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UNDERSTANDING: THE KEY TO MANAGING DIVERSITY
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Taking a class in diversity management has helped clear my afore ignorance on the subject matter. There is no feeling as soothing as knowing what you never used to know, and seeing that what you now know will help you know what you are yet to know. I always saw issues of diversity as bordering on race and ethnicity, concerns for which the world is greatly suffering because it still is awed by the complexities of the multiplicity of mankind (ha ha ha....crack that). Also another error of thought was that diversity was a discussion whose endpoint is oneness and also a mechanism through which equality of outcome is guaranteed. Far from that. The discourse of diversity seems to have slipped through the hands of those that will constrict its meaning and append narrow definitions to a concept that in itself defies a single explanation. Diversity is as diverse at it sounds and it seeks to divert our attention to something a bit more colourful than the usual straight-jacketed issues of race and ethnicity and the preaching of equality by the year 20??.

I am not writing paper. I felt the urgent need to state this, because I am already preset by default in that mode as a student and I sense that what I have written above is almost passing for an assignment paper on the diversity topic. But what I am trying to communicate here is some of my meditation on how beautiful diversity becomes when we understand it for it's true meaning. In fact, the understanding and ability to manage diversity becomes the most powerful tool anyone can posses in the century we are living in. There is not one thing that is the same, yea not even a xerox copy. I thought to myself how I would feel if I couldn't uniquely identify anything, if everyone were the same, if situations were all similar, and Life going through a wicked cycle of repetitions? 'Boring' falls heavily short of describing how the world will be. But thankfully, we have diversity injected into every facet of life not to separate us, but make us interdependent and harmonize our living.

In my meditations about the matter, I wondered what music would be formed if there existed only one note. What artistic works would be done if there existed one colour? What great speeches would be made if there existed one sound pitch? What great dramatic performances could be made if there was only one character? What great love can be shown if there existed one person? Therefore the world becomes melodious, artistic, colourful, dramatic, and loving when diversity is appreciated and understood. Diversity is rooted in the beauty of difference and the managing of the same. Those who live a fulfilled life are those who can recognize the beauty in the difference all around them and harness each part to make a whole new life.

This is what I am coming to learn. People are different and will never all be the same. Skin colours are different, speeches are different, languages are different, philosophies and values are different, clothing is different, writing is different, there are differences in food, abilities are different, and capacities are different. Are all this to regroup us and create iron boundaries between us? No!!! Rather, they are the several strokes of a masters hand, as he hits the canvass creatively to reveal a beautiful big picture. No great picture is mono-coloured, it is the sweet apportionment of a little here and a little there, that unravels something that all eyes love to behold. Everyone and everything around us plays an active role in forming a greater union that benefits all. This I now see to be diversity. It seeks not to make everything or everyone the same, but it seeks to confirm our difference and help us love it and live with it.

Therefore how can I sheath my evil sword of separation and take on the plowshares of cultivating acceptance. It is by a virtue called Understanding. Understanding is standing under to...(fill in the blanks). Standing under seems to say something about support. Understanding seeks always to support what is not like you so it can be good for you. Understanding also sounds like 'another's standing'. Which again means that understanding will always bring you to where you stand in the place of another to feel what they feel, see what they see, hear what they hear, and understand what they understand. Understanding also sounds to me like the opposite of 'over-standing', because while the latter tries to overrate and overstate ones self, the former tries to downplay ones position to bring out the best in the other. Believe me, understanding is the most effective tool in managing diversity.

So if you ever find yourself in a position of fainting because of the differences you see all around, remember these exist to enhance your life and not to cut it short. Then take on the virtue of understanding, as it is the prism through which the varieties of life will shine through to you, and you will see the awesome beauty and embellishments your living will be decorated with. Trust me, I tried it and guess what? IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!

October 27, 2008 | 9:59 AM Comments  0 comments

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THE POWER OF AFRICAN PROVERBS
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I have sat through merciless lectures on philosophies, concepts, paradigms and have tried to unravel the zeitgeist of European or Western minds, all to still be wanting in the basic understanding of my own people and their customs. The ideas we spend time studying back in school and even today, subtly, in the books we read, are all like one taking a medication to treat another man's headache. Whereas we have our own medication in the ideologies of our traditional proverbs, we have abandoned them and now look like orphans in global circles. So we have set off to scavenge on foreign convictions to treat our local predicament. If my friends can not do the eating to assuage my own hunger, because only me can feel the grumblings of my stomach, how then do we assume that we can build our houses on other people's foundations?

The internal configurations of any given society is determined by its history, culture, and geography. Thus to understand such people, you must necessarily look through these stated factors. So also is the process of identifying what raw materials must be employed in building the foundations for a sound society devoid of contradictions that clog the wheels of progress. Of course one should be wary of the quality of materials used in constructing a lasting national identity, because foundations matter, and this is what I believe we must have a rethink on the way we have built our so far.

There is nothing wrong with looking outside to understand inside, but there is no truth higher than the fact that powdering your face does not stop bad breath. Some issues that belie personal worth are self discovered and self propagated. Thus, in articulating a system that works for our people and ensuring that we engineer a proper mechanism for assimilating genuine values in our present and coming generations, we must be bold to collate and document the wise sayings of our people. We must build the conceptual framework of progress in every facet of our community: governance, relationships, education, family, etc. on these invaluable philosophies which have been captured by the sages in our history. I am of the opinion that the minutiae of our value system should be founded upon laid these laid down conceptions like the Indians, Chinese, Greeks, and Arabians have all done.

In not belabouring the matter, but leaving it to the simple judgements of the reader, I will henceforth in subsequent notes simply try to highlight some of the very sound and cross cutting African proverbs that I have come across in recent times. I have meditated on a bunch of them and found lots of truth therein. So I share one here that is of Zulu origin:

'IN COPYING EVERYONE ELSE ALL THE TIME, THE MONKEY ONE DAY CUT HIS THROAT'

This proverb may evoke jocular responses and discussions, but there is no overstating the fundamentals of this statement. I actually saw a young man who was so enamoured by the life of a renowned expert to the point that he followed closely on the habits of the man. Unknowingly to him, his capacity to manage such high level scheduling was limited and he only realized, after experiencing a breakdown, that he ought to have first dealt with the details of hard work before launching into the dangerous waters of an active work life. This, as evident on this individual platform, is very obvious at the State level. Nations have sought to implement the successful ideologies of other nations to their own detriment. Those nations, like the Monkey forgot that others had a throat of steel which could not be cut or broken, thus committing suicide by attempting to ape others.

I give a classic example in many African nations of the sweet but noxious waters of Capitalism. While Adam Smith's idea has arguably created a good life for many Western nations, the rush to adopt this system in many African countries has created the extremities of wealth and poverty. While capitalism itself is not an evil harbinger, those courting its provisions must be sure that internally, such structures that ensure its success are well entrenched. This Zulu proverb therefore guides our thinking in knowing the frequency of adapting foreign ideas to our local needs.

As I am writing this note, I am sitting here in conference room four in the UN building at New York and listening to representatives of countries adopt a common policy on the prevention, combat, and eradication of illicit trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. Iran is proving a tough negotiator by delaying the consensus and this is evoking responses of rationality from some States for Iran to see reason. Suddenly my boss, representing the Nigeria and the Africa group takes the floor and suavely declares to all: "My people say that goat meat is sweet but takes long to roast. So while we are roasting it, what will the children eat?" In a powerful swing of events, that statement swayed the entirety of the delegates to sing in one voice against Iran. After the meeting so many throng his seat to express the love for his wise sayings, and frantically adjusting his 'parachute' (babariga or agbada), he struggles to shake all the hands being stretched towards him, while keeping a line of African delegates waiting to discuss further.

Please don't tell me African proverbs are obsolete or shallow, for with it I am carving a path to a fresh understanding of the world around me, and I am so determined to inspire those around me to "look to the rock from whence we were hewn." In the words of a Ghanaian proverb: "se wo were firi na wo san kofa a yenchi", which literally means "it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot", I am going back to my roots to seek the basket of wisdom God has so heavily endowed us with. For so my uniqueness and true contribution to a new and meaningful living will begin.

July 19, 2008 | 10:08 AM Comments  0 comments

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RETHINKING EVERYTHING
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Have you ever wondered about how everything you know emanated? Or have you ever pondered upon the real truth on what you presently know about the issues of life? Fret not! You aren't alone on this. I can authoritatively tell you that most people at some point of their life question everything they know to see if they are firmly rooted on true principles worth believing, or they should carve out a new path for themselves. From our teenage years we begin a silent rebellion to the knowledge and rules that we grew up with, and some of us alter our path into dangerous territories that leave us with bad scars. Some of us successfully sieve through the muddy issues of what values we should accept as truth and which we should reject, while most of us only discover the truth after being battered by the faulty choices we made in our quest for real answers.

One truth I have come to see is that everything in life has an origin. What you presently believe about anything, has its origin somewhere, either in one man's idea, or a collective agreement by some gathering. Let me give an example. In northern Nigeria, when men want to urinate, they stoop down to do this. And I asked myself why? And researched and found out that it is a practice with Desert Nomads, who for the sake of heavy desert winds have to stoop to prevent splashes. It became a practice embedded in culture and even religion because of the conversion of these tribe into Muslims, and with their territorial expansion and overarching influence everywhere you have Muslims now, it is the common practice. There the question is would a northerner be abnormal if he stands to pee? When these men visit where you only have toilet bowls, how would they do their thing?

Another example is this. In the Christian religion, we have always known that it is a sin to drink alcohol or should I say it is perceived as unacceptable to take in alcohol. Are there no benefits in the substance called alcohol? With science showing benefits to this substance shouldn't we be concerned with what level is beneficial and what level is dangerous? We know that even water when taken in excess has its side effects is this also similar in alcohol? Hmmm.... so how did we come about the Church banning the taking in of any form of alcohol? I once went for the burial ceremony of a friends dad on an empty stomach due to the early time of the day the occasion was slated. I was glad to partake of the communion that day and joyfully walked down the aisle to receive a portion of Christ's body and blood. The problem came a few minutes later when after drinking the blood. My eyes began an unusual random motion and I felt as though I had suddenly become taller or the ground had move further from me. Of course the communion wine was very alcoholic and my empty stomach did not receive it well. Did I come out of Church a sinner?

I was once invited for a private 10 man birthday lunch. The celebrants husband had just returned from pilgrimage to Jerusalem and brought one of the finest wines of Palestine, which has a history back to the time of Jesus. A little taste of that wine and I knew that one full glass can magically titillate ones senses. But somehow over the years, we have been passed down the concept that it is sinful to even put your tongue to it. Is this very true? Are we really walking in the truth with all the church traditions we know of? So much for Church.... you figure out the rest.

Today we have also grown up to know democracy as the most effective form of governance, because it gives more power to the people. But is this true? Does it really apply to a system of multi-ethnic people who are all scrambling for recognition and self-interest? Is democracy native to us as a people or is it a borrowed ideology from another society? Don't we think we need a rethink on what leadership and governance is all about? What about money? Should we work for money? Should we strive to make all the money we can because we want to help other people?

What of education? Is University degree or any education at all a necessary condition for success in life? Should everyone go to a secondary school or university? Do we have to study the thing we do in our tertiary institutions? Questions and questions and questions? I cannot exhaust them all. But I tell you, if you try to seek the answer to these questions you may have a conclusion that defies your current belief system. I challenge you to embark on a journey of seeking answers for yourself.

I will deceive myself if I say I can capture the entirety of my thoughts in this little piece. I am already experiencing a bloc in this write-up because some other things I want to mention are pretty controversial. But I however want to stimulate your thought process to begin to answer for yourself the questions that others have seemed to answer for you. I am in the process of rethinking everything in my life to find true value in all my engagements. I cannot continue on the road whose origin is unknown to me, neither is the destination in my mental articulation. Within me I cannot afford to ignore the gently throbs for the truth on all that lies on my path.

My name is Reginald, and I am rethinking all things.

July 9, 2008 | 2:03 AM Comments  0 comments

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I AM THE IRON MAN
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

May 2nd changed something about me and I will never remain the same again. I found a new personality type and I think I want to stay this way for the rest of my life. I have always wanted to be this person but somehow I felt out of touch with its reality or actuality. I crafted severally in my mind what it will take me to become this person I so secretly adored but I just didn't know what was the object of my affection. All I knew was that the day I see it I will know it.

I knew it at the end of the movie on the 2nd of May. Although Jon Favreau did not succeed to overthrow the creativity of Michael Bay in the Transformers, he however gave me a personality I could relate to and this has pitched him far in my ratings as a dream giver. I came out of the theatre that night trying out some of the stunts I had just seen. The last time I did that I probably was in elementary school. I have been fantasizing flying through the streets of New York with light speed and shiny eyes, and reaching impossible heights, as well as zooming the the mountains of Afghanistan and rendering Al-Qaeda useless.

I haven't stopped dreaming yet. In fact this morning, I saw myself zoom into Sudan and break the backs of the insurgents, then zap to Harare and whisk Mugabe away, then land on the Gaza strip and declare peace or else...... From there I saw myself in Iraq spitting fire from my palms on the insurgents and restoring peace in the country, then appearing in Tibet and breaking the bonds of the Chinese and giving hope to an oppressed people. Then I quickly took of my steel coat to get into the subway before I attract unnecessary attention.

As soon as I alighted from the cluttered machine, I swooshed back into my new self and took off for Congo and then to Ethiopia and dealt with the war there. finally I came over to New Orleans and with one sweep restored the lives of the people, then proceeded to Arkansas and Tennessee and made things well again. Just before 9am, I return to 135 East 22nd Street, Manhattan and came out of my new me and resumed life as it sure is. Wow!! what a fulfilling day already. I have done what I always wanted to do and i am glad for this.

Wont it be so great to know I can do anything I wish to do because I am now my dream person?? On behalf of all dreamers i would like to thank Tony Stark for your invention and creativity. You have given dreamers one more reason to dream. Dreams do not die, they make the world go round and it's a dreamers world. However I have asked myself if I want to be Tony Stark...hmmmmm...I don't think so!! Therefore please you keep the Stark and gimme the Spark...the spark of your armour.

Oops...was I dreaming?? WHAT!!!! So it was a dream...no Iron Armour?? I am sad?? I want to sleep again!!!

ALL DREAMERS PLEASE KEEP DREAMING AND ONE DAY WE'LL RULE OUR WORLD.

July 6, 2008 | 10:34 AM Comments  1 comments

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MY GRUDGE WITH ANDERSON COOPER OF CNN
Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I waited with patience for the new production of Planet in Peril by Anderson Cooper, which I think is a brilliant effort by the reporter to bring the realities of issues about the planet to the uninformed world. I must commend the likes of Cooper and Christine Amanpour for leaving the sweet suits and cozy offices and reaching out to the epicentres of global concerns and bringing jaded facts to the fore to engender public discussions. This is what I believe modern journalism should emphasize rather than the shallow concepts of personality clashes and celebrity buffoonisms which seem to attenuate instead of educate our curious minds.

Commendable also must be the recent trip of Anderson to parts of Africa to have a look at some specie of Gorillas and animal viruses particularly how they transport from these animals to human and eventually become global epidemics such as HIV. After watching this report I must conclude that I am very troubled by the reports made. Mr. Anderson and friends have joined the discordant voices of those who now claim HIV came from the jungles of Cameroon, particularly from Chimpanzees which are hunted and eaten. Their theory goes that the HIV virus passed from one of these monkeys to a certain hunter by blood contact. The virus they believe lingered for a while in Africa and eventally with the improvement of transportation modes, it got spread to other countries.

PATHETIC!!!!

I must state very clearly here Mr. Coorper that your report is heavily lopsided and biased. And I am more appalled that the famous Dr. Sanjay Gupta who was in your company could not inform you better from a medical research perspective. I am too sure your intentions were dear, but your directions were tear. The same researchers had told us before that HIV came from monkeys in the Congo region, now it has moved to Cameroon, it may as well land in the Eastern jungles of Nigeria very soon. Oh please! Cooper, settle down before you mire your impeccable career with a forged report to create more disregard for a continent already bruised by the Western negatives.

I will advise you to research exhaustively before you embark on your quest for truth. The first appearance of HIV was in a gay population in Los Angeles and again in San Francisco and was also known as the gay disease. The theory you are now swallowing is called the Cut-Hunter Theory. There are several other more scientifically proven theories about the origin of the disease and I suggest you check them out first. You can read a book called The River by Ed Hooper, a former BBC reporter like yourself who resigned and went into full research on the origin of the disease. The book is over 900 pages of research work done. Dr. Leonard Horowitz is another man you can refer to as well as Robert Gallo, the American HIV/AIDS guru.

I am sick and tired of people using Africa as an experiment and brutalizing our image internationally. Imagine your fans asking you to make sure you take shots to prevent you from catching a disease because you are going to the forest of Africa. This is unacceptable and we Africans demand that you retrace your steps and focus on issues that you can make objective proofs on and stop hunching about Africa. When Oral Polio Vaccines and Hepatitis B vaccines were being cultured on Chimpanzee Kidneys in the 1960s in Central Africa, didn't they realize that zoonosis (transfer of disease from animals to humans) was a possibility? It has become very obvious that these diseases have come as a result of dangerous experiments Westerners have carried out using Africans as scapegoats.

We Africans must begin to invest in medical research. Let us lure some of our brains that are contributing elsewhere, bring them home and pay them well to invest their time and minds to solve Africa's health problems. Let us also celebrate out traditional medicines as the Chinese, Japanese, and the Indians have done. Let's stop swallowing every lying statistics that are shoved down our throats from western research and begin to carry out objective studies on our peculiarities so we can take charge of our future and ensure the freedom of our children. I expect you reading this note to get informed on lot of things about your continent and refuse any suggestions of neo-imperialistic tendencies that so beclouds our perception of issues.

Thank you Anderson Cooper for your good work, but no thanks for your biased report on HIV.

July 6, 2008 | 10:16 AM Comments  0 comments

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