Since the return of my column about two months ago I have received lots of supportive emails from my readers. In the tradition of what I lik...
Since the return of my column about two months ago I have received lots of supportive emails from my readers. In the tradition of what I like to call discursive democracy, I have decided to reproduce a few these emails this week. I will publish the rest in subsequent weeks. I thank my readers for keeping faith with this column and for always taking the trouble to write.
You’re my motivation for reading Weekly Trust
I am particularly happy that your incisive column in the Weekly Trust is back. The disappearance of your column had left me with little to look forward to in the print media, especially during weekends. I must confess that your column is the main motivation for my patronizing Weekly Trust.
There is no better time for your return than now; with the American presidential election in the pipeline and the rise of a part African-American who has already made fundamental impacts on American and global political history.
I read your article and agree with your points. Truly we Obama supporters in Africa must come to terms with the fact that even if he wins (which is highly probable) the change he can bring as far as non-Americans are concerned will not likely be fundamental.
However, looking at the power of identity in life generally, we may have some relief, even if only a psychological one, from the hawks in American politics. I mean all these 'war on terror', 'death to America', African inferiority, and many other complex, identity-related crisis can be diffused by the psychological feeling of 'yeah-its-my-brother-on-the-driver's-seat’ mentality. So, you are most welcome back.
Secondly, as a university lecturer and an interested contributor, I will want more details on your journal, the Atlanta Review of Journalism History. Thank you.
Abdullahi S. Bashir (abdubappa@yahoo.com)
Department of Information Management Technology,
Federal University of Technology, Yola,
Adamawa State.
Response
To learn about the Atlanta Review of Journalism History and the latest call for papers, go to http://www.gsucime.org/
Thank God you’re back
Your writing is one of my favourites in the Weekly Trust. I missed your column for months. I thank God you are now back. Keep it up!
Umar Gwadabe (gwadabeub@yahoo.co.uk)
No 217, Dandago Qtrs. PMB 618, Kano State.
Back with a bang
I must welcome you back from a long sojourn. We really missed your column, but understand you were swamped by an array of academic work in Atlanta. We wish you the best of luck. Frankly, it gladdens my heart that you are back with a bang...the Obama issue is of much interest to the black race. I do hope he secures the ticket of his party and triumphs in the November polls.
We wish you more fruitful years ahead to read your pieces.
Barrister Danlami Alhaji Wushishi (danwushishi@yahoo.com).
Minna
I write to greet you and to welcome back your wonderful column. All I can say is May Allah be with you and guide you.
Nura Gwanda (nuragwanda1981@yahoo.com)
Obama-Clinton ticket: You got your facts wrong
You article titled above was very good. However, I wish to draw your attention to what I consider an error. It is not correct, as you asserted, that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was 'an early opponent of an Obama-Clinton ticket.' The correct position is that Nancy (who is chair of the Denver Convention planning committee) actually thinks the ticket is a good idea. She told CNN's 'Late Edition' in April that such a ticket 'is unbeatable'. I will be glad if you can refer me to any comment she made to the contrary.
By the way, I completely agree with you that the costs of a Clinton vice presidency outweigh its benefits.
Sa'ad (sukayel@yahoo.com)
Response
Thanks for writing. I have my facts right. Check out this link to confirm that Pelosi has always been opposed to an Obama-Clinton ticket: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24310804/ Or you can simply Google "Nancy Pelosi + Clinton-Obama ticket."
Obama will not win
I can see that you are very passionate about Obama, but for me I have not seen any difference between Obama, Clinton and McCain in terms of impacting positively on the development of Africa and Nigeria in particular. And even though I am not on ground to feel the pulse of Obama's surge, I am not certain if he will eventually emerge as the president of the US in November, because of so many factors ranging from race, experience, Jewish connection and a lot more. Anyway we shall wait and see.
Abdul-Rauf Musa (raufmusa@gmail.com)
Hope you won’t stop again
I just finished reading your column on Obama. Honestly I have the same fear about an Obama presidency as you concluded in your article. In as much I love Obama to win the nomination and presidency I still somehow feel that a Clinton-Obama ticket will bring in the change for a more humane American government than an Obama presidency because of the reasons you mentioned in your article. Well, our prayer is that God almighty will give us the one that will spread less evil in the world. Thank you for your change of mind to write for us again after all the persuasion. It is nice of you. Your readers (including yours sincerely) really miss your writings. I only hope you won’t stop again!
Shehu Mohammed (shehuolaitan@yahoo.com)
Fantastic sign tune
Your piece on Obama is interesting reading. I look forward to the concluding parts. And what a fantastic sign tune on your return to your weekly column. As it’s been ages since we last communicated, remember, nevertheless, that you are fondly thought of. My very best wishes, brother. Keep it up. We are proud of you.
Mohammed Rabiu Ibrahim (irabiuibrahim@yahoo.com)
Would’ve stopped buying Weekly Trust
I am truly excited and elated that you have resumed your column this week. What a coincidence! I had openly decided to stop buying Weekly Trust as from this Saturday. It was when I bought Daily Trust that I realized how much I missed your column, and that I am more interested in learning from reading the masters than getting the news.
I sent a letter to the editor pleading for the return of your column through weeklytrust@gmail.com, and I copied it to Abdulkareem Baba Aminu (babaminu@yahoo.com).No delivery failure. But it was not published. You may wish to "upbraid" the IT people at Media Trust, though they boast of a new-look website.
Why should we be enthusiastic about Obama?
Your caution that we should not expect too much from Obama in terms of fundamental policy changes, especially in American Middle East policy, was prophetic. In fact, you said Obama, out of “exaggerated patriotism”, may be more hawkish than previous American presidents in his dealings with the Middle East. A few weeks after your article, Obama told a Jewish gathering that he wants Jerusalem to be the undivided capital of Israel! I couldn’t help recalling what you wrote. If Obama will be a worse president than previous American presidents, why should we be enthusiastic about him simply because he is part African? Or am I already suffering from what you called “crisis of rising expectations” even before Obama has a chance to be president?
Sabi’u Umar (sabimoru@yahoo.com)
Kano.
Your article gave me hope
It gladdened my heart when I read your article ''Other Obama's in Black America (II)” in the Weekly Trust of 28th June, 2008.
It shows that someone like me who is an unemployed graduate is feeling what black Americans felt prior to the kind of sacrifice made by people of substance in America such as Martin Luther King, among others. I got a signal of hope from you through your article. Before any change in our country, Nigeria, there must be sacrifice. I gained a lot from you and I wouldn't mind more of your wisdom, sir.
Biliaminu Ayokunle Balogun (ayusbalooo@yahoo.com)
You’re my motivation for reading Weekly Trust
I am particularly happy that your incisive column in the Weekly Trust is back. The disappearance of your column had left me with little to look forward to in the print media, especially during weekends. I must confess that your column is the main motivation for my patronizing Weekly Trust.
There is no better time for your return than now; with the American presidential election in the pipeline and the rise of a part African-American who has already made fundamental impacts on American and global political history.
I read your article and agree with your points. Truly we Obama supporters in Africa must come to terms with the fact that even if he wins (which is highly probable) the change he can bring as far as non-Americans are concerned will not likely be fundamental.
However, looking at the power of identity in life generally, we may have some relief, even if only a psychological one, from the hawks in American politics. I mean all these 'war on terror', 'death to America', African inferiority, and many other complex, identity-related crisis can be diffused by the psychological feeling of 'yeah-its-my-brother-on-the-driver's-seat’ mentality. So, you are most welcome back.
Secondly, as a university lecturer and an interested contributor, I will want more details on your journal, the Atlanta Review of Journalism History. Thank you.
Abdullahi S. Bashir (abdubappa@yahoo.com)
Department of Information Management Technology,
Federal University of Technology, Yola,
Adamawa State.
Response
To learn about the Atlanta Review of Journalism History and the latest call for papers, go to http://www.gsucime.org/
Thank God you’re back
Your writing is one of my favourites in the Weekly Trust. I missed your column for months. I thank God you are now back. Keep it up!
Umar Gwadabe (gwadabeub@yahoo.co.uk)
No 217, Dandago Qtrs. PMB 618, Kano State.
Back with a bang
I must welcome you back from a long sojourn. We really missed your column, but understand you were swamped by an array of academic work in Atlanta. We wish you the best of luck. Frankly, it gladdens my heart that you are back with a bang...the Obama issue is of much interest to the black race. I do hope he secures the ticket of his party and triumphs in the November polls.
We wish you more fruitful years ahead to read your pieces.
Barrister Danlami Alhaji Wushishi (danwushishi@yahoo.com).
Minna
I write to greet you and to welcome back your wonderful column. All I can say is May Allah be with you and guide you.
Nura Gwanda (nuragwanda1981@yahoo.com)
Obama-Clinton ticket: You got your facts wrong
You article titled above was very good. However, I wish to draw your attention to what I consider an error. It is not correct, as you asserted, that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was 'an early opponent of an Obama-Clinton ticket.' The correct position is that Nancy (who is chair of the Denver Convention planning committee) actually thinks the ticket is a good idea. She told CNN's 'Late Edition' in April that such a ticket 'is unbeatable'. I will be glad if you can refer me to any comment she made to the contrary.
By the way, I completely agree with you that the costs of a Clinton vice presidency outweigh its benefits.
Sa'ad (sukayel@yahoo.com)
Response
Thanks for writing. I have my facts right. Check out this link to confirm that Pelosi has always been opposed to an Obama-Clinton ticket: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24310804/ Or you can simply Google "Nancy Pelosi + Clinton-Obama ticket."
Obama will not win
I can see that you are very passionate about Obama, but for me I have not seen any difference between Obama, Clinton and McCain in terms of impacting positively on the development of Africa and Nigeria in particular. And even though I am not on ground to feel the pulse of Obama's surge, I am not certain if he will eventually emerge as the president of the US in November, because of so many factors ranging from race, experience, Jewish connection and a lot more. Anyway we shall wait and see.
Abdul-Rauf Musa (raufmusa@gmail.com)
Hope you won’t stop again
I just finished reading your column on Obama. Honestly I have the same fear about an Obama presidency as you concluded in your article. In as much I love Obama to win the nomination and presidency I still somehow feel that a Clinton-Obama ticket will bring in the change for a more humane American government than an Obama presidency because of the reasons you mentioned in your article. Well, our prayer is that God almighty will give us the one that will spread less evil in the world. Thank you for your change of mind to write for us again after all the persuasion. It is nice of you. Your readers (including yours sincerely) really miss your writings. I only hope you won’t stop again!
Shehu Mohammed (shehuolaitan@yahoo.com)
Fantastic sign tune
Your piece on Obama is interesting reading. I look forward to the concluding parts. And what a fantastic sign tune on your return to your weekly column. As it’s been ages since we last communicated, remember, nevertheless, that you are fondly thought of. My very best wishes, brother. Keep it up. We are proud of you.
Mohammed Rabiu Ibrahim (irabiuibrahim@yahoo.com)
Would’ve stopped buying Weekly Trust
I am truly excited and elated that you have resumed your column this week. What a coincidence! I had openly decided to stop buying Weekly Trust as from this Saturday. It was when I bought Daily Trust that I realized how much I missed your column, and that I am more interested in learning from reading the masters than getting the news.
I sent a letter to the editor pleading for the return of your column through weeklytrust@gmail.com, and I copied it to Abdulkareem Baba Aminu (babaminu@yahoo.com).No delivery failure. But it was not published. You may wish to "upbraid" the IT people at Media Trust, though they boast of a new-look website.
Why should we be enthusiastic about Obama?
Your caution that we should not expect too much from Obama in terms of fundamental policy changes, especially in American Middle East policy, was prophetic. In fact, you said Obama, out of “exaggerated patriotism”, may be more hawkish than previous American presidents in his dealings with the Middle East. A few weeks after your article, Obama told a Jewish gathering that he wants Jerusalem to be the undivided capital of Israel! I couldn’t help recalling what you wrote. If Obama will be a worse president than previous American presidents, why should we be enthusiastic about him simply because he is part African? Or am I already suffering from what you called “crisis of rising expectations” even before Obama has a chance to be president?
Sabi’u Umar (sabimoru@yahoo.com)
Kano.
Your article gave me hope
It gladdened my heart when I read your article ''Other Obama's in Black America (II)” in the Weekly Trust of 28th June, 2008.
It shows that someone like me who is an unemployed graduate is feeling what black Americans felt prior to the kind of sacrifice made by people of substance in America such as Martin Luther King, among others. I got a signal of hope from you through your article. Before any change in our country, Nigeria, there must be sacrifice. I gained a lot from you and I wouldn't mind more of your wisdom, sir.
Biliaminu Ayokunle Balogun (ayusbalooo@yahoo.com)
No comments
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