There is considerable publicity about the practice of Female Genital Mutilation, but I dont know why this despicable practice has not received more attention. Then again, maybe it has and I've just been living under a rock.
Breast Ironing is a common practice in Cameroun and some other countries in Central/Western Africa as part of (if not the only form of) sexual education. It is done in order to discourage early sexual behaviour in young girls.
Pretty much the belief is that when a young girl starts to grow breasts, this will attract men to her and she would start having sex. So in order to discourage men from preying on their daughters, the mothers iron the breasts of the girl, as young as 9 years old!
A stone is placed close to a fire, and when it is hot enough, it is used to mold the breasts down. I shudder just at the thought of it. The woman in the video proudly announces that she does it to her daughter two times a day!, and that her mother did it to her also.
I am mortified at the approach to problems like this. The solution to unwanted sexual advances in the form of rape or unwanted pregnancy is to punish the female child? Her breasts have to be molded so that men would not want to have sex with her? for real? As far as I'm aware, nobody is going around ironing penises!
Same thing with the stupid Nudity bill. So because women are being raped the solution is not in harsher punishment for perpetrators, but dictating what women can and cannot wear? anyways I'm digressing.
The breasts of these innocent girls undoubtedly end up being deformed. Nobody thinks of what will happen when these girls finally need their breasts. I especially cringed when one of the victims was shyly explaining that her left breast is deformed as a result of this practice- even though she quickly adds that it is only one side.
"According to UNFPA, breast ironing exposes girls to numerous health problems such as abscesses, infections, dissymmetry of the breasts, cysts, and even the complete disappearance of one or both breasts." 1
I am still in total shock after watching the video, and as such I am taking an extra 30 minutes to appreciate my breasts.
1. http://current.com/items/88852332_breast_ironing
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Obama-Palin 2008
These are two people that rose from obscurity to become the superstars of this year's election- albeit for different reasons. I remember watching Barack Obama's speech at the DNC in 2004, my uncle was particularly excited about the speech. me? I couldn't care less. I didn't know him.
2008, its a different ball game entirely. I am particularly excited about Obama because he is a strong example that you can make it- and big too!. He proves that your skin color should not be a deterent as long as you know your stuff. Plus, Obama is a real first generation African American. The son of a Kenyan immigrant and a white woman. at the risk of sounding politically incorrect, he gives me hope that if I had a child by a white dude, my child can become the president of America, isn't that cool?
He also proves that I dont have to name the son John, Bill or Sean, if I name him *Oluwatobilobalatifiyinatogofun *Dideoluwakusidedeomoarayeeyipada Peterson, it wouldn't stop his rise to prominence either.
He however does prove that for Oluwatobilobalatifiyin to get to the top, he has to be sound on every side. He's going to be a goldfish in a glass bowl, and his every action is going to be put under scrutiny. He would have to go to the best schools on scholarship of course, graduate Summa Cum Laude, hang around with great people, be involved extracurricularly, and carefully scrutinize his friends. And of course Oluwatobiloba can't afford to be associated with the so-called "awon boys" cos it might come up later on during his political career that he pallies around with yahooze boys.
I'm also excited for this woman because she has proven that a woman could shatter the glass ceiling(lets not go into how) and also rise to rub shoulders with her male counterparts in high offices. However, she has to know her stuff cold. There's no room to be mediocre or just skit through because you'll be put under the microscope too.
And of course you can be personable and woo people with your feminine graces, but there has to be something more to it. As you draw people in with your charisma and feminine charms, you have to be able to keep them drawn to you with your brains as well.
which is something that HRC has been able to do, and though she's not on the ticket this year, I'm also proud of HRC. She not only shattered the glass ceiling, she reduced the glass fragments to finely ground dust.Now I'm waiting for the time when the next African/ African american woman with the brains of Obama and the poise of HRC would emerge. Hundreds of Thousands willl gather to hear her speak about Foreign policy health and the Economy. While they are at it, many more would take fashion cues from her neatly cut skirt suits and amazing hair.
The Washington Post would write about her amazing plan to fix medicare once and for all, while Vogue would write about her keen sense of fashion. Essence would write about how she manages to always pull off sleek hair even though she has African hair, the Fitness mags would follow her to get her fitness routine and .....
can I dream?
*names courtesy black007's post a while back
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
why I was depressed for a hot minute
I dont know why I feel like I owe you guys an explanation (its beginning to feel like our life, instead of my life!) so here goes: As most people would have guessed, my last post has to do with school and is kinda connected to my "perfect" rant.
Specifically, it had to do with an undesirable grade - A "B".
I'm used to getting As, not because I'm entitled to it, but because I actually work for it. Throughout my undergrad years, I think I got like 4 Bs, and I ranted and raved like no other. my only compensation was....
Anyways, I got a B in a class that I desperately hoped, worked, studied and prayed my ass off for. I guess I wouldn't have felt so bad if I didn't put in much effort. herein lies my problem.
I've had courses where I put in my maximal best effort, only to end up with a B. I've also had courses where I either didn't put in much or I didn't understand the material as well, and I still got a B.
It is beginning to look like my effort doesnt even matter
The most fustrating ones are the Bs that are 2-3 points shy of an "A" - which is what sent me spiralling down that depressing path from my last post. A "C" wouldn't even have had this much of an effect on me!
Anyways, Whenever there's a problem, you have to face it head on, and attack it.
1. the first step is: Acknowledging that there is a problem.
Now I'm past the denial stage, I think I have a problem. Actually, I think I have ADHD (really, this is not funny). seriously, Dr. Naaps, will you write me a prescription for Aderall if I ask nicely?
2. the next step is: Seek help.
there are two types of help
a. spiritual help: Actually, one of my friends jokingly said I need prayer. Now that I think about it, I really think I need prayers. I was at the Festival of life (naija peeps know it as Holy Ghost service) and pastor Adeboye said we should raise our scarfs, handkerhiefs so that he can pray on it, I think I'll be needing mines for my exams from henceforth!
b. professional help: So I went to see one of the professional somebodys in my school that you go see when you have academic trouble. when I told her my case, she started laughing (schew! like it was funny). Anyways, I have an appointment to go see her this week cos i need to know what I'm doing wrong.
unfortunately my school schedule doesn't allow for time to be depressed as I have two exams in quick succession. I was going to postpone my depression till after my exams, but I have decided against it, since I just remembered that my pastor said we should pray against depression (he actually said it like 3 or 4 different sundays). Plus, I dont want to claim any bad things.
thanks for all your uplifting comments, the only cure for me now is to see those "As" rolling in! or maybe I should just accept my diagnosis of ADHD and stop raising my hopes?
Specifically, it had to do with an undesirable grade - A "B".
I'm used to getting As, not because I'm entitled to it, but because I actually work for it. Throughout my undergrad years, I think I got like 4 Bs, and I ranted and raved like no other. my only compensation was....
Anyways, I got a B in a class that I desperately hoped, worked, studied and prayed my ass off for. I guess I wouldn't have felt so bad if I didn't put in much effort. herein lies my problem.
I've had courses where I put in my maximal best effort, only to end up with a B. I've also had courses where I either didn't put in much or I didn't understand the material as well, and I still got a B.
It is beginning to look like my effort doesnt even matter
The most fustrating ones are the Bs that are 2-3 points shy of an "A" - which is what sent me spiralling down that depressing path from my last post. A "C" wouldn't even have had this much of an effect on me!
Anyways, Whenever there's a problem, you have to face it head on, and attack it.
1. the first step is: Acknowledging that there is a problem.
Now I'm past the denial stage, I think I have a problem. Actually, I think I have ADHD (really, this is not funny). seriously, Dr. Naaps, will you write me a prescription for Aderall if I ask nicely?
2. the next step is: Seek help.
there are two types of help
a. spiritual help: Actually, one of my friends jokingly said I need prayer. Now that I think about it, I really think I need prayers. I was at the Festival of life (naija peeps know it as Holy Ghost service) and pastor Adeboye said we should raise our scarfs, handkerhiefs so that he can pray on it, I think I'll be needing mines for my exams from henceforth!
b. professional help: So I went to see one of the professional somebodys in my school that you go see when you have academic trouble. when I told her my case, she started laughing (schew! like it was funny). Anyways, I have an appointment to go see her this week cos i need to know what I'm doing wrong.
thanks for all your uplifting comments, the only cure for me now is to see those "As" rolling in! or maybe I should just accept my diagnosis of ADHD and stop raising my hopes?
Monday, October 20, 2008
I am friggin depressed...
I was supposed to write a post about something else, until this...
I seriously am about to stop trying.
I want to go home and cry into my pillow, instead I have to stay in school and put on a fake smile and pretend that I'm ok because I know I'm not going to get any studying done at home.
I seriously am about to stop trying.
I want to go home and cry into my pillow, instead I have to stay in school and put on a fake smile and pretend that I'm ok because I know I'm not going to get any studying done at home.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
I lost my job because of facebook
I hate to sound like some old mama, but I remember the facebook of old.
It was just for college students in America who wanted a place to communicate outside of class. It was a rare privilege if your school was on, and you had to sign on with ur school email address.
Facebook then was used to communicate about assignments, tests, get textbooks, and of course social events happening on campus.
Very soon, a lot of colleges joined and facebook was extended to jand. You can imagine the beef that followed between jand students and yankee students.
Then facebook became open to high school students. I seriously think this was the beginning of the end for facebook. All the kids that had colonized myspace (which I refused to join) began an en-masse exodus onto facebook.
The straw that broke the camel's back was when facebook became open to the public. You didn't even need a school id to log on. Every and anybody could log on. This was a plus and a minus. Our long lost friends in naija and all over could log on, then again so could our enemies and those that had no business being on there.
Facebook that used to be the students' getaway- the ideal escape- became what u needed to escape from. First, our teachers started having facebook accounts. There was no escape from the authorities again.
A lot of employers now admit that they check prospective employees' facebook accounts before hiring them. That means that all your prospective employers might have seen your drunken party pictures, and some might just have denied you employment because of it.
As if medical school is not competitive enough, admission committees now admit that they also check facebook and almost 30% of them admit that facebook profiles and pictures have some weight in their admission decisions. (sting, NDQ and co, hope you've cleaned up your fb lives?)
I have heard about a girl who got suspended from the choir because somebody showed her pastor a picture of her at a club in some not-so-flattering outfits.
I personally know about a couple of my friends whose parents are on facebook! ewwwwwww!
Truth is, since facebook was sold, it has just become another marketing ploy and that haven of escape it was has been "discovered" by the other side.
Also, I've always wondered why bloggers are on facebook as their blog identities. does it make sense? can somebody help me out?
When facebook was sold, I posted something on my then blog. It was hilarious at first, but now there is a great chance that it could be true:
7 Reasons Why The Facebook is a Government Tracking Site:
1. The Facebook asks for every bit of your personal information including your phone number, spring break plans, and summer activities, so they can locate you for questioning if you've done some dirt.
2. The Facebook has stepped their game up, and have begun to inquire about your facebook friends, they want to know how you've met them and when. And If you say you don't know them, they ask you to "remove" them from your friends list.
3. The Facebook wants to know what your favorite books and quotes are, just to check and see if you are being influenced by "radicals" or "terrorists".
4. You can now upload unlimited "MUG SHOTS", oops, I meant to say pictures, so that the government knows every single physical description of you.
5. The Facebook has even created a "social timeline" of your activities for evidence in court, now that's gangsta.
6. The Facebook logs all of the groups you participate in, be careful, you may be mingling with "radicals" or "terrorists".
7. The "CIA", oops, I meant to say the Facebook staff, has logged every single message you've ever sent. Just be happy it's not connected to the show "CHEATERS".
So after reviewing the evidence, why should we continue to interact with this website... BECAUSE WE ARE TOO NOSEY NOT TO.
If you have any more convincing evidence, feel free to add on...
PS: This is not to villify Facebook, instead it is to put the word out there that while we are having fun with facebook we should be aware that other people have access to our profiles and pictures. So if you wouldn't show it to your employer, admissions committee, pastor, husband or parent, don't put it on facebook.
It was just for college students in America who wanted a place to communicate outside of class. It was a rare privilege if your school was on, and you had to sign on with ur school email address.
Facebook then was used to communicate about assignments, tests, get textbooks, and of course social events happening on campus.
Very soon, a lot of colleges joined and facebook was extended to jand. You can imagine the beef that followed between jand students and yankee students.
Then facebook became open to high school students. I seriously think this was the beginning of the end for facebook. All the kids that had colonized myspace (which I refused to join) began an en-masse exodus onto facebook.
The straw that broke the camel's back was when facebook became open to the public. You didn't even need a school id to log on. Every and anybody could log on. This was a plus and a minus. Our long lost friends in naija and all over could log on, then again so could our enemies and those that had no business being on there.
Facebook that used to be the students' getaway- the ideal escape- became what u needed to escape from. First, our teachers started having facebook accounts. There was no escape from the authorities again.
A lot of employers now admit that they check prospective employees' facebook accounts before hiring them. That means that all your prospective employers might have seen your drunken party pictures, and some might just have denied you employment because of it.
As if medical school is not competitive enough, admission committees now admit that they also check facebook and almost 30% of them admit that facebook profiles and pictures have some weight in their admission decisions. (sting, NDQ and co, hope you've cleaned up your fb lives?)
I have heard about a girl who got suspended from the choir because somebody showed her pastor a picture of her at a club in some not-so-flattering outfits.
I personally know about a couple of my friends whose parents are on facebook! ewwwwwww!
Truth is, since facebook was sold, it has just become another marketing ploy and that haven of escape it was has been "discovered" by the other side.
Also, I've always wondered why bloggers are on facebook as their blog identities. does it make sense? can somebody help me out?
When facebook was sold, I posted something on my then blog. It was hilarious at first, but now there is a great chance that it could be true:
7 Reasons Why The Facebook is a Government Tracking Site:
1. The Facebook asks for every bit of your personal information including your phone number, spring break plans, and summer activities, so they can locate you for questioning if you've done some dirt.
2. The Facebook has stepped their game up, and have begun to inquire about your facebook friends, they want to know how you've met them and when. And If you say you don't know them, they ask you to "remove" them from your friends list.
3. The Facebook wants to know what your favorite books and quotes are, just to check and see if you are being influenced by "radicals" or "terrorists".
4. You can now upload unlimited "MUG SHOTS", oops, I meant to say pictures, so that the government knows every single physical description of you.
5. The Facebook has even created a "social timeline" of your activities for evidence in court, now that's gangsta.
6. The Facebook logs all of the groups you participate in, be careful, you may be mingling with "radicals" or "terrorists".
7. The "CIA", oops, I meant to say the Facebook staff, has logged every single message you've ever sent. Just be happy it's not connected to the show "CHEATERS".
So after reviewing the evidence, why should we continue to interact with this website... BECAUSE WE ARE TOO NOSEY NOT TO.
If you have any more convincing evidence, feel free to add on...
PS: This is not to villify Facebook, instead it is to put the word out there that while we are having fun with facebook we should be aware that other people have access to our profiles and pictures. So if you wouldn't show it to your employer, admissions committee, pastor, husband or parent, don't put it on facebook.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Happy Birthday!
I almost never write the cliche valentine's day post, 9-11 post or special holiday's post. This time however, I've been looking forward to the Independence day post.
Nigeria would be 48 0r is it 49 years old, and writer s worldwide would write lengthy essays about how little we've achieved in the last 49 years. Sadly they would be right. A fool at 4o they say.... can you imagine a fool at 50?
Recent events in the world however would not allow for Nigeria to continue along the same path of mediocrity for too long. I might be overly optimistic, but I believe there's something in the offing for our dear motherland.
First, the world has become a global village. What this means is that we can't afford to live in our little bubble for too long, even if we wanted to.
Just a couple of months ago, everyone watched the spectacle that was the Beijing olympics. The Chinese left not a single doubt in the minds of everybody worldwide that they have become a contending force and they are here to say.
Wasn't it too long ago that China was considered an underdeveloped country. Right now, they are fast-tracking to the position of Developed, and I sure say they deserve it.
China gave America a run for their money in the olympics, just as they have been doing in Science and Technology. A few years ago, most of the leading scientists involved in ground breaking research in America were Asians. Now China is luring all their scientists back home, building state of the art laboratories for them and paying them as well too. Now no PI can dangle an H1-B visa in front of the nose of a chinese scientist who knows what's in store at home.
The technology they presented at the olympics was fascinating and what's more, they are now ready to make their space launch! (or have completed it by now)
As someone who hasn't been so much into politics, I've certainly been following the American Presidential election. Even though no process is without its flaws, I can't help but draw sharp contrasts with the American electoral process.
Americans know they are not perfect, but they certainly expect someone who is near perfect to be at the helm of the affairs of their country. From the way Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama swung it out in the democratic primaries, I wonder if Yar'adua and Atiku could have put up the same fight. Even more, I wonder if the PDP would let them.
The presidential campaigns also provide a measure of interest(what with the palinmania, calling off campaigns, SNL interviews, deal or no deal...can you blame me?) and for one who cannot vote, I've sure been paying a lot of attention. The main focus of the election now is the Economy and each candidate is scrambling to be seen as the one who can fix it. In 2004, George Bush won because the main issue was national security,post 9-11.
If the process were to be the same in Nigeria, I can bet the issue of the day would be Electricity. I can't help but imagine the possiblity of the PDP candidate and the AD candidate trying to convince Nigerians that they can fix the mess that is NEPA.(it would sure be fun to watch!)
Alas, today is not about China or America. Its about Nigeria. I follow the news in Nigeria on a daily basis, and to some extent I'm cognizant about the general happenings in the country. It seems as if the wind of change that Obama has been championing, that McCain has now hijacked has finally blown its way into Nigeria.
Our once slow Yardy is finally shaking things up and getting rid of the Old boys' network on Aso Rock. Even though our change may not come as sweepingly as it has for our friends in the western world, even though it may not be as selfless as it appears to be, It is still change nonetheless. America didn't get to where it is in 49 years, we'll take baby steps, but I know we'll walk.
There is a reverse brain drain going on in the diaspora right now, its like the Jews going back all over again. Nigerians in the U.K and America are returning home to put their skills to use - and u know we Nigerians gat mad skillz! Its even hit blogsville, Atutu has returned and so have countless others. Those that haven't are thinking about going back to observe the youth service, in the hopes of going back at a later date.
with all this combined, I see a brighter future for Nigeria, infact I'm overly optimistic about that country. Maybe for the first time in a long time, I'll wear green and white today and show my solidarity. (ok, I lied about that last bit)
Nigeria would be 48 0r is it 49 years old, and writer s worldwide would write lengthy essays about how little we've achieved in the last 49 years. Sadly they would be right. A fool at 4o they say.... can you imagine a fool at 50?
Recent events in the world however would not allow for Nigeria to continue along the same path of mediocrity for too long. I might be overly optimistic, but I believe there's something in the offing for our dear motherland.
First, the world has become a global village. What this means is that we can't afford to live in our little bubble for too long, even if we wanted to.
Just a couple of months ago, everyone watched the spectacle that was the Beijing olympics. The Chinese left not a single doubt in the minds of everybody worldwide that they have become a contending force and they are here to say.
Wasn't it too long ago that China was considered an underdeveloped country. Right now, they are fast-tracking to the position of Developed, and I sure say they deserve it.
China gave America a run for their money in the olympics, just as they have been doing in Science and Technology. A few years ago, most of the leading scientists involved in ground breaking research in America were Asians. Now China is luring all their scientists back home, building state of the art laboratories for them and paying them as well too. Now no PI can dangle an H1-B visa in front of the nose of a chinese scientist who knows what's in store at home.
The technology they presented at the olympics was fascinating and what's more, they are now ready to make their space launch! (or have completed it by now)
As someone who hasn't been so much into politics, I've certainly been following the American Presidential election. Even though no process is without its flaws, I can't help but draw sharp contrasts with the American electoral process.
Americans know they are not perfect, but they certainly expect someone who is near perfect to be at the helm of the affairs of their country. From the way Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama swung it out in the democratic primaries, I wonder if Yar'adua and Atiku could have put up the same fight. Even more, I wonder if the PDP would let them.
The presidential campaigns also provide a measure of interest(what with the palinmania, calling off campaigns, SNL interviews, deal or no deal...can you blame me?) and for one who cannot vote, I've sure been paying a lot of attention. The main focus of the election now is the Economy and each candidate is scrambling to be seen as the one who can fix it. In 2004, George Bush won because the main issue was national security,post 9-11.
If the process were to be the same in Nigeria, I can bet the issue of the day would be Electricity. I can't help but imagine the possiblity of the PDP candidate and the AD candidate trying to convince Nigerians that they can fix the mess that is NEPA.(it would sure be fun to watch!)
Alas, today is not about China or America. Its about Nigeria. I follow the news in Nigeria on a daily basis, and to some extent I'm cognizant about the general happenings in the country. It seems as if the wind of change that Obama has been championing, that McCain has now hijacked has finally blown its way into Nigeria.
Our once slow Yardy is finally shaking things up and getting rid of the Old boys' network on Aso Rock. Even though our change may not come as sweepingly as it has for our friends in the western world, even though it may not be as selfless as it appears to be, It is still change nonetheless. America didn't get to where it is in 49 years, we'll take baby steps, but I know we'll walk.
There is a reverse brain drain going on in the diaspora right now, its like the Jews going back all over again. Nigerians in the U.K and America are returning home to put their skills to use - and u know we Nigerians gat mad skillz! Its even hit blogsville, Atutu has returned and so have countless others. Those that haven't are thinking about going back to observe the youth service, in the hopes of going back at a later date.
with all this combined, I see a brighter future for Nigeria, infact I'm overly optimistic about that country. Maybe for the first time in a long time, I'll wear green and white today and show my solidarity. (ok, I lied about that last bit)
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