Hatred will destroy Acholi culture!
SIR — I was in a fairly high spirit when I arrived for work on Wednesday and was looking forward to a productive day in office. But alas!
SIR — I was in a fairly high spirit when I arrived for work on Wednesday and was looking forward to a productive day in office. But alas!
All that changed when I turned to the letters page and read Innocent Lawino’s letter “FDC’s Akaki is more handsomeâ€. Lawino’s questionable taste of a handsome or ugly man not withstanding, I take strong exception to her expression of raw anger and sadism, which is uncharacteristic of a well-brought up Acholi when she says she hates anything to do with the Movement.
I think and believe there are many reasons for Lawino to disagree with the NRM policies, especially on the war in the north without getting annoyed, diversionary, unfocused and irrelevant.
Madam Lawino, could you have, by any chance, heard the expression that in politics there is no permanent friend or enemy but only interest? What will happen if tomorrow, a much-cherished friend or even your own relative decides to change from whatever political shed of opinion to the NRM? Will you suddenly start hating him or her since in doing so such a person will have become ‘anything Movement’? what has become of our Acholi culture of solidarity with members of our community, especially in times of sorrow, including losing a constituency and a ministerial post? Is it the effects of the many years of living in squalid, dehumanising conditions in the IDP camps that has had devastating effects on our hitherto strong, positive traditional principles and cultural values? What is it? I am related to neither Jovino Akaki nor Sam Akaki, but for Lawino to even say “Thank God, he is gone†in reference to Jovino’s loss of his Maruzi constituency seat, is to say the least, confusing, more so when she had no political interest in Maruzi. In any case, what personal losses did Lawino incur during the years Akaki served as an MP, which make his exit such a joyous event even worth thanking God for? In Acholi culture dancing in one’s political or physical graveyard, amounts to wizardry. Sister, Lawino, you may need some counselling. Since you are in Gulu, I suggest you visit Gulu Save the Children Organisation (GUSCO) or World Vision Counselling centres. With the likes of Lawino in our midst, wouldn’t anyone be right to think that the ‘we hate anything to do with the Movement’ attitude has in a way contributed, however minimally, to the persistence of the LRA madness in our land? Lawino might have written her letter for fun, but she should also know that what comes out of one’s mouth is what resides in one’s heart. With the attitude of the likes of Lawino, need we blame those who refer to us the Acholi as savages? Thank you Lawino for spoiling my day for your unacceptable attitude.
James Odong
Kampala
All that changed when I turned to the letters page and read Innocent Lawino’s letter “FDC’s Akaki is more handsomeâ€. Lawino’s questionable taste of a handsome or ugly man not withstanding, I take strong exception to her expression of raw anger and sadism, which is uncharacteristic of a well-brought up Acholi when she says she hates anything to do with the Movement.
I think and believe there are many reasons for Lawino to disagree with the NRM policies, especially on the war in the north without getting annoyed, diversionary, unfocused and irrelevant.
Madam Lawino, could you have, by any chance, heard the expression that in politics there is no permanent friend or enemy but only interest? What will happen if tomorrow, a much-cherished friend or even your own relative decides to change from whatever political shed of opinion to the NRM? Will you suddenly start hating him or her since in doing so such a person will have become ‘anything Movement’? what has become of our Acholi culture of solidarity with members of our community, especially in times of sorrow, including losing a constituency and a ministerial post? Is it the effects of the many years of living in squalid, dehumanising conditions in the IDP camps that has had devastating effects on our hitherto strong, positive traditional principles and cultural values? What is it? I am related to neither Jovino Akaki nor Sam Akaki, but for Lawino to even say “Thank God, he is gone†in reference to Jovino’s loss of his Maruzi constituency seat, is to say the least, confusing, more so when she had no political interest in Maruzi. In any case, what personal losses did Lawino incur during the years Akaki served as an MP, which make his exit such a joyous event even worth thanking God for? In Acholi culture dancing in one’s political or physical graveyard, amounts to wizardry. Sister, Lawino, you may need some counselling. Since you are in Gulu, I suggest you visit Gulu Save the Children Organisation (GUSCO) or World Vision Counselling centres. With the likes of Lawino in our midst, wouldn’t anyone be right to think that the ‘we hate anything to do with the Movement’ attitude has in a way contributed, however minimally, to the persistence of the LRA madness in our land? Lawino might have written her letter for fun, but she should also know that what comes out of one’s mouth is what resides in one’s heart. With the attitude of the likes of Lawino, need we blame those who refer to us the Acholi as savages? Thank you Lawino for spoiling my day for your unacceptable attitude.
James Odong
Kampala