PaanLuel Wël Media Ltd – South Sudan

"We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing" By Konstantin Josef Jireček, a Czech historian, diplomat and slavist.

Let’s Be Serious for a Minute

Something has gone a miss among South Sudanese. Something terrible such that the bonds of decency in our cultural tapestry and heritage have ruptured. The South Sudanese society is reeling as acts of trauma manifest themselves in savagery not known to us. People are really traumatised from the leadership at home and in diaspora to everyday individuals at home and in diaspora too. There is too much venom from one person threatening to “rape to death” to others hurling abuse because of political differences.

Recently, Tearz Ayuen wrote an article in his typical style castigating the negative role played by Rebecca Nyandeng Chol Atem, the widow of the late Dr. John following massacre of Nuer civilians in Juba. However, in his attempt to show that Nyandeng has little support Tearz invertible implied that her supporters were Twic East which many read to mean supporters of Riek by extension and in the process the message was lost in translation. For some reason (feminist solidarity – my understanding based on her writings or whatever) known only to herself, Amer Mayen Dhieu wrote a furious response. In my view, an over the top response that was characterised by abuse of Bor community especially of Michael Makuei. I also found the allusion that Riek’s White Army should have attacked “Barkazeel” a bit distasteful and not different to Tearz view that “Tuei” are supporters of Nyandeng and by extension of the rebellion. It is all self defeating as both arguments are devoid of substantial logic.

However, I have little interest in debating communities or whatever, it is akin to intellectual vigilantism on a clan level – something abominable. Nor do I want to debate Tearz or Amer on their current subject of discussion. My problem in this Tearz-Amer debate pertains to the cheering fans and the faceless commentators, especially the reaction to Amer’s article. The reaction of some few people and their commentary is disturbing to say the least. Some individuals clearly need a visit from the High Priest of Logic, Decency, and Manners.

Abusing Amer because she is a female and perceiving that as a weakness or dragging her personal life into a public debate is a low act especially when she has not interacted with these abusive individuals beyond the screen of some smart device. Name calling doesn’t killed! Well, the kind of wasaka Amer has been subjected to is not normal, uncalled for and undeserved. It ruins people’s reputations especially when unfounded allegations are made and perpetuated by unscrupulous individuals. Calling someone a prostituted because she was engaged to someone and it didn’t work out says a lot about you rather than the person you are accusing.

Amer can be criticised, fair enough, however do it on logic and especially in relation to what she has written and not what you heard or think she should be as “Dinka woman”.

Get out of the cave and get a life.

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