Saturday, April 2, 2011

A letter to my son 2:Your Vote is your right:Vote for who lies the most


Photo courtesy of britanica.com
My dear son, 
I never expected to write to you this soon. This owes to the fact that I had had the feeling that the nature of revelations in my last communication might have scandalized you. But remember that I am your father and as a man trying to be a good father, I am obliged to have constant whispers with you, my child, given that I wish that one day you become a better man than I am. Furthermore, many things have happened since the last time we talked and these events have since taken over my decision to be silent for a while.
Son, when I was your age, I took on a long voyage of self discovery and it led me into many things some of which I am proud of and some I am not. But one thing I learnt and which I cherish very much is self respect and living a simple life away from the public eye.However,your total disregard for confidentiality by slipping my letter to you to the public has resulted into uncalled for criticism of my person.

People want to know why I am writing letters to only you and not your sister. Sadly son, when I came to KU I got your mum and we had you and your sister. But our dream of a fairytale love voyage we envisaged had to die when your mother left because I was a man too hard to deal with. She complained that we KU men are down and clueless when it comes to handling ladies and matters of romance and love. I thought this as sheer arrogance and many times we fought but I had to be wiser. I remembered that in Ku gender based violence is prohibited. I refrained from being physical with her but she violated me with her tongue. Wasn’t that gender based violence too? 

When she left, she went away with your sister but since then I have learnt to treat women well as my equals and you too need to learn to do the same.
Let's put that aside. Things have gotten really complicated for me of late, son. I have to juggle the three units I have, almost learning this semester through correspondence and searching for a job in the city. The problem is that these correspondences I have to rely on sometimes never know why they go to class and spend the whole time dozing or moshenering with chics and forgetting to take notes. Another problem is that my CV is so limited, barely a page and I am scared it might not be rewarding in the long run. To make matters worse, a friend of mine told me that there is a difference between writing and crafting a CV.I don’t know which is which and now I realize that while in KU I did many things and nothing relevant enough I could use to pimp my CV.I as always busy while here but I wonder why I don’t have certificates for the many things I did and I am not willing to take the counterfeits from KM.I am learning to change to be trusted by employers soon and that path of faking things including credentials and testimonials I cannot take.

Recently, the Tunisians and the Egyptians staged revolutionary civilian coupes that have seen their former presidents Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak respectively going home.Gaddafi too is in a hot sit as his 42 years of rule seems to be waiting to come to an unceremonious end.

Son,since I was born these Gaddafis have been in power ruling their people the way they deem it fit for themselves.'Democracy' has not found a fertile ground to flourish because of them.This wild and greediest grip of power is the ailment that has plagued Africa and the people rising up to make their voices heard and exert their power as the sovereigns of their nations is the most beautiful thing I have never witnessed. 

My only worry is that, you, today inspired by these events might wish to stage a coupe too. If it comes to this-I believe I have been fair to you all in matters-you won’t need to stage any uncalled for protests. I am a reasonable man and we can any time negotiate and have power sharing government without any Koffi Annan in which naturally I will have the final decision even after “consultations.”

A few days ago, while lost in a strange alley in  the ghastly poor backstreets of our Capital City after a long day of depositing my “CV” , I stumbled upon a friend of mine who had gone to make some Ks in Sudan. He told me Kenyans are reaping cash in the oil rich south and that he won’t mind sparing me a few coins even as I wait for him to god-father me to go mine some oil too. I waited for the chums and when almost giving up I received good amount of Gs on my phone. But before I could withdraw the money ,Safaricom barred the transaction. I wasn’t the intended recipient. What a day for me!

So, while I snobbishly spread the graceful scent of the good Omena around the hostel to the displeasure of non-eating omena housekeeper,I thought of my lying Sudan-based friend and I thought I had recognized a strange similarity. They are the same with our so called KU KUSA aspirants who before the prospects of KUSA elections are small timers doing all sorts of things student do but suddenly spring up from nowhere when KUSA elections come. They issue funny websites and cheaply made business cards they ought to give only their girlfriends and boyfriends. They waste my time which I would have wasted watching stupid movies, soap or revising notes I never wrote myself.

Mark you, the campaign periods for this semester’s elections have not been announced yet but my good friends are not taking chances. On the Valentines Day, an unknown lady,apparently having certified herself as an all-able-leader, I hope she is not a feminist fanatic, sent me a card to wish me a super day. She never new that it was my worst day because I was broke the KUCC dinner offers couldn’t fit into my shrinking pocket. This lady friend I always flirt with thought I will be such a nice boy but on the day of the reds I went disappointing. I never took the message on the card seriously because it was overcrowded with good grammar but so much lies.

Without shouting so loud, what is the difference between these our aspirants and commercial sex workers. Some will do everything to have what they want,to be in office. They are so shallow and wanting.Most of the time this fellows ignore you all semester long and suddenly they become your friends, smiling and searching for your number to attend some weird strategy meetings. But we have been here long enough to know the game. A cheap smile for a fake reassurance from me goes a long way in making their day great.Another such a stranger asked for my number and I never wasted time: my number pap! A smile and a lie on top. Then I went my way.Why? I too need strategies  to put my house in order.

One thing I know is that once these fellows get into their offices they change for the 'better'! The once illustrious speech makers become quiet drooling ignorant individuals who can never even spare you greetings. But son, our affairs have to be taken care of and every season we have to vote. It is the way things have to be done. 

So,however how displeased you may be, you have to help in strategizing even if it means making others to step aside and then vote against the person you helped campaign. After all, your vote is your power and it is your right. The rule of the game is: Encourage all them who are tired, sweet talking and desperately looking for votes but give your vote to them who lie the best.

Till next time.See you and remember the semester has officially began.You know  what I mean:the provisional timetable for the exams are out!So do as we always do!

Yours,
Loving-good-dad-for-life.
Charl Chotto


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