By Daniel Abushery Daniel (USA)
“No two men ever judged alike of the same thing, and it is impossible to find two opinions exactly similar, not only in different men but in the same men at different times. “ Michel Montaigne
February 7, 2011 (SSNA) — In the nation building, many will agreed with me that the infrastructures that constitute of building roads, bridges, and rehabilitated housing, and others governmental institutions is the fundamental basis of nation building, but on other hand, the intellectual property is the main key for a good governance.
Nevertheless, we are all human; we make mistakes, and that’s normal as long we admit and correct our mistakes and move on. In fact, I have argued that same topic in many of my previous opinions in this websites. It’s so true that sometimes a slip of a word and/ or making a wrong decision at the wrong time is all it takes, particularly, if one takes a while to say I am sorry. Truthfully, it’s not a shame to apologize for our own mistakes. However, it’s shameful only when we try to dig our heads in the sand and continue with making same mistakes over and over again. After all, wise people are those who learn through mistakes, and you couldn’t agree more with the famous phrase that says: “We agree to disagree."
For clarity sake, let me elaborate one famous story that occurred during our liberation struggle. Of course, we all know about the beginning of Anya nya (two) which, after sometime was funded and supported by Khartoum regimes, using some of our leaders who formed the so- called militia, which used to be in the front line fighting with the SPLA. But then, out of a blue, one of those traitors surprised everyone by making a very courageous step, and in a broad daylight, he re-joined the SPLM/A. Subsequently, he was pardoned by the Chairman of SPLM/A, late Dr. John Gerang De Mabior, who then sent him back to the same front line, to fight against the same groups he once collaborated with in the SAF. My whole point: it’s never too late to redeem and correct a mistake.
To make a long story short, the amnesty extended by Dr. Gerang in 1980s, to the former Anya nya one veterans, which included uncle Daniel Kuat Mathews (D. K. Mathews) undoubtedly boosted the SPLA in military personnel, raised their moral and injected a sense of unity among the fighters, which ultimately resulted in re-capturing of just about the whole of South Sudan with exception of the major cities of ( Malakal, Wau, and Juba).
The point in question here is: the decree by the president of the government of South Sudan, 1st let general, Salva Kiir Mayardit, concerning the formation of the constitution ratification committee, which has sparked a heated debate in the South, if not the whole of Sudan. Others, including members of Kiir’s cabinet in Mr. Gabriel Changson, the Minister of Heritage and Culture, objected to the formation of committee on the ground that it was not inclusive enough to other political parties in the nation, particularly the opposition parties. I couldn’t agree more with Changson’s viewpoint, and he should be lauded for such a courageous stance. At this juncture in the history of our young nation, we need to work hand in hand, and there should be no more room for excluding of others, especially in matter of utmost importance such this.
President Mayardit acknowledged his apprehension immediately, and in a courageous methodology, he revised his decree and corrected the slip error. That’s the one thing that breaks the camel’s back, and this is the kind of leadership we are looking for, especially, during this difficult times. So instead of encouraging words, there are some among us who are sarcastically nagging to score points in dividing us for minor over-looked, which was then corrected by the President Kiir. The real question is: Who among doesn’t make mistakes? We need an answer from them.
Finally, our ability to resolve our differences, no matter how bitter they might be, should serve as the first lesson to the elites in Khartoum and elsewhere that South Sudan really is in good hands of its own sons and daughters, who are up to the task and the difficult challenges that they might encounter in their path. So thank you, Mr. President! For putting our unity first.
And yes, we should remember that the progress of today is indeed the promise of tomorrow.
South Sudan nation Oye…
Shalom.
The author is reachable at [email protected] or [email protected].