CAVOLFIORI....CAULIFLOWER ..AS A MEASURE

The Nigerian independence anniversary came and went ‘as usual’. This year I promised myself to add more dose to my ‘patriotism pack’, so I made sure I wasn’t at any Refugee identification camp therefore I travelled up Rome to stay near home and feast with my Muslim friends at Ramadan as we wait for the independence, a day after. I was also to attend the ‘STOP RAZZISMO’ demonstration in Rome city on the 4th October, so you can see I had all good reasons to pray not to be called up for any job far from the Eternal city - SPQR- for a week, not minding I needed the money than ever.

The independence was very much on my mind because of the increase dose of patriotism which I am trying out once more, therefore we planned to meet with some of the Nigerian kids that spent two weeks holiday with us in August; I continued with this mini project while some of my colleagues waited for the ‘usual’ annual invitation from the Embassy, ( I know how KINGDOMS function) so I cared less, however, I won the bet with my theories on Kingdoms. They got no invitations this year!!!; Some felt bad because they do not know how Kingdoms function. In my next post I will say more of what I have learnt from the italo_naija lots of this old but new KINGDOM in Rome.

As I drove to a shopping complex on the 30th September ,my new dose of patriotism was somehow pricked by some scene that I never imagined in Italy. Italy where I have seen more that 15.000 Nigerian prostitutes (hustlers they call themselves),where all known and unknown deviant cults in Nigeria are having growing proselytes, Italy with more Nigerian Pentecostal churches than in Nigeria herself, Italy that ever male Nigerian is regarded as a liar, ‘pusher’, trickster or a potential ‘underground junior Mafioso’; Italy also where the Nigeria community is regarded as the most schooled ; a paradox.

We may be everything and can be expected to be getting to other levels but I never had the bad sensation I had when I saw a group of Nigerians (young, handsome, healthy) boys calling on cars at the parking lot of that mall the way some “ALAYE BOYS” do in Lagos. They beckoned on me with the typical vulgar Nigerian hiss you only hear in Lagos, (the sort some old Fulanis use to recall errant cattle to the flock) with fake accompanying bowings and genuflections still typical of what you see among Eko ruffians and in some other regions of Nigeria. All these for an exchange of some coins or to return your trolley for the coin inside it. This was not a bad thing per se compared to other comportments of Nigerians here , I just couldn’t contain the exportation of this way of life which I suppose we can do without here. I was particularly angered because they were very nice looking youths …Nigerian future and hope…?

They woke me up from my sleep, infringed my dream and the little dose of patriotism I was administering to my ‘patriotism pack’ throughout this period.

They rushed on me and the following conversation ensued :
Boy Ciao
Me . how no?
Boy. You speak English?
Boy. You be Naija?
Me . before nko?
Boy . haaa omo naija miiii
Me you?
Boy. I be Yoruba
Boy I be igbo
Boy I be edo
Boy I be urobo
Boy I be edo
Me, OK ,me I be igbo.. Enugu state ..wawa man.
Boys laughs…. hahaha
Boy . I think don see you before . You be police ?
Me. Nooooo.
Boy. But I saw you working with the immigration police at the station?
Boy. Even me I remember I don see you the time they rescue us from water from Libya come Italy for Sicilian sea side You enter military vehicle that day.
Me. Yes na me . Every person wey dey work with police no be police. Police dey under ministry of Internal affair and no be only them dey there, and other international agencies handle refugee matters.
Boys. Ok bros we for say oooo!! Haa police people no be good people oo.
Me. But na them rescue you guys .
Boys. That one be true sha

A lot of their problems were discussed before I went to do my shopping. They were seven but two never cared to come close , they were busy hawking or begging for money which they exchanged with stockings, napkins etc.
When I came out two gently came to help me with my bags. One of them saw in the bag some cavolfiori ..(cauliflower). And this sparked another discussion on cross-cultural nutrition /food .
Boy. Ahh Oga you dey chop this thing?
Me . yes my brother you no like am?
Boy. Noooo. God no gree. That thing sabi smell oo. I no go even enter house wey them cook am.
Me. Na the same story. I had the same story when I came newly., now I even pay to eat it in the restaurant .
Boy. You mean you use your sweated money to order and eat this?
Me . yes. no be the same as to come buy am here and cook.
Boy. Bros na him be se you don stay too much for this oyinbo country , you don become one of them oo, no go home remain youooo.

Sincerely I couldn’t contain my laughter. I gave them my card and some addresses for assistance and left.
Meeting these 5 Nigerian (Libyan boys- name for those entering through the desert and sea) really deflected and altered my dreams of Nigeria and that my new dose of patriotism, but I must admit it was fun talking with them. Nigerians can be fun and sincere in telling you their mind if you are able to relax them quick in a communication.
Lets continue the dream.

Autobus per soli italiani

La missione punitiva è avvenuta venerdì a Varese
Marocchina 16enne picchiata da gruppo: «Si è seduta su bus in posto di italiani»
Secondo gli investigatori si tratta di un episodio di bullismo tra adolescenti e non di razzismo
VARESE - Il nome di Rosa Parks vi dice qualcosa? In Italia forse no, ma negli Stati Uniti tutti sanno chi era. Il 1° dicembre 1955 l'afro-americana Rosa Parks si rifiutò di alzarsi da un posto «riservato ai bianchi» su un autobus di Montgomery (Alabama). Fu la scintilla che diede il via alle manifestazioni antirazziste guidate da Martin Luther King. Ebbene, un episodio simile è avvenuto venerdì scorso (ma si è saputo solo domenica) a Varese, anche se per gli investigatori non ha una connotazione razzista.
POSTO NON SUO - Una ragazza marocchina di 16 anni è stata picchiata in un raid da alcuni suoi coetanei, almeno sette. Il gruppo voleva «punirla» in quanto giovedì si era seduta su un autobus in un posto «non suo in quanto non italiana». L'episodio è stata denunciato dal padre della ragazza ai carabinieri, i quali hanno denunciato a piede libero con l'accusa di lesioni una delle presunte ragazze del gruppo, una 15enne che vive nel Varesotto. Al momento non vi è contestazione di aggravanti come le finalità di discriminazione razziale, perché in ambiente investigativo si tende a ritenere la violenza un episodio di bullismo fra adolescenti. La vittima, aggredita vicino alla stazione ferroviaria di Varese, è stata soccorsa dai volontari dei City Angels che operano nella zona ed è quindi stata portata al pronto soccorso per diverse contusioni. Il gruppo l'ha circondata per strada e pare che a picchiarla più pesantemente sia stata proprio una delle ragazze.
12 ottobre 2008
NO COMMENT

STOP RAZZISMO ROMA 4 OT 2008 by chukwubike

STOP RAZZISMO MANIFESTAZIONE A ROMA 04/10/2008

STOP RAZZISMO ROMA [ 04 OTT 2008]by chukbyke

GRUPPO MUSICALE MULTIETNICA

I HATE MY JOB.......

Thought this would put a smile on your face this monday morning

When you have an 'I Hate My Job day'
[Even if you're retired, you sometimes have those days]

Try this out On your way home from work, stop at your pharmacy and go to the thermometer section and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson

Be very sure you get this brand. When you get home, lock your doors, draw the curtains and disconnect the phone so you will not be disturbed.

Change into very comfortable clothing and sit in your favorite chair. Open the package and remove the thermometer. Now, carefully place it on a table or a surface so that it will not become chipped or broken.

Now the fun part begins.

Take out the literature from the box and read it carefully. You will notice that in small print there is a statement:
'Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson &Johnson is personally tested and then sanitized. '
Now, close your eyes and repeat out loud five times,'I am so glad I do not work in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson &Johnson.'

HAVE A NICE DAY; AND REMEMBER, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE ELSE WITH A JOB THAT IS MORE OF A PAIN IN THE ASS THAN YOURS!

.........Remember, if you haven't got a smile on your face and laughter in your heart...Then you are just an old sour fart; Maybe you should go and work for Johnson &Johnson!!!!!

BIGGER FISH TO FRY ON INDEPENDENCE

I think we should be trying to find ways to solve problems and not compound it. I am getting older and the older I get, the more I want real answers to some of the questions I have had since the 80s when I began to realize what was lacking in Nigerian towns.

I agree with the suggestion that we should talk about real issues facing our people. I think the biggest is lack of good medicine, the second is lack of infrastructure/technological advancement to compete in the global market place, and the third major one is the lack of love for other fellow Nigerians by those on top. If one really loves another as they love themselves, they will wish for that person to have what they have such as the good things in life. Jesus commanded us to do so. This is exclusive of tolerance for blatant sin or crime.

There are other problems but I will stay with the subject of medicine that I enjoy and because of my concern about health matters. I have heard of and seen several incidences that leave me wondering when a real solution is going to begin in medicine.

How do we begin to address the issues facing us and news we hear from home that are not always pleasant? Issues such as:
A relative died in a car crash. They said it was the work of witch craft. There was no ambulance to take her to the hospital. Why?
Another relative got involved in a car crash and broke his shoulder joint. They say it was the work of witch.

2 weeks ago, a nurse yanked off a new Born's arm from his shoulder during delivery, the mother thinks it is a broken scapula or shoulder blade, the husband is confused and thinks it could be both but they are both sure the arm is displaced from its socket. Up until now, 2 weeks later, in Lagos, the hospital has not called to checked on them. In the meanwhile, the child cries all day and night.

A cousin went to the hospital for stomach infection or something. The hospital refused him treatment because the mother could not come up with the money they were asking for at the time. He died.
4 of my male cousins were said to be sick of something at different times within the last 2-3 years. 3 from same parents and another from another, and they all died. The one that was in his teen years died earlier (a few years back), 2 were in their 20s and another in his 40s. The mother of the three boys sometimes wonders what really happened.
Another female cousin went to the hospital to deliver a baby and did not make it back. Similar situation was the case for my in law.

50% of the patients in the ward at Agbor, I hear, are amputees from Okada falls. They say bad luck followed them but I say it is from the bad roads and no means of transporting them quickly enough to the hospitals to salvage the limbs.

My uncle's wife tried to give birth to twins a few years ago and it was bye bye to her and the twins in the hopital.
One of my cousin went to fix a catarrach and came back with half past four eye. She was undoubtedly the most beautiful girl in my town until that happened. That led to low self esteem that led to other details I care not to give here.

There are several others like a woman with aids who gave birth t a child without AIDS but was allowed to breast feed her newborn until he got HIV and AIDS and died.
What can we do to provide better education for our doctors in Nigeria and medical technology with which they can work effectively?

People are afraid to visit Naija because most fo the people they know are dead. Can we change that for the junior ones coming up to make it possible to see their friends at age 70, 80, 90, and maybe 100?

Diseases are leaving a lot of our nieces and nephews orphans, fatherless or motherless. What does the future hold for these kids? Are they dying because we have more bacteria than other parts of the world, more careless health habits, witches, poverty, no love from the politicians at the top, untrained doctors, less medical tools to work with, bad roads, infected or damaged foods from no preservation methods, lack of it, or inadequacy of it? Do our people not deserve to see great great great grand children?
I am praying for us and I wish more can be done.
Philo

STOP RAZZISMO 04/10/2008 ROMA

QUALCHE FOTO DELLA GIORNATA...STOP RAZZISMO DI ROMA
DOMANI UN CI SARA' UN LINK PER ACCEDERE ALL'ALBUM CON OLTRE 120 FOTO C RACCONTA LA GIORNATA. ...clicca sull'immagine per ingrandire....
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(some pictures from the-- Stop Racism day in Rome. Tomorrow a link will lead
you to more than 120 news/story pictures .....click on the picture to enlarge)
Charles.

ANTI RAZZISMO

NIGERIA@48

French Muslims Find Haven in Catholic Schools Franco Zecchin for the International Herald Tribune Nadia Oualane, right, and Amina Zaidi may wear head scarves at St. Mauront, a Roman Catholic school in Marseille. The scarves are forbidden in state schools. By KATRIN BENNHOLD Published: September 29, 2008 MARSEILLE, France — The bright cafeteria of St. Mauront Catholic School is conspicuously quiet: It is Ramadan, and 80 percent of the students are Muslim. When the lunch bell rings, girls and boys stream out past the crucifixes and the large wooden cross in the corridor, heading for Muslim midday prayer. Enlarge This Image Franco Zecchin for The International Herald Tribune Amina at the blackboard. In a French magazine's recent ranking of high schools, 15 of the top 20 were Catholic schools. "There is respect for our religion here," said Nadia Oualane, 14, a student of Algerian descent who wears her hair hidden under a black head scarf. "In the public school," she added, gesturing at nearby buildings, "I would not be allowed to wear a veil." In France, which has only four Muslim schools, some of the country's 8,847 Roman Catholic schools have become refuges for Muslims seeking what an overburdened, secularist public sector often lacks: spirituality, an environment in which good manners count alongside mathematics, and higher academic standards. No national statistics are kept, but Muslim and Catholic educators estimate that Muslim students now make up more than 10 percent of the two million students in Catholic schools. In ethnically mixed neighborhoods in Marseille and the industrial north, the proportion can be more than half. The quiet migration of Muslims to private Catholic schools highlights how hard it has become for state schools, long France's tool for integration, to keep their promise of equal opportunity. Traditionally, the republican school, born of the French Revolution, was the breeding ground for citizens. The shift from these schools is another indication of the challenge facing the strict form of secularism known as "laïcité." Following centuries of religious wars and a long period of conflict between the nascent Republic and an assertive clergy, a 1905 law granted religious freedom in predominantly Roman Catholic France and withdrew financial support and formal recognition from all faiths. Religious education and symbols were banned from public schools. France is now home to around five million Muslims, Western Europe's largest such community, and new fault lines have emerged. In 2004, a ban on the head scarf in state schools prompted outcry and debate about loosening the interpretation of the 1905 law. "Laïcité has become the state's religion, and the republican school is its temple," said Imam Soheib Bencheikh, a former grand mufti in Marseille and founder of its Higher Institute of Islamic Studies. Imam Bencheikh's oldest daughter attends Catholic school. "It's ironic," he said, "but today the Catholic Church is more tolerant of — and knowledgeable about — Islam than the French state." For some, economics argue for Catholic schools, which tend to be smaller than public ones and much less expensive than private schools in other countries. In return for the schools' teaching the national curriculum and being open to students of all faiths, the government pays teachers' salaries and a per-student subsidy. Annual costs for parents average 1,400 euros (less than $2,050) for junior high school and 1,800 euros (about $2,630) for high school, according to the Roman Catholic educational authority. In France's highly centralized education system, the national curriculum proscribes religious instruction beyond general examination of religious tenets and faiths as it occurs in history lessons. Religious instruction, like Catholic catechism, is voluntary. And Catholic schools take steps to accommodate different faiths. One school in Dijon allows Muslim students to use the chapel for Ramadan prayers. Catholic schools are also free to allow girls to wear head scarves. Many honor the state ban, but several, like St. Mauront, tolerate a discreet covering. The school, tucked under an overpass in the city's northern housing projects, embodies tectonic shifts in French society over the past century. Founded in 1905 in a former soap factory, the school initially served mainly Catholic students whose parents were French, said the headmaster, Jean Chamoux. Before World War II, Italian and some Portuguese immigrants arrived; since the 1960s, Africans from former French colonies. Today there is barely a white face among the 117 students. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/world/europe/30schools.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

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