My Daughter Was In Grief.

"Ya see, in life I know there's lots of grief" Bob Marley.

As I always picked up my little girl on Wednesday's evening from the babysitter and she'll stays with me till Friday's evening. We talks about school, work and things in general. I always encourage my kids to have an open chat with me and I likes when we talks about things, I now thinks that she always looks up to that moments with me when I let her talks and I listen to her with all my being. I realized she like that more since she can't get that attentions from anyone else but from her father.

This evening was a bit different, I can feels some stress on her and as I always asked her: Sally, how's school today? How many homework's do you have to turn in morrow morning? Do you needs help with them? What are we eating for dinner?

But this Wednesday evening, she says, dad, my best friend at school lost her mom and the funeral is on Thursday and it will take place in Pennsylvania, I wish I can go, but I can't. If the funeral was taking place here, I'll attend it if you can take me there. I took a deep breath and says, what happened with her? And do you know her?

Yes dad, I know her and I've been to there house before, she's one of the nice person I've seen. I get more concerns now. So what happened with her? She died from her sleep, She went to bed and never wakes up. How old was her? She's just 34 years. Oh yes, I repeats, 34 years old?

Her name Diron, she's survives by two girls, 15 and 13 years old, the 13 years old is in the same grade as my daughter Sally, they're best friends at school and on the phone.

So, I told my girl, If this was here, I'll go with you to the funeral service so you'll pay respects and sympathize with your friend and her family's.

The next day, which was Friday, after Jummah prayers, I picked up my girl from school, as we're driving to the public library, she received a text message from one of the friends who attended the funeral, I heard my little girls says: Oh, she don't looks the same, I asked who? She say's the lady who passed. Despite I was driving and I don't need no distraction on the road, I asked to take a look at the photo. There she was in her coffin, resting in peace, despite I don't know her, she looks calm, relax and beautiful. And then Sally showed me her photo when she was alive. Oh God, a beautiful and warm smile, she looks so friendly and her classes sparkles. I can't help it, but choked up a bit. I took a deep breath and say May God rest her Soul in peace.

Life lessons: No one knows tomorrow. No one can be guarantee anything. No one wants to dies, no one wants to abandon there child in this World all by themselves and pass away without knowing who will be there for them. I am an emotional person, I know how deep it hits me by looking at the lady photos: Dead or Alive. But now she's gone.

Now her two girls going to lives in California with family members, who knows what can happens in there future? Yes the good LORD will surely takes care of them and see them through life ups and downs.

I ask God to help them and help us all. I ask God to make life simple and make us succeeds in whatever good we plans or going after. I ask God to pardon Diron and grant her Heaven. May her Soul rest in perfect peace...

Cocorioko Newspaper, Where is Thou Mercy? Part # 3

Due to my previous two blogs: Cocorioko Newspaper,Where Is Thou Mercy"?, I've heard some few comments or shakes. I want to get one simple thing straight first: I have no problems with anyone or I'm not opposing anyone writings, but I'm blogging about what's interest me and what I saw as shameful journalism, and above all, I just want the Lovely people of the Motherland to be able to say or express there ideas or views without any one in the media shutting them down.

With that said: Let's go to part # 3.

I think someone forwarded or pasted one of my blogs at the Cocorioko forum and I was told Cocorioko deletes it right out. I'm not too surprised, but is that fair journalism or a total dictatorship? Anyway, it's Cocorioko websites, they have all the right to do what's important to them.

Again, let me say this one more time: I do not belong to any political party, nor a supporter of anyone, but a Sierra Leonean like anyone of you reading this blog right now.

There's no perfect society, nor a perfect human, but let's learn to listen and disagrees with each other in a human way. Using the media to blast someone who you disagrees with is wrong,childish, low blows and backward.

I read few Sierra Leone Newspapers daily and I will express my view about each and everyone if they jumps the line, not all of us have the time or means to do so, but for us who can, let's raise up and say something.

I am not Alpha Saidu Bangura, despite we might all disagrees with him on the way he sees life's or think, but the time we put in to abuses each other on the media, we can use it for better and productive things. Sierra Leone needs new ideas and she need us in the diaspora to show some sort of leadership or maturity for GOD sake.

Many wonderful Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora are facing hard times right now due to the economy crisis:Houses, Cars and even there day to day living is hard. Can we bring in people who knows more about how to turn the economy around and get advices. Help the people to know what can be done for them or there rights or places of help.

No one can tell any media what to write or say, but where is common sense here? Where is the News or Information's that might be beneficial to the World wide readers?

Where are the people of GOD? Well, may be who claim they are the people of GOD.

It's always wonderful to read about news from home, whither good or bad, but is not good when we're tearing up each other here just because of our political parties or because one makes more than the other or just a simple show-off. And going so low as telling someone how they looks, Wow, where is the Mirror? I will watch myself first before I tell you how ugly one looks.

Yes, we lives in a different World as many will say, but that's not the key to mislead others or be arrogant to others because you can write and publish News to the World. And yes, some of us needs to be fixed-up in some way, but again, too many beating on your weak opponents is total Human abuse.

Let our journalists grows up, this tribal or society differences is one of the major mess that put our country backward.

There are lot of talented Sierra Leoneans here, we need there positive contributions to our society, the jib jab of one opponents is crazy and sooner or later we will be blind with the Moses law.

Cocorioko Newspaper, Where is Thou Mercy? Part 2

One don't have to be partisan's to disagrees or express one views, Freedom of expression or speech is a GOD giving rights to all Mankind, whither poor or rich, colored or fade, APC or SLPP. At the same time, respect to each other is a must to all regardless of WHAT.

As I stated in one of my previous blogs, I'm still a big fan of all Sierra Leone Newspapers, Cocorioko is one of them.

I am a Blogger or I might be a News addicts or whatever someone might calls me. As such, I don't criticizes or pass judgments on anyone views, but if there are things that's going way too far on the negative side, one have to make some points across, may be it might makes one wake up or just a fair shake.

Cocorioko article's: "That Dream Team Hoax". 02/02/2009.

It's a wonderful thing and a blessing for all Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora and well wishers of our Mother land to read, see and engaged about the day to day events in the Country.

Cocorioko Newspaper is doing the job of journalism's or lip services for whatever political party it may supports, great thing to do until insults and partiality becomes the norm of the paper.

The article quoted above: Was a bit childish and mimicking of this great Newspaper:The names calling, the stone throwing, laughing at an opponent looks,so on, using the words: twists mouth.

One thing I wants to get across on the quick before writing further is: GOD creates us all in different forms and shapes. Cocorioko don't have to laugh at others looks, they just have to look at Cocorioko,(If you live in a glass house, you don't throw a stone). Lot to laugh there, don't they?

Well, let's move from there: Cocorioko might be right to be the APC flag bearer. I am not affiliated to any party or society. But I am a proud Sierra Leonean like each and everyone of you reading this article now. We can talk about how SLPP destroy our Mother land, but truth be told: How long did SLPP rules Sierra Leone since her Independents from our Colonial Masters?

I grew up under Siaka Steven regimes, was Siaka Steven head of SLPP? Ops, I think I'm wrong. I talked to few real people about our Home land politics, I came out with the ideas that: APC has ruled the country much longer than SLPP(Correct me pls. if I'm wrong).

But that's not the big story here,if we wants to point a finger at others mess, what about the remain four fingers that's pointing back at you?

Like the song goes"Sarra Lone Na We All Yone,Na We Sef Go Make Sarra Lone".

Cocorioko and all other Sierra Leone Newspapers on the Internet can do much more better for it's readers: The whole World is going through one of the great financial crisis and the light at the end of the tunnel is not so clear, many Sierra Leoneans are losing there houses, cars, some can't even have the means to sustain there family here, nor back at home, times are hard.

I recommends that all those who are going after each other and say things about how they looks or what they learn or have, to put that in good use. Let's writes about how we can survive this current condition, where to turn for help, banks that can help us, investments that can turn things around, how we can protect our children from drugs, jail and abuse in any forms or sizes.

Let's change the negative tunes to a semi-positive or productive melodies. Yes we can do it Sierra Leone Newspapers.
"A house divided amongst itself can not stand" A.Lincoln.

Sierra Leoneans are well talented people, we can use our talents to help each other, not to break us down or make us looks like fools.
Each and everyone of us have lot to learn from life and this great nation we find ourselves.

I'm not opposing the little rumbles we encounters between each other, but can we just do something better than using the Newspapers to go after someone you disagrees with?

I don't thing the Moses law will be a good thing to do, because in the end, we all will be blind.

Let's have an open debates and use our ideas to help, not to bully the powerless Sir. Long Live Sierra Leone.

Cocorioko Newspaper, Where is Thou Mercy?

Cocorioko, Thanks for taking back the article you posted last evening about Alpha Saidu Bangura, I was fortunate enough to read it and forward it to myself.
I am a daily reader of your World renowned newspaper(Cocorioko.net) and I think you and your staffs are doing the best job to educates and inform us about the day to day affairs of our Mother land: Sierra Leone.

Your article last evening about Alpha Saidu Bangura was a bit on the negative and unwise side of what I was and always expects from your newspaper, I am not a relatives or friend or supporter of Alpha Saidu Bangura, I know that he's a bit troublesome guy, I know that he can push his luck more than he needs to,I also know that he can bites more than he can chew, he can talk as if he owns the World, but your article about him is untrue, unfair and lot of pork on it.

To say that he's a CON-ARTIST, A FRAUD STAR, A CRIMINAL, A SCAM-MAN and so on, those words are untrue and you or whoever wrote that article knew well that's big lies.

I'm not saying that Alpha Saidu Bangura is 100% clean of a guy (morals,etc), he might have his bad sides with him, but just like everyone of us, we have some skeleton in our closets. Every man or woman have something negatives in there life's or family life's, but your newspaper have no right to make false allegation against someone because he opposed your political party. Both political parties has done more harm than good for Sierra Leone, we've seen the worst from APC and SLPP, But since our country independents to Siaka Steven era, things has gone down the drain till now, I'm not saying say it is good now, But APC is under the spots light and the whole World is looking. During President Kabba era, there is no accountability's, now there is about 5% accountability, during Kabbaa era there are no electricity, now there is 11% of lights, despite the water is also another big crisis, but things are now looking promising than before.

95% of Africa governments are all corrupts and mismanaged. But if we as Sierra Loeneans comes together and put more pressures for good governments, we might see some major changes before the next general elections.

"Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it." Abraham Lincoln***

Yes, it's true that Alpha Saidu is a so-called SLPP supporters or stewards, but we've learned to accepts each other as human and not for the party you belongs to.

Cocorioko, if we have to use our Newspaper's to blaspheme someone you disagrees with or have a Miss-understanding with, then we're putting the media to the lowest standard. And with the current information technology World we live in now(Blogs,Forums,etc), we can be nasty to each other, but the end of it all is craziness. I pray we don't go that far and that low.

"I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion
without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the
accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him." Abraham Lincoln**

Mr. Rev. Kabs-Kanu, you're a man of GOD as I heard, you're a respectable man and a good model for Sierra Leoneans. But when the only way your most respectable newspaper is used to propaganda lies about a fellow Sierra Leonean, one have to call you into account and brings the truth into lights. The truth might be hard to accepts or recognized, but everyone have there right to accept what the truth means to them because no one have the right to judge or condemned anyone because they dislikes each other or can't see eye to eye.

Cocorioko, I remembered last year when you and Awarenesstimes newspaper(One of the most respectful Newspaper) puts on your boxing gloves for weeks, exchanging insults upon insults, abusing Moms and going way down the line of nastiness, and all of a sudden, you both realized that this is simple non-sense and you guys make it up again. What a way to learn and realized that we can be human despite we disagrees on our politics, faith, tribes, intellectual, opinion and so on.

As a Sierra Leonean, we have more pressing needs or demands from each other than insulting each other, our Country has came out of the most brutal war in Africa history, our country is under-developed and we have to help our country in order for Sierra Leone to succeed again. Going after each other on the negative tunes will not build us or produce any good fruits. We owed it to each and everyone to help improves Sierra Leone in a a positive ways. With this I hope we can learn to accept each other. I'm not taking anyone side here, I'm just been real. Let's be civil.

"With Malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds." Abraham Lincoln.***

PRAY FOR UNCLE OSMAN GEORGE

Everyone will taste death, then to US you will be ultimately returned.(29:57)

If life is the way we all want it, Uncle Osman will be here by now. But ALLAH knows best and no one can question HIS decisions.

In our large family (HURATU LOUISA COLE AND ABU S. COLE), we are very special in many ways and we stand firm for each other on many levels.

But one man who will always stand for all of us in all levels is Uncle Osman.

Uncle Osman was a gifted man; he mastered his trade and went far and above expectations. In the 80's and 90's, he was the king of electronics repairing and he introduced satellites receiver systems in Freetown, Sierra Leone.The man who will fixed any mechanical items if he wants to.

For everyone who ever came acrossed him or work for him or with him, knows that he is the man of the time. Uncle Osman was blessed.

In life, you will meet people who will helps you but mock at you, In life you will have family members or friends or people who will never wish you well in life, not Uncle Osman, he always wishes everyone well and he will help you without saying anything to anyone.

Growing up, I encountered life in various ways; May ALLAH blessed my grand parents (ALHAJI BILLOH & HAJJA HASSANATU WARITAY)and my family as a whole. I did go through life with few shakes, despite all, I will never forget the great help that Uncle Osman gave me and many of his nephews and cousins and the family in general.

He helped me at the hardest time in my life. He never let me down; He helped me pave my own way.

In our family, we will never get anyone to replace him and no one can fill his shoes. We all get selfish in life sometimes, that's not Uncle Osman, he thinks about all of us.

Words sometimes can't express one feelings about each other or your loved ones, but Uncle Osman went the distance for all of us and he never asked anyone of us to pay him for anything.

Our family can not stop the pain we feels now and the pain after, but I wish we can have someone who can look at life and think twice and try to help there family and others and make life easy for all. But that's a dream world I am talking about.Uncle Osman don't care who you're or what you have or you can do, if he have to do things for you, he will do it and don't look back for a reward or medals.

Only ALLAH knows best, but I learned a bit from Uncle Osman during his short illness and his sudden death, some people might call it Life lessons, I call it Life Realities:

*I've learned to do the best one can and don't wait for approval from the masses, no one cares.

*Have no fear for the unknown, Trust everyone, Don't make life worst for anyone, everyone and all.

*Never stop learning and always try to know more and educates anyone that needs your ideas or infos.

*Travel the World if you can. Take some short trips around town, around the states, around the country, go somewhere, just do something.

*Volunteering. Do things for others without asking for anything or expecting anything in returns. Help the elders, help in community services, give the things that you need so that others can use it.

*Never stop helping anyone if you can, do it and let ALLAH give you the rewards.

*Don't look low or down on anyone, no matter what that someone is going through right now in life, think highly of others and know that ALLAH can make the begger a millionaire and the millionaire a begger. It's the truth.

*Take great care of your healths and don't put your health second place.

*Tell your love ones how much you love them and how much they are important to you.

*Make peace with anyone who have problems with you and try your best to forgive yourself and anyone that might do you wrong.

*Exercise and eat right, watch your weight, do your regular check ups.

*Prayers are a most, no compromised. There is GOD and no other way out without GOD. No matter how hard things are, always have that faith in GOD alone.

*Do not go to bed with hates in your heart, whatever happened today might not mean anything in about five years from now.

*Don't sweat the small stuffs, and all small stuffs.

*Don't be ashamed to beg or ask for pardon if you wrong anyone, small or big ones, ask for pardon, it will not make you look small or bad. It make you a real human.

*Kill the pride. We are not perfect and we do mistakes.

*Call your family or love ones and just say hi, even for a minute or two.

*Smile more and get upset less.

*Say hello to strangers, to co-workers, friends and anyone who comes your way.

*Don't bad mouth anyone.

*Hold your kids; tell them how much you love them.

*Tell your family how special they are to you.

*Make everyday special for you and others.

*Get a hobby, plant a garden, take pictures or try to learn somethings for fun. Join a gym, swimming team or something.

Uncle Osman did a lot of good things and he never turns his back on anyone who asked for help.
He was the huge Cotton Tree in the center of our family. He never insults anyone and he never ignores his responsibilities to his families, friends and the world.

Uncle Osman, have strong faith in GOD, he was a true muslim's and a respectful guy.

We all get hurts in life games sometimes, but we all have to learn from life and death, there is no promise for morrow.

Uncle Osman was the ROCK, the builder, the iron man, the fighter for a good course, the mover, the shaker of good fortunes, the brain, the kind man, the thinker, volunteer, the real deal.

Uncle Osman was a hard working man; he will be the first at his water factory and the last guy to get off. He never knew what a day off is.

It is not easy with every day life, the world will look at you as a loser sometimes, the World will look or put you down,the World will say you're a loser because certain things in life have or didn't goes right, people will make you feels unworthy of life and humiliates you, Uncle Osman never say any of that to anyone or think of any one that way. He always stay positive and think good about each and everyone.

He was a good man, a good family man, a good friend to thousands.

He feeds the poor and make sure his family are fine.

"On no soul doth ALLAH place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns and it suffers every ill that it earns.(Pray): "Our ALLAH! condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; ALLAH! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against faith." (2:286).

May ALLAH grant him Heaven and protects our family. We will miss you Uncle Osman.