Someone once asked me if I would be able to record my experiences and those of other youth on life after disengagement from SOS aka "maisha inje ya gate". I just smiled and did not answer. The reason being, how do we evaluate only one aspect of life when the past affects the present. To describe my experiences, I will have to go back to my past which may bring controversy. My view may be biased, or true and may affect other people who may have played different roles in my past life. My main fear of facing the past is that a lot of forgiving may have taken place but, the struggle to forget is still there. Another fear is that society's expectation is that we keep the ugly past buried and only speak of the good times.
How does one turn of society's tendency of to judge actions that may have been forgiven? And in so doing prevent the ability to purge the bad memories by speaking up? Many of us have turned judgmental in the past and taken sides when others have tried to document their past. I pray that this will change in future and speaking up will not be viewed as rebelling but as a process of improvement and hopefully reconciliation. For the ones with vested interest, not all apples in the basket are bad yet. We just hope that by removing the bad ones, the rest may be saved. So keep up your support, because for every tyrant in the community, an angel exists.
So for now, these experiences will remain undocumented, not because they have been forgotten, but because sometimes leaving no stones unturned may just result in confrontation with snakes. I will have you know that I am still looking for some snake repellent. I will document the experiences once I accomplish this mission.
4 comments:
hi there, welcome back finally you have resurfaced but is it for 'keep's or what. Annyway it doesnt matter am glad you are back. It is true that sometimes unearthing to many stones can bring you face to face with a hissing snake, but what better way that to find out where the snakes are hiding? am with you 100% and we could take on this together. Listen we have many issues to discuss apart from individualism, educational matters, financial. HIV/AIDS (am really interested on this as we keep on loosing our brothers and sisters) sexuality and more lighter stuff that you can suggest the topics.
let me start; HIV new infection rate has been on a decline in our continent, but amongst ourselves it is very persisant and very scary to know that, we are not seeking medical attention fast enough or effectively. there is a medical center in almost all the villages they are even issuing ARVs and IOs treatment, why cant we put our pride aside and access this medical care? why do we have to die from preventable causes?
secondly, we are now facing a big issue in africa about sexuality, the right to healthy living, to loving someone and protecting them and also the issue homosexuality. I have heard from reliable sources of gays and lesbians in our midst, some who i doubt and some i believe, anyway that is not the point as they have a right to life; i am not going to play the naming and shaming game as i believe they are very productive members of our community. Now what can we do so save our brothers and sisters from this entrapment and to ensure that they are not broken by the heavy burden constructed by our society, they need to be able to express themselves in whatever way, but who knows...am just concerned by the rate the young ones and even older ones are turning into homesexuality.
i agree with you about opening up channels for safe sex and discussions that will lead to a decrease in not only HIV but also STIs, but i would also like to warn you that bring up the homosexuality debate in lieu of HIV might be ignored and not taken seriously. The two topics hold equal weights when it comes to affecting and infecting people but need to be traded upon careful, knowing that we come from dont ask and dont tell backgrounds where sexuality and sex were never discussed. Remember tabia mbaya?
Thanks for the support, I will work on keeping this as regular as time allows.
I have read the requests concerning the topics to be discussed and as it has been pointed out, I believe the topics need to be discussed with sensitivity. I will try and tackle the topics asap.
this is a very interesting discussion and i would like to contribute to it.
first HIV is real and it is amongst us and there is nothing we can do apart from accepting and loving those infected, sharing with them the little resources we have.The tendancy of moving as a block (watu wa imst) is done and dusted and individuals have special case and are who they are and have contracted what they have, but that does not make them any less human, they can live positively over a long period of time and we better get used to it and stop malicing and bitching about HIV !!!!it is REAL
Secondly, WTF are we talking about naming and shaming of gays and lesbinas, go ahead and name them and dont dont forget to also mention their professions, their contribution in your lives and so on. I bet all of them are leading a productive and very admirable life. So please let all stop bickering and if we really want to expose them and say how disgusted you are, i dont think either of them will have a problem being named in this forum. the recall question would be isnt it your own box of socks to sort?
i rest my case, HIV + sisters and brothers hold your heads up and live postively.
Gays and lesbians of IMST, it only gets better, i bet you have to overcome so much shit in your lives and have comes to terms with your sexuality, CONGRATULATIONS. let the rainbow flag fly high in imst.
Godspeed everyone
Post a Comment