Student Dismissed For Flouting National Anthem

By Elvis Tah

Kelly Tembi Evenye, a Form Two student of GHS Bokwaongo, Buea was on Monday, January 15, dismissed from the school reportedly for refusing to sing the national anthem.

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The decision was arrived at in a disciplinary council that held on Thursday, January 11, at the Discipline Master's office.

The story goes that Kelly never sang the national anthem during devotions because she is a Jehovah Witness faithful. Then she had been taken before the Principal on Tuesday, January 9 for questioning.

All attempts by the Principal to make Kelly reason were in vain.Kelly, it is said, confided in her friends that she couldn't sing the national anthem because she belongs to the Jehovah Witness and it is against her religion.

To Kelly, singing the national anthem means worshipping and praising the nation instead of God. She also claimed that the said the national anthem contains words like "O, Cameroon" which according to her is showering praises to the nation instead of Jehovah who is the creator of everything. Such other words such as "holy shrine, hills and valleys, tears and blood" Kelly said disturb her conscience.

The Principal Mbua Hanna Etonde said Kelly was dismissed on two counts, for refusing to sing the national anthem and breaking bound to attend a church convention in Limbe.
"I invited her in my office in order to school her on the importance of singing the national anthem as a good citizen but she wouldn't heed to my advice," The Principal told this reporter.

"Kelly boldly told me that taking permission from the school authorities to serve God was out of place because God is the only authority that grants permissions and not mere mortals, this I think is sheer fanaticism, said the Principal.

"When I noticed that she was obstinate, I summoned her mother to school to know her stance but to my utter surprise, her mother told me that every parent has the right to groom her child the way they so desire."

Hanna Etonde said she was very disappointed at Kelly's mother who also happened to be a teacher in GS Likoko Membea and at the same time is fanning her daughter's misdemeanor.

Said she: "I asked the mother of Kelly to take her child to where she would not be asked to sing the national anthem." She also said she was going to inform the Provincial Delegate of Secondary Education about the issue.

At the moment this reporter was leaving the Principal's office, Kelly's father, Peter Tembi, a taxi driver, entered the Principal's office to sign and collect his daughter's dismissal letter.

No Right To Sing Anthem

Taking to The Post, Tembi said his daughter had no right to sing the national anthem because it is contrary to her religion. He said that the law of Jehovah should not conflict with the law of the State.

Quoting the Book of Daniel, Tembi said his daughter is copying the example of three Hebrews who refused to bow down and worship the king and were thrown into fire, but instead it was the king and his people who got burnt and not the Hebrews.
He also referred to Deuteronomy 6 and 7.

When asked to expatiate on the Biblical quotations and how they correlate with what happened to his child, Tembi outrightly told this reporter to go and read the Bible. Then banging the door of his taxi shut, he drove off.

Kelly's Mother

Kelly's mother, Mrs. Tembi Jire, was afire at GS Likoko Membea where she teaches. Your reporter found her supervising pupils for manual labour.Jire the decision not to sing the national anthem was solely that of her daughter.

"My daughter has been reading her Bible and so she knows what is right for her," adding that her daughter "prefers to be dismissed than to sing the national anthem because she give praises to Jehovah alone and not the nation."

Jire attributed her child's ill luck to religious bias. According to her, the hidden agenda behind her daughter's expulsion was because she belongs to Jehovah Witness and not just her refusal to sing the anthem.

On whether she ever advised her daughter to obey the Principal and sing the anthem in order to circumvent dismissal, Jire said she could not advise her daughter to go against her conscience.

"If somebody says he or she will suffer and die for the sake of Jehovah, he or she should be allowed to do so and who ever tries to stop the person would be committing sin," said Jire.

As to whether she teaches her pupils the national anthem or participates in singing it during morning devotions in her school, she said: "I tell the children to sing for pedagogic reasons but I don't participate in the singing because it is against the Bible."
The Jehovah Witness said they are going to seek admission elsewhere because their child cannot stay in the house.

She quoted the Jews in German history who refused to hail Adolf Hitler and were killed for worshipping only their God. To her, the decision arrived at in the disciplinary council was callous for her child.

On her part, Kelly averred that she deliberately refused to sing the national anthem because "Jehovah said 'I would not share my worship with any graven image.'"
To Kelly, the anthem should be revised and Jehovah be included in the phrases instead of 'Cameroon, holy shrine, hills and valleys, rivers, land of glory'.

She categorically told this reporter that if singing the national anthem is the condition sine qua non for her to be readmitted in her former school or elsewhere, she would prefer to stay back at home. Besides, it is more blessed to obey Jehovah than to obey mere mortals.

When The Post contacted the Chief Executive Officer Centre for Human Rights Education Training and Research, Barrister Joseph Mbi Tanyi to comment on the issue, he said it is not written anywhere in the Cameroon Penal Code that it is a constitutional right to sing the national anthem.

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Comments

[vito]

Singing the national anthem is not an obligation for secondary school students and i 'm very certain dismissing a child from school is not the appropriate corrective measure for refusing to sing the national anthem in Cameroun.This is sheer highhandedness and abuse of office and power.
Dear Mr.Tembi you have a case and i suggest you sue the principal.Taking your daughter somewhere else wont solve the problem.What if the scenario repeats itself there also?
Act,gentleman and do so now;no one has the right to infringe on Kelly's natural and constitutional rights to education.Thanks

[Epizi]

My Goodness,
Feel free to say your mind and be strong to your faith.Deter ye not, but I assure you, the laws on earth are by principle God's measure to ensure peace amongst men.

Funny indeed!! to hear this

[Fon]

Vito and Epizi,
What about the other point that Kelly broke bounds and insisted that she does not need to take permission to go and worship?

[Reader]

Singing the national anthem or not singing is neither a sin nor a crime. This is a singular and unfortunate case that has confronted incompetence.

[Ma Mary]

Some nice SOUTHERN CAMEROONS LIBERATION SONGS. Enjoy.
We shall not require you to sing the national anthem, although it would be nice if you could.
You will not be required to even know the name of the Prime Minister

[Cheboy]

I thought that the Cameroonian law recognises freedom of association and freedom of religion. After so many years of persecution Jehova's witnesses still find themselves at logger heads with a state that is not able to impliment the very simple laws it makes. The state has to come out again and defend what is meant by freedom of religion. I don't know whether this is a problem of civilisation or backwardness. It is ironical that the very state that has failed to provide its people with fundamental necessities is the very one forcing the people to adore it. Since Jehova's witnesses became authorised in Cameroon after many of them were jailed even by the Ahidjo regime, it is now time to let them practice their religion fully and should not be forced to sin. Cameroonian administrators, including such principals need to handle such issues with wisdom. They should be pragmatic to realise that such disciplinary measures will not take that very nation ahead. It is old-fashioned and primitive!

[Akoson]

Before we make sweeping comments it would be good to look at the two counts that led to the dismissal of the student from the school. The student broke college bounds to attend church service. In my years at Sasse breaking college bounds alone tantamounted to immediate dismissal. The disciplinary council(DISCUM) is the highest decision-making body of the school and students must obey this council. I'm sure that what speeded up the dismissal procedure was that she may have spoken rudely to this council.

I however disagree most vehemently that a student should be dismissed for not singing the national anthem.

I encourage all students to shun La Republique's national anthem and join the struggle for the liberation of our territories.

The Son.

[espoir]

the issue hear is it will take ordinary christains alot of wisdom to understand the teachings of the bible.most of us call ourselves christains but we dont know what the bible or let me say the new testament teaches us and u can spend u live time and u still dont fully comprehend the bible.
i am talking from experience.over the years (close to three years),i have been studying the bible with a group of voluntaires who happen to be Jehovahs withness and i will tell u that the try as much as possible to live life according to the principles of the bible.it talks over whelming faith to live and act according to the principles of christ and u must first know what the bible teaches u first.
most of us where told by our various religions that if u die u go to heaven or get tourmented in hell.but this people proved to me using the bible scriptures that if u die u seize to excit,u return to dust and there is nothing as i spirit soul,when u die the force of live which is air stops flowing and u soul dies,and is only resurrected in the jugdement time of the lord.the earth would be turned into a paradise and inhabited by man and man would need nothing.they would be peace and no suffering so they believe that their purpose on earth is to serve jehovah and no one else so as to live in paradise for internity.that is their reason for living.
above all,every body has a right to worship and these school authorities might have tried to take away this girls haman right to worship or go to the convention before she decided to break bounds.and the principle is talking about fanatism,for GODS sake these people are harmless just exercising faith in their creator.these authorities need wisdom to take decisions like this as mentioned by mr.Cheboy above and show stop persecuting others because of their religious believes.peace.

[espoir]

the issue hear is it will take ordinary christains alot of wisdom to understand the teachings of the bible.most of us call ourselves christains but we dont know what the bible or let me say the new testament teaches us and u can spend u live time and u still dont fully comprehend the bible.
i am talking from experience.over the years (close to three years),i have been studying the bible with a group of voluntaires who happen to be Jehovahs withness and i will tell u that the try as much as possible to live life according to the principles of the bible.it talks over whelming faith to live and act according to the principles of christ and u must first know what the bible teaches u first.
most of us where told by our various religions that if u die u go to heaven or get tourmented in hell.but this people proved to me using the bible scriptures that if u die u seize to excit,u return to dust and there is nothing as i spirit soul,when u die the force of live which is air stops flowing and u soul dies,and is only resurrected in the jugdement time of the lord.the earth would be turned into a paradise and inhabited by man and man would need nothing.they would be peace and no suffering so they believe that their purpose on earth is to serve jehovah and no one else so as to live in paradise for internity.that is their reason for living.
above all,every body has a right to worship and these school authorities might have tried to take away this girls haman right to worship or go to the convention before she decided to break bounds.and the principle is talking about fanatism,for GODS sake these people are harmless just exercising faith in their creator.these authorities need wisdom to take decisions like this as mentioned by mr.Cheboy above and show stop persecuting others because of their religious believes.peace.

[mimi]

It is a shame that a principal acts in an un informed manner. She needs to be taught a proper lesson. If the girls father was a minister what could have been her decision.
There law in Cameroon applauds to freedom of worship thus the girl has the right to respect her religion and follow the rules.
Singing the national athem is not a law but a conventional behavior which i will likw to also term a ceremonial gesture. I have Paul Biya not singing the national anthem in many occasions when the Anthem is being sung who punished him.
This just shows how quacks are giving post of responsiblities because of their family or friendship ties with hierachy or political affiliation.
I will contact the parents and see where this case will end.

[Akoson]

Mimi,

If you could form a group that would like to assist the family to sue the principal then I'd be interested. But I think they would tell you that they don't go to court. I'd thought about this! Just try and see where we can come in to help.

You really said it...if the child were a minsiter's daughter?

Ah!

[M Nje]

"Kelly boldly told me that taking permission from the school authorities to serve God was out of place because God is the only authority that grants permissions and not mere mortals, this I think is sheer fanaticism, said the Principal.

Okay, keep aside the refusal to sing the national anthem. Breaking school bound is a NO,NO,NO, NO, NO, NO. In my days in school if you break school bound once you are gone, I mean gone IMMEDIATELY.

[vito]

Dear Fon,
I doubt GHS Bokwango is a boarding school.
Secondly the principal claims Kelly told her, and not the Discom, she didnt need permission from mortals to worship her God.By the way ,Fon,do you?At any rate,the law says "testis unus testis nullus".Even if she did,she'd be a "Rosa Parks" in my books for flouting a stupid injonction and doing what is obviously right.
Here's a kid telling the nation how its anthem should be and rightfully so.
And then i repeat,infringing on that child's natural and constitutional rights to education is not the appropriate corrective measure for breaking bounds and not singing the national anthem.Or should i say,for going to Victoria and not singing some stupid song for you to understand?
Whatever happened to 4 days ,6 days and 8 days suspension with hard labour if necessary?No,Ms Etonde thinks the child foregoes her rights to education in a government school built with Mr Tembi's "vignette money" and she goes further to inform the provincial delegate, so kelly doesnt get admission anywhere else.
I think the sanction outweighs the claimed fault;in fact it seems more like the show of power of a miffed coplexed soul.Thanks

[ATS]

ha!ha!ha!, NOBODY FORCES ME TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF FRANCE OR GERMANY. NO CHANCE! If we keep God out of this, i'll just read it as the beginning of rejection of LRC. Besides, one sings national anthems of countries to which they belong and whose authorities are conscious and responsible in their actions. If singing the national anthem were really the only criterion to determine a good citizen where it matters, then even Jehova's witnesses would have known that even with God alongside. But if we have to think for one second what this evil of a principal does in that mole hole of an office, then even a monkey will be too intelligent to know she has violated whatever constitution ten folds.
SOUTHERN CAMEROON GO BEFORE.

[ATS]

ha!ha!ha!, NOBODY FORCES ME TO SING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF FRANCE OR GERMANY. NO CHANCE! If we keep God out of this, i'll just read it as the beginning of rejection of LRC. Besides, one sings national anthems of countries to which they belong and whose authorities are conscious and responsible in their actions. If singing the national anthem were really the only criterion to determine a good citizen where it matters, then even Jehova's witnesses would have known that even with God alongside. But if we have to think for one second what this evil of a principal does in that mole hole of an office, then even a monkey will be too intelligent to know she has violated whatever constitution ten folds.
SOUTHERN CAMEROON GO BEFORE.

[katakata]

STUDENT DISMISSED FOR NOT SINGING ANTHEM!!!

THE PRINCIPAL IS RIGHT..YES SHE IS VERY RIGHT IN HER MEDIOCRITY.IF SHE WERE RATIONAL IN HER REASONING I WOULD CHARGE HER WITH BIAIS, BUT AS IT IS , SHE HAS WEIGHED HERSELF IN HER OWN SCALES AND FINDS HERSELF WANTING.SO SHE LASHES OUT AT A MERE FORM 2 PUPIL WHO IS COURAGEOUS AND COURTEOUS ENOUGH TO STAND HER OWN MORAL GROUNDS...

SHAME!!!! SHAME!!! AND SHAME AGAIN UNTO YOU FOR PERPETUATING NAZI-TYPE IDEOLOGIES IN THE POST AHIDJO-NEW DEAL ERA.

HOW MUCH WEALTH, OR DOSAGE OF MORALS DO THOSE WHO SING THE ANTHEM SHOW CASE AS FRUITS OF THEIR PATRIOTISM? PATRIOTISM TO WHO? TO WHAT ? AND FOR WHICH CAUSE? DO THESE QUESTIONS EVER HAUNT YOU IN YOUR SOLITARY MOMENTS?

MAYBE YOU SET OUT TO BUILD A HEROIC FIGURE FOR YOURSELF BY TAKING SUCH THOUGHTLESS DECISIONS..DECISIONS YOU WONT EVEN CONSIDER IF THE SON OF THE GOVERNOR INSULTED YOU TO YOUR FACE..SO YOU HAVE TWO SCALES FOR THE SAME MEASURE..SO TELL ME..WHAT SANCTION WOULD YOU METE OUT ON THE DAUGHTER OF THE GOVERNOR IF SHE WOULDNT SING THE SAME ANTHEM BECAUSE OF HER RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS...

DO YOU HAVE A BIBLE? THEN READ ACTS 5:29..WHAT DOES IT SAY?

I WASNT THERE WITH YOU ..BUT I CAN TELL YOU LIED TO THE JOURNALIST..YOU LIED TO THE PUBLIC..WITNESS CHILDREN ARE BROUGHT UP TO OBEY THEIR PARENTS AND THE SUPERIOR AUTHORITIES. THAT LIITLE GIRL WOULDNT BE RUDE TO YOU. REMEMBER SHE SAID SHE WOULDNT SING THE ANTHEM BASED ON HER CONSCIENCE'S DIRECTIVES,; SO THE ISSUE HERE IS NOT ABOUT BREAKING BOUNDS. THE CONVENTION AT MILE FOUR RAN FROM FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. SO WHEN DID SHE BREAK BOUNDS? IS YOUR SCHOOL A NEW DORMITORY SCHOOL? MAYBE YOU NEED TO REDEFINE WHAT IT MEANS TO BREAK BOUNDS.

IF YOU VALUE MATERIAL THINGS MORE THAN SPIRITUAL THINGS, YOU SHOULDNT LASH OUT AT OTHERS BECAUSE THEY DONT SHARE THE SAME INTERESTS WITH YOU. YOUR STATEMENTS PROVE THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN NOTE THAT SHE DOESNT SING THE ANTHEM BASED ON HER BELIEVES, AND SO EVEN IF SHE REQUESTED PERMISSION FROM THE SCHOOL WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE IT WONT BE GRANTED HER...YOU CAUSED HER TO REBEL , YES SHE OWED ALLEGIANCE TO A SUPERIOR AUTHORITY: JEHOVAH; THE SAME AUTHORITY WHOSE RULES YOU FLOUT ON A DAILY BASIS..TELL ME, HOW OFTEN DO YOU LIE, EXTORT MONEY FROM PARENTS DURING ADMISSIONS, AND EVEN COMMIT IMMORALITY BEHIND YOUR SPOUSE? HAS GOD GIVEN YOU A KNOCK ON YOUR HEAD FOR ALL THESE?

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ARE PEACABLE PEOPLE, AND WONT INDULGE IN YOUR GREED-RIDDEN CUT THROAT POLITICS...THEY PREACH AND PRACTICE LOVE..MUST YOU DETEST THEM FOR POSSESSING SUCH HUMBLE TRAITS?

UNLIKE WHAT SOMEONE SAID CONCERNING GOING TO COURT, BE INFORMED THAT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WILL GO TO COURT FOR A JUST COURSE, AND DONT BE SURPRISED THAT A "MERE" TAXI DRIVER SHOULD BE THE PERSON TO SEND YOU ON YOUR KNEES IN COURT...IF I WERE AROUND, I SHALL TAKE THIS CASE AS A PERSONAL MATTER...BECAUSE THAT LITTLE GIRL YOU JUST DISMISSED IS INNOCENT...BUT DONT FORGET THE WORDS OF JESUS..

" A SLAVE IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS MASTER..IF THEY PERSECUTED ME, THEY SHALL PERSECUTE YOU ALSO.."

YOU HAVE UNWITTINGLY FULFILLED THIS PROPHECY ON A LITTLE GIRL, AND JUST LIKE JUDAS YOU ARE SURELY LOOKING FOR MEANS TO UNDO THE FOLLY YOU JUST COMMITTED, YES YOU ARE REQUESTING THE PHARISEES TO TAKE BACK THEIR 30 SILVER PIECES AS PROPHESIED..POOR YOU....SUNDAY CHURCH GOER.

IF YOU ARE SINCERE TO YOURSELF..CALL THAT LITTLE GIRL BEFORE THE SAME DISCIPLINARY COMMITTE AND TENDER AN APOLOGY TO HER..BELIEVE ME..SHE WOULD FORGIVE YOU AND EVEN COMPENSATE YOU WITH A DEEPER STUDY OF GOD'S WORD -THE BIBLE

[katakata]

KATAKATA TO BOUNCE BACK SOON

KATAKATA WAS ON LEAVE, AND IS STILL ON LEAVE..SO THE TABLOID "THE SURGEON " HAS BEEN OFF THE CHARTS FOR LONG---HE SHALL BE BACK SOON..

HE JUST COULDNT STAND THE ABUSE OF OFFICE BY SOME CROOK OF A PRINCIPAL WHO WE ALL KNOW IS PART OF A CLIQUE WHICH SWINDLES PARENTS OF MONEY EVERY NEW ACADEMIC YEAR AT REGISTRATIONS...THE BURSERS SHOULD BE READY TO EXPLAIN THEIR ROLE IN THIS RACKET , BECAUSE PARENTS NEED TO KNOW WHY THEY PAY MORE THAN THE INSTITUTED STATE FEES..

THIS DEBATE IS OPEN

[Akoson]

As I write, there is great political unrest in Southern Cameroons territory.

Heavily armed Police and Gendarmes (a military unit) of La Republique du Cameroun raided a press conference hosted by the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) in Bamenda, Southern Cameroons today Saturday, Jan.20 2007. The over 300 civilians attending the press conference are currently undergoing flagrant abuse of their human rights by means of physical torture and psychological abuse. Many have been badly wounded. The venue of the press conference was ransacked by armed Gendarmes. After keeping the people at the premises for three hours, they were loaded into army trucks and taken away into detention. Among the over 300 people arrested at the press conference are:
SCNC National Chairman Chief Ayamba Ette Otun
SCNC National Vice Chairman Nfor Ngala Nfor
Other SCNC Executive Members
Journalists
Over 200 members of the general public
The people of Southern Cameroons call on you to use what ever means necessary to inform the international community of the barbarism of the Government of La Republique du Cameroun. Please intervene by mounting pressure on the Cameroun government to release these people. Their lives are in great danger!

In God's name we thank you,

Tonga Nfor
Southern Cameroonian.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Akoson]

Dear People,

This writer was an eye witness to one of the most horrible incidents marking the beginning of this promising year 2007. As a journalist and an activist of the struggle for the Independence of former British Southern Cameroons,this reporter saw the so-called Cameroun's New Criminal Code being dashed on the rocks by the agents and forces of La Republique du Cameroun.Here below is a synoptic presentation of the event.

1. 1:30 P.M.- Activists and journalists assemble in the compound of late Pa Stephen Ndi( housing the office of SCNC;[ at least 250 activists, 7 journalists; the leaders of SCNC and other invited leaders from other groups.]

2. 1:45 P.M. - The Press Conference proper begins with a word from Chief Ayamba, the SCNC Chairman, and a presentation by Nfor.N. Nfor, Vice SCNC Chair...mainly on his recent tours to Asia, Europe and the USA.

3. 2:30 P.M. - As he is rounding up his presentation, a contingent of well armed gendarmes arive the premises and sorround the area...led by the Company Commander for Gendarmerie, Mezam..himself a Southern
Cameroonian.

4. 2:45 P.M.- A journalist of The Post newspaper who was coordinating the Press Conference stands up to give the modalities for the Conference.. .he is hushed down by the "Officer"... who then proceeds to announce that he has been sent to arrest the "activists" . At this juncture, Chief Ayamba asks to see the arrest warrant from
the State Counsel, according to their so-called new Criminal Code. He presents a letter from the SDO Mezam signed on 20th January 2007( a Saturday). The letter further states that the arrest is ordered
on the "Activists"! !!

Journalists and many enlightened activists, prominent amongst whom were Stephen Kongso of Kumbo, reminded the Officer that the close to 250 present are all activists and if at all any arrests were to take place, all will go. He was reminded that only the State Counsel has the right to issue an arrest warrant, not an administrator. Moreover, their law prohibits arrests on non-working days. The Officer , who looked embarrased , was given free lectures on their new law and the raison d'etre of the struggle. He had no option but
to call the SDO himself.

In less than 30 minutes, the 1st Ass. SDO arrived and ordered the leaders to surrender and follow him to the "Station". This activist reminded the leaders that they were under no obligation to sort out themselves to be arrested. Moreover, everyone present was an activist of the struggle. It were better they used force to arrest them in a private residence than they moving to the streets to be arrested there. This caused Mr. SDO to retreat and later came in with a full force of the Mobile Intervention Squad, the Police, to back up the gendarmes. More vehicles were brought as well.It took the forces close to 45 minutes to arrest some 50 activists who were driven to the detention
camps.

N/B. TORTURES:
THE POPULATION HAD GATHERED IN THEIR THOUSANDS AT THE COW STREET AREA AND WERE WITNESSES TO THE BRUTAL TREATMENT GIVEN THE ACTIVISTS, AS THEY WERE BEING THROWN INTO THE TRUCKS.

This reporter saw a young gendarme office violently remove the cap of a 70 year old man in the back of a truck, and hit with open palms on his nostrils.

Nfor Nfor { I hope I am right here} was seen being hit with the butt of a gun as he was thrown at the back of a truck. The trucks were full, so the other activists decided to follow on foot. This activist/reporter was violently pushed of the veranda where he was
taking notes( by our fellow Southern Cameroonian. ..Company Commander for Mezam. He hails from Donga Mantung orBui...details later). The SDO intervened and told Mr. Commander to be careful with journalists. Reason why I am able to give this quick
report in a rush. Commentaries are rife on the lips of all. We will be hearing them, as the entire press was there from start to finish.

So, what next>>>??

[Mclims]

Hi all, it beats my imagination that some of you instead of looking at this matter as a social crises, we decide to do it as a political issue. True enough many have their reason and their point of view is very loyal to them and those who reason in thesame light. The National anthem is something that is not meant to deter us from our believes and customs. Southern Cameroonians don't want it true, but follow reason and anot instinct. Every enviroment has rules and regulations, and as the bible says clearly, respecting the institution of heirachy is a virtue cause every person put to serve the community should be respected. Jesus, did not despise the King during his trial, but said," if you have power to do with me as you will, that power comes from my father in heaven", he again said, give unto caesar what is dully his and to God what is his. God called on Moses to make laws that will lead the Israelites, funny enough today so many of us christian denominations shun those laws, as though they were unfounded. Christ said, I came not to put an end to the laws of Moses, but to fullfil them. Therefore, if it is a matter of civil responsibility to sing the national anthem, I do not think the child had the right to refuse. What if the lady in question, the childs mother,a teacher who is suppose to be of civic responsibility called upon to teach the anthem in school. If for paedagogic reasons she will, then as a call for civic responsibility she should. All those who think the anthem is wrong, after the Southern Cameroon gains Independence, we shall be compelled to sing songs of freedom and liberation, and he who does not will be taunted as though he was against the independence. So follow reason and not instinct. An assesment of the anthem.

I should say, the whole idea behind the anthem is paying respect for fallen patriots, and not what the young girl proffessed.
O cameroon, the cradle of our fathers.
True enough, it is the cradle of our fathers cause they gave their lives there and were buried there as the anthem says. There is no part of the anthem that pays allegiance to the NAtion and not to God. Gentlemen and LAdies, do not just pick up a stupid argument and braodcast because you belong to an opposit school of thought. The example by the father of the Hebrew boys is greatly unfounded. Abednego and his brothers refused to pay homage to the work of Human hands as the bible says. The nation is the work of God and not of Human hands.There is great recalsitrance in a young gal saying she won't ask for permission to go worship. True enough, I have seen cases where children are left out of school to take part in church activities. So she does not consider the administration as any competent authority. The bible orders us to respect authority even if it is willed against the spirit for God along decides. While we struggle to gain the independence of Southern Cameroon, we should pledge to be good citizens too, cause issue like this will sprout and we shall be found in a laissez faire system of Government, which even the bible does not favour. I will do an assesstment of the anthem and use biblical illustrations. God set up the rule of kings and rulers, even if you are against a particular one, God is in control and decides extermination of a lineage. So I challenge those of you who have written articles on this issue to follow reason and not instinct. Show me a part of the anthem that dishonors God, just one and I will be there to look at it with you.

[katakata]

TO MCLIMS: KUDDOS FOR A SILLY RHETOIC....

WHEN YOU READ THE BIBLE, MAKE SURE YOU READ IT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AN ANTHEM DONT FORGET THE RITUALS PRECEDING ITS SINGING.

YOU SOUND SO SURE, YES SO GULLIBLE TO EVERY STATEMENT THE OFFICIAL AUTHORITIES MADE CONCERNING THE GIRL..

IT IS YOU THAT IS GIVING THE MATTER POLITICAL UNDERTONES.

NOW READ THESE LINES CAREFULLY: MAYBE YOU SHALL COME OUT WISER OR AT WORST MORE CONFUSED BY WHAT YOU PROFESS TO BELIEVE AND NOT BELIEVE.

"THAT LITTLE GIRL KNOWS THERE IS MORE TO SINGING AN ANTHEM THAN MEETS THE EYE..AND TO YOUR CASE, THE ANALOGICAL PATTERN OF YOUR MISCONCEIVED JUDGEMENT...

SINGING THE ANTHEM INVOLVES A WHOLE SET OF RITUALS WHICH FIT PERFECTLY IF PUT SIDE BY SIDE THE EXAMPLE OF THE 3 HEBREW CAPTIVES.

NOW LEARN WHAT YOU NEVER UNDERSTOOD BEFORE AND THIS MIGHT GIVE YOUR BRAINS A LIITLE SHAKE AND SUBSEQUENT SHIFT IN OPINIONS:

BEFORE THE ANTHEM IS SUNG, THE FLAG IS HOISTED IN RITUALISTIC SYMBOLISM, AND ALL PRESENT HAVE TO FOLLOW PIOUSLY, AND SILENTLY THE ASCENT OF THE FLAG AS IT CLIMBS UP THE POST: NO ONE MOVES IN RESPECT FOR THAT SYMBOL WHICH IS JUST THE SAME AS THE STATURE RAISED UP BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR FOR VENERATION. THEN THE HOISTER STEPS BACK SALUTES THE FLAG AND THEN THE ANTHEM COMES TO CROWN THE VENERATION AND ADORATION OF A PIECE OF CLOTH, PAINTED WITH BRIGHT COLOURS WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO REPRESENT THE STATE...THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE 3 HEBREW CAPTIVES REFUSED TO DO..THEY REFUSED TO GIVE THEIR WORSHIP TO IMAGES....AND FOR DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR TODAY, YOU CLOSE YOUR EYE TO A BIBLICAL LESSON AND CONDEMN THE GIRL'S ACTIONS YET UPHOLD THAT OF THE 3 HEBREWS..HAS A PROPHET EVER BEEN KNOWN IN HIS OWN LAND?

YET I UNDERSTAND YOUR LIMITATIONS..IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT THAT YOU SHOULD FIND FAULT WITH SOMEONE ELSE'S VIEWPOINT..

TELL ME , HOW OFTEN DOES THE FLAG RETURN A GREETING TO YOU WHEN YOU SALUTE IT IN REVERENECE? HOW OFTEN DOES THE FLAG REFUSE TO BE TOSSED BY THE WIND? IT IS LIFELESS, AND SOME PEOPLE WILL BURN IT OR PUT IT TO SOME DEGRADING USE..ITS JUST A PIECE OF CLOTH..AND FOR WHOM IS THE ANTHEM SUNG? FOR THE PICE OF CLOTH, OR TO THE DEPARTED FOUNDING FOUNDERS??? DO THEY HEAR THE SONG? IF YOU ARENT SURE THEN READ ECCLESIATES 9:5-10. IT SHALL HELP YOU ALSO.

THAT LITTLE GIRL SEES BEYOND SINGING A SONG..SHE SEES IN IT A RITUAL SONG IN PRAISE AND AROUND ADORATION OF AN IMAGE, THE FLAG, WHICH IN EFFECT DISREGARDS THE POSITION OF GOD.

WHY NOT ADMIT THAT YOU HAVE LEARNT FROM HER? WHY NOT ADMIT THAT IT IS THE OVER ZEALOUS HIGH-HANDED PRINCIPAL WHO IS FLOUTING THE RULES OF THE MOST HIGH AS ACTS 5:29 CLEARLY STATES..DID YOU READ IT?

OFCOURSE YOU CAN TALK ABOUT POLITICS, BUT REMEMBER THIS: THAT GIRL WILL NEVER TAKE PART IN THAT GAME OF MUTUAL HATTRED AND BACKSTABBING CALLED POLITICS...YOU KNOW IT IS GREED THAT PUSHES PEOPLE INTO IT..AND THEY CALL THEMSELVES PATRIOTS AND NATION BUILDERS BUT AT SAME TIME STEAL FROM THE PUBLIC TREASURY..REAL PATRIOTS INDEED..AND WE SHOULD SING FOR THEM AND GIVE GUN SALUTES AFTER THEY ARE DEAD...HYPOCRITES..YOU GONNA PAY THE PRICE SOME DAY.

YOU CAN CHANT YOUR "FREEDOM SONGS" , BUT PLEASE LET OTHERS CHANT THEIR PRAISES TO SOMEONE WHO LISTENS, SOMEONE WHO GIVES LIFE AND HAS PROMISED A DECENT FUTURE FOR ALL WHO BELIEVE IN HIM (JOHN 3:16)

BUT MY GOD, WHO ARE YOU TO QUESTION THAT GIRL'S "DISREGARD" FOR THE SAME POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH MANY OF YOUR LIKE, AND PROBABLY THE PRINCIPAL INCLUDED ARE STRIVING DAY AND NIGHT TO DISOBEY , DISTABILIZE AND CREATE "YOUR OWN" PIE IN THE SKY OF A SOUTHERN CAMEROON???

TELL ME..
TELL ME
YES TELL ME

WHO IS FANNING FLAMES OF LAISSEZ-FAIRE?
IS IT YOU WITH YOUR SECCESSIONIST IDEAS?
OR IS IT THAT GIRL WHO USES HER BIBLE DAILY TO RECONCILE YOU ALL TO REASON????????

LEST YOU FORGET...GOD HAS SINCE STOPPED USING HUMANS TO SIT ON HIS THRONE HERE ON EARTH..WAS ISRAEL THE ONLY NATION ON EARTH BACK THEN? NO! BUT ISRAEL WAS THE ONLY NATION WITH A GOD APPOINTED KING..THE REST (EGYPT, BABYLON, ETHIOPIA etc) WERE NOT RULED BY A DIVINE KING.

SO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT WHATEVER THE KINGS SAY, A MAN MUST FOLLOW, ESPECIALLY IF IT CONFLICTS WITH HIS MORALS AND GOD TRAINED CONSCIENCE????

STOP MISQUOTING THE "CAESAR'S T0 CAESAR AND GOD'S TO GOD" PARABLE.

OK..LOVE IS GOOD..SO SINCE YOUR SISTER NEEDS LOVE AND IS BEAUTIFUL...GO ON, MAKE LOVE TO HER AND MAKE HER FEEL GOOD AND BELOVED OF HER BROTHER???? DID I HEAR YOU SAY INCEST??

YOU WANTED A PART OF THE ANTHEM THAT DISHONOURS GOD? I THINK YOU ALREADY FOUND THEM IN THIS PANEGYRIC.

DID I HEAR YOU SAY THE NATION IS THE HANDIWORK OF GOD? HOW MISTAKEN YOU ARE. THE ONLY NATION GOD EVER SET UP ON EARTH THROUGH A SERIES OF COVENANTS WAS THE NATION OF ISRAEL(NOW EXTANT). WHEN GOD CREATED THE NATION OF ISRAEL HE SET UP HIS OWN KINGS BY MEANS OF A THEOCRACY...TELL ME, HOW MANY KINGS, INCLUDING YOUR PRESIDENT HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD TO LEAD THE NATION? I DONT THINK GOD ENCOURAGES THE RIGGING OR GUN POINT DEMOCRACY THAT UNGODLY NATIONS PRACTICE TODAY...YOU STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT GOD AND HIS PURPOSES, AND ONCE YOU GRASP THAT, YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK THIS KIND OF LANGUAGE ANYLONGER.

GOOD DAY TO YOU

[Akoson]

Demonstration In Memory of Slained UB Students

The Southern Cameroons Center in Bochum invites all Southern Cameroonians in Germany to attend a public demonstration built for Saturday 10th February 2007 at Heierbusch 28, Essen-Germany.

Themes:

-Protesting the killings at the University of Buea

-Protesting recent arrests of activists in Ndu and Bamenda

-Free all Southern Cameroons political prisoners

The Cameroons is known at the international scene only because of its football. In this image, Biya`s government have portrayed the Cameroons as a peaceful country. The killings and destruction of the lone anglo-saxon University in Buea at the end of last year unravels again the regime`s determination to eradicate our much admired educational system.

Join us in Essen-Germany to show the international Community what Paul Biya calls a “PEACEFUL CAMEROUN”.

BE PART OF YOUR HISTORY

Programme

12.00 prompt Assemble at the Essen Hbf Sub exit

13:00 prompt drive with tram 101 or 107 up to last stop called Zeunerstr.

-Protest march from there through Bredeneyerstr., Bredeneyer Kreuz, Meisenburgstr. and into Heierbusch uptil house number 28.

14:00 Southern Cameroons National anthem

14:05 Welcome speech from the moderator of the demo

- Speeches from delegates

- Freedom songs

- Speech from Southern Cameroons Ambassador to Germany

- Handing over of petition to the Consular officer of La Republique du Cameroun in Essen Dr. Hans Walter

- Freedom songs

16:00 prompt Closing remark by the SCYL Scribe

Contacts:

Magdalene Ngassa Fuabeh Victor A

01745707745 01734376888

Akosah Francis Ngulefac Beltus

01709465975 015203280668

Southern Cameroons Center

02342970372

[Akoson]

SCYL SCRIBE AND NATIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL BREAKS THE SILENCE
Interview with the National Secretary General of the SCYL, Comrade Ayaba Cho Lucas

Conducted by the Public Relations Officer of SCYL Holland

PRO: Mr. SG, welcome to Den Haag, what is the purpose of your visit?

SG: I came to consult with my colleagues of the SCYL, shore up their branch and to sell the message and strategy of the organization for the year 2007.

PRO: What message did you bring along and would you qualify the mission as a success?

SG: The mission has been quite successful. I met a dynamic branch with a strong leadership that demonstrated during their meeting a strong sense of purpose and an unwavering determination to wreck the system that has held our dreams and aspirations in captivity. As concerns my message, it is nothing different from what we have conceived in the past years. I will not duel into the tactical and strategic issues of my message but in a nutshell I came with a message that addresses both diplomatic as well as military issues.

PRO: How would you assess 2006 from the SCYL perspective and what is the message for our people for the year 2007

SG: 2006 has been a particularly violent year in the history of our campaign for a sovereign and independent homeland. We witnessed bestiality at its peak in the University of Buea. We witnessed unarmed students gunned down at close range. Indeed, as a former student of that university, it breaks my heart to watch the generation that is suppose to set the Southern Cameroons on a collision course with economic and political advancement treated with such carnage. We also witnessed the execution in detention of a brave and determined fighter. Pa Tete was an ardent supporter of the principles of the SCYL and when every man of his aged cowed in the face of the options presented by my organization, he organized his constituency and prepared them for battle. He was captured as a fighter, he died as one and for this our people are grateful for his sacrifice. My message to our people for this year is one of hope. Our people should continue to resist in what ever way possible. From Ndu to Buea, resistance remains the only antidote to this violent occupation of our land. And in the end analyses, the Southern Cameroons is ours and the SCYL leadership will do everything humanly possible to shift the political equilibrium to our favour in the year 2007

PRO: Your message sounds particularly different from the one being preached by other organizations which calls on our people to wait for UNPO, Banjul or the UN

SG: What did UNPO or Banjul or the UN do when students of the University of Buea were being killed? You see, it is treacherous to ask a people not to defend themselves in the face of such violent attacks. I understand your question is referring to the stance being taken by the SCNC and SCAPO. The SCYL has good working relations with SCAPO and I have had long sessions with Dr. Gumne on ways and means of advancing the struggle and can’t remember at any moment when he mentioned Banjul as a possible rescue option. Though we disagree on some basic issues, the SCYL and SCAPO see eye to eye on the question of self-defense. As concerns UNPO and the message of the SCNC, I will disagree fundamentally with these octogenarians. They should return to their villages, raise crops and shut up. The Southern Cameroons was admitted into UNPO and not the SCNC. And if examples are to go by, Taiwan as a member of UNPO is building one of the most sophisticated military in Asia to fend off any Chinese attack. East Timor got her independence through a combination of long years of resistance and liberation diplomacy.

PRO: Ten years after the incidences of 1997, the SCYL has remained silent on what happened. Can you without revealing anything tell us what happened?

SG: I will be traveling to the US in the coming months and for the first time in ten years the top three brass of the organization will meet. We will review 1997 from an organizational standpoint and only then can we issue a statement.

PRO: Was the SCYL responsible for what happened in 1997?
SG: No comment!

PRO: You just talked about a trip to the US, is the purpose of your trip to attend the Dallas conference being organized by the SCNC Southern zone US chapter?

SG: The purpose of my trip is to consult with Southern Cameroons activists and asked for their support for our plan of action for the year 2007. I will also want to use it to meet some dynamic persons who have been very supportive of the SCYL. I will like to get to thank them personally and ask them for more support. I will also want to have consultations with members of the Interim government and most importantly to have the top brass of the SCYL meet and agree on the details of the difficult mission we have set for ourselves this year. As concerns the Dallas conference the SCYL has not received any official communications from the organizers. And our participation or non participation if invited will depend solely on the outcome of pre-conference discussions and agreements. I gather there are some positive thinkers involve but any conference that does not seek to adopt the method of self-defense as a viable option is not worth our official participation

PRO: You just talked about meeting some individuals, can you shed more light on who these individuals are?

SG: No I will not mention these persons by name. As concerns Mr. Nfor, the policy of the SCYL has not changed. I will not meet Nfor any time soon before he retracts from calling the actions of the SCYL as terrorism. He must also stop using some individuals in the field to put my comrades in harm ways.

PRO: Can the SCYL defeat LRC on its own without the support of others:

SG: Yes. It might take longer, but we are going to defeat LRC as an organization or coalition with others. We face them as students without any support and defeated them. Despite the fact that we don’t make public statements, activists of the SCYL have continuously challenge the occupation in small scale operations

PRO: Was the Mungo bridge incident one of such operations?

SG: I held a meeting on operation intestine in Victoria in 2004, paid the cost and 24.00hrs later the intestine became rubble.

PRO: Has the SCYL made some diplomatic contacts and what were the outcomes?

SG: The SCYL has done more diplomatic offensives than any movement that purports to believe in diplomacy as a means of securing our independence. Even while in jail, the SCYL chairman reached out to the world than most of us close enough to foreign capitals. I have met the British, Americans, South Africans, and Nigerians. I have talked with members of the EU, visited the Norwegian foreign ministry, spoken with the Belgians, Nigerians. I even met the former Vice president of the DRC, Mr. Azarias Rubewa, the former president of Burundi, Piere Buyoya, minister of information for Sudan, some Eastern European members of parliament. And the message from these individuals especially the Africans has been “…we understand your plight and pain but you must go get your freedom like others have done and only then shall we come to your support…”. The Nigerians even chastised us for cowardice.

PRO: On another note, Mr. SG, do you believe there will come a time when the different movements will reconciled and decide to have a unique leadership?

SG: No. This is impossible because of the intractable differences that have plagued our relationship. These differences sometimes do not stem from different approaches; rather they are born out of what we want. I want freedom and I do not care how it comes. But the question we must ask ourselves is whether these do nothing for generation that has brought confusion in the mindset of our people really want freedom. I guess they are interested in power and they are strongly convinced that by virtue of their ages they have an unquestionable mandate to lead our people. I don’t see myself only as a leader in the SCYL but as a leader of our people and I have no doubt our people will lend us their support as they have done before. Maybe there is a way to manage these conflicts or transforming them for our mutual benefit but resolution is out of the question. We should also understand another fundamental issue here. While they die in hospitals and we carry their caskets on our shoulders and give decent burials, we die on the streets of Kumbo, Bamenda, Buea and in the jails set up across the length and breath of LRC. We remain the leaders of our people and if they don’t understand peacefully, we will make them understand violently

PRO: What message do you have for the leaders of LRC.

SG: I am a soldier and I don’t communicate with LRC through the internet. This is the most murderous political system that the French have implanted in our continent and they don’t understand scripted languages. They know how we communicate with them and they have been getting the message. They will understand in the nearest future that if those piecemeal doses we administered were not lethal enough to knock them out, we will be blinded to what conventions and treaties may say about the rule of war.

PRO: What is your final message?

SG: To our people is an appreciation for their relentless effort in making sure the final chapters of this sad saga is written in their favour. Our people should also know that we are doing everything humanly possible to speed up that day when freedom will be ushered in but without their sacrifice and willingness to defend our land, homes and streets we will run this race in vain and the blood of Julius Ngu Ndi, Patrick Yimbu and others death and those in jail must have been spilled in vain.
To the occupier, I want them to know that, henceforth everybody will be a target and we will make no
distinction between their interest that supports the occupation and the forces that enforce the occupation.

For the SCYL,

Comrade Konfor Ignatius Ngebe
SCYL Information Service ,
The Netherlands

[Mclims]

Katakata,
Thanks very much for your piece. I read through it and digested it well. Thanks for it. However, I will think it rude to use abusive language cause it just tells a lot of what someone is. Anyway, back to issue of discussion before sentiments drive us mad. I am always ready to learn and where I find reason I do. I however did not get any clear cut from your piece. The question again is same, What verse of the anthem refuses homage to God and gives the nation? Please do not look further than the eyes. I mean think what the anthem is suppose to say and not what it actually says. Thanks very muhc for your quotes of the bible but please try to check them again and match the things you say with the quotes. The hoisting of the flag and silence and reverence paid simply means the nation stands before us and has us all in it. |It does not say that the nation is greater than God. Then insolence for authority means nothing to you in the case in point. Anyway, sorry I did not like take the quote of give unto caesar what to him belongs as so important as you say. I should tell you that, the society has common rules and regulations, and so in-house or denominational rules should not be our point of focus here. I am a catholic christian and many people have contrary views of catholicism. Thus, if all of us take into consideration this, you will discover there are so many issues that will need to be desired. The Mormons will say theirs, the adventist, the baptist and the pressbytarians will say theirs. But then, no place in the bible equally says you disrespect the authority. Please focus your argument on the anthem anyway and give me the quotes of the bible that denies the respect for the nation.
I respect your opinion if you refuse to look at it from this point of view, but cause I will be willing to let you teach me something, I will read again to see what you have written to tell me where homage is denied God and paid to thenation in the national anthem.
Thanks

[vito]

Mclims the entire anthem pays hommage to the nation and a few dead men none of them lil kelly's relatives and definitely not her ancestors.The second line says cameroun is a holy shrine for these "gods" and there's not a single line referring to God Almighty, talk less of paying Him hommage;in fact the word'God' doesnt even feature in the song.
Besides i think what's relevant here is the fact that singing the national anthem is not compulsory;proof is the president never sings the damn thing.
Anyhow you choose to look at it,one fact stands out clear;Ms Etonde had no right to deprive that child of her natural and constitutional rights to education.Thanks

[Ma Mary]

Flag burning is a very controversial act in the US. It is something that is done very rarely, as an act of extreme protest, by an individual or group about the direction and policies of the country. There are some conservative figures who have made a proposal (just as controversial) that flag burning should be declared unconstitutional and banned. It is controversial because flag burning seen by many experts as a form of constitutionally guaranteed free speech.

Jehovah Witness refusal to honor flag and anthem is also part of the American scene. It is seen as a kind of weird religious belief, but that they have the right to that belief. I have not heard of a Jehovah witness being thrown out of school for refusing to do those things. On the whole, Jehovah Witnesses are good, law abiding citizens of any country in which they reside and are citizens. Imprisonment and persecution with regard to their peculiar equation of national anthem and flag with religious worship always makes the persecuting country to look bad. Looking bad is nothing new with la Republique. It is a primitive caricature of France, where the cheeses are smellier and the deodorant does not work.

Even in the 70s many good people were prosecuted and imprisoned in the Cameroons to long prison terms for the silly crime of not saluting the flag. What is the point of disrupting this poor child's education? Everybody now knows that Witnesses are not going to budge on this point. How many harmless people are going to suffer because of this absurdity.

About 5 years ago, some Southern Cameroons activists danced and stomped on a flag of la Republique while raising the Southern Cameroons flag in Washington DC. That was a strong act of protest, more contemptuous than even flagburning.

Flag itself and national anthem is a product of strong nationalism, a product of Europe and a human disease that has caused a lot of conflict and blood shed. The Jehovah Witness actions should cause people to reflect about things that we all take for granted.

[M Nje]

“Kelly boldly told me that taking permission from the school authorities to serve God was out of place because God is the only authority that grants permissions and not mere mortals, this I think is sheer fanaticism, said the Principal.

Vito,
Keep aside the issue of the anthem. How do you talk about the constitutional right of the child when she seems not to recognize even the basic rules in school? She seems not to believe in man-made laws; hence the constitution (“God is the only authority that grants permissions and not mere mortals,” she said). You cannot seek protection from the very laws that you don`t believe in. That is hypocrisy. She breaks school bounds and does not show any regret. That is wrong. Children are supposed to show some respect to school authorities at that age. If what the principal said above is true, then she deserve to be dismissed for breaking school bounds alone irrespective of the other count.

Make no mistake, I am not in anyway supporting the government authorities in La Republique, neither am I an advocate for the principal. But I can tell you that the principal did everything reasonable in this case. She brought in the parent to try to resolve the issue; which is an indication that she had no intent to see the child dismissed. I think Kelly`s mother is preparing her for a FAUILURE. Here is what she said: “every parent has the right to groom her child the way they so desire.” That statement is an indication that the mother supports and encourages her (Kelly) to disobey schools rules when she breaks school bounds. That is unacceptable. She has the obligation to let her know that when you go to any establishment be it school or employment site, you have to obey the internal rules. Some of them are place for your safety.

Let me remain you also that the idea of school bounds is not limited to a boarding school. When a student comes to a school such as GHS Bokwango, he or she is registered as present. From the moment you step on school property, you are under the custody of the school authorities. They have to account for anything that happens to you during those hours. That is why you must seek permission before you leave the school premises. You will want to know that if she had an accident or any other injure while she left the school premises for church, the authorities may be held responsible.

Make no mistake; Kelly is no “Rosa Park.” Rosa Park fought for equality before the law. This child is asking for an exception before the law. She wants the law to follow are “religion” (no school bounds). What if a Muslim child came up and request that the Koran should be used during school prayers or religion classes instead of the Bible.

Rules are created in society to bring harmony and order. Before you step into an environment, you should know the rules. If you don`t like them then ask that they be change, but do not be arrogant.

There is no doubt that if this child maintains this attitude of disrespect and arrogance, she will be limiting here place in society. Where will she work for example, if she does not even believe in taking permission? I hope I am wrong, but I am afraid I might be right.

NB:I am still to find a place in the Bible that says you should disobey school rules. Until then, this child and her parents are fanatics.

[Ma Mary]

M Nje: You are also correct, in my opinion. I do not think kids can absent themselves from school and go out of bounds, and neither can adults take off nilly willy from work without consequence. It would be utter chaos for children to be able to do that and needless to say a liability to the school, which is supposed to be responsibility for safety. Personally, I think people do and believe a lot of craziness in the name of religion and it is a challenge to determine how much religion is too much religion and finding that balance which protects individual freedom while protecting the common good. That point of balance is so different between us and la Republique francais du Cameroun. The difference is cultural and political gap that cannot be bridged.

[Fon]

Anything that has to do with Jehovah Witnesses is very complicated. Their belief is very strong and sometimes at their detriment.I saw the child of a Jehovah witness withdrawn from hospital and allowed to die because the parents refused blood transfusion. To them, the bible is against blood transfusion. What do we say about this child that was allowed to die in such circumtances? Was it not the responsibility of the parents to safe the life of this child? I think in all cases, extemism is not good.

For those who are talking about Kelly´s constitutional rights, the Jehova witnesses have no regard for a constitution. To them, they think any constitution or rules governing any society must be replaced by the the bible.

While I respect the different views on this matter, I wish to caution against extremism. How many of us support the jihad which is fought by Muslims? They will argue that they are guided by the holy Quran just as Kelly will argue that she is guided by the bible and does not need to take permission from mortals.

[vito]

Thanks M Nje;but then we have only the principal's word as far as the child's remark about taking permission from mortals and like i said "testis unis testis nullus".Of course she felt miffed somehow to be so put to her place by a mere form two kid.what wont she say to justify her error?And then brother no child i repeat no child should be dsmissed from school for not singing the national anthem.
breaking bounds is something else and i concur with you that its irresponsible but then i dont think she's a repeat offender on that count,so why didnt she get some 4days or even 8 days suspension to make her see reason?No she got an education 'life' sentence;even though we have someone telling us the convention in victoria was on a friday and GHS Bokwango happens to be a day school.what bounds are we then talking about and by the way since we all agree the principal was already at odds with the child on her religious beliefs i'm very certain her handling of the situation was not fair.Truthi is if students are to be dismissed for breaking bounds in government day schools like GHS Bokwango i'm sure Ms Etonde'd be the pricipal of a ghost school before next week runs out.
I just think we shouldnt be playing games on issues like this.The unspoken truth is ;this incident is a purely religious mattter between an all powerful principal and the daughter of a taxi driver.You do say JWs are couteous and gentle;tell me doesnt it seem funny to you that its a probably ten year old Jehovah's Witness who should be dismissed for such claimed gross disobedience in a school full of all kinds of spoiled brats?
M Nje Rosa Park broke the law!You can quote me.Rev.King was doisobidient!Quote again.Mandela was a terrorrist!I could go on if you need more .The idea is their's were just causes but by their acts were illegal at the time.Only prosterity proved them right and that's what obtains for all just causes.
Maybe Mrs tembi was rude and we yet have only Ms Etonde's word on that;is that sufficient reason to dismiss Kelly from school?I dont think there's any rule in GHS Bokwango that says children of rude parents should be dismissed.
M Nje ,education is a right for Kelly and not a priviledge,so whether she respects state institutions or not she's entitled to it;and i repeat there's no law in Cameroun obliging secondary school students to sing the national anthem.Thanks
Sorry the thing posted itself before i was through.Hope it comes out well,mistakes and all.Thanks

[vito]

Ah,i see the thing came out well after everything.Please forgive the typ.errors.
Lest i forget M Nje you could walk the soles of youfeet feet the world over and around ,i doubt you'd come across more law abiding respectcful gentle and courteous fellows like Jehovah's witnesses;and i'm not one.they're a bunch of really God fearing and law abiding citozens anywhere;they just have some thing's they wont accept and beliefs they wont budge on.that's the way they are it seems and they do happily pay the price for such extreme zeal;but all i'm saying is dismissal from school is NOTthe price for breaking boundsand not singing the national anthem.The child is in form two,not upper sixth.Thanks

[katakata]

TO MCLIMS: SORRY FOR ADDRESSING YOU FROM AN ELEVATED PEDESTAL.

MCLIMS,

FIRST OF ALL, I FEEL SAD THAT YOU THINK ME RUDE. AND THAT IS ALL MY FAULT BECAUSE I TOOK THINGS FOR GRANTED, ADDRESSING YOU FROM AN ELEVATED PEDESTAL, AND IN EFFECT DISREGARDING THE STRAIN YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH TO DECODE THE OBVIOUS.WELL AM SORRY YOU HAD TO MISCONSTRUE ME. I STOPPED BEING RUDE WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD.

FOR YOUR SAKE, I STEP DOWN THIS PEDESTAL, TO MEET YOU ON YOUR OWN TERMS. MAYBE UNDERSTANDING SHALL BE FOSTERED.

I AM PASTING BELOW A COPY IN ENGLISH OF THAT ANTHEM FOR YOU TO GLOSS THROUGH. THEN I SHALL TRANSLATE IN COMMON ENGLISH THE WORDS OF THAT ANTHEM FOR YOU(CHALLENGE IT IF YOU SO DESIRE):

O Cameroon, Thou Cradle of our Fathers,
OH! CAMEROON, YOU ARE THE ORIGIN OF OUR FATHERS

Holy Shrine where in our midst they now repose,
OUR ANCESTORS RESIDE WITHIN YOU, MAKING YOU A PLACE WORTHY OF WORSHIP

Their tears and blood and sweat thy soil did water,
THEY SUFFERED AND SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES FOR YOU

On thy hills and valleys once their tillage rose.
ON YOUR HILLS AND VALLEYS WHERE THEY ONCE FARMED

Dear Fatherland, thy worth no tongue can tell!
DEAR ANCESTRAL LAND, NOBODY CAN MEASURE YOUR WORTH

How can we ever pay thy due?
HOW CAN WE PAY BACK OUR DEBTS OH ANCESTORS?

Thy welfare we will win in toil and love and peace,
YOUR WELFARE WE SHALL ENSURE IN TOIL, AND LOVE AND PEACE

Will be to thy name ever true!
WE WILL REMAIN EVER TRUE TO YOUR NAME!

Chorus:
Land of Promise, land of Glory!
OH PROMISED LAND! OH LAND OF GLORY!

Thou, of life and joy, our only store!
YOU, LIFE GIVER, JOY GIVER, YOU OUR ONLY PROVIDER

Thine be honour, thine devotion,
TO YOU BE OUR HONOUR AND OUR DEVOTION

And deep endearment, for evermore
AND OUR DEEP LOVE FOR EVER AND EVER.

THIS IS A PAINSTAKING EFFORT TO EXPLAIN TO YOU THE VERSIFICATION OF THIS POEM-ANTHEM WHOSE REAL MEANING NO DOUBT REMAINS UNKNOWN TO MANY.THEY JUST KNOW THEY HAVE TO SING A SONG THEY LEARNT WHEN THEY ENTERED PRIMARY SCHOOL..NOW SHINE YOUR EYES AND SEE WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SINGING AND THEN IT SHALL ANSWER YOUR QUESTION:

"WHAT VERSE OF THE ANTHEM REFUSES HOMMAGE TO GOD AND GIVES IT TO THE NATION AND(ANCESTORS?"

THE BIBLE SHALL ANSWER THIS QUESTION WHEN JESUS REBUKED THE DEVIL WHO WANTED HIM TO BOW DOWN TO HIM AT MATTHEW 4:4 "GO AWAY SATAN, WORSHIP BELONGS TO GOD"

WONT YOU AGREE THAT THE DEVIL WANTED TO STEAL PART OF A RITUAL THAT SHOULD BE RESERVED ONLY TO GOD? AND THAT JESUS DID THE RIGHT THING BY REFUSING HIM THAT PLEASURE?

TELL ME THE TRUTH...DO YOU FIND ANY WORDS IN THAT ANTHEM THAT EDIFY THE DEAD AND THE NATION, ELEVATING THEM TO THE RANK OF gods?DO YOU FIND STATEMENTS IN THAT POEM SAYING THE ANCESTORS ARE THE SOLE PROVIDERS OF LIFE, FOOD AND JOY?, AND FOR THAT REASON THE POEM SAYS WE SHOULD GIVE OUR HONOUR AND DEVOTION TO THE NATION AND DEAD ANCESTORS FOR EVER AND EVER?

WELL CONSIDER THESE BIBLICAL VERSES WITH REGARDS TO DEVOTION AND HONOUR AND JUDGE FOR YOURSELF THE ONE TO WHOM OUR DEVOTION AND HONOUR SHOULD BE FOR EVER AND EVER:

1TIMOTHY 1:17 -WHO MERITS HONOR FOR EVER?

EXODUS 20:1-5 ( GOD DOES NOT TOLERATE RIVALS)THUS PRAISING THE NATION OR THE DEAD GIVES THEM DIVINE ATTRIBUTES WHICH GOD CONDEMNS.

IS IT NOT A BLATANT LIE THAT CAMEROON IS THE PROMISED LAND? DONT MANY NATIONS CONSIDER THEMSELVES AS THE PROMISED LAND? WHY PERPETUATE A FALSEHOOD? DOING SO BELIES GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE EARTH..TURNING IT INTO A PARADISE..THE CHOSEN NATION OF ISRAEL(NOW EXTANT) IS THE ONLY NATION TO WHICH GOD GAVE THE PROMISED LAND., WHICH FORESHADOWED THE EARTHLY PARADISE TO COME IN FUTURE.

SO WHY SHOULD THE LITTLE GIRL BE FORCED TO SING A VERSE WHICH SHE KNOWS IS BOTH HYPOCRITICAL(BECAUSE IT DOESNT TEACH LOVE) AND WHICH CONSIDERS THE DEAD AND THE NATION AS gods?

AT DANIEL 3:13-20 YOU FIND THE 3 HEBREWS WHO WORK WITH THE AUTHORITIES OF BABYLON(PAYING CAESER'S THINGS TO CAESAR) BUT REFUSED BEFORE THE KING TO PERFORM AN ACT CONTRARY TO THE DICTATES OF GOD(VERSE 18 OF SAME)
HOW DO YOU QUALIFY THE ACT OF THESE 3 HEBREWS? WOULD YOU SAY THEY ARE SOME RELIGIOUS FANATICS??? FAR FROM IT! SO HOW COULD YOU SIMPLY QUALIFY THE GIRL AND HER FAMILY AS FANATICS!!!

FAITH CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, AND ONLY MEN OF FAITH HAVE ACCEPTED TO DIE IN HONOUR THAN BE SUBJECTED TO SOME BEGGARLY SUBMISSION OF SOME CORRUPT LAWS THAT DO NOT GLORIFY GOD..

NOW I POSE AN ETHICAL QUESTION TO YOU:

SUPPOSE YOUR FATHER SAYS YOU SHOULD NEVER LIE, AND EVEN USES THE BIBLE WHICH YOU BELIEVE IN TO DRIVE HOME HIS POINT, WOULD YOU JUST TELL A LIE AT YOUR JOB SIDE SIMPLY BECAUSE YOUR BOSS SAYS YOU MUST DO SO INORDER TO KEEP YOUR JOB? YOUR ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION WILL PROVE YOUR INTEGRITY AND FAITH IN FINDING A NEW JOB EVEN IF YOU GET FIRED.

AGAIN, SUPPOSE SOMEONE SENDS YOU A GIFT THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY. TO WHOM DO YOU OWE THANKS FOR THE GIFT? IS IT TO THE SENDER OR TO THE INTERMEDIARY? SO WHEN THE SOIL OF CAMEROON, FERTILE AS IT IS, SPROUTS VEGETATION AND FOOD, TO WHOM DO OUR THANKS GO? IS IT TO SOME ANCESTORS , TO THE NATION OR TO GOD WHO CREATED THE EARTH AND MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO RECEIVE NOURISHMENT THROUGH IT?

FINALLY, THIS POEM IS NOT AN INNOCENT COINCIDENCE..IT IS A DELIBERATE COMPOSITION, INTENDED TO GIVE GLORY TO ANCESTORS AND THE NATION..THAT IS WHY BOTH ARE PERSONIFIED AND GIVEN HUMAN ATTRIBUTES..OFCOURSE ONE CANT WORSHIP THE NATION, BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLY A NOTION, AN ABSTRACTION..BUT MAKING THIS ABSTRACTION CONCRETE, PERSONIFIED, YIELDS IT TO THE VENERATION WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY DECADES.

DO YOU POUR LIBATIONS? HAVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT SEEMINGLY INOFFENSIVE RITUAL? YES,PEOPLE BREAK COLA NUT AND POUR WINE AT THEIR DOORSTEPS TO INVITE DEAD ANCESTORS TO COME COMMUNE WITH THEM, AND THESE PEOPLE ARE CHRISTIANS PAR EXCELLENCE...SO THEY EAT IN THE DEVIL'S SHRINE AND PARTAKE OF GOD'S WORSHIP..IT IS ABOUT TIME THEY JUMPED OFF THE FENCE AND DECIDE THE PERSON TO WHOM THEIR WORSHIP BELONGS:

READ WHAT JOSHUA SAID TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL CONCERNING THOSE WHO HAD ADOPTED ANCESTOR WORSHIP FROM THE EGYPTIANS AT JOSHUA 24:15.YOU MIGHT WANT TO READ FROM VERSES 10-15 FOR BACKGROUND INFORMATION.

DID YOU FIND AN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION?

[katakata]

TO FON AND M NJE: KELLY IS NO ROSA PARKS..BUT SHE WONT EAT UNBLED MEAT EVEN IF FON TOLD HER STRANGLED MEAT IS AN ELIXIR TO ETERNITY.

TRUE THE LITTLE GIRL IS NO ROSA PARKS...SHE DOESNT EVEN WISH TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH ACTIVISTS .SHE WISHES TO GO BY UNNOTICED.BUT THE PRINCIPAL PUSHED HER TO THE FORE, AND TODAY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HER..TAINTING HER NAME, HER FAMILY AND HER RELIGION..HOW DARE WE!

A PATIENT IS TOLD TO REFRAIN FROM ALCOHOL.THIS SADDENS HIM.FROM HIS HOUSE, HE CAN SEE HIS REGULAR FRIENDS TAKING IN THE PRECIOUS LIQUID.BUT HE CANT TAKE IT FOR MEDICAL REASONS...THEN HE BRIGHTENS UP..HE HAS FOUND A SOLUTION TO HIS PROBLEM:

"THE DOCTOR TOLD ME NOT TO DRINK..BUT MY SYSTEM NEEDS ALCOHOL"

SO HE TAKES SOME BOTTLES AND GOES TO SEE HIS DOCTOR AT THE HOSPITAL AND TELLS THE DOCTOR:

"DR, I SHALL DRINK NO MORE, BUT PLEASE PUT THIS WHISKEY INTO MY SYSTEM USING A SYRINGE"

THE DOCTOR CONSIDERS HIM MAD AND ASKS:
"WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRINKING WINE AND HAVING IT TRANSFUSED INTO YOU? I WONT BE THE ONE TO SEND YOU TO AN EARLY GRAVE"

THE MAN IS SAD AND RETURNS HOME, CREST FALLEN AT HIS OWN STUPIDITY.. THE ALCOHOL COMPONENT OF WINE ALTHOUGH TAKEN BY MOUTH ENDS UP BEING ABSORBED INTO THE CIRCULATORYB SYSTEM"

DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE TO YOU?
LET ME EXPLAIN.

AT GENESIS 9:3-4 GOD TOLD NOAH TO EAT ALL ANIMALS BUT SHOULD NOT EAT BLOOD.
THE SAME LAW IS REPEATED BY THE APOSTLES AT 15:28-29.

NOW WHILE YOU MIGHT SAY THE LAW SAYS "DONT EAT BLOOD" AND DOESNT SAY" DONT TRANSFUSE BLOOD", IT WILL HELP YOUR MIND TO REMEMBER THAT WHILE WE NEED TO EAT THROUGH OUR MOUTHS TO KEEP ALIVE, THERE ARE EXTREME CASES WHERE THE UNCONSCIOUS PATIENT IS "FED" THROUGH TUBES..WOULD YOU DENY THAT PATIENT HAS NOT BEEN FED SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS GIVEN TO HIM INTRAVENOUSLY???

WHEN WITNESSES REFUSE BLOOD, IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT AS INTEGRITY KEEPERS THEY PREFER TO DIE THAN BREAK ANY OF GOD'S LAWS..AND THIS IS NOT JUST A BLAND STANCE AS JESUS RIGHTLY SAID AT MARK 8:34-35 THAT THE PERSON WHO BREAKS THE LAW TO SAVE HIS LIFE WOULD LOSE IT...

HOW ABOUT BREAKING GOD'S LAW ON YOUR DEATH BED , WITH NO POSSIBILITY OF MAKING UP FOR YOUR ERRORS??..EVEN HUMANS TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO COME AND RECONCILE WITH THOSE ON DEATH ROW...SO WOULD YOU PRETEND THAT IT IS BEST FOR A CHRISTIAN TO BREAK GOD'S LAW AND PERHAPS STILL DIE AFTER THE TRANSFUSION?????

FIGURE THAT OUT FOR YOURSELF-.'

[Che Sunday]

We have very short memories. Under Ahidjo, the Jehova Witness movement almost disappeared from the Cameroon landscape. Why? Because its members refused participating in civic activities such as marching during youth days and singing the anthem. They were accused of interefering in the affairs of state. Cameroonians are yet to learn giving to Caesar what is Caesar's and to to God what is God's. If you go several years back, you will remember that a passing grade in religious studies in your GCE, if that passing grade gave you the minimum 5 papers in the GCE results , you were still considered as failed.Religion was a private and personal affair. That was aimed at keeping religion out of the affairs of government.
This girl may have the right to refuse singing the national anthem, but she does not desreve to be dismissed from school. Instead, she should be asked to leave the assembly when the anthem is being sang. Staying and refusing to sing is offensive to the state statute if its required that the anthem be sang. As a public school, there are different members of various religions attending it. If it is receiving federal funds, then it must abide by state law. With or without freedom of association enshrined in the constitution, we must learn to honor the doctrine of separation of powers, i.e, respecting what belongs to the state and honoring our respectives religions. Failure to do so will only lead to the confusion prevailing in the U.S where you can not pray within the premises of a public building, but members of government have to take the oath of office using the bible.

[Ma Mary]

Useful discussion; enlightening to those working for a free Southern Cameroons. Our country, with the help of wise laws will serve the happiness of its children, regardless of their religious persuasions, or lack of any religious persuasion.

I think the JWs are philosophically wrong, but a country that embraces individual freedom, especially in matters of belief and thought can create space for them.

They are wrong because fealty to their God is not the only thing to which one can rightly and properly give fealty. Like a lot of religious fundamentalists, I am quite certain that they would abuse power if it ever fell into their hands, given their narrowness of belief and their absolutism. The injunction not to become an oppressive society overrides disagreement with the JWs.

Out of curiosity, Dr Katakata (since you are either a cryptoJW or a devil's advocate), do the JWs stand for the (South) African anthem (God Save Africa) or the British one (God Save Our Queen)? Since as you claim, prior obeisance to God is their requirement.

I suppose they would also refuse life saving treatment from a skilled and dedicated surgeon who just happens to be an atheist or a muslim for that matter. I am curious about the boundaries of their logic. No, I am not going to ask those nice old ladies who come to my door just about every week with copies of Watch Tower magazine. My experience since childhood is that once you let them in, they do not stop. I would let them in for tea and biscuits and talk about anything under the sun, but I don't care for people who want to "save my soul".

[Fon]

KataKata,
You have only used logic to defend the stand of Jehova witnesses against blood transfusion-the case of drinking alcohol and passing alcohol into the body using a syringe. Is truth based on logic? Certainly no.
Going back to your logic of alcohol, it has an adverse effect on the patient irrespective of how it reaches the body-this is not the case with blood which God refused that we should not take as food.Do you know the reason why God said we should not eat blood?

To say the act of eating blood and blood transfusion is the same thing is misleading.
Just as the bible says we should not stab one another, you will turn around and prohibit the surgeon´s knife.

[katakata]

TO VITO: NO ALCOHOL ON PLANET MARS.

YOU ARE RIGHT VITO..TO THINK ME DRUNK..AFTER ALL THE COUNTRY THEY SAY IS MADE UP OF ..IS IT 17MILLION DRUNKARDS?

WELL SINCE POPULATION CENSUS AND STATISTICS ALWAYS FALL SHORT OF ACCURACY...I BELIEVE THERE EXIST A HANDSOME NUMBER WITHIN THIS DRINK DRIVEN SOCIETY THAT DOESNT DRINK..SO WHEN YOU GET UP FROM YOUR HANG OVER..ACCEPT THE FACT THAT NOT EVERYBODY DRINKS..OR IS A DRUNKARD...

MOREOVER, YOUR OPERATION WAS TELEGUIDED FROM PLANET MARS, AND EVEN IF I HAD THE STRONG IMPULSE TO TAKE THOSE METHYLATED SPIRITS UNDILUTED, IT WONT BE POSSIBLE ON MARS..BECAUSE WE DONT HAVE THEM HERE..

WAKE UP VITO..WHY SHOULD BLOOD TRANSFUSION WORK UP YOUR EVERY MUSCLE SO?

MAYBE AFTER READING WHAT ESPOIR POSTED ON ALTERNATIVES TO BLOOD TRANSFUSION , YOU SHALL BECOME WISER AND REFUSE BLOOD TRANSFUSION ON URSELF.

I AM WILLING TO UNDERGO A SURGERY IF NECESSARY, BUT FIRST, EVEN IF I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC, I DO NOT NEED A SURGICAL INTERVENTION..

SEE YOU VITO..HOPE YOU HAD A NICE SLEEP

[katakata]

TO FON: SOS TO BLURRING VISION!!!!!!

DEAR FON,
KING OVER THE CHIEFS. I SALUTE YOU.

I AM A SURGEON. AND UPON MUTUAL CONSENT I USE MY KNIFE TO CURE...IF MY PATIENT DIES IN THE PROCESS( WHICH I DO NOT WISH TO HAPPEN) THEN I AM NOT SANCTIONED BY LAW FOR MURDER..I MIGHT BE SANCTIONED FOR NEGLIGENCE.

BUT FON, HOW CAN U DARE COMPARE STABBING WITH A SURGICAL INTERVENTION? GO BACK TO A.S HORNBY OR WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY AND FIND OUT THE MEANING OF THE TERMS "SURGERY" AND "STAB".

I SHALL LIKE TO LEARN FROM YOU FON, CHIEF OF CHIEFS..

PLEASE, TELL ME WHY THE BIBLE SAYS WE SHOULD NOT EAT BLOOD, AND GIVE ME ANOTHER INSTANCE FROM THE SAME BIBLE WHERE GOD CERTIFIES THE EATING OF BLOOD.

TELL ME WHAT IS TRUTH?
IS IT TRUE THAT THE BIBLE FORBIDS BLOOD INTAKE? IF U SAY YES, THEN IT IS NOT LOGIC, IT IS TRUTH.

WHAT IS LOGIC?
LOGIC IS A SIMPLE WAY OF BRINGING ABSTRACT THINGS TO THE UNDERSTANDING OF EVERYBODY

SO WHATS WRONG WITH USING PARABLES LIKE JESUS DID TO PROVE OR EXPLAIN A POINT???

WE SHALL HAVE A TETE A TETE WHEN EVER I RETURN FROM PLANET MARS...

TILL THEN, USE LOGIC IF YOU CAN TO DISPROVE MY LOGIC EXPLAINING THE TRUTH..

[katakata]

MA MARY: RESEARCH IS NOT FOR A PRVILEGED FEW..IT IS FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHT!!!!

DEAR MA MARY,
EARTHLY MOTHER OF JESUS..WHO ELSE COULD TELL FOR SURE WHAT I AM THAN YOU, THE MOTHER OF CHRIST..SURE YOU GOT INSPIRATION FROM A VISION???

DEVIL OR SAINT?? AM NON AS YOU CLAIM ME TO BE.

I HAVE READ YOUR COMMENTS HERE ON SEVERAL TOPICS, SINCE THE UB STRIKE, AND YOU SEEM TO BE ONE WHO IS EASILY SWAYED OFF THEIR GROUND TO BUY INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S THINKING..DONT BELIEVE IN WHAT I TELL YOU WITHOUT CARRYING OUT SOME RESEARCH WORK ON YOUR OWN.

THE ISSUE YOU RAISED ON OBEISANCE TO AUTHORITIES, ASSOCIATING THE ANTHEM TO THAT OF SOUTH AFICA AND G.BRITAIN POINT TO ONE FACT...YOU FORGET THE RITUALS ASSOCIATED WITH SINGING OF ANTHEMS..AMERICANS SAY "IN GOD WE TRUST" ..DO THEIR ACTIONS POTRAY THEM AS SUCH???

WHY SHOULD THE PRESENCE OF THE WORD "GOD" IN AN ANTHEM MAKE YOU OR ME THINK IT BRINGS GLORY TO GOD??

DOESNT EVEN THE DEVIL CALL THE NAME OF GOD??DONT MAGICIANS AND OTHER ESOTERICAL SCHOOLS CALL ON GOD AND YET CARRY OUT EVEIL??

OPEN YOUR EYES..THIS FORUM IS GOOD..BUT YOU COULD AS WELL BE DERAILED IF YOU JUST ARENT WATCHFUL.

JWs HAVE NO BIAS ON OTHER RELIGIONS..YOU WOULD KNOW THAT IF YOU RESEARCHED WELL..THEY WONT REFUSE GOING TO A HOSPITAL OWNED BY A CATHOLIC, MUSLIM OR ATHEIST DOCTOR..THEY WOULD ONLY MAKE THEIR TREATMENT OPTIONS CLAER TO THESE DIFFERENT DOCTORS, AND IF THE DOCTORS REFUSE TO COLLABORATE, THEN THEY GO ELSEWHERE..

SINCE YOU SAY YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT THE BOUNDARIES OF THEIR LOGIC, IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO SHUT OUT THOSE "OLD LADIES" WHO COME CALLING TO DICSUSS THE BIBLE AND IF POSSIBLE BIBLICAL LOGIC WITH YOU.

A WISE MAN LETS IN KNOWLEDGE AND MAKES A DECISION, BUT A FOOLISHMAN KEEPS OUT ALL KNOWLEDGE, ESCAPES TO AN ISLAND, ISOLATES HIMSELF AND BECOMES VERY CONTENTED IN HIS OWN IGNORANCE...

ARE YOU WISE?
OR
ARE YOU FOOLISH?

THE CHOICE IS YOURS...
GOOD DAY

[katakata]

TO THE PRINCIPAL
DURING HER 2 YEAR STAY IN YOUR INSTITUTION

DEAR MADAM,

IT PAINS WHEN A CHILD YOU CONSIDER YOUR OWN DAUGHTER GIVES YOU GRIEF.

IT PAINS EVEN MORE WHEN THAT CHILD MAKES YOU LOOK IRRESPONSIBLE BEFORE THE PUBLIC.

AND IT REALLY PAINS WHEN YOU KNOW THE CHILD IS TELLING GROSS LIES AGAINST YOU.

PERMIT MY RHETORIC..THATS MY STYLE.

THE TWO QUESTIONS I WILL ASK ON THIS FORUM, ADDRESSED TO YOU ARE :

1) DOES KELLY HAVE A RECORD OF RECALCITRANCE AND DISRESPECT TO HER TEACHERS IN YOUR INSTITUTION?

2) HAS SHE BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR FLOUTING SCHOOL REGULATIONS , AND DO YOU POSSEES DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF SUCH MISDEMEANOUR?

YOUR ANSWER TO THESE TWO QUESTIONS SHALL, AM SURE LAY THIS ISSUE TO REST , AS WE HAVE OTHER THINGS TO ATTEND TO.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.....

[Fon]

Dear Katakata,
"BUT FON, HOW CAN U DARE COMPARE STABBING WITH A SURGICAL INTERVENTION? GO BACK TO A.S HORNBY OR WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY AND FIND OUT THE MEANING OF THE TERMS "SURGERY" AND "STAB"."
BUT Katakata, HOW CAN U DARE COMPARE eating WITH transfusion? GO BACK TO A.S HORNBY OR WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY AND FIND OUT THE MEANING OF THE TERMS "eat" AND "transfusion".

I said you used logic because of your example of alcohol.
God does not certify the eating of blood. However, eating of blood and blood transfusion for the purpose of saving life can´t be compared.

You have even acknowledged that a patient can die due to the act of surgery, on the other hand can a patient die simply because of the act of blood transfusion?

Katakata, surgery can sometimes lead to accidental murder. Does God accept accidental killing? But remember that the process of blood transfusion cannot independently lead to death.

[gicien]

It is unfortunate that things like these are still hapenning in this age and time. I thought we had long past the period when things like the national anthem could be imposed on citizens. Someone rightly mentioned earlier that the president of the republic is hardly ever seen singing the national anthem. what has been done to him?
I strongly feel that this is an issue of religious discrimination. For any gov't to allow a religious organization to operate in a country, some scrutiny is done and the gov't has clearly seen that the religious organization is not a threat to it. If the gov't had objected to some of the doctrines of the witnesses, it would not have allowed them to go operational again after a period of 23 yrs of ban. So why should a principal object to the consciencious objection of a kid in singing the national anthem?
This i think is very unfair. I personally know of cases of individuals who have been forced to abandon their villages,towns and cities simply because they were practicing their believes as witnesses. A case in point here is that of one mr. Ngwa Tanji who was locked up in jail for upto six months simply for attending one of their church services. This took place back around 1985 when the witnesses where still under ban. But since after the lifting of the ban, he has still been treated as an outcast by members of his family and village for staying the course as a devoted witness. He has been forced to relocate many times for fear of his life.
Isn't this insane? Why should a religious organization authorized to operate by the constitution of the country not be allowed to carry out its worship freely.
It's high time we allow the witnesses operate as dictated by their bible trained conscience. They are no threat to the gov't.
Kelly's position is impressive and should be seen as a good example of what parental training and bible training can mold a child to be. Kelly never never said that her parents told her not to do this or that---- rather she made it clear that her position was based on what she has studied from the bible. The case of Kelly should be used positively to help parents to train their children to be responsible adults who are able to make decisions based on their bible based conscience.
Bravo kelly and be assured that your God will pave a way for you to continue with your education. Stick-to-your-gun kelly.