Mr. Ateny Wek: Challenge Madam Nyandeng without involving John Garang and Salva Kiir
By Simon Deng Kuol Deng, New York, USA
October 18, 2016 (SSB) —- MY fellow South Sudanese, with the greatest respect to you all, I hereby ask you this question: is not, this time, a time for the implementation of the peace agreement, reconciliation, and healing in which we should avoid a wedge issue that can split us apart? What had said by Rebeca Nyandeng de Mabior, the wife of late leader Dr. John Garang de Mabior that she is a mother of the nation in her interview should be let go without a response from any individual in government, even though any individual in government has right to express his or her opinions.
If someone think that it is an important issue to response, then, he or she should response to her claimed that she a mother of the nation by denying or accepting her claim without bringing late leader Dr. John Garang de Mabior, President Salva Kiir Mayardit, and the first lady Ayen Mayardit on the social media to debate who is a mother or father of the nation among aforementioned leaders at this current time in which our nation is in the processes for the implementation of peace agreement, reconciliation, and healing.
The title of father or mother of the nation is an honorific title given to the head of the executive branch of government such as the president, the prime minister, and the king or queen of the monarch system of governance. However, the title of father or mother of the nation had never been given to someone who had never been a president, prime minister, king, or queen in the histories of politics of all nations.
If a woman or a man is a first president, prime minister, king, queen, she or he may be given title of mother or father of the nation by resolution adopted by the nation’s parliament or congress in order to be recorded in the history of that nation, so that the children can learn that part of history in school.
However, a wife or a husband of the president and prime minister is called first lady or first gentleman; while, the children of the president, the prime minister, the first lady or the first gentleman are referred as the first family. Martha Washington, the wife of the USA president, George Washington was the first woman given title “lady” by the press; while Dolley Madison, the wife of the USA president James Madison was the first lady given an honorary seat on the floor of U.S. Congress.
But the United States of America has decided to give the title of the father of the nation to George Washington, while his wife remained as the first lady, not a mother of the nation. later, the United States of America has considered John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander as the founding fathers or fathers of the nation, but their wives had not considered as the founding mothers or mothers of the nation, but they referred as the first ladies of the United States of America, period.
In Israel, Theodor Herzl had considered the father of Israel, while David Ben-Gurion had considered the founder of the state of Israel and the first prime minister of Israel. On the other hand, Abraham referred as the father of the Jewish people, while King David referred as the greatest of all Jewish Kings.
Some countries used to give the title of the father or mother of the nation to several leaders who were the founders of the movement who liberated their nations; while some other countries used to give the title of father or mother of the nation to one person who was a first president, prime minister, king, queen, or a founder of the movement which fought for the liberation struggle of the nation.
Therefore, the decision of who can be called the father of the nation of South Sudan, not a mother of the nation since there was not a woman who had become president before, should not be the priority at this time in my opinion.
It will be decided later by resolution of our parliament to give the title of the father of the nation to either Salva Kiir Mayardit of being the first president or to Dr. John Garang de Mabior on the ground for being the founder of the movement which fought for 21 years, signed CPA, and also a president of Autonomy Southern Sudan which got independent after 6 years after the death of Dr. John Garang de Mabior, or give the title to both (Dr. John Garang De Mabior and Salva Kiir Mayardit.
About Author: Mr. Simon Deng Kuol Deng is SPLM Former Secretary General in New York-USA. Mr. Deng is currently a graduate student for the Master’s Degree of Science in Political Science, SNHU, U.S.A. He holds the Degree of Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, general concentration in the three Subfields: The American Politics and Governments; Comparative Politics and Comparative Governments; and International Relations, from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) USA. He also holds the Degree of Associate in Applied Science in Office Management and Administration from the State College of New York at Buffalo, Erie Community College (ECC) USA. He Attended Training for Rapid Impact Public Finance Management Project, sponsored by World Bank, School of Management Science, University of Juba and KCA University, Kenya and obtained a post Certificate in Procurement in 2011. He can be reached by smndeng@yahoo.com or simondeng.deng@snhu.edu
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