A young man hurls a stop sign at the police (source: the telegraph)Far away from the shores of America and within various cities of America change is trying to blossom. Yes the climate is warming and the growing season is becoming longer. But the change that I speak of is related to freedom. In a country that I love as if it is my own, Senegal, the people have taken to the streets over the last year. Last June 23rd, I saw something that I had never seen: RESISTANCE and I felt something that I have never felt in Senegal from a large group of people: ANGER.
The basic issue come down to this: fairness, equity and respect. Whether we are dealing with Egypt, Syria, Senegal or Occupy Wall Street, the working class of people feel that they are moving further and further way from equity. Meanwhile, an elite class of rich who have powerful friends can live life to the fullest and ignore everyone.
Senegal represents a new chapter in Sub-Saharan Politics. The country has always seen dialogue as the means of resolving issues at all scales (between two people or two political parties). Now the people realize that it is not possible. They see that corruption and power can use dialogue as a means for getting more while doing less. The sad thing is that this is not about democracy, but it is about the right to stay in power. President Wade used a firm in the United States to validate his ability to run for a third term, even though the constitution says 2 terms. His legal out, is that the new amendments were added after he was president. From this perspective he is right, but ethically is he right???? I do not think so. It takes strength to be humble when you don't have to be.
I fear, the in this day, humility in public service is a thing of the past. Or is it? For now the answer is yes. But what is driving so much turmoil today is the basic need to be respected and to be treated as a human being. This is the core of democracy and it brings out the best of us. It says that if we want to be treated fairly, then we must treat others fairly. It say that respect is a basic human right, regardless of your economic status.
I am extremely worried about what will happen as the February 26th election approaches. I am worried for the people that I care so much about - my very good friends who are as close as family. I am worried that violence will enter the minds of the youth and a long period of instability will follow. I spoke to my good friend Zeyna and she told me that the police were fighting the youth since Thursday downtown. She does not feel that it will end nicely and that people will die before change finally comes. I hope and pray that she and her family and all of my friends will be safe in this period. I hope that another solution exists and I think that it does.
While President Wade may be right, he should look around the country where there is unrest in all major cities and ask: AM I RIGHT? He should step aside for the future of Senegal. Of course if he does not, then he must be ready to accept what is coming.
People want to be respected, treated fairly and aspire to the higher aspects of themselves and their countries. This makes it a wonderful world. Money, power or tear gas cannot kill this spirit.
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