The art of losing gracefully
Author: jamaapoa
•Sunday, January 06, 2008
The Swahili of East Africa have an old saying that says 'asiye kubali kushindwa si mshindani', loosely translated, 'one who does not agree to lose is not a winner/competitor'. The paradox of this proverb is that the winner's winning attitude is best evident when he loses. How he handles his loss emotions, feelings, rage and tantrums. How he mourns and grieves his loss. The winner in him is even more evident when he loses unfairly, and all losers do, at least to themselves. Which human being has never lost? Do all go throwing bloody tantrums?

Nothing justifies the wanton destruction of human life and property, just because one lost. There are claims of rigged Kenyan presidential (and parliamentary???) elections and a supposedly illegal president. Kenyans have been denied independent specifics of which polling station (it should be narrowed down to the polling station level), how and how many votes were illegally added? The rigging sword did cut both sides, the EU observers implied in their report. Are claims of rigging really enough to kill, maim and displace a neighbour you have lived with for years just because he/she comes from the president's tribe and assumingly voted for his/her tribesman? What happened to the rights of the people of Kenya?

I have heard that the winner needs to give space to the loser to vent, some human rights activist said that. Does that mean venting on the blood of the winner's presumed supporters, their land, houses and property? Nothing, absolutely nothing justifies it. Kenya is slowly creating warlords, and lame warlords for they do not know how to calm the emotions of their servitude. The retaliation to this 'venting' has not been making the situation better. The disciplined forces have their count too. An earlier tamed dragon, the Mungiki, is coming home to roost. I am scared. I weep for my beloved country Kenya. Will we see tomorrow?

To quote a radio station retort to a quote by one lord of the losing side that said, 'it is the perseverance of a river that turns it into an ocean' I also ask, an ocean of what? of blood?

In my opinion, the burden of proof and humility lies with the loser. If the losing side cannot factually and verifiably show how they lost unfairly, let them be the statesmen, the stateswomen, the patriots, the nationalists, the pan-africanists, the liberal democrats they claim to be.

Let them do what the 'unfair' winners have failed to do.

Let them put the peace of our country first.

Let them drop prejudices, the tribal propensities, let them trim their egos.

Let them have a grip of their supporters' emotions and actions.

Let the take full responsibility for their actions and those of their supporters.

Let them stop provoking the emotions of their base support (even in Mombasa! the Eldoret case is not enviable honourable Najib Balala, what are you upto? another Exodus??? such limelight will take you nowhere).

Let them stop whipping international emotions against Kenya. CNN or BBC prime news coverage is not worth the blood of Kenyans.

Let them know there is a life after losing, another contest, another winning chance.

Let them respect the constitution, and change it constitutionally, where it doesn't serve Kenya well.

Let them visit Rwanda-with all due respect to the Rwandese.

LET THEM LOSE GRACEFULLY.
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mwariwadavid blog
Author: jamaapoa
•Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Just went there, as I always do, once in a while and found this:



What happened to such a good blog or have I missed something?
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The Car you Drive - Learn Something
Author: jamaapoa
•Monday, December 03, 2007
One motivational speaker once said that the most successful people around are ALWAYS the ones who are willing to go that extra mile, focus their extra time on worthwhile goals. I like the analogy he used of traffic on the highway..........

Here it is:

If you stand next to a highway (e.g. Uhuru Highway) you will observe the following general trend in the traffic:

@ 04:00 to 05:00 in the morning: you'll see a few cars on the road.
Mostly MLs/ S-class /SLK Mercs, 7series/ Z3/ X5 BMWs, Prados on the rush to airports, meetings, etc. Transporting the rich, entrepreneurs (so called "captains of industries"), executive politicians, diplomats etc. These guys are living proof that money/power DOES lead to happiness and fulfillment. They just can't help their greed for more money/power.

Ironically most of the poorest of the poor start streaming in their hundreds and pass Uhuru Highway into town (mostly on foot and some in matatus) to be ready to serve the above. They work just to keep their minds busy and to sustain their hope.........hope that things will get better, hope that one day they'll win that illusive Lotto Jackpot! ...Like the BAT 'shinda Dinga' promotion or Safaricom's 'Shinda Millioni' promotion. No wonder they are easily fooled with "you are the proud winner of Toyota/Nakumatt/GM/Unilever promotion. Please send airtime to 071000000 to claim your price". The pathetic wages they get are by a factor of a 1000 times not worth their effort.

@06:00: The above cars start disappearing, and in come the C-class, 5&3 BMW series, Isuzu dcabs, Xtrails, CRVs, Subarus, Cherokees, Audis and the Land Rovers Discoveries in their hundreds driven by the Bourgeoisie.

These are "Rat-racers" with their MBA degrees, diplomas, plastic money and credit access. They think they've made it! Wearing trendy shades (be it sunny or not) and fashionable attire they portray a grand image......one common in movies, adverts etc. Take away the credit cards/facilities and in three months you won't see these cars on the roads.

@07:00 to 08:00 in the morning: More rat-racers/cum-working-class steal the show in the thousands of Toyotas, Nissans, Mazda, Camrys, Familias, Hondas, Hyundais,VWs, Opels, etc

This is also the time when more accidents happen! They all share one thing in common........STRESS! They are stressed about congestion, petrol costs, their finances, their relationships, their restructuring organizations,ODM, NARC,Mungiki, the country, EVERYTHING............

As the day progresses.........click-clock..... click-clock.....click-clock.....

Come 5:00 you start seeing the same Toyotas, Nissans, Camrys, Familias, Hondas, Hyundais,VWs, Opels, rushing back to rented homes, loans, shopping malls, Sukuma Wiki etc. Stressed, stressed, stressed!

@6:00 they get joined by the C-class, 5&3 BMW series, Isuzu dcabs, Xtrails, CRVs, Subarus, Cherokees, Audis and the Land Rovers. Tired from Backstabbing, Skinnering, Boot-leaking and wasting time in senseless meetings!

The traffic congestion becomes unbearable.........by the look on their faces, things are really BAAAD.

@8:00 As the traffic congestion slowly abates, the GIANTS start dominating the scene again. The Porsches, Jaguars, BIG Mercs, BIG BMWs and Prados glide through the same road. With their fat bank accounts, these guys are fine. Everything seems to be convenient for them............the roads are generally free when they go to/come back from whatever it is they do! Generally they look relaxed and happy, evident in their courtesy when relating to other road users. Life is really Good!
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