first began college. I do not hastily jump to conclusions on issues without first seeking to find out the other side of the issue. I do not also judge people by their appearance as I have since discovered that most of the time, appearance could be very deceptive. Above all, I have learnt that all human beings were created equal. There may be differences in race,opinion, height,religion or even intelligence. But we are all equal.
USING EVASIVE LANGUAGE
Telling lies is a vice, not a virtue. Parents often admonish their kids to always avoid telling lies at all times. Pastors and other religious leaders regularly paint fearful and scary pictures of the religious consequences of telling lies. In court, many cases are lost daily because the plaintiff or defendant told lies. All these notwithstanding, sometimes it is desirable or in fact necessary to avoid telling the truth.
Sometime in June 1992, I visited the ancient city of Kano in northern Nigeria. Kano was a muslim-dominated city which practiced sharia law. The few christians who lived and worked therein, prefered to live at the outskirts of the city in order to avoid religious conflicts. Despite this, conflicts between muslims and christians were frequent. Sadly, the christians were always on the losing end. Each time a conflict arose, churches were burnt down, warehouses were looted and vandalized and many individuals lost their lives.
Being a christain from the southeastern part of the country, visiting the city was always a nightmare as riots could break out at any time. It was therefore very disheartening when I encountered one of such riots during my 1992 visit. I was the only one in the house when the rioters visitedmy uncle's house. I peeped through a hole and saw that they were armed with guns, clubs and other dangerous weapons. I escaped through the backdoor and scaled the fence into the next compound. A heavily-bearded man approached me from the main building and waved at me. I was reluctant to approach him for he looked every inch like my assilants. The smile on his face won me over. He took me into his house and hid me underneath a bed.
Unknown to me, one of the rioters had seen me escape into the adjoining compond and alerted the others. Hundreds of them entered into the compond from the main gate which they pulled down. They demanded for me. The bearded man whom I had come to regard as my angel informed them that I had jumped the fence into the next compound when he attempted to catch me by himself. A few of them entered the house and searched vigorously while others stood outside chanting songs in Hausa and Arabic languages. Finally, they believed my host and departed to search for other victims. I am sure he won their hearts because he was a muslim like them and could speak their languages perfectly.
I was in the man's house until the police brought the situation under control. I have never stopping imagining what would have happened to me if that wonderful man had told my assailants the truth.
I had also witnessed another incident which convinced me that sometimes, telling the truth may not be a wise thing to do in every situation. I was undergoing compulsory paramilitary training alongside one thousand other fresh college graduates in my country then. We were being prepared for the mandatory one-year youth service program for fresh college graduates. The rules in the camp were very strict as we were being trained by soldiers.
One day, Ibe, my roommate sneaked out of the camp and went into the nearby town to relax over a few bottles of beer. Unfortunately for him, he ran into Major Dogo, the camp commandant. Ibe's uniform made him conspicuos and Major Dogo had no problems asking him to stop.He did not stop at all but ran away. The Major directed the soldier with him to catch Ibe. Ibe was lucky as he was able to get to the camp and jump into the compond before the soldier could arrest him. We all saw him running towards us and figured out what happened. Our suspicion was confirmed when within minutes, we saw a soldier jump into the compound ostensibly in pursuit of Ibe. By this time, Ibe had mixed up with the rest of us. His uniform only served to make him blend with the rest of the crowd.
Soon, Major Dogo gathered all of us and scrutinized each face. He was initially confident that he would have fished out Ibe. However, his confidence waned when he found out to his dismay that hundreds of other boys looked exactly like Ibe. He instructed us to identify the culprit. We all informed him that we did not see anybody run into the compound. We all knew that if we had identified Ibe, the punishment for him would have been dismissal from the camp. He would have lost the opportunity to serve the country for two years. The implication was that he could not transact business or get employed in the country as a graduate until he returned to complete the assignment. We all knew what our colleague did was bad. But we did not want him crucified.
All of us were eventually punished. We accepted our punishment happily and moved on. Until today, I have never stopped feeling we did the correct thing by telling lies in order to save our friend and colleague.
Sometime in June 1992, I visited the ancient city of Kano in northern Nigeria. Kano was a muslim-dominated city which practiced sharia law. The few christians who lived and worked therein, prefered to live at the outskirts of the city in order to avoid religious conflicts. Despite this, conflicts between muslims and christians were frequent. Sadly, the christians were always on the losing end. Each time a conflict arose, churches were burnt down, warehouses were looted and vandalized and many individuals lost their lives.
Being a christain from the southeastern part of the country, visiting the city was always a nightmare as riots could break out at any time. It was therefore very disheartening when I encountered one of such riots during my 1992 visit. I was the only one in the house when the rioters visitedmy uncle's house. I peeped through a hole and saw that they were armed with guns, clubs and other dangerous weapons. I escaped through the backdoor and scaled the fence into the next compound. A heavily-bearded man approached me from the main building and waved at me. I was reluctant to approach him for he looked every inch like my assilants. The smile on his face won me over. He took me into his house and hid me underneath a bed.
Unknown to me, one of the rioters had seen me escape into the adjoining compond and alerted the others. Hundreds of them entered into the compond from the main gate which they pulled down. They demanded for me. The bearded man whom I had come to regard as my angel informed them that I had jumped the fence into the next compound when he attempted to catch me by himself. A few of them entered the house and searched vigorously while others stood outside chanting songs in Hausa and Arabic languages. Finally, they believed my host and departed to search for other victims. I am sure he won their hearts because he was a muslim like them and could speak their languages perfectly.
I was in the man's house until the police brought the situation under control. I have never stopping imagining what would have happened to me if that wonderful man had told my assailants the truth.
I had also witnessed another incident which convinced me that sometimes, telling the truth may not be a wise thing to do in every situation. I was undergoing compulsory paramilitary training alongside one thousand other fresh college graduates in my country then. We were being prepared for the mandatory one-year youth service program for fresh college graduates. The rules in the camp were very strict as we were being trained by soldiers.
One day, Ibe, my roommate sneaked out of the camp and went into the nearby town to relax over a few bottles of beer. Unfortunately for him, he ran into Major Dogo, the camp commandant. Ibe's uniform made him conspicuos and Major Dogo had no problems asking him to stop.He did not stop at all but ran away. The Major directed the soldier with him to catch Ibe. Ibe was lucky as he was able to get to the camp and jump into the compond before the soldier could arrest him. We all saw him running towards us and figured out what happened. Our suspicion was confirmed when within minutes, we saw a soldier jump into the compound ostensibly in pursuit of Ibe. By this time, Ibe had mixed up with the rest of us. His uniform only served to make him blend with the rest of the crowd.
Soon, Major Dogo gathered all of us and scrutinized each face. He was initially confident that he would have fished out Ibe. However, his confidence waned when he found out to his dismay that hundreds of other boys looked exactly like Ibe. He instructed us to identify the culprit. We all informed him that we did not see anybody run into the compound. We all knew that if we had identified Ibe, the punishment for him would have been dismissal from the camp. He would have lost the opportunity to serve the country for two years. The implication was that he could not transact business or get employed in the country as a graduate until he returned to complete the assignment. We all knew what our colleague did was bad. But we did not want him crucified.
All of us were eventually punished. We accepted our punishment happily and moved on. Until today, I have never stopped feeling we did the correct thing by telling lies in order to save our friend and colleague.
SOMETHING THAT SCARES ME.
Truthfully, I have never considered myself a fearful person. I have also never heard any of my friends describe me as being fearful. This may have something to do with my upbringing. At a very early age, I learnt that there is no problem without solution except perhaps, death. Ordinarily, one would expect me to be afraid of death. But I am not afraid of it at all. I know that each man or woman will most certainly pass into the great beyond sooner or later.
However, the only thing that scares me is failure. I have the phobia of failing in any assignment I set out for myself. While writing examinations, doing business, or even studying, that fear is always somewhere in my subconscious. Sometimes, the fear retreats into the innermost sanctuary of my mind. At other times, its presence becomes so overwhelming and overbearing that I feel like choking. But it is always present.
Nevertheless, I have learnt how to turn this feeling to my advantage. I do not drink alcohol. I have also neither smoked nor taken any hard drugs in all my life. This morbid phobia for failure is the only stimulant that drives me to success. There is no doubt that at times when it retreats into my system, I relax and become somewhat complacent. As soon as it emerges however, I set upon my goal with every ounce of strength in me.
I have learn that hardwork is the only long-lasting recipe for success. Since failure scares me, I will always rely on my phobia for it to climb to success.
However, the only thing that scares me is failure. I have the phobia of failing in any assignment I set out for myself. While writing examinations, doing business, or even studying, that fear is always somewhere in my subconscious. Sometimes, the fear retreats into the innermost sanctuary of my mind. At other times, its presence becomes so overwhelming and overbearing that I feel like choking. But it is always present.
Nevertheless, I have learnt how to turn this feeling to my advantage. I do not drink alcohol. I have also neither smoked nor taken any hard drugs in all my life. This morbid phobia for failure is the only stimulant that drives me to success. There is no doubt that at times when it retreats into my system, I relax and become somewhat complacent. As soon as it emerges however, I set upon my goal with every ounce of strength in me.
I have learn that hardwork is the only long-lasting recipe for success. Since failure scares me, I will always rely on my phobia for it to climb to success.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
MY ROLE MODEL.
Over the years, I have come across several individuals who touched my life in spectacular ways. These individuals include many men and women whose intellectual composure, tenacity of purpose and emotional balance inspire me immeasurably. Nevertheless, my maternal uncle, Don Oti, stands out as my role model.
Don Oti is a civil engineer employed by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency(FERMA), Nigeria. He is the Deputy Director in charge of the agency in the entire country. He started off as a resident engineer and over the years, he rose to his current position. His meteoric rise was a result of a combination of hardwork and luck.
However, I do not regard him as a role model because he is wealthy. Rather, I admire him because he is a man who lives each day as if it would be his last on earth. His golden rule is"do unto the next man as you would would want other men to do unto you". As a young boy growing up under his tutelage many years ago, this rule which he used to sing into my ears did not make much meaning to me. The fact that he recited this rule shortly before spanking me each time I beat up any of my playmates did nothing to make the rule, or its implications for that matter, attractive to me.
As an adult, I have since discovered that my uncle's golden rule ought to be respected by anyone who wishes to live a rancor-free life. I have also discovered that it is the cardinal principle of existence.
Don Oti is far away from me now. But his views and ways of approaching issues and solving problems would always inspire me.
Don Oti is a civil engineer employed by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency(FERMA), Nigeria. He is the Deputy Director in charge of the agency in the entire country. He started off as a resident engineer and over the years, he rose to his current position. His meteoric rise was a result of a combination of hardwork and luck.
However, I do not regard him as a role model because he is wealthy. Rather, I admire him because he is a man who lives each day as if it would be his last on earth. His golden rule is"do unto the next man as you would would want other men to do unto you". As a young boy growing up under his tutelage many years ago, this rule which he used to sing into my ears did not make much meaning to me. The fact that he recited this rule shortly before spanking me each time I beat up any of my playmates did nothing to make the rule, or its implications for that matter, attractive to me.
As an adult, I have since discovered that my uncle's golden rule ought to be respected by anyone who wishes to live a rancor-free life. I have also discovered that it is the cardinal principle of existence.
Don Oti is far away from me now. But his views and ways of approaching issues and solving problems would always inspire me.
THE BACKGROUND OF THE NEGATIVE WORD "MOTHERFUCKER"
English is a language that originated from the Anglo Saxons. Three tribes made up the Anglo Saxons- the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. The first type of English language used is called Old English. As a result of many words borrowed from languages like Latin, French, and Greek, the grammar of English changed over time to what is called Middle English and subsequently to Modern English which is used today. Many words from the morphology, syntax and semantics of Old English have survived into Modern English. Most of them however, have since assumed new meanings and sometimes, spellings. On the other hand, many new words have entered into the vocabulary of English. One of these new words is "motherfucker".
Nobody can fully give a detailed background information on the etymology of "motherfucker". However, most lexicons admit that the word originated in the United States of America. The word is used by virtually everybody. What differs however, is the context of usage. The word is considered profane and vulgar. Those who use it publicly are therefore the members of the lower class in the society who care less about their public image than the members of the upper and middle classes. I am still new in the United States. But I have discovered that even those who scowl their faces and block their ears each time the word is used in the public, roar into laughter on other occasions when the word is used in private by persons close to them.
Many attempts by English language experts to find out how the word "motherfucker" got corrupted have not yielded much dividend. There are speculations that the word was coined out in the United States because a child's mother is considered sacred to that child. Messing up with one's mother was therefore considered as the highest form of sacriledge. Over the years, the word was adopted to describe any person who is mean,unreliable and who represents everything negative.
As more researches on English words continue, it is hoped that one day, other facts related to this word which has become notorious in English vocabulary would emerge.
Nobody can fully give a detailed background information on the etymology of "motherfucker". However, most lexicons admit that the word originated in the United States of America. The word is used by virtually everybody. What differs however, is the context of usage. The word is considered profane and vulgar. Those who use it publicly are therefore the members of the lower class in the society who care less about their public image than the members of the upper and middle classes. I am still new in the United States. But I have discovered that even those who scowl their faces and block their ears each time the word is used in the public, roar into laughter on other occasions when the word is used in private by persons close to them.
Many attempts by English language experts to find out how the word "motherfucker" got corrupted have not yielded much dividend. There are speculations that the word was coined out in the United States because a child's mother is considered sacred to that child. Messing up with one's mother was therefore considered as the highest form of sacriledge. Over the years, the word was adopted to describe any person who is mean,unreliable and who represents everything negative.
As more researches on English words continue, it is hoped that one day, other facts related to this word which has become notorious in English vocabulary would emerge.
UGOCHUKWU NWAOGU AS A WRITER
Writing about myself as a writer is a daunting task. This is because the language involved is English. At the time I began to learn English, I had become proficient in a couple of other languages. Additionally, as my mother used to tell anyone who cared to listen, English is a 'confusing' language. My mother is a retired schoolteacher. Her opinion on such matters was therefore considered weighty-at least in Africa where I hail from. Even now, many years later, I have discovered many reasons why I think she was correct. I do not wish to discuss those reasons right away. Doing otherwise would certainly steer me away from the purpose of this article.
I am currently a student of Alabama A&M University, Normal, U.S.A. I am studying secondary education in English.Before arriving the United States to study two months ago, I had also attended other universities and earned other degrees in different academic areas. I had also published some works in English language. Additionally, I had edited a journal published in English language for many years. I had also acquired a little experience in teaching the language to those who like myself, speak other languages outside English.
All these notwithstanding, I do not consider myself an expert in written English. Nobody can comfortably claim expertise in the language-except someone who grew up speaking the language. I am much less competent in English phonetics. Since I learnt English after acquiring some other languages, each time I open my mouth to speak, my accent jumps out. I hope to enrol into an accent reduction class sometime in the near future.
A long time ago, I learnt that the best way of consolidating on one's competence in any language is to use the language often. Therefore, I have the confidence that studying in a country where English is the lingua franca and under instructors who use the language as the only medium of instruction would help me to improve upon my little knowledge of the language.
I am currently a student of Alabama A&M University, Normal, U.S.A. I am studying secondary education in English.Before arriving the United States to study two months ago, I had also attended other universities and earned other degrees in different academic areas. I had also published some works in English language. Additionally, I had edited a journal published in English language for many years. I had also acquired a little experience in teaching the language to those who like myself, speak other languages outside English.
All these notwithstanding, I do not consider myself an expert in written English. Nobody can comfortably claim expertise in the language-except someone who grew up speaking the language. I am much less competent in English phonetics. Since I learnt English after acquiring some other languages, each time I open my mouth to speak, my accent jumps out. I hope to enrol into an accent reduction class sometime in the near future.
A long time ago, I learnt that the best way of consolidating on one's competence in any language is to use the language often. Therefore, I have the confidence that studying in a country where English is the lingua franca and under instructors who use the language as the only medium of instruction would help me to improve upon my little knowledge of the language.
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