THE LAMENTATION OF CAMEROON`S ANGLOPHONES

Warning: you may not like what I have to say. If so, take out your handkerchief and be ready to cry. It is your right  to cry . But it is also my right to say it.

We Anglophones of Cameroon complain too much. We can not spend a lifetime doing nothing but complaining. What is even worse is that we only talk and do not act. Soon, we shall let the grass grow under our feet.  We have become a talking shop and perhaps, a laughing stock too. That all reminds me of the great American writer, Mark Twain, who once said “everyone complains about the weather but no on does anything about it.”

We are too filled with self pity. It is like when one of us starts singing the song of lamentation and the others hear it, they drop everything else they are doing and begin to form a group of “sympathizers” and it grows as large as it can. Anyone who is not part of it is labeled and painted black. That to me is looking at the small picture. Why?

Let us look at the big picture. Instead of retreating, let us progress; instead of being on the defensive, let us be on the offensive; instead of for ever complaining, let us eternally see the good points; let us also send children to predominantly francophone schools and even go the extra mile and learn Spanish. It is the third language of the CEMAC sub region to which we belong. The big picture gives us access to lots of opportunities, among which are the linguistic and the business and commercial. The world has become one global village.

With all humility and respect to you, I have done both. I have trained as a French teacher in France and a Spanish teacher in Spain and taught both subjects in a High School in Britain. I was recruited in France among French nationals by the French government and sent to teach French in a high school in London as a “French” person, under French cooperation. That is not arrogance. It is proof that we can do it. We are neither blind; not deaf; nor dumb; nor lame. We are able-bodied.

We too can do it. Obama did it. Fru Ndi nearly did it but lacked support. But he dared! And he nearly got there! He must be given credit for that! There is a saying that the man who says it can not be done should not stop the man who is doing it. Let us also do it!