Not in Allah’s name!

The values we all treasure were morbidly attacked on 13/11 in Paris. Since then, the investigative team have found a (getaway?) car used by the terrorists. On one level, such a development fills one with a fraction of hope that we will somehow get to the bottom of this albeit a little late just after innocent lives have been lost. On another level, it affirms yet again the conviction shared by many that the perpetrators (and their sympathisers/sponsors) are pursuing an false ideology.

So UTTERLY false that it contradicts itself to the point that you couldn’t imagine someone who has no respect for human life readying a getaway car to run for cover and save his/her own life unless they breathed the oxygen of contradiction. Killing and running for cover simply fly in the face of ‘do not kill a human being since Allah has declared it sacred’ (Quran VI, 151), ‘whoever wishes to be delivered from the fire and to enter Paradise should treat other people as he wishes to be treated’ (Sahih Muslim); and more importantly ‘Return evil with Kindness’ (Quran 13:22, 23:96, 41:34, 28:54, 42:40).

Not only are the terrorists less versed with Islam, those justifiably angry as a result of yesterday’s attacks might fall into the same trap of Indiscrimination and flouting of due process as the terrorists and attack a religion instead of obliterating the criminals and all the possible resources they use to distort reality and cause harm they can’t face themselves.

By obliterating, many will rightly think of military action. This however must be accompanied with other initiatives such as long/intense community based education programmes. Can you think of anymore?

Paris attacks (13/11/2015)

Beep! And it was a Facebook message from a close relative in Paris/France saying ‘I’m safe’ then I knew something heinously wrong must have happened. News feed on a number of TV channels in the morning of 14/11 were covering pretty much the same story of scores of dead after multiple attacks on soft spots across Paris. My 6 year old read it quietly, turned to me and asked ‘that’s not good, is it dad?’ ‘No, it’s not’ was my reply before changing channels.

But that’s exactly the point! That the Paris terrorist acts are so senseless and cowardly that they have begun to awaken a moral code that even children the age of 6 want restored: the respect for human dignity. One can only imagine all children from every home asking pretty much the same question. Unfortunately, it is also possible to imagine that the unlucky children living in households that are sympathetic to such an ideology being fed with a dietary instinct to kill.

It is an ideology rooted on a rotten sense of order that is believed to only come from such chaos. The terrorist’s idea of chaos stems from an erroneous belief that if you hit what people value most (human life) then they will submit to their demands. It is erroneous because the victims of these attacks and the rest of us do not fear death as such. We know we are all perishable entities anyway. However, the respect for human dignity is about allowing and enabling it to live until it is naturally unable to function. It is therefore the way these people have died that is unforgiveable!

It may be an impossible task to change the minds of those bent on killing innocent lives but one can only hope that nations will mobilise and put resources together to debilitate the monster not worth mentioning the name (s) even if this or that group claimed responsibility.

Rest in peace, gone but not forgotten!

What’s the point?

If the photo or title does not catch your attention, perhaps the story is pointless then! Or has it got to shock you to attract your attention? May be not, but that’s just a level at which we sometimes operate. We seem to be rushing, passing and only stopping when lifeless body parts and possessions are littered across an expanse of anarchy after something sinister had happened. Man-made disasters intended to draw as much attention as possible by maximising the degree of human and material destruction tend to highlight the values and beliefs that divide us.

Core uniting strands of our existence then take a tumble into an arguably ‘pointless’ blog such as this one and many others. But just as the idea that ‘we are from parallel worlds’ sets in, the more you delve into those thoughts of division the more you are likely to land on an oasis where the fate of our common humanity may have been sealed. Dare I suggest that ‘Savio’ and many other geographical spots across the world may just offer such a space that could afford you this kind of experience?

Interrupting their school routines in the beginning of winter, a group of youngsters in the North of England set off to a reclusive midlands’ countryside retreat centre (Savio) run by Salesians. As soon as they arrived, the place began to burst with youthful energy as the centre’s temporary occupants played, built, destroyed, sang, prayed, reflected, sat, stood, jumped, ate, slept, woke, wondered, solved and discovered.

They embarked on a discovery journey that involved bridge building with friends, family members, others in school life, and with the environment. Lurking in the background of all this was a startling fact that came alive in the moment of taking the above photo: ‘we build bridges to discover a common bridge – our common humanity’. Overturning all singlemindedness and perhaps keen to highlight our common destiny in this Catholic-run centre with total submission to Jesus Christ, was a youngster covered in a beautifully made head scarf (Hijab) submitting totally to Allah. Bizarre or hopeful, you might wonder!

To some, the entire experience summed up here by the moment this photo was taken is another reminder that love and not hatred, happiness and not sadness, prosperity and not despair, understanding and not conflict, sharing and not greed, forgiveness and not grudges, forward and not backward, together and not alone are just some of the common aspirations that bind us together.

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South Sudan: when ‘Peace Deal’ means ‘Delay the War Deal’

Scores of human deaths, 1.6 million people displaced, above 70% of the population experiencing food shortages are just some of the facts about the war-torn South Sudan (SS). Even if such a profile cannot be compared with the 6 million + dead and world record breaker in rape cases that is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) just south of the border, it is nevertheless saddening to think that the joys of independence of Africa’s youngest nation were short lived as SS found itself plunged into a deadly war between the sitting President Salva Kiir and his former/current deputy Riek Machar.

That said it is always a cause for celebration when wars, small or big, end or let us say when a truce is observed and gun fires fall silent. So, while admitting that SS has been a shattered dream, with a modicum of optimism, the Kenyan President Kenyatta described the recent peace deal between the warring parties as ‘all opportunity and no obstacles’ agreement. It is however human nature to want to see beyond the political razzmatazz and critically absorb some of the information that we are being bombarded with.

Firstly, President Salva signed the peace deal at the 11^th hour after failing to convince the peace brokers to address his long list of reservations. As if anyone needed reminding that someone was not a willing signatory but perhaps being pressurised to commit to what otherwise could be described as ‘delay the war deal’.

Secondly, beyond the long term stability of the region, some of those ‘peace’ brokers such as Sudan, Uganda and Kenya had individual short term interests in getting this deal signed which earned the Sudanese President (omar al-Bashir) some positive press for a man who cannot leave his country without someone asking for him to be arrested and be transferred to the International Criminal Court; the Ugandan leader who after three decades in power is seeking another term and therefore keen to ward off criticism of life presidency by showing that he is still needed for the progress not only of his country but that of the region. Add to this are the reported (arms) sanctions that the Security Council and especially the US government were threating to put in place if the ‘Peace deal’ a.k.a ‘delay the war deal’ had not been signed.

Corned by a foray of multiple interests, the warring parties had to eat humble pie and not only sign on the dotted lines but also agree to share the national cake. Just to clarify, there are some good points that if implemented in good faith could transform SS: among other things there is the promise of ‘free and fair’ elections to be held 60 days prior to the 30 month long transition period elapses and most significantly the Truth, Reconciliation and Healing Commission that is to follow.

However, the reservations raised by President Salva Kiir over the ambiguity of the chain of command of the armed forces cannot be dismissed especially when you have warring parties who clearly have not wholeheartedly gotten fed up with further bloodshed and perhaps scheming to outsmart each other.

But may be the clue is in President Museveni’s words when he said ‘this is the wrong war fought in the wrong place and at the wrong time’, suggesting perhaps that ‘there is a right war fought in the right place at the right time’. Let us hope that he wasn’t referring to Uganda’s own wars imposed on other people elsewhere (the DRC for instance) in recent history. But in reference to South Sudan, only President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar can prove the doubters wrong that this was a true ‘Peace deal’. However, two and half months down the line since the deal was signed, news report from Africa’s youngest nation suggests that ‘former’ foes are stockpiling arms feeding into the suspicion that this may have just been a ‘delay the war deal’. Cometh the hour, cometh the man and Africa and indeed the world will not forgive you for anything less than Peace, true democracy and development for the people!

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Just before you share, retweet or repost!

Not every saying from a famous person must be retweeted or reposted. When a saying does not make sense, it may be a good idea to point out the flaw before discarding it and it ends up on someone else’s wall unfiltered; #CriticalCitizenship demands it!

Here is one from the former United Nations’ Secretary General Koffi Annan:

“Europe is a symbol of freedom, prosperity and justice that attracts immigrants. At a time when the EU is not popular within its own borders, Europeans should reflect on the significance of their popularity abroad. Refugees and migrants should not be regarded merely as beneficiaries of Europe’s bounty: they also represent an opportunity for Europe itself”

While Mr Annan makes a number of points that would energise the kind hearted, this quote leaves a sower taste in most people’s mouths. First of all, on an existential level, it is healthy for people to experience self-love as emerging form their inner most selves rather than depend on others loving you in order to ignite that fire within you. For those Europeans asking tough questions about the significance of the EU, It is ultimately going to boil down to their self-assessment of what the union has meant for them not on how popular they are abroad. That however should not stop the rest of the world from appreciating some of the values that the European Union stands for.

Secondly, and finally just to keep it brief, most migrants do not make Europe their home because they hate their countries of origin. The basic truth is, while EU is popular for migrants and refugees, most of these people are attracted to it because it is the closest thing that resembles the sort of countries they want their homelands to turn into. So, rather than asking for Europe to become more generous towards immigrants, the likes of Mr Koffi Annan should be spending their energy on having tough words with various dictators and corrupt officials around the world that make their countries living hells that leave people with no option but to seek refuge in places they wish they had in their home countries in the first place!

By the way, this is worth sharing, retweeting and reposting!

TUTU

Hi, a lot has happened lately and the brief period of silence from Swipel may appear like we don’t care. Of course we do! After reflecting on the work of Dr Mukwege in the last post, we want to dedicate this to one African as well as world legend who turned 84 recently. Desmond Tutu has garnered prestigious accolades and awards that simply mentioning his name is enough for a Japanese school girl/boy to nod as if you are talking about his/her grand dad. To his contemporaries, this friend of Nelson Mandela has not only offered us famous quotes to mention when motivating a crowd, his role against Apartheid, poverty, HIV, unilateralism, Iraq war, his support for Tibet, Palestinian cause, church reform, gay and women rights, climate change initiatives, migration, truth and reconciliation project in South Africa and many more has been remarkable. All his services, speeches, lectures and books to advance the cause of freedom and human rights are a lasting legacy that this planet would have looked differently had it not been because of this man of God.

You see, what many also forget is that Tutu is a man of God like no other. He is a man of prayer, yes; but he is also an individual with unshakeable disdain for inequalities and oppression such that he would challenge the perpetrators irrespective of their colour of skin and status in society. He has proved that when he denounced white minority rule (Apartheid) and continues to speak out against what he sees wrong under the South Africa Black majority rule.

Now, as the number of earlier affluent white missionaries across Africa dwindles leaving their financially poorer home grown counterparts to take over the control of Church institutions, such a changing of the guards has had an impact on the availability of resources. Needy men of God have to rely on donations from the so-called people of faith including greedy politicians. Bishops’ ordinations come with spanking new 4X4 motors, glittering dinners and sealed envelopes with undisclosed figures which, in most cases, go to unchecked personal bank accounts. If the help is not from secular institutions, some would do dodgy dealings like falsifying priests’ signatures to obtain money from other church institutions.

As pay back, the men and women who are supposed to side with the people unashamedly bite their tongues and condone the oppression they claim to denounce. While accepting gifts with one hand, and at the people’s hour of need to denounce repressive regimes, they use the other complicit hand holding press briefings to the media that the church does not do politics. This is not to say there are no exemplary Church ministers like TUTU whose ill health will may alter his voice but his actions and words will continue to reverberate across time and space.

Join Swipel in wishing Desmond Tutu a belated Happy 84^th birthday and good health!

The man who mends women

Yesterday, an article about a Congolese Doctor Mukwege who helps women in the rape capital of the world (Eastern Congo) appeared on the Mill Hill missionaries site with a trailer of a documentary about the work of the Nobel peace prize nominee Dr Mukwege. Below is my response to the mill Hill Missionaries’ article.

“Thank you for posting this. As Congolese, let me be the first to admit that ‘the DRC now is a broken state where the logic in most cases is so twisted that the majority of people including the educated would attempt to convince you that white is black, Monday is actually Tuesday and that sleeping with your own daughter at gunpoint is as normal as it can get’. To me, leadership is the answer. That said, I cannot fail to wonder and ask this: ‘have all the years of modern education, evangelisation etc., only come to this?’ Asked in another way, you could say ‘have education and evangelisation also taken a tumble in the same way that African leadership has?’ or ‘shouldn’t Mill Hill and all the others be rushing back with twice the speed that their first pioneers did?’

Whatever your answers to those questions are, a Congolese born Dr Mukwenge, whom I discuss in my book ‘The Unexpected Homecoming’ can serve as an inspiration. For me, ‘the man who repairs women’ becomes the local/indigenous incarnation of what God for Congolese, and dare I say for most Africans, is: the God of justice, Njakomba or Njekomba in some places. And what that means is that the ESCHATON (end of the world), which is a greater vision than the fear me and you may experience for being falsely branded the enemy of the state, is HERE and NOW and not in some distant cosy end of times.

Here we go: what can be done by you and me to make the HERE and NOW (Eschaton) a reality? I say, it is the people that care the slightest and do the bare minimum who could have the biggest impact. That’s why I say once again ‘Thank you for posting this’”.

BANG and $20 billion is gone!

$20 billion is how much is alleged to have gone missing at one time in the Nigerian oil ministry during Goodluck Jonathan presidency (for full story, click here). A mindboggling sum of money that even if a tenth of it were spent on security, may be and just may be the school housing the #ChibokGirls wouldn’t have been attacked at all, let alone the girls being abducted and separated from their loved ones for what feels like eternity even to those whose hope to reunite with the girls is and should still be alive. May be not, a critic might argue as terrorist organisations have struck lucky in places where even more eye watering amounts of money have been spent on security. We will never know for sure but the point is mismanagement of public funds costs the common people incalculably!

To put things right, President Buhari has used his reputation as a corruption bulldozer to place himself not only in charge of the country but also in charge of the lucrative oil ministry. The assumption is that ONLY the strongman himself can clean up the mess that was left by the previous administration. Call me a cynic but, even for the best of intentions, no person should be elevated to a point where they replace the system.

You see, when Nigerians trusted their men and women to lead them, they bled financially and the $20 billion hole could just be the tip of the iceberg. The hunger now is for stronger institutions and President Buhari has had his first few months in office without a full cabinet presumably busy putting in place a rigorous system of checks and balances that would tell the nation the heartbeat of the public treasury the second they want it. Now the partial list of his 21 member cabinet has just been released and Nigerians have taken to twitter to express their thoughts regarding what is trending now as #TheList. Many, it seems, are disappointed with the profile of the recruits. One concern that Swipel would like to highlight is the fact that President Buhari seems to have put a junior minister in the oil ministry that will be headed by none other than himself (Full story here). A glaring admission that the new broom isn’t sweeping differently, the system is not efficacious enough and still needs ‘providential’ men/women, like him, to take charge.

The thought of the oil minister Buhari having his ministry’s accounts audited by ruling party dominated houses of parliament and crosschecked by President Buhari himself is not criminal but it feels rather incestuous. The danger is for it to become an exclusive domain of the President unless he goes out of his way to make oil ministry accounts available to the public and even opposition party who should have the right to scrutinise them every step of the way. Wait and see but Swipel’s case for renewed leadership in Africa has already been made in a previous blog (click here for full story).

A Religious Coup?

You need not take up arms, like in Burkina Faso etc., to be branded a coup plotter. Just tell the whole world who you are: that you are a gay monsignor who has been living with a partner and you will have unnerved the establishment and should be prepared to face up to the consequences. But it’s not as simple as that. Monsignor Krzystof Charamsa’s timed coming out, it is claimed, was done with the intention to generate media attention and put undue pressure on the synod of bishops gathered in Rome to reflect and shape the Catholic Church’s teaching on Family Life (full story here)

Pope’s Francis’ meeting with anti-gay marriage activist Kim Davis in the US and now this spectacular internal crack of discontent will only serve to open a can of worms that will portray the Catholic Church as out of touch and living in the Middle Ages.

“Who gives majority old white [single] male club the right to legislate on the majority whose lives are diametrically different anyway?” some might ask. But a rebuttal might sound like this ‘what makes you think that your question is that of the majority anyway?’ or ‘can you absolutely vouch for there being an institution has representatives coming from all segments of your society?’ The answer is probably No. Not all our members of parliament are male, female, young, old, black, white, transvestite, able, disable, gypsies, etc., and yet we rightly or wrongly claim to speak on their behalf.

The fight for equality will and should continue. But, you see, the problem this Synod faces is not so much its old, white, single male dominated register. It’s rather the reliance on human experiences of family life that they would have gathered from their faithful from all corners of the world combined with the reliance on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is when acquired knowledge meets revealed knowledge and in that spiritual big bang, the world can only hold its breath and expect the unexpected.

Just take divorce as an example and mind your eyes as the sparks between doctrine and daily life go haywire. An abusive, not to mention all the other ills of marital life, relationship becomes unbearable that divorce is the only option on the hand and you have ‘what God has united, humans must not divide/separate’ (Mark 10:2-16) on the other. Artificial contraception, remarriage, same sex relationship, Catholic clergy’s unofficial relationships etc., are not immune from becoming a bone of contention during this Synod.

One can only hope for a good collision between the divine and worldly where what is divine is worldly and vice versa!

‘Just motivate them’ alone won’t do in leadership!

Dr Travis Bradberry is the bestselling co-author of ‘Emotional Intelligence 2.0’ and founder of TalentSmart. In one his regular postings, he has this to say:

Leadership is the art of persuasion—the act of motivating people to do more than they ever thought possible in pursuit of a greater good (for full story, click here)

This is great stuff and refreshingly appealing considering the negative effect on organisational productivity if leaders weren’t persuasive and didn’t invest in motivating those who work for and with them. Whether we are dealing with teachers in classrooms, nurses in hospitals, lawyers in courtrooms, journalists in newsrooms, and technicians in factories, happy and motivated workers do make a heck of a difference between the returns of this and that organisation or GDP of this and that country.

But in as much as Dr Travis’ sound reasoning should shape the actions of all those in leadership positions, it is nevertheless time to place it on solid ground for the 21^st century world. Since it is a world of honourable, frail and coward individuals alike, it feels as though some pieces of the jigsaw are still missing. It cannot just be enough to say “leadership is the art of persuasion—etc.,” in a world where an ISIL commander holed up in some dungeon is capable of using similar principles of persuasion to awaken a morbid instinct to kill innocent lives at a place near you and me. If that is worrying, it is equally worrying to think that all we can do to our nurses, teachers, doctors, all workers and indeed citizens is to turn them into clock machines ticking zealously for the greater good. Yes Dr Travis’ thinking is right but more needs to be done!

With ‘FS Model Leadership Initiative’ to be launched in due course, I hope to engage the world with a new way of being, acting as leaders and followers within organisations of any kind. This is only a developing project and I invite you to share your thoughts on whether you agree or not with my brief analysis.