My name is Hamad and I am not a terrorist!

The recent attack on Charlie Hebdo Magazine House in Paris, France, is one of sheer cruelty, irrationality and gruesomeness to say the least. Any right thinking human being must not only condemn this attack, but also try to stay away from causing chaos that could lead to further wastage of human lives as demonstrated by the terrorists. They simply murdered those people in cold blood!

“What could have caused this?” was the question on most lips. It was discovered that the magazine, which is noted to be satirical and mockery in nature, had already printed a cartoon caricature of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Islamic messenger of God, and made mockery of the Holy messenger of God. It was sheer blasphemy! This then “angered” the gunmen and they committed the heinous act. One thing should be clear; killing in the name of provocation through insult cannot be excused. The killing is a shame on the terrorists themselves.

While I condemn the cold-blooded murder of those lives at Charlie Hebdo, the response of the world to this attack has not been appropriate to some extent. On the positive side, there was a mass walk that was staged in protest to those killings as a symbol of commiseration with the French Government in Paris. The walk was coloured by “je suis Charlie” meaning “I am Charlie” in support of the dead. Various social media bore the inscription on their web pages; there were twitter rants here and there and the current trend is that of "je suis Charlie”

To analyze the ripple effect of this event, one must know that freedom of speech, which is what is being propagated and enforced by the French Government and allies must be rational, guided and guarded especially in the world we are today. The world is full of animals in human skins that would bate their eyelids at the slightest of assumed provocation and even worse, respond in calamitous fashion. Freedom of speech is a fundamental human right that should be enjoyed by everyone, but one must consider the possible ripple effect of utterances. We should also take note of expressions and reactions in certain delicate situations. For example, the French Government has approved that 3 million copies of the blasphemous publication should be printed instead of the initial 60 thousand copies as proposed by Charlie Hebdo before the incident. Also, various cartoonists and media houses have expressed their support for the “je suis Charlie” campaign and have gone to further make mockery of the Holy messenger of God as regarded by 1.3 Billion Muslims in the world. These reactions are bound to have consequences in the long run because; they are sending a message to terrorists who have been looking for one excuse or the other to perpetrate their evil. “We cannot kill fire with fire” says the Nigerian proverb, all in the name of not allowing terrorists to win their stupid ‘holy war’. One could even argue that the same French Government that has reacted this way and has instigated further printing of the blasphemous publication might not be able to prevent (God forbid) further attack on innocent French citizens.

The truth of the matter is, there are people who are always ready to take anything out of context and react without any just cause to anything they perceive as provocative and insulting as well as blasphemous. This then should make one to be careful of utterances, write-ups and expressions. Personally, I think the French government should have halted all publications and bring the killers to justice, while making a policy that could prevent further occurrences. They could also stiffen measures guarding against any statement that could incite social unrest because most, if not all social unrests take their toll on innocent citizens.

In conclusion, by this reaction of the French Government, it has systematically “agreed” to war between them and the extremists which could result in dire consequences. Personally, I will not say ‘je suis Charlie” but as  a Nigerian, I will say “ je suis Baga et Chibok et Nyanya”…………………………….more people simply died here and nothing happened.

The escapades of Debo Badru continued from last week.........
She was too close for me to think clearly. By this time, my parasympathetic nervous system had been in session, even though I would really love to make to her, I definitely did not want it to happen this way. What was she thinking? Oh! That by luring me to sleep with her, I would be able to plead on her behalf? “No way! I won’t take advantage of her” I said to myself. During this thought process, she’d already taken to my lips and was devouring it like a northerner who is trying to break his fast with a loaf of bread. I quickly but gently tried to shove her aside but she was just too close and I didn’t want to embarrass her. “We cannot be doing this” I told her. She paused for some moment and sluggishly released my hands from her mammary gland-secreting organs and she was about leaving the room when I realized I needed to break this jinx of missing out on the forbidden fruit all the time when the chances present themselves. “No! She cannot go like this” I thought to myself, it would just be foreplay only! Nothing more! I rushed to meet her as she was about to twist the door knob. The foreplay lasted for about five minutes and we were not even close to an end, then it happened “We really had to get down” well, I assume you know what happened next. It was a bitter-sweet sensation after the session. I had to take that bath again, this time a slow one. She left the room hurriedly grabbing her clothes and using them to cover her frame. “Enoh! I tried to call her back, but she was not going to answer this time, we were done for the day I presumed. Afterwards, I slipped into something lighter, brought my laptop out and continued with the research I was doing on racism which I was planning to include in my upcoming book titled “Psychology of racism”. From that moment on, I could not concentrate on the research itself. I just did something I had never done before, oh! I forgot to tell you? “That was my first time ever” and it was actually interesting. I felt a sensational relief that I had just broken that jinx.
Anyway, I decided I was going to speak to my uncle on her behalf and definitely would try as much as possible to convince him of Enoh’s stay in the house. Now! She really has to stay! Or what do you think? Just then, I heard a strange noise from the corner of the room……………………….my heart skipped again prompting my parasympathetic nervous system to resume action again! What was that? Or more accurately, who made that noise?
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK……………………………………………….

the escapades of Debo Badru.

As I walked from the bus park to my house, I refrained fruitlessly from thinking to myself. One thing that has always disturbed my mind and has been giving me sleepless nights is the fact that; with all the knowledge I claim to possess; the experiences I have garnered; and the people that I have met in my life, I still cannot say emphatically or boast of being financially, mentally and physically satisfied. In truth, I am not the best at turning money over or handling accounts, but whatever I do, I know how to do very well and will always do very well, because as they say “what’s worth doing is worth doing well”
While most people will associate my character with some of the greats like the Freuds, Shakespeares, Wundts, Ronaldos, Rooneys and a host of other greats, some will liken me to controversial greats too; the George Bests, the Muhammad Alis, Malcom X and a host of others. All these are testament to the fact that I seek to make impression a lot, albeit positive ones mostly. For me, it is always good whenever they liken you to these people; it means they definitely notice your existence, even though I cannot place the main reason behind them calling me any of these great names. I guess I still have to find some rare time to think it through. One thing that is certain however, is that people do not, I repeat! do not know exactly what you are battling internally. Even psychologists like Freud and Wundt have tried with great efforts at providing explanations as to what humans actually go through internally and they came out with proven conclusions albeit, debatable. All these thoughts kept ringing in my head as I walked by the dusty road that leads to our building and I kept saying to myself “very soon” unconsciously. I realized how depressed I had been and most especially how lonely I had really been living even though I live in a building with ten people. All my life I had been putting on a face mask (persona) and people have been judging me by that. In Psychology, we call that face validity (you will always look capable or incapable of doing things). In my thoughts I came to a logical conclusion that; what then is the essence of our existence in life? That is a question that would generate so many subjective answers. I will not blame anyone for judging me wrongly neither will I take some compliments wholeheartedly because either has probably been a birth of misconception and face validity. This gives rise to the answer of who I really am. "Jay-boy! you nor dey go field?”, brought me back to life because by this time, I had gotten to the gate of our house and someone had shouted my name. I did not know who it was, all I saw was a hand waving in a passenger bus that sped past and I waved back while still basking in that shock of being called suddenly. The silver-coloured gate was neat, even though the dusty road should have stained it thoroughly; well carved and with a precision that signals the uprightness of my uncle that I stayed with.
My uncle (Bayo) is one of the most disciplined men I have ever seen. A well-built man who makes you rethink of ever disrespecting him or defying his orders, whether direct or indirect, lest you incur the most physical correction of your life (knocks and definitely slaps). With a degree in Sociology from the prestigious University of Lagos as far back as 1986 and many other certificates, awards and professional qualifications, he was able to work his way through to the top and maintain himself as a well-accomplished individual. I mean, I see this guy as one of the few role models in my life and that explains how I have been trying hard to imbibe in personal policy making and keeping.
I got inside and I met just only Enoh the housemaid at home. “Welcome sir” she said relieving me of my Luis Vuitton cross bag “thank you dear “ I said and I went straight to my room and thank God there was power so I turned on the fan while I watched Enoh leave the room. I undressed and went to the bathroom to have a quick shower after the day’s stress, it was a quick shower but I enjoyed every minute of it. I was coming out of the bathroom when I heard a gentle knock on the door. I quickly wrapped the towel around my waist. Yes! I said and Enoh came in sobbing profusely. “I have never seen her like this” I thought to myself. “What’s wrong?” I asked, “I nor know wetin I do oga ooooo …….hin say make I dey go today oooo” she said sobbing between her words. For a moment I didn’t know what to say. I felt pity for the poor girl, whom to be honest I admire a lot. Enoh is presentable to say the least; she is neat, hardworking and extremely endowed. Her natural dark hair reminds one of the black Stallion in the Mexican stable, her set of teeth well lined, with each tooth as white as the frosty man, her eyes……………..well just like mine…………..so brown and sexy. Frankly speaking I suddenly realized how beautiful she was “What did he say you did that warranted you packing your bags?” I said “errm……………..i nor know at all sir” she replied in a tone that sent shivers around my loins almost making me have a sensation. By this time, she was walking towards me at a snail-buggy pace, then it was then I knew she was cladded in a transparent short skirt and a blouse that is almost non-existent. I felt somehow uncomfortable, but I knew she needed someone at that time to console her and assure her of her stay in the house. she was still moving towards me and I knew I had to do something to prevent any sexual arousal, but there was no time for me to even prevent her as she had already gotten to me………………………………to be continued next wednesday.

WATCHOUT!!! Every wednesday for this story.......

www.google.com

whyyoudeyfindjob.blogspot.comWAIT?!!!

I (I don’t know about you) have waited for more than 16 years for my constitutional and God-given rights. The Nations of Asia and America are moving with jet-like speed towards providing employment for their youths, but we will creep at snail-buggy pace towards providing the simplest of basic amenities, not to talk of provision of employment and even employment opportunities.

One thing that cannot be under-emphasized is the wrong perception about unemployment and joblessness. While unemployment is the situation that arises as a result of not getting a job (whether qualified or not), joblessness is more of a mindset thing. To say that we are not all jobless, but we are just not thinking in the right direction is a testament to the fact that getting a job is indeed a job, as rightly put by Aruosa, in his book 'getting a job is a job'. Sufficing the aforementioned statements is the fact not all youths can be entrepreneurs or self-employed because, once you know yourself, you will realize what you are exactly cut-out for. For instance, I first thought I would be an entrepreneur and ultimately independent ‘work-wise’, so I started selling recharge cards and even wanted to be affiliated properly, so I could be printing them on my own (legally oooo), but when I saw my contemporaries who had contrary ideas after we left university, ‘making it’ by working for other people, I realized I needed to take a course called ‘Myself 101’. Basically, ‘Myself 101’ involves introspection, meditation and ultimately, sleepless nights, but I didn’t care about all these, so far it would yield the proper fruit. Maybe you, yes you! are just cut-out to help others build their dreams and make enough money to nurse your own and attain the difficult, but very possible 'self-actualization'.

It is easy for those who have not tasted the stinging darts of unemployment and the forever-haunting perception of a bleak, insecure future to still say “wait”; but when you have seen vicious managers hire and fire at will; when all youths have been hypnotized about the calamitous dangers of unemployment and see an ominous cloud of insecurity begin to farm in our already confused mental sky; when your speech stammers and you stutter as you try to concoct an answer for your 14 year-old sister, asking you why you have not landed a job and you see a misplaced sense of humor in her somewhat fresh mental habitat because, she thinks strongly that you are confused; when you are hurried by the day and haunted at night (traffic spice); when your first name becomes ‘C.V’ and your last name becomes ‘interview’ ; when your extroversion becomes almost thwarted and gradually resorting to unwarranted quietness and you become the proverbial lone-way farer, who babbles to himself to keep the tears away and when 2013 suddenly becomes 2015; when you are forever having the degenerating sense of nobodiness;  then you will understand why we find it difficult to say “wait”

Meanwhile, there's still more to come, but pending that time, drink some glass of juice while reading this, to cool your nerves or probably take a shower................................either choice helps surely.

Written By

Badr Hamad III
Mobile No: +2348031812667
bbmpin: 332B100C
twitter: @badrudebo
linkedin: Badru Hamad
facebook: Debo Badru
email: hamadbadr7t@yahoo.com

FUNEMPLOYED_PART 2 … Putting the fun into unemployment

Unemployment may well be one of the worst things that can happen to you. All the joking aside, it’s demoralising and sometimes even degrading. But it doesn't all have to be doom and gloom. So you may resort to searching the pockets of those trousers you have long forsaken for abandoned change so you can afford a bottle of malt with your friends on a Friday night, lest you turn into a recluse.

But you know what? Rewriting a CV is a lot more fun if you’ve turned your pillow into your makeshift emergency table. Seriously. I speak from experience. So if you’re currently out of work – all seriousness, tears and copious CVs and covering letters aside – please be reminded that rumpled bedcovers and sacking off anything productive when the sun comes out is OK every once in a while.

Finally, let’s take this home. Here’s some advice for the funemployed out there:

1) Find a way to laugh about it. Seriously. Otherwise you’ll become despondent and depress everyone.
2) Talk to people about your situation, but do it in a jokey form. No one likes a winger.
3) Start a blog or online venture of some sort so you have something outside of yourself to focus on. This forces you to look out into the world and actually write about something.
4) Leave the house. Even if it’s to go for a walk. I speak from experience.
5) Volunteer for something. There’s that feeling of being part of something that works: no matter how big or small it may be.

Cheers…

Concluded.
- Precious Ohaegbulam (@prsh9 / precious_ohaegbulam@yahoo.com)

TIMELESS WORDS ON MARBLE – STEVE JOBS

1. You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your God, gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

2. I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life.  

3. No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

STUCK IN THESE SHOES

"...Wonder why these shoes ache so bad after few minutes of wearing them, but I have no other choice than to continue wearing them, at least it is better than being barefoot..." So he keeps struggling with the tight shoes everyday - nursing sores that leave an agonizing pain... In deep thought, he sighs over and over again...

That's the unheard cry of a graduate that is unemployed. Wondering how to stop the pain yet forgetting that he's the cause of the pain. He could have saved some money and gotten himself a new shoe, but he insists on wearing that same shoe. He knows it is tight yet he keeps forcing his foot in.Who's causing the pain?

The thought keeps lingering on my mind. Somehow, we play a part in charting the course our life takes. The course of success. The course of failure. Someone important once said something that stuck in my head: "You know what your future brings. It's just like going to the gym everyday. You are aware of the course of your life and how you spend your time - the day you don't go to the gym, it becomes an anomaly".

Thus, all our actions will determine if we are going to take a ride with kings or not. Can you take a ride with the type of person you are? So if you are still wondering you are unemployable, ask yourself these questions: "Can I hire me?" Do I have what it takes? How much is my intellectual capital worth? Figure that out! Reevaluate yourself! Then your Problem will be solved. It lies within You.

- - Hameed Zainab (@bellezzannie  / hameedzainab1@gmail.com / zannyhamyied@yahoo.com)