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Elections, Prejudice, and Influence

Elections, Prejudice, and Influence

Campaign Video?

I watched a YouTube video about Nigeria and Boko Haram called “COUNTER INSURGENCY OPERATION: The Gains and Prospects,” from Max Siollun’s website.

The video opens on five men in uniform, most white, at the back of a truck which contains a large cooler like I take to the beach, a rifle, and a water bottle. Next we see Nigerian soldiers searching in what looks like a school…

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Three Rewards of Ministerial Search

Three Rewards of Ministerial Search

Unitarian Search Committee  Our Search Committee. I’m nearly hidden, seated second from right

I am a member of The Unitarian Church in Westport, CT. Have I told you that we are in a search for a new senior minister? I am part of the Ministerial Search Committee, an honor, a privilege, and a large task!

We have now brought our first candidate of four (called pre-candidate in Unitarian…

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Race Talk, Nigerian Elections

Race Talk, Nigerian Elections

Bold Talk on Race James Comey, FBI Director, spoke about race

The Director of the FBI, James Comey, spoke yesterday to students at Georgetown University on race relations. He was candid and bold as he talked about our choices on issues of race.

“As a society, we can choose to live our everyday lives, raising our families and going to work, hoping that someone, somewhere, will do something to…

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Election Postponed

Nigeria Postpones Elections  Professor Jega, head of INEC

On Feb. 7 one of our Friends of Nigeria (former Peace Corps volunteers in Nigeria) online members sent word the elections were postponed. He provided a link to an article in the Irish Times. Abullahi Edward, the former volunteer living in Nigeria whom I’ve quoted before, replied to the group that he thought this was presumptuous as the…

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Nanka, New York Times, Problems and Hope

Nanka, New York Times, Problems and Hope

Unique Greeting Anniversary Greeting from Nanka Students’ Union

We received an email from the Nanka Students’ Union a couple of days ago. It’s a warm and wonderful anniversary greeting.

I love it. I haven’t emailed them my thanks yet. I will do that after posting, so I can send them the link to the post.

I’m rereading to see if there are any explanations required for my non-Nigerian and…

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Guests for Dinner

Nigerian Dinner

Yesterday evening Clem and I entertained eight guests for a Nigerian dinner in our home. I had offered the dinner as an auction item in the Gala Auction held at our Unitarian Church. Cheryl and her husband David were the winning bidders.

Cheryl put together a delightful group to share the dinner. It included their son Brodie and his girlfriend Jenny; they had met as PC volunteers…

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Two Atrocities, Two Approaches

Two Atrocities, Two Approaches

Paris and Baga – Both Newsworthy?

Margaret Sullivan, NYTimes Public Editor

“What makes one atrocity more newsworthy than another?” asks Margaret Sullivan, Public Editor of The New York Times, in her piece on January 24. She comments on the extensive coverage of the Paris bombing at the magazine office: “Coverage was wall to wall: In The Times, not a day went by, for 10 consecutive days, without…

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Dolls, Elections, and Book Talks

Dolls, Elections, and Book Talks

Bounty of Book Talks

I told you I would share news about upcoming speaking events which involve connections to dear old friends.

I hope to be in Park City, Utah sometime this spring. My high school friend Karen Sturdy Cassity lives there. When I spoke with her after about 55 years! of not being in touch, she told me she belongs to a couple of book groups and knows at least one indie book store…

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Five Greatest Election Fears

Five Greatest Election Fears

Valentine’s Day No Guarantee of Love in Nigerian Elections

I’ve been reading more about the upcoming elections in Nigeria, scheduled for February 14 and Feb. 28. In my last post I talked briefly about the two candidates for president and the problem of defeating Boko Haram.

Now I want to share my fears about these elections. I worry about sore losers, intimidation of rivals, lack of sufficient…

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Boko Haram and Elections

Boko Haram and Elections

Elections Looming

President Goodluck Jonathan photo by Amanda V UN

Nigeria’s political rhetoric is in high gear for the presidential elections on February 14. President Goodluck Jonathan, running for a second term, is all over the air waves.

The National Television Authority, NTA, devotes a major portion of its nightly newscast to his campaign messages or news about him.

His opponent is Major…

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Dancing: Celebration Part 3

Dancing: Celebration Part 3

Spraying the dancer with cash in appreciation of his skill.

No Party without Dancing

I can’t imagine a Nigerian party without dancing. Often the guests are the dancers. But for an event like our anniversary, we also had professional dancers who entertained us.

One Nigerian custom, among many that I love, often accompanies dancing. It’s called ‘spraying’. I found an interesting article about it,…

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Second Installment Anniversary Celebration

Second Installment Anniversary Celebration

Our house in Nanka before the festivities. Generator is in the small building on the left.

I started writing while at Charles de Gaulle Airport after the flight from Lagos and waiting for the flight to the U.S. Now I’m home in Connecticut, exhausted but relieved to be done with travel for now.

Kelvin posted a great picture of our house in the village as it looks when all is quiet.

It was…

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First Pics from 50th Wedding Anniversary

First Pics from 50th Wedding Anniversary

One of Nanka’s royal families arriving with gifts.

Our 50th wedding anniversary party was fabulous! I just couldn’t wait another eight days to share a few pictures with you!

Today is Afo, my posting day. I’ll be flying on the next Afo, so it will probably be two market weeks, or eight days, before I post again.

These men from a royal family in Nanka are carrying a crate of wine and a long knotted…

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Music and Protest

Band Aid 30 and Controversy

Bob Geldof has raised a lot of money for charity. His Live Aid and Band Aid concerts have made news around the world. Poverty in Africa has been a special focus of his. He campaigned hard to reduce the debt burden of African countries.

His recent release of Do They Know it’s Christmas has caused some controversy.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w7jyVHocTk&w=64…

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Can You Believe 50 Years?

Can You Believe 50 Years?

50th Wedding Anniversary Prep

Chosen fabric for our ‘uniform’

Hard to believe, but we’re near our 50th wedding anniversary on December 26! The major anniversary party will be in Nanka. Sam has taken on the role of chief organizer. Invitations have gone out, mostly by email, some by text messages, and some by phone.

As is customary for such events, all family members, men and women, will be…

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All About Books and Reading

All About Books and Reading

Books for Nigeria

I used to carry several books on each trip to Nigeria, though I often wouldn’t read even one. When I travel on Dec. 18, I’m carrying my books on my iPad, a lot easier. I bought a few real books at the Westport Library Book Sale yesterday to take as presents. And I’ll add another two or three audio books to my phone.

But I don’t know how many copies of my memoir Nigeria Revisited

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Combining Past and Future

Combining Past and Future

Funchal, the capital of Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal, where I lived for nearly a year.

Memories of Madeira

Today I had lunch in Funchal, the capital city of the island of Madeira!

Well, not really. I had lunch with Adrienne Farrar Houël whom I’ve known and admired for years. She is President and CEO of The Greater Bridgeport Community Enterprises, Inc., GBCE. She has years of…

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