When time comes to act, my fellow Togolese friends, when duty calls, let's
get up and do something! The change will not come to us when we sit in
our sofa and just criticize everyone else but ourseleves.
The celebration of Togo's independence Day in the USA taught me a very
striking and rich lesson as an observer and a curious patriot trying to
better understand my people, the Togolese.
It is an opportunity for me to congratulate the organizing Committee
for a tremendous job done to put together that evening with little or no
means at all at their disposal to begin with. Well, some of the Committee's
critics may allege that things were not perfect in the planning and celebration
as a whole. Of course, it was not perfect. How could we expect it to be
perfect when most people informed about this event said all kinds of discouraging
things to the Committee. Some believed that nothing should be done because
of the deep problems of the country therefore we should just keep our arms
akimbo. Others thought they had family back home and that this celebration
was political and they don't want to be part of it, worst of all others
thought it was opposition people's stuff. How long are we going to be remain
in our mental slavery. Bob Marley sang and said: emancipate yourself from
your mental slavery, none but yourself can free your mind... Until we come
to the grasping of the truth and knowledge that April 27, is a NATIONAL
DAY and no "if"s and/or "but"s about it, we have a long way to go. Etienne
Eyadema and his cliques continue to haunt you my fellow Togolese citizens
and you need to be delivered from that demon of fear and uncertainty.
How can we be strong is we don't know each other in the US? How can
we do so if we don't come together around uniting events such as April
27? It took me just a phone call to understand from one of the UTUS staff
people why the Togolese Artists listed on their initial announcement flyers
did not perform. The reasons were simple and I am not going to write about
that here. The staff of UTUS is very humble, open and honest. Your critiques
are even wanted provided they can help us to wake up and get sronger and
more efficent one of them confided to me. These people are using their
time and money [yes their own money] to make sure this group get a steady
and lasting head start. They are not bragging about it. I am not trying
to be an advocate for them or a praise singer but just to wake us all up.
Let's begin thinking about how to make things better next year. We are
thousands in this blessed country but we are too proud, too divided, too
by-standers a people. How long is this gonna last? my People? I, I, I,
"I" am this, "I" am that. But how can we know what and who you are if we
don't come, sit, eat, cry, think, dance, disagree, agree together in an
honest and free atmosphere of trust. Unless you have something to hide.
Don't preach pessimism and inaction to our people. Please stop it! UTUS
was formed by common people and is striving to remain independent in its
actions and decisions within the diaspora. I like a group which is opened
to listen and get me involved in the representation of my country.
I was thrilled by the theme expressed during the UTUS Secretary General
Address on April 27, 2001: "as a famous person once said in this land:
don't ask what can Togo do for you, ask rather: what can I do for Togo".
I am going to work with this emergent group. They are not perfect and will
never be just like the rest of us. Please, please, let us get involved
alongside with them. Call them at least once to congratulate them instead
of just pinpointing their faults and shortcomings. Isn't this about our
country after all.
I urge you all to support this new group. Your call for inaction, your
puffed up attitude is ruining all of us. I believe everyone matters and
needs to come together with UTUS. Where are the volunteers... the Ablode
soldiers...?
Don't be discouraged UTUS we are behind you and together we will put
inaction to rest and move on as a People for our Nation.
I am a fan and serious observer of the new born UTUS.
Virginie (USA), May 13, 2001
Alex-Cofie Noutsougna
