S. Sudan church leader appeals to youth to be exemplary
By Isaac Vuni
February 22, 2009 (JUBA) — The Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Juba, Fr. Lawrence Kose, today appealed to youth of Southern Sudan to be exemplary to each other and to avoid politicians’ exploitations and embracing so-called “nigger” behaviors brought from foreign countries.
The term “nigger” is currently used to describe a section of Sudanese youth, which has adopted certain foreign modes of dress and behaviour, and is anecdotally associated with criminal activities.
Fr. Kose urges youth of South Sudan to totally discredit “nigger” behaviour now derailing the rule-of-law system particularly in major towns.
The middle-aged spiritual leader stated that those involved in deadly activities are mostly children of senior government officials who previously were studying either in Egypt or America and who now are terrorizing major cities of Southern Sudan particularly metropolitan Juba and Eastern Equatoria. He added that when the youths are apprehended by police on patrol duty, their elders rush to order their release.
Celebrating the 23rd anniversary of Youth in the Archdiocese, the vicar general advised youth to reject being politically manipulated especially during the coming national election scheduled for July this year. He went on to say youth are the leaders of today rather than just tomorrow; therefore they have the full right to elect capable people among themselves.
Otherwise, when it is time for war the politicians rush to the youth to fight despite that they are marginalized from positions when war is over, Kose noted. The positions are occupied by the politicians claiming that youth are still young to rule, he cautioned.
The elected chairman of the youth is Emmanuel Nason, the secretary general is William Kalisto, the secretary for information is Elizabeth Musa and the financial secretary is Simon Alesio.
In the current government of Southern Sudan, only one youth holds a ministerial level position, in Commerce and Industry.
(ST)
YihHon Alewei
S. Sudan church leader appeals to youth to be exemplary
Thanks to Fr. Kose for his concise advice to the youth and government in general. The point I wnat to comment on is the term “nigger”. Our youth are lacking knowledge about all these historical things! The term “nigger” can be traced back to the days of slavery whrere black people were used by white as their vehicles to work for them. The word “nigger” means black! If we black people especially youth have read something about slavery, I think, it would be very controversial to call yourself “nigger”. If you used the term “nigger” for fun but not for crimes, than it is ok but not for criminal gearing.
Fr. Kose have mentioned that those who are making problems are the sons of the top government officials! I think if those guys have really came abroad and study, I think, they would have known what the “rule of law” means in the foreign countries especially the western countries like USA. These people Fr. Kose talking about here might be wrong people who never study a signle class.
It is very good for a man of God to point out that young people are not very much included in the government. Young people are the backbone of the country, as Fr. Kose pointed out that youth are need when there is war. Being young doesn’t prevent anybody to enter politics. But politics in the South Sudan today are very complex to comprehend.
If government officials understand the comments, I think they will have some changes in sometime to come.
Thanks to Fr. Kose for his valuable comments.
Rebecca Nyandeng
S. Sudan church leader appeals to youth to be exemplary
Reverand Father you are absolutely right but there is something to recall as well. you clearly mentioned the kind of people and from which families they belong to.
These naked clan (Dinka) have just come to learn how to dress and they have taken it in their own ways.
There is nothing we can do nor the Government because they belong to that nasty tribe (Dinka) which is ruling our belove land ,unless their stupid parents are removed from power then we shall be able to observe good dressing code from the youth , their bogus parents support them in doing that’s why this culture still persist.
God bless South Sudan
Nyandeng
DAVID N.
S. Sudan church leader appeals to youth to be exemplary
Before Europeans form the border lines between South Sudan to Kenya, even from Congo and Uganda, there are several tribes from same families ended up in different countries, example of Obama’s tribe Luo has been ended by Portuguese slave raids by gun points and massive peoples of same tribes with other tribes ended into the West, Carribean, Latin America, Europe, and U.S.A., and there are some Americans trace their origins of Tribe of Luo as same as Obama’s tribe back into 1400-1500, before Omani Arabs entered into East Africa was already controled slave trade by Portuguese… which is Portuguese ships had Afro American decendants of South Sudanese slaves into USA.
The term is controlled by saying “nigga” means for Nigerians in American descendants simply means ‘brother’ and they are calling each other “Nigga” which means ‘down with Black Americans are the sons of South SUDAN.
So I congraturate them to say “Good Bye” and make separation from North by 2011…
Dr.Martin Luther King’s Dream was to proclaim liberty of American slaves of colour from Kenya to Nigeria, so included same all tribes of South Sudan whom deported through Portuguese slave raids from Fort Hesus, Kenya… “NIGGAS with Attitudes”
Edward Ladu Terso
S. Sudan church leader appeals to youth to be exemplary
Rev. Fr. Kose is raising valid points in his advice. As I understand, the advise is not only for the youth but it includes elders and the government. The youth should not be sought for only to fight wars. The same energy they use for fighting can also be used constructively to fight poverty, tribalism, nepotism, disease, ignorance, laziness, marginalization, oppression and exploitation through involvement in politics, employment and holding higher offices. AS the Rev. Father rightly puts it, the youth are not just leaders of tomorrow, otherwise, they would not have fought the war. The elders did not wait for them to grow into tomorrow in order to recruit the youth. The youth were recruited at once and they fought a good fight, with many having paid the ultimate sacrifice. Therefore, the youth are actually leaders of today.
Another point I would like to make is an advise. I would like to advise my brothers who are posting comments in this website where ever they are. I sincerely feel compassion and pain to see them using insulting and abusive language against each other. In the first place, it is immoral to be judgemental as the Holy Bible tells us. Sceondly, in the ethics of writing, it is not allowed for a writer to insult or use insulting and abusive language. Insults and abuse will not help us to develop or grow. It helps us to become terrible enemies.
If we agree with the Rev. Father that the youth are the leaders of today, then we should try to write like leaders. Let us write and post comments which can help us grow into God-fearing, prosperous and just nation of Southern Sudan. What I see in these posted comments is investment in hatred that will later errupt into violence. Are we not tired of violent conflicts? For the last fifty years we in Southern Sudan have not known peace. We thought it was the Arab. But it seems that we are the ones creating violent conflicts for ourselves.
Anyhow, since the people who post the comments are not seen, it is difficult to imagine how they look like or if at all they are really Southern Sudanese. I am saying this because, the same Arab could continue to widen the rift among ethnic groups in Southern Sudan so that hatred does not go away. Enemies of Southern Sudan could pose like Nuer insulting and provoking Dinka or vice versa.
May be the enemies of Southern Sudan want to see to it that communities and ehtnic groups in Southern Sudan are constantly in hatred, fighting and killing each other through the use of filthy language.
Therefore, if the people who are posting the dirty-worded comments are really Southern Sudanese, I beg them, I appeal to them and I even want to order them, in the name of God and in the name of our great nation, Southern Sudan, to stop this practice and start to write well and post good and helpful messages.
But if the people who are writing these comments are just disguising themselves as Southern Sudanese in order to sough seeds of discord that will lead to anger, fighting and killing of brothers by fellow brothers, I pray that they cease immediately. If they do not, I leave them to the venageance of God who knows what to do with evil and wicked-hearted people. May hell be their destiny here on earth for planning to destroy innocent children of God.
Nakedu Mura
S. Sudan church leader appeals to youth to be exemplary
fr.Lawrence,
i want to say thank you the wonderful advice. the ‘nigger behavior’ has really misled our youth.they misinterprete it be a civilized behavior but the reality is leading towards degradation of morality,criminality,and all sorts of social-misfitness. imagine,south sudanese youth portraying our society as ‘useless’ by engaging in rape of their own sister,chopping each other,harrassing their brothers and sisters,elders and robbing their parents on the streets. i agree that some of them are for the big people in GOSS and others are the frustrated and desperate lot.
have parents failed in their role to bring up the responsible childern for the society? something needs to be done!