16 Days of Activism

Starting November 25th of every year and ending on the 10th of December, activists all over the world celebrate something that has been dubbed "16 Days of Activism". It was started in 1991 and has since then been a period set aside to create awareness and come up with lasting solutions to the global problem of gender violence.

The first day- November 25 is the International Day of NO Violence Against Women. The last day -December 10 is Human Rights Day. In between these dates, December 1 is World AIDS Day, December 3 is the International Day for the Disabled and December 6th is the remembrance of the Montreal Massacre: in 1989, Marc Lepine entered the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal and killed 14 female engineering students and injured many others because "he hated feminists". On him, he had a list of prominent women in the Quebec area including the first female firefighter and a lament that "if he had acted sooner, they wouldn't be alive".

All over the world, organizations come together to plan events, give talks, have seminars and of course, write articles. My very own mini-me wrote this moving piece about a home in South Africa that caters to women who have suffered from any form of violence. From what I can see from this site, there is a lot going on in Southern Africa. And I am jealous! Because I did not see a similar site for Nigeria or even West Africa for that matter.

Given that our continent is ridden with wars where the majority of the casualties are women and children; now include the fact we are still under the thumb a lot of oppressive cultures and beliefs that completely subjugate and belittle women, what do you get? A very sad incoherent. I am as much to blame as the rest of my country (and region). I am so caught up in griping about my lack of electricity (which i STILL haven't had! 2nd straight month!). I have not stopped to bother about the million odd women around me who were not fortunate to have been allowed a voice or even a mind of their own. Women who are "grateful" to their beaters and rapists; those who sell them, trade them, dump them then do the same to their young children.

There is so much to be done. And I grow weary thinking of the battles we have yet to win. So I will just admit right now, I have no interest in feminism or all of that. For me, I need my country to get to the stage where we have a stable government with proper accountability. Without that, all the social ills I want to correct (don't get me started on the AIDS epidemic stats for Nigeria, or the state of.....well, EVERYTHING!) can only get so far. And nothing I get done will have a lasting effect without continuous, responsible leadership.

However, today's just the 8th, 16 days isn't over yet. I will do what I can the last 2 days and I do promise come November 25, 2011, I WILL play my part and I promise it won't be a small one (mimi-me it's your job to keeep me to that!).

PS: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE visit the links above. I hope something touches each and everyone of you and you DO something no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. The apathy that surrounds me depresses me and is threatening to drag me into its mire. I need hope. I need someone to stand with me; not tell me I'm whining or point out the little I've done. Stand with me. Give me the support to galvanize me into action. Or better still, do something and don't involve me. Leave me be on my soapbox. But once in a while, lemme know that you hear me. Thanks.

President-Elect Barrack Hussein Obama

So people, history has been made. And I was HERE for it. Words cannot express what I felt when the news came through. It is still unbelievable to me.

Of course, the slave states voted overwhelmingly to keep my boy out of the WHITE house but he still got in. The moment he was announced the winner, local stations in a town in Texas shut down all programs discussing the elections. Preventing people without cable or CNN from viewing Obama's speech, or anything else to do with the election. Blatant racism? Lets leave that to them to answer.

I can only be grateful that America made the right choice. Obama is smart, an intellect, who rose up from the ranks; struggled without privilege to go to the same schools that Bush and his cronies got into courtesy of Daddy's big check to the school's fund. He understands what families go through what the common person lies awake in bed worrying about. Unlike so many politicians these days he has not lost touch with the REAL America. Those who live day to day praying that they or their kids don't fall sick because they have no health insurance. Who don't care about high school because its not like they can afford college right? Those who have to pay the same tax percentage as people making millions more than they are. Someone who abhors war and realizes you earn foreign respect by listening to them and learning their cultures instead of reminding them "Grecians" that you are "american" and have bigger guns than they have. And claiming that Iraq is the "enemy" even though it was admitted long ago that the facts supporting their "war" were heavily falsified. Thank God that squeaky voiced disgrace to the true strong modern woman was let nowhere near the White House.

I know we should not think of him as the 2008 Messiah. As he so eloquently (and God I do mean ELOQUENTLY!!!) pointed out last night, he is only human and is subject to error like anyone else. But his integrity, I hope remains untarnished. Thankfully, he's got Michelle (WHAT A WOMAN!!) to keep him in line. I don't think anything could go to that babe's head!

January 2009 is the beginning of a new year and a completely new era in the history of America.Black people have a new lease on life and they no longer have ANY excuse for slacking off. Every barrier possible has been broken. I hope to see more black intellectuals stepping up to the plate. Tired of being in the damn minority!!!!

Oh Obama!

So now there's a book out there revealing Obama as a clandestine Muslim drug addict who sits through tirades about plans for a black coup d'etat and nods and takes notes.

Apparently, this guy is riding high on his successful undermining of John Kerry's presidential bid in 2004. Already his new book which has a mouthful of a name I don't care to keep in my head, is No 1! on the New York Times bestseller list. Isn't it kind of sad? Especially considering that a similar book written by the liberals on John McCain didn't even hit anything much less a list. (and I don't think its because it was badly written). Oprah didn't even mention it. In addition, the author of this book is CONFIDENT of vast monetary sponsorship and endorsements.

Forget Obama for the moment. Yes I'm a die hard fan, and I am plotting to get rid of that cute wife of his (that space in his bed is MINE bitch!!). But lets take a step back. I'm black (DUH! right?) and I live in the south. So it is very disturbing that such an inflammatory book is actually SELLING. He has gotten tons of interviews and of course Fox News Network is lapping it all up. It is not about Obama anymore. Buying such a book and giving such a man the time of day says something about America. And its something I don't like to hear (or read....). For African women, I guess the female trumps the black dude, but for me its being black. I do not exaggerate when I tell you that in the little town where I live, there are places I wouldn't venture to once its dark. Not cuz I'm female, or because its not safe, but simply because I'm black.

Maybe I'm overreacting...........

"Obama Fatigue"?

There is a new development in the election front. People are getting tired of hearing about Obama. Is that possible? I mean, you finally have a BLACK man doing all the stuff only the old white folks and their prim and proper wives did. So yeah, I guess people got overexcited and talked him to death. I don't think he is being taken seriously as a candidate. He's become like a toy and people are using him like the token black guy they started allowing in movies and sitcoms. O look Obama made a fist bump. Hey Obama is off to Hawaii. I don't blame McCain for slyly comparing him to Hilton and Speares (or was it Lohan????.....who cares!!). The man has been relegated to the kind of celebrity reserved for finding pictures of Katie Holmes' new hair cut (which is really cute by the way).

I am a die hard Obama fan, but I have to admit, its been ages I last heard about his political views. His plans for the nation? Is this like a reverse ploy by the media. "Hey we don't want a black president, but we cant say that in public. What to do......Hey! I know! Lets exhaust the issue. Make a big deal out of everything he does until everyone's sick of him. Then when he's talking about serious issues no one will listen!" We all know how short an average American's attention span is.......

So what to do? Ask the media to back off? Advise Obama to stay under the radar? I couldn't say. I cant vote so this is just a spectator sport for me. I think ....no I KNOW black America needs a shining example. Its not right to make Obama the knight on the white horse, but right now he's the only educated black man black people might listen to. They've totally ostracized Cosby for telling them the truth (and I'm not very popular either to be honest....) and Jesse and Al just need to shut up. They're dummies with loud voices (empty barrels......).

There is hope for America after all!

I just watched a video about a school called Berea College. It is a small college in Kentucky that pays FULL tuition to ALL its students. It caters solely to low income families and is reputed to have been accepting women and blacks long before the 'Brown vs Board of Education' decision. They do it by combining the donations of alumni and generous donors. They also require that all the students in some work for the school. They however do not ask for more than 10 hours a week from the student (giving them ample time to study and PASS). They offer an adequate range of courses and they have all the popular pre-professional programs: pre-med, pre-law, pre-dent, pre-vet and even pre-eng which is not as commonly offered as the latter courses.

I think it is absolutely awesome what they are doing. I am not asking the Nigerians to, but any American reading this should make some sort of donation especially if you're BLACK.....or mexican (hey lets face it, what color are most of the low income families?). I definitely will! Why this school has not gotten more exposure I cannot fathom.

Jesse Jackson

I hope to add to this post when I'm not bogged down as I am right now, but for now this article voices what I plan to say with much meaner words (muhuhahaha)

Another One Bites the Dust

First, HAPPY JUNE 12!!! :)

I'm sure by now Nigerians the worlds over have heard the good news: Adedibu is dead. Another so called untouchable has succumbed to the ultimate power. For those of us old enough (ha ha) to remember 1999 when in this same month,....and around this same time...the seemingly unstoppable Abacha also went down. Oddly in the same way, they died. I mean they DIED. Adedibu the tyrant holding Ibadan ransom, the tout of touts and Abacha the dictator who magnanimously decided to allow a democratic election....then put only himself on the ballot. They went quietly on their beds. No bombs, no grassy knoll, no theater balcony (hey i loved those guys, just using these for effect :D). The Lord above smote them when he was good and ready. And in a way that reminds us all who the REAL boss is. When these things happen, I take such comfort. Its such a reminder (albeit a bit gruesome) that there IS a God. No matter what the people say. He IS there and he IS aware. No one is above him. This isnt a speech or a sermon. I'm too much of sinner to be the one doing that, but for the politicians in my home: Make una watch ur step! Baba God Eledumare wa no dey doze, him dey see o. So behave!

O and may i use this avenue to inform my people of my intention to run for president 2015...or maybe 2019 not sure yet. will let you know sha :D