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White
Heroes of Black Freedom
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Oliver O. Mbamara
- Editorial
Not long ago, there was a news program on television. It was about a Caucasian Evangelist who is presently based somewhere in the jungles of Northern Uganda in Africa risking his life to engage rebels in guerilla battles to protect the weak and the endangered Africans of that region. During the program, the Western Evangelist reiterated his commitment towards finding the rebel leader and defeating him or chasing him away from other hopeless and feeble Africans who are presently living at the constant threat of fear and death by the rebel leader. Reports continue to come in about the brutal torturing, maiming, and killing of other Africans by the self-proclaimed rebel leader who is alleged to be recruiting under aged children into the Rebel Army.
True or False
This piece does not endorse any form of group, resistance, force, or unrecognized government, and it has to be clarified that the reported role of any individuals in either protecting or harming the people of Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, or their surroundings is not within the purview of this piece to confirm or disapprove. Some of these stories have been confirmed while investigation is ongoing in many others. Nevertheless, some stories out of this area of Africa are quite shocking, awe-inspiring, or simply interesting. The story of the “gun toting Evangelist” is one of them.
What makes this Evangelist’s story quite unique is that the Evangelist is neither African nor was he born in Africa, yet he has made the struggle of some oppressed Africans his own fight and struggle. He continues to put his life on the line so these oppressed Africans could have a somewhat protected and peaceful life. Many Africans and nations continue to contribute towards alleviating the conditions of the people of this ravaged part of Africa, yet, the sacrifice and commitment of this Evangelist is a kind even many Africans would not make for fellow Africans.
A Fair Critic Will Appreciate What Is Due
Many African scholars and personalities have been at the forefront in criticizing the brainwashing of Africans by Western civilization. Many of us have and still continue to critically analyze the roles of the big Western nations as well as the negative and positive impacts of Western civilization, religion, education, colonialism, and slavery on African culture and society today. In the same vein, it is only fair that we also appreciate the roles of Western individuals or institutions who continue to recognize other people in life as Souls in expression and not as different human beings made inferior by color, language, creed, or race. When the oppressed black or minority protest their rights, many Caucasians (whites) march and protest with them at the risk of loosing their lives or being ostracized by the larger community. Even in the days of open slavery many white individuals saw the need of freedom by the blacks and they made it their course. They suffered like the blacks. Many of them were attacked, some got their houses burnt, others received death threats, and so on, but they stood their grounds in support of freedom for the blacks, the minority, the oppressed, the deprived, and the enslaved. Such individuals remain the true heroes for they recognized the identity of man as Soul, unbiased by worldly appearances, rules, and regulations.
Heroes of the kind we stated above exist(ed) at all times dating back to the beginning of time including a few centuries ago. During the era of slave trade, while many Caucasian slave masters wanted slavery to last in perpetuity, many other Caucasian well-placed individuals fought for the abolition of slave trade. While some supported colonialism, many wanted it to end and therefore propagated the freedom and independence of the colonized nations and individuals. Today, while some continue to exploit religion, race, color, creed or gender as a tool of divisionism and discrimination, others choose to love and treat their neighbors as fellow human beings.
Skepticism, Deceit, Honor, And Vindication
It has to be noted that some schools of thought insist that there has to be some hidden agenda or selfish motives behind such good gestures. It is no surprise that in a world like the one we live in, man will continue to breach the trust of his fellow man and therefore, man will continue to suspect his fellow man. Therefore, such skepticism is understandable and could sometimes turn out to be true. Nevertheless, there are men of genuine kindness and compassion. It may be hard to tell the difference sometimes, but the true intentions behind a man’s act or expression could be glimpsed or revealed in the nature of the speech or deed itself.
There is also the concept that the zeal of a member of one race to go out to defend the rights of members of another race could be linked to a balancing of situations created in an immediate past of a present life or the balancing of a situation arising from a life when such person was involved positively or negatively with such other race or members of such other society. Above all, time remains the greatest provider of the truest answer for as they say, “time will tell.” Certain factors cannot be disputed: The man of honor is never discouraged by the suspicion of disrepute for the truth and the revelation of time will always vindicate, console, and/or encourage him. On the other hand, the man of dishonor, could only get away with his vice for only a period of time – the moment of reckoning lies in wait for him for nothing stays hidden forever.
True Heroes
Be that as it may, the ability of man to show love, care, and compassion to his fellow man remains a thing of Divine beauty. It is a reminder of who we truly are and a measure of our various levels of consciousness. Many individuals out there are true heroes because somehow, they have come to recognize what life is all about. They have come to realize that there is a greater purpose for man’s existence on earth and that to love and serve others regardless of race, color, or creed remains the greatest goal of Soul. I am learning to recognize this concept and the practice of living it.
©2005
Oliver Mbamara Esq.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Oliver Mbamara is an Administrative Law Judge
with the State of New York. He is also a filmmaker and a Published Poet
and playwright. For more on Oliver, please visit www.olivermbamara.com
For
background/research reference on this piece, click on this link
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