Unity in diversity means the integration of differences; the oneness or togetherness in spite of the presence of diversity in beliefs, cultures or religion in the simplest way is the reminding of oneself as well as collating multiple types of things we need to settle in our differences.
O’ mankind! Be dutiful to your lord,
who created you from a single person {Adam}, and from him He created many men and women and fear Allah through whom you demand your mutual {RIGHTS}, and {do not cut relations of kinship. Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over you. Qur’an 4:1
Rev. Paul Chappell is an American pastor who has worked as the senior pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church since 1986. He is the president and founder of West Coast Baptist College, Lancaster Baptist School.
“To replace the old paradigm of war with a new paradigm of waging peace, we must be pioneers who can push the boundaries of human understanding. We must be doctors who can cure the virus of violence. We must be soldiers of peace who can do more than preach to the choir. And we must be artists who will make the world our masterpiece.”
“You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” “We’ll have all eternity to celebrate our victories, but only one short hour before sunset in which to win them.”
We all know unity is the most influential factor in solving the culture and social problems as well as sustained economic growth. It had been infused with respect among people irrespective of their religious, social class, cultural, and political differences.
The understanding of the epitome of peace is that, it creates mutual cooperation between people and co-existence relationships to go a long way in generations. It is the ultimate replacement of love, care and harmony ectara.
The purpose of football competition is not just a financial awarding ceremony or tourney. FIFA’s goal is to touch, unite and inspire the world through its competitions and events. We are best known for organizing the biggest single-sport competition in the world: the FIFA World Cup. The revenue from this one competition enables us to stage around 30 tournaments every four years, which serve to develop many aspects of the game, from women’s and youth football to beach soccer, futsal and even the Interactive World Cup.
Caring about society and the environment
Football is much more than just a game. Its universal appeal means it has a unique power and reach which must be managed carefully. We believe that we have a duty to society that goes beyond football: to improve the lives of young people and their surrounding communities, to reduce the negative impact of our activities and to make the most we can of the positives.
Football can inspire communities and break down barriers. Football is for all. FIFA believes that everybody has the right to play football free from discrimination or prejudice and we are striving to ensure that this is the case.
The FIFA World Cup is organized every four years among countries all over the world. No racial discrimination but moments to enjoy the unity and togetherness in a predetermined location where every country is given equal opportunity to participate, promote and maintain peace, equality and respect among mankind. Everyone is free to support any team in the competition, even if you are against your own country. Yes, it’s your choice. Logically or not, it’s arguable in my opinion.
However, as a concerned citizen of the world, African and particularly Gambian, there are some anti-social elements worthy to corrupt my beloved countrymen and neighbors by their behaviors using football as a weapon not knowing our pride as Senegambians (Senegalese and Gambians) brings us all, with all our diversity, into a unity that binds us in the spirit of common brotherhood.
This is so disheartening letting them win! I mean the boys who have sat at a table selfishly decide on how our beloved continent (AFRICA) is divided to ensure segregation, disunity and barriers among us as well as secure their continuous exploitation of both our human and natural resources in order to maintain dominance in the world.
Yes, I mean the “so-called colonial masters”. Who is rejoicing to the disunity that could emerge if the current conversions in the media between the two is not addressed immediately? Fuel by the senseless conversions and blames in different social media platforms done by a small group of less educated people. (Education here means more than just acquiring formal knowledge in school but being able to make calculated analysis of both the negative and positive impacts of our decisions, the things we do or say before we involve).
Referencing Kwame Nkrumah in his book title "Africa Must Unite", "The term 'colony' originally meant a settlement of immigrants in a foreign land. In a political sense, a colony is either a settlement of the subjects of a nation or a state beyond its own frontiers; or a territorial unit geographically separated from it, but owing allegiance to it........ Of course, it will be some time before all traces of colonialism will disappear from our society. Problems connected with health, education, housing and living conditions generally, continue to remind us of the colonial period. We have much ground to make up, as a result of long years of being treated as an inferior people fit only to provide cheap labor for foreign employers. We were supposed not to be able to appreciate, or to need, any real measure of social improvement."
From the above text, it's safe to say that not only do they (the so-called colonial masters: France and Britain) succeeded in separating us into nations owing allegiance to their colonial masters but even in making sure we amplify the difference they have created to disunite us and for us to constantly engage in senseless conversions and arguments such as: our country is larger than yours; our nation is superior, our country is more respected/developed; we have accomplished more than your countrymen; and so on.
While our conversions should be centered on how to break the boundaries, what should unite us in enhancing real education and constant economic growth, social and demographic improvement, political awareness, etc.
In my opinion, there are things left unsaid that might have been the root cause of what we are seeing currently in the media between a very small group of people from the two nations involved in meaningless discussions and playing with things they have no idea. Gambians exploiting the loss of Senegal in the world cup knock-out stage to England as a revenge to some mockery received from the neighbors during the Africa Cup of Nations qualification rounds and Senegalese redirecting the pain of losing to the neighbors for not supporting them during such difficult moments.
Based on my experiences, constantly interacting with my fellow African brothers and sisters from both countries, either intentionally or unintentionally mockery from both sides. Gambians feel to be victims of belittling in many aspects from their neighbors. The difference in dialects of national languages spoken in both countries, problem solving skills, infrastructural development, level of education and awareness, economic growth, civilization, country size, etc.
For instance, Senegalese always make fun of the way Gambians speak some of the shared national languages like Wolof. If a Gambian speaks Wolof in Senegal, they are laughed at by Senegalese but when a Senegalese speaks Wolof in The Gambia, they are not. To a point that there is a Gambian Wolof (fake Wolof) and Senegalese Wolof (original Wolof) stated by some of the Senegalese I interacted with; Senegalese keep saying the following to refer to The Gambia: the small city in Senegal, a rent-free house in Senegal, a pathway in Senegal...; when a Gambian did great things, instead of recognition from the neighbors, they received statements like "ohh! Gambien bii mungi try dii or ahh! Mom Gambian bu amm jomm la or ahh! Kon nekeh Gambien monla lii" meaning "ohh! The Gambian is trying at least or ahh! They are hardworking Gambian after all, or ahh! Then, a Gambian can do this." And so on. Gambians on the other hand always make fun of statement like: “Senegalese bii dafa Mona sob or dafa barri wakh, dafa yekk bopann,” meaning, the Senegalese bossy, talks too much or egotist… which could be also view as a form of labeling.
All the aforementioned shows some statements from the neighbors intentionally mocking or just jokingly said to the Gambians and to the Senegalese on a daily basis. Either in my presence or narrated to me.
Solutions to put an end to anything that could cause segregation between the two sister countries and strengthen the already existing unity. Collaborate in achieving our desired national and international social and economic development in creating farsighted solutions to our daily challenges within our borders and beyond and eliminate the frontier created by our so-called colonial masters to limit us for their personal gains.
In order to make sure that we maintain the brotherhood and continue to celebrate or mourn together in oneness as a family, then, I believe certain things need to be eliminated from the equation. Example: Stop stating any phrase or statement that could be view negatively from either sides when referring to the other and encourage friends and love ones to be engaging more in conversions that promote peace, respect, equality and the oneness between the two, stop victimizing oneself, engage more in educative discussion, etc.
Besides, there are no two countries on earth that I know of that share so many similarities like The Gambia and Senegal. There aren't any Gambian or Senegalese who can claim that they have no family relatives from the neighboring country. We have the same national languages, share the same cultures and traditions from our diverse ethnic groups, we share the same religious beliefs and so much more. I believe we have more than enough to unite us one people.
Mr. Malick Jobe
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