|
Community Conflict- My reflection
Jul 30, 2008
Mohamed Dukuly
Sydney.
One hears scholars paraphrasing a famous quote from Einstein as saying that problems we face can not be solved with the same mindset or will of thinking we were at when they were created. A new way off thinking is always needed for solving an existing problem.
The Liberian Mandingo community in Sydney just had a reconciliation meeting recently. The meeting was to resolve a conflict between myself and the rest of the community members. In retrospect I can see that the different expectations of one another were the main source of the conflict. I erroneously thought that my views were the ONLY correct ones and expected everyone to agree with me. Perhaps they thought the same way too.
Conflict in itself is not a bad thing if approached with sincerity. I remembered the saying of Kenneth Cloke and Joan Goldsmith that “every conflict we face in life is rich with positive and negative potential. It can be a source of inspiration, enlightenment, learning, transformation, and growth–or rage, fear, shame, entrapment, and resistance. The choice is not up to our opponents, but to us, and our willingness to face and work through them” with sincerity. Let’s be careful about what we say or think of each other. If someone opposes you on issues to do with Mandingo community development, let it be applauded, for if they never had the community’s interest at heart why should they take the risk to voice their opposition in the first place?
It is also important for us to understand the motivation of some members of our community and the enthusiasm they put into its development. They are likely to be frustrated if they suspect any actions that may obstruct their efforts. I believe these people do things with the best of intentions. Although, at times this puts them into the quick fix mentality - thinking that uniting everyone will solve our problem. Isn’t this the very nature of human beings, that we all have our own ideas and approaches to issues?
Prior to our recent reconciliation meeting, I was boxed as “anti-Mandingo” by members of the community who were opposed to my stance on issues. From my perspective, I considered them as the real problem. However, when I looked at the conflict from their perspective, I came to the conclusion that we all had one goal but different methods of reaching it. The issues that brought about the conflict between us was the argument of whether the interests of our tribe (Mandingo) were above the interests of our religion (Islam). Many community members took the stance that in Liberia there was no difference between Islam and Mandingo and since they were Mandingo before Muslims, then the interest of Mandingo precedes Islam. I hold the opposite view.
It is important to be self-reflective in situations of conflict. As Carl Jung said,” everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves”. In my case, what I realized after the reconciliation was that I was contradicting the very teachings of Islam that I claimed to stand for. Firstly, I got into the argument with a total lack of consideration and respect for the dignity of my “opponents”. Above all, my communication methods were completely bereft of (hikmah) wisdom- the very thing Islam ordered me to implore when discussing anything to do with it. The list of my shortcomings could go on and on and I became aware that if I had done my home work appropriately, the conflict may have not have arisen to start with.
In situations of conflict it is common to get insulted and badmouthed by people without really knowing why. I wonder if this is what our brothers of LIMANY and FELMAUSA are doing to each other as we speak. What are the intentions behind these critical articles about one another? How can one say that they are promoting the interests of the Mandingo community on one hand while belittling and demonizing the sons and daughters of the same community on the other? Why can’t we be merciful to each other after the hundred and more years of oppression and humiliation our community has experienced?
Let me conclude by thanking Sayo Dukuly and Sekou Seasy who helped to resolve our conflict in Sydney. Through them I have learned that “When you’re at the edge of a cliff, sometimes progress is a step backwards “.
Source: http://mandingocommunitydevelopment.blogspot.com/
Mohamed Dukuly
Sydney.
|
