THE CHARLESTON CHURCH SHOOTING: AN UNSPEAKABLE TRAGEDY

It’s bad enough the world heard of senseless crimes like the cinema shooting in 2012, the massacre of several school children that same year, the loss of lives on September 11 and the Boston Marathon Bombing in 2013.

 There were the senseless deaths of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown, but their killers were acquitted, causing civil unrest. In the case of Trayvon, he was mistaken for a criminal because of what he was wearing that fateful day- a hoodie. Brown was no angel, but he was unarmed, so he didn’t deserve to be shot like a dog. And then there was Walter Scott, another unarmed African American man who was shot and killed, but his killer is presently behind bars. Now, the world heard of what happened in Charleston, South Carolina, three days ago- a young man killed several worshippers in a church… including the pastor. Not only did he do this terrible thing, but he actually admitted it was racially motivated- he actually wanted to cause a race war.

 Should one call racism ignorance or a vice? Definitely a vice because it’s a terrible thing to be prejudiced against a person because of race and colour, but thank God, some people don’t see the colour of skin or which country a person is from. Racism is deep, blind hatred, and those who have this evil vice feel they are justified in feeling how they feel towards people who look different from them and go out of their way to show it. Some racists deny they are racists, even when it is more than obvious. And if racism continues to run its destructive course, how on earth is the world supposed to progress at all, in terms of peace and universal love?

Why discrimination at all… why hatred, and what is to be gained from such blatant hatred of people from different races? If the civil rights movement taught America and the rest of the world anything, it was that every man and woman had the right to life, to equal rights, and the right to be one and not divided in any way. A person’s race- be it African, African American, Hispanic, Asian, Caucasian, and what have you- is no justification for hatred, prejudice and discrimination… or murder.

Dylann Roof did a terrible thing that day, killing those innocent people in a place of worship. For him to do such a thing and admit why he did it, he is a monster with no conscience, no humanity in his body. Charleston is in mourning, and the world is mourning with them. I still can’t believe how any person could carry such hate in their heart, motivating them to murder innocent people outside their race. Racism is evil and brings about terrible repercussions.

To the families and friends of the victims of the Charleston Shooting, my heart goes out to them and may God give them the fortitude to bear this great loss. And it is the hope that this sad incident will not cause a huge divide.

And let’s not forget Dylann Roof; may he get the punishment he deserves.

MUSIC FROM WAY BACK THEN

These days we have P-Square, Davido, Timaya, D' Banj; and international stars like Beyonce, Rihanna, John Legend & several rappers including 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Eminem and so on. But there are several old schoolers out there (including yours truly) who still have the music listened to on the old turnable and cassette tapes  in mp3 form in our smart phones and C.Ds. Music we grew up with and forever remain evergreen classics. Not that I have anything against what we have now, especially Nigeria (except for some tracks I don't understand a word) but if I had to choose between them; I would pick the classics any time.They've been a permanent fixture with me all my life and they are MANY of them ; which is why I can't list them all, except just list down a few.

                              

                             



                               

                             

                               

                              



                              

                             

                              

                             

                             

                              

                             

                              

                               



                               

                               
                              

                               

THE RICH ALSO CRY: THE REST OF THE STORY SNIPPET 7

Marisabel entered her Mummy's room one morning; wondering why she and Daddy were now sleeping in seperate rooms (Luis Alberto had moved to the guest room). After Marianna gave her a vague answer, the little girl expressed her wish to go to the park but Marianna didn't  feel up to it. Marisabel guessed rightly it was because Marianna wanted to go out looking for 'the boy she lost'.
Surprised, Marianna sat up. How did she know, who told her about him?
It turned out it was the malicious Nanny Sarah, who had told the innocent child that Mummy was crazy. There's anger on Marianna's face but calmly told Marisabel not to listen to Sarah.
But Marisabel told Mummy something else... she's been seeing Sarah and Daddy holding hands! Ah, Marianna got the picture now!
Luis Alberto refused to fire Sarah when she demanded she wanted Sarah out of their house, which led to a fight. Sarah brought Luis Alberto some coffee, entering his room much to his dismay. Very agitated, he told her to leave before Marianna or any one else caught them but she stood her ground. She wanted to know what he'd told his wife. Anxious to get her out of his room, Luis Alberto promised to get her an apartment, they'll have more privacy there. All of a sudden, he didn't seem to like Sarah's bold attitude.
Marianna walked in on them and is furious to see them kissing!
 "Get out of my house!" she ordered a scowling Sarah. Glancing at Luis Alberto, who made no move to defend her, Sarah haughtily left them alone.
NO WONDER... Marianna raged, he didn't want to fire Sarah! And history repeating itself, only this time it was NO misunderstanding. Luis Alberto accused her of cheating on him with Leonardo years ago, when the guy was only trying to revive her... but THIS, THIS was a real situation! He wanted to keep Sarah so they could have fun in their house, his way of getting back at her.
The whole time Marianna scolded him, it was like Luis Alberto had an epiphany and was now full of remorse. He was sorry, he said; he had no excuse for what he did, he hadn't planned it at all.
But Marianna, hurt and angry, declared it was really over between them now; her heart was broken. Luis stared after her as she left the room; anguish on his face- he didn't want to lose Marianna! (Of course not, not after what Esther put them through)

 For a whole month, husband and wife gave each other the silent treatment. The housekeeper, Maria, urged Marianna to give Luis Alberto another chance but Marianna felt he wasn't sorry for cheating on her. She coldly informed Luis Alberto she was ready to leave whenever he wanted her to, obviously she now bored him. Luis Alberto, really contrite, explained he'd been silent because he had no words to express his remorse, not because he wasn't sorry  for what he did. Marianna was his beloved wife, he needed her forgiveness. What happened with Sarah had been a period of madness, but he loved Marianna... she was the woman of his life.

At their usual meeting place, Sarah waited for Luis Alberto, pleased when he finally showed up. But Luis Alberto only came to tell her it was over between them. Sarah argued that Marianna didn't love him, they could keep meeting at the apartment he promised her. But Luis Alberto is firm, it was over and as Sarah was pretty, she will easily find someone else to love. Marianna has admitted what happened was her fault and promised to change; and also accepted his apology.
Sarah made a show of wanting Luis Alberto more than his money when he brought out his check book to write her a check. But she took it at the last minute (which made Luis Alberto smile bitterly) since she was no longer Marisabel's nanny. She tentatively tried to make Luis Alberto change his mind but he left, telling her never to call him.

More years pass and the household celebrate Marisabel's birthday again. Marianna figured her son was now a man but kept her sadness to a minimum this time; not wanting to put a

dampener on her daughter's special day.

THE RICH ALSO CRY: THE REST OF THE STORY SNIPPET 6

Luis Alberto walked into the study with Sarah, who needed an advance in her salary to go shopping. Luis Alberto wrote her a check; teasingly asking her if she was meeting her boyfriend. With exaggerated sadness, the cunning woman said she had no boyfriend, she was all alone. But she did have her sights on someone... who (alas!) only had eyes for his wife, who didn't love him. It suddenly dawned on Luis Alberto that Sarah was talking about him.
Seeing he'd caught on, Sarah passionately confessed her love for him, she'd been in love since the day he hired her as Marisabel's nanny- and hating the way he was suffering in silence at Marianna's behaviour. Luis Alberto (stupid man!) affirmed that Marianna didn't seem to  care how much she was hurting him and their daughter, nor did she understand him. He was tired of feeling unwanted... he looked at Sarah with new eyes. Sarah moved closer, tentatively suggesting they meet in secret. Marianna will never know.
Marianna soon noticed Luis Alberto was on the missing list, asking Ramona who was busy in the kitchen if she knew where her husband was. Ramona (who probably had her suspicions) warned Marianna that Luis Alberto was tired of being patient with her. Marianna protested defensively, she loved her husband! Ramona reminded her that she hardly spent time with him or Marisabel; instead she went everyday to the park to find the ticket vendor whom she gave her baby to. She should forget about the boy once and for all!
Marianna's face grew cold, of course she couldn't do such a thing- she'll keep looking!
'Even if it  costs you your marriage?' asked Ramona.
'Even if it costs me my marriage,' was the firm (and foolish) answer.  Ramona looked at her sadly. Meanwhile Luis Alberto is with Sarah, more than happy with her company and both refused to talk about Marianna.
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Luis Alberto found Marianna in their bedroom on his return; she immediately asked where he'd been- warning him not to try her patience. He sneered at her, who was she to talk about patience when that's what he'd been giving her for so long? Trouble between them again!
Luis Alberto and Sarah continue to meet in secret and Marianna gets more and more suspicious- wondering if Luis Alberto had started drinking again (We all remember how he is when drunk, no?) and felt he didn't understand her pain over their son. After confronting him about it, Luis Alberto suddenly felt guilty. He assured his wife he loved her but the ghost of their lost son was constantly standing between them. But instead of seeing his side of the argument,  Marianna angrily defended herself again, feeling she had the right to worry about their son. Angry with her again, Luis Alberto snapped that Marianna's obsession was the reason for her neglect and he was tired of her 'sickness' when she still accused him of not showing more understanding. Marianna might as well keep drowning but he had no intention of following her; she loved their lost son more than him and Marisabel. As for him, he will fall in love with someone else, drink and have fun instead of facing her tormented face every day. He stormed away angrily.

Who is right and who is wrong in this scenario?

THE CURRENT FUEL SCARCITY

The image above is an article from The Punch; May 12, 2015. And it's more than agony, it's sheer hell. It's not even an actual fuel scarcity; its the fuel marketers' rigid attitude towards supplying fuel to filling stations; they don't intend to do so until the Federal Government pays what is owed to them. This proverb really illustrates the current situation: When two elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers. And who's the grass... who else but the citizens of this  country!
 It's not fair  that we have to put up with this current agonising scenario. Every day people go around and find most petrol stations as empty as a ghost town, the few that get lucky enough to be supplied end up selling to the last drop that same day as so many people will line up with their cars and kegs to buy as much fuel as they can since they don't know when next fuel will be supplied. With the way PHCN is so mean these days when it comes to power supply, we need fuel more than ever for our generators. I ask you, which other country feels that mere  30 minutes of electricity is more than enough?! As if that's not bad enough, the transport workers have added their own- transport fares being raised because of no fuel. Everyone's now forced to spend everyday with no light, or line up for hours at the petrol stations or at a last resort, buy from the black marketers who are no doubt having a field day, imagine having to buy 10 litres of petrol for about 2500 naira!
The fuel marketers don't want to supply fuel until their money is paid. But they should also think about what they are doing to Nigerians; why should we suffer this cruelty on their part; how do they expect people to go to work, people to run their business and people to sleep during hot nights, when there's no petrol to power their cars and generators?
No one knows just how long this scenario is going to go on, but no doubt we all hope it won't be for long. The Federal Government should please reach some kind of agreement with the fuel marketers... and soon. It's honestly not fair that Nigerians have to go all through this, lax power supply everyday and no fuel to use.