Ask M II
20
February
Wangu
If you could only give your children three things, what would they be?
- Thirst for knowledge
- Compassion for others
- Strong characters
In 20 words, give what you think is the best advice you can to anybody reading Ask M
Everything, no matter how complex, is made up of a bunch of simple constituents
Your reaction to seeing someone you love cry?
Acute distress
Belle
Would you consider living/working outside Kenya if presented with a phenomenal opportunity ( and for how long)?
Of course! But not indefinitely
Any place more appealing than others?
Somewhere with a beach. Like The Bahamas
Have you had/do you have political aspirations, and what office would you run for?
No aspirations. But if I did - Minister of Planning or Minister of Information & Communications
Are there any african leaders you think are doing a commendable job, and who would they be?
Paul Kagame. Dude is turning around Rwanda
(If we’re really nice) would you consider doing an ‘ask M’ more regularly - perhaps on issues around Kenya etc.. and less personal?
Sounds like a plan 
Omani
Having Identified the electorate as the problem, what leadership style would you think would get the ‘assified fossils’ working?
If they were forced to account for everything they did, and all the decisions they made things might turn out differently.
What can we do to ensure a smooth changeover from the ‘assified fossils’, besides waiting for nature to take them from their seats?
The youth taking an active interest in leadership and politics. Right now there is a vacuum precisely because of this.
If you were the presidential adviser, how would you differentiate the government for political and economic prosperity - besides cleaning out the fossils?
Professionalism. Government should be run like a company, with the ethic of the company. Realizing that decisions have repercussions and ramifications. That resources that are spent come from somewhere, and must be accounted for. That officers exercising their duties must deliver results, and be accountable for each of their actions.
Mutumia
When did you shave your curly kit?Why did you shave your curly kit?
Eh! Chica! Weren’t you the one who complained that both of us having curly kits was like both of us showing at a party wearing the same dress? And did you not win the coin toss, arm wrestling, poker match, hop-scotch and bano, defeating me thoroughly at every contest to keep the curly kit? And now you’re feigning ignorance?! Hm! Ushindwe!
Will you do as Prou suggests? When?
Yep. Within the next ten years
Shiroh
Most of us say me included “I hate talking about politics” do you think that is the first wrong move from us young people?
He he! We’re many by the way. I’m beginning to think so.We develop an apathy towards leadership thus creating a large vacuum that ends up being filled by Maina Kamadas and Njenga Karumes
Do you think your favourite Nissan matatus with yellow lines should be scrapped?
It’s a half witted plan to reduce traffic. A much better way would be better planning of the road network. Removing those ridiculous roundabouts. Flyovers. Proper bypasses. Why should someone going to town from South B be stuck in traffic with someone going from Mombasa to Busia?
What in your view ails Kenyans (I would prefer a post on this one)
Coming up!
Prousette
One last question have you ever wished to be female at any one time? Why/not?
Now, that’s an original one! Have I ever wished to be female? No. Because I happen to like being a man. Being able to take a leak while standing up — priceless!
Abraham
Your thoughts on the cartoon fiasco
- The cartoonists are either naive, not particularly intelligent, ignorant or any combination thereof. There is no other explanation as to why they would draw such an explosive cartoon and not expect a strong reaction
- The editor who actually published the cartoon — dude, what are you smoking? Freedoms come hand in hand with responsibilities.
- The strong reaction from the faithful — I think it is far too strong. Needless deaths have occurred. I think the point has been made several times over. I also wish there was as much outrage when people were being beheaded by misguided individuals in the name of Allah. Personally I think this is much more of an insult to the faith
On Mwai Kibaki & NARC
Mwai Kibaki is a man I no longer take seriously. Lip service personified. NARC is a floundering mishmash of self seekers with an exaggerated opinion of themsevles that is stunned that the public will no longer allow them to eat their fill at the treasury.
Jean
How many posts have you done?
This would be no. 149
As a blogger, do you think comments are important?
Yes, very. To me at any rate. Blogging is like eating. If you liked the food — tell the chef. If you didn’t — tell the chef! How else will the chef keep his teeth sharp? There is a name for blogs without comments — a website
One undercover blog you’d recommend (an I do mean undercover)
AOB
Book Of The Day
DMX & Ice Cube - Eye Of The Tiger (Remix)
1. kenyanmusings
(62 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 1:32 pm
LOL, ati there is a name for blogs that do not allow comments…. websites.
Hear hear for Paul Kagame!!
Dude, I beg to differ about the Cartoons. Does freedom and responsibility mean that you are bound by beliefs that you do not subscribe to? Does the fact that Muslims do not believe in depicting their prophet mean that I, as a christian, or atheist should be bound by the same? And P.s, the ’sto stop we have run out of virgins’ was funny. Ala!
Some people for instance believe that having sex with children is perfectly in order. 99.99% disagree. But try publishing that under the cover of freedom!! You’d be about as safe as someone hunting with Dick Cheney
2. kenyanmusings
(62 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 1:36 pm
And take that….I was first! Yaay
3. Keguro
(33 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
Given the time difference between countries and continents, this “I was first” thing doesn’t count. Unless we modify it, in which case I am first from the small very cold town of Amherst, MA.
Much more satisfying.
“floundering mishmash of self seekers”–only M could so capture the picture of fish out of water who believe they are lions (though, as part 2–one of my new favorites, I have many, claims, it’s all a simple case of oranges turning into and wanting to be bananas; where they used to roll, now they flounder).
I blame guess for the parentheses within parentheses habit; she set a bad example.
4. Keguro
(33 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
oh, yes, don’t you miss the days when we mistakenly called them brackets? So much easier to spell . . . nostalgia, j’adore
Period ndiyo nini was the question of the day
5. kenyanmusings
(62 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 3:24 pm
Na uh M, that is tantamount to trying to convert me into the religion or belief in question! The having sex with children is a purely moral issue!! It is not even a freedom. Here, we are talking about freedom of speech, and religion, and expression…etc. Any freedom, once limited is no longer a freedom. A freedom should be absolute!!
Take the media for example…. If say a politician uses their power to pull themselves out of critical dissection, is that not curtailing a freedom of the media where they have a right to enjoy the said freedom?
And the price for that freedom is bending to the admission that by practicing freedoms of speech, religion tec, you will annoy some, offend others and piss others off. That does not give them a right to beat the daylights out of you, and destroy your property etc…!!!
I am sorry, this is no way intended to offend anyone but I still would make no apologies for those cartoons. The fact that you can say what you want means that people should be prepared for the offence and yes, the repercussions that comes with expressing such a freedom or any other freedom for that matter.
And, I do not to offend. Purely a differnce of opinion here.
And you have not explained the difference betweeen the cartoons and someone else airing their opinion on sleeping with children. Since you argue that freedom should be absolute then you should not have any objections to anyone airing their murky views on sleeping with children.
And on your line of absolute freedom, then even those radio stations in Rwanda agitating for people to slash others were also in order … freedom of speech?
6. kenyanmusings
(62 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Well, about children I will not argue then against it, ( is it even a freedom or a plain out crime?! Eish M!) Anyway, in exchange for freedom, we have to put up with such nonsense. I am not saying it is right either. I will have a problem with it for sure, but hell I will not go out and burn people in outrage and things.
Drawing the line where morality, decency and conscience are involved is purely a personal issue. And in that sense, it becomes absolute, **of course I am just making a case for absoluteness (absolutility) watefa!**
That is the same way we have people that are alright with swinging and others that are not. With abortion, with prostitution….. All I am saying is, the right of one person to exercise their freedom without the threat of violence should be defended. Of course sensitivity and responsibility must be exercised, as should be conscience and decency, but any freedom will inevitably come with the price of upset social balances and hurting some people. It may not be absolute, but freedom is not a scenario where we are all sensitive at the expense of not voicing issues. We will have one side suffering silence to satisfy the desires of the other side.
You are right. The Muslims have over reacted. I agree, they should have voiced their dissatisfaction in a more reasonable manner. What I did not agree with was the insinuation that the cartoonists should have exercised restraint. So yes, I think the Danes were the saints! But that is just an opinion.
As for freedom of expression — i’m not saying they should not have published it. All I’m saying is that they should not have been surprised that the reaction was so overwhelmingly negative. My words: “There is no other explanation as to why they would draw such an explosive cartoon and not expect a strong reaction”
7. acolyte
(174 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
I think Uncle Ben Parker said it best, “with great power comes great responsibility” and one of my chem teachers also said for every reaction there is a reaction.So for those who drew the cartoons they should have known that something would happen but I also echo M, that doesn’t validate the muslims reaction to them.Other then that enjoying all the questions peeps have come up with……
8. I
(119 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 6:59 pm
I think we all at some point forget that we are free only and only if; OUR FEEDSOMS DON’T INFRINGE ON OTHER PEOPLE.
To me thats the same thing as saying there is no freedom and esp that of speech because irregardless of what you think and say, someone else will think and say the exact opposite!
This could be about anything, from the most irrelevant, to the most relevant and only the relevant is paid attention to.
Think about it!
9. I
(119 Comments) | February 20th, 2006 at 9:41 pm
To: acolyte .. i know your teacher did not say “to every reaction there is a reaction”
i think what you meant to say was “to every action there is a reaction”
10. Adrian
(78 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 1:03 am
ati hop-scotch and bano? too funny!
fully agree with you on the being able to take a leak while standing!
“period ndio nini” - i know exactly what you mean, yani the first time i heard period…
11. Mo
(8 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 11:41 am
On the cartoon issue, it makes little sense to riot over cartoons and then keep quiet when innocent people are being killed in Muslim countries. Personally i think the whole thing showed Muslim intolerence and reinforced the idea that a large number of people have about Muslims.
You should see the things that are written about Christians and Jews. violence only breeds more violence and each time i see an article on Muslim riots over the cartoons, i wonder how many of the rioters actually saw the cartoons. Besides we live in a world where everything is satirised, from Jesus to the pope to the Queen, I dont have to stop eating pork to show that i respect Jews or bow infront of the altar in a catholic church to show i respect catholics.
The world has changed, move with the times or get left behind, even religions and faiths undergo changes. Other than that, M , where are the questions i asked you? still loving your blog yo!
I am also very disappointed that the Muslim fraternity did not protest as indignantly when people were being beheaded in Iraq.
12. Mo
(8 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 12:01 pm
I think freedom of speech or action means saying or doing things that dont infringe on the law, given the situation Austria where some guy was jailed for denying 17 years ago that the Holocaust ever happened. He insists on calling it the Jewish Tragedy. Denying the holocaust is a crime in Austria, in other countries it would be termed as voicing an opinion. Who comes up with the law is a different issues altogether…
13. sidaki
(51 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Freedom doesn’t release one from consequences. Only teenagers believe this.
Freedom properly defined is the ability to do a deed and THEN take responsibility for that action. Freedom without consequences is plain non-existent, Kibaki is learning this. Much to my amusement.
14. mruhya
(59 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 2:56 pm
i’m curious - how much r u getting paid 2 run those google ads? Blogs may be a viable business after all!
15. Keguro
(33 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 3:45 pm
M would earn more if each of us who commented left a penny per word. Blog ads make pretty much zilch.
On the cartoons, as I explain in my very eloquent posting (what?I can’t steal readers from you?), they fall into a long history of the West using “freedom” to justify racist acts. Freedom of speech is about the ability to engage political issues without repercussion from governments, at least in its original instantiation.
It’s not a license to be an idiot.
16. afroM
(28 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 3:57 pm
“Government should be run like a company, with the ethic of the company. Realizing that decisions have repercussions and ramifications. That resources that are spent come from somewhere, and must be accounted for. That officers exercising their duties must deliver results, and be accountable for each of their actions”
Hear hear! And advertise like a company…South Africa is doing a wonderful job of selling its image. We should too, and the one of the people i’d feature in the ad? You and your curly kit! just kidding
[where did this curly kit business start, seems to have a life of its own]
17. Elle
(1 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 5:17 pm
Smarmy! Haven’t been here in a while M.
I was pleasantly surprised.
Still..smarmy!
Cheers.
I think your readers have grown with you.
Had a chance to read from archives with a friend.
(posts had a great deal of humour way back when)
18. Shiroh
(130 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 5:20 pm
Well i am number 1 yet again. Reserved for me.
I am not going to the cartoon issue;
I will be anxiously waiting for the post.
19. I
(119 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 6:42 pm
“Freedom of speech is about the ability to engage political issues without repercussion from governments, at least in its original instantiation. ”
The above statement by Keguro; brings me back to my point… Freedom of Speech does not exist at least in this day and age; it may have existed in the past, but not now.
You all got the Dick Cheney story all wrong, what had happened was, he was told by Mr. Bush that he would have to join the military and go to Iraq, he was instructed to practise with the quail, but he got pissed off and did what he had to do to prove he was capable.
20. sammy
(15 Comments) | February 21st, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Freedom is the ability to choose your own chains. Now
Why did the Danish editor throw stones to the glass world of Islam?
Its not the religion that is bringing about these riots per se, but the fundamentalism in the religion. We read from history that the Christian crusaders were romping about converting every tribe they met with Swords!!
I think every eon has its own kind of fundamentalism. I will not delve into the Islamist Fundamentalism issue, what with the beheadings, the hand cuttings, the stoning et al.
Freedom indeed, has its limits.
21. Prousette
(133 Comments) | February 22nd, 2006 at 4:08 pm
I see am not the only one with things against roundabouts. I have a few friends who get intimately acquanted with them after downing liquids in brown bottles. Maybe if they were not there traffic would move much faster. Stress on the MAYBE part.
On the famous cartoons; lots of human blood has been spilt throughout history in the name of religious beliefs. This was one more excuse to do so.
22. Udi
(72 Comments) | February 23rd, 2006 at 4:50 am
We all know how muslims feel strongly about their religion (the koran incident in Iraq). So the Danes were throwing paraffin into a flame. Stoking emotions of people who feel they are being forced to abide by the western ways of living and worship. Just because christians take religion somewhat as a by the way does not mean we should expect others to be of the same opinion.
23. mshairi
(21 Comments) | February 23rd, 2006 at 7:37 pm
Totally unrelated to the discussion above. Pole
Just wanted to say thanks for heads up on pxs-mail form, M, - lots of people have been caught with this one. Much appreciated!
Also, it took me a while to understand how and when I had become your groupie
24. donworry
(50 Comments) | February 23rd, 2006 at 9:59 pm
I have read the above discussions about the dodgy cartoons with interest and I agree with the commentators who say that we must defend freedom of expression at all costs. The fact that one group or another are going to react violently should not muzzle free speach. We cannot be held to ransom by the threat of violence because that would just be giving in to blackmail.
What “A” finds offensive may be harmless to “B” but we cannot endorse the preaching of hatred or inciting others to commit murder, in the name of free speech. I accept there are limitations to the law. We will always come a cropper if we try to mix law with morality.
I have looked at the issue of whether “free speech” would allow a paedophile to speak/write/act about his (the are nearly always men) evil and dirty ways. I would say no..However the law does not judge morality; only criminality.
Consider this: Stephen King, Alfred Hitchcock , Robert Ludlum, John Grisham amongst others are all writers whose speciality is crime….sometimes gruesome crime. Yet we have no problem with this. We have no problem with films that portray gratuitous violence at the most to extreme levels. Our double standards are amazing.
When you hear all the raging debates you realise that the core issue is never really about freedom.
25. Keguro
(33 Comments) | February 25th, 2006 at 8:01 pm
“When you hear all the raging debates you realise that the core issue is never really about freedom.”
To disagree, respectfully, freedom is the core issue.
Perhaps unfortunately, this incredibly malleable word, freedom, co-exists in a constant state of tension with the institutions and structures that allow it to emerge. Put otherwise, the exercise of personal freedom, no matter how defined, must bear an antagonistic relationship to structures that, paradoxically, enable it, structures such as the State.
That unbridled freedom cannot exist allows us to live together as and in communities. Freud bases his entire theory of human development on this premise. You point to the law’s inability to judge morality, only criminality. In which case, I’d simply ask how we develop notions of criminality if not through recourse to moral frameworks, religious and otherwise.
Law continually engages different traditions of morality. It has to. We might not take Kant’s Categorical Imperative as the basis for contemporary legal theory (a stance I’d debate any day), but we do invoke morality as and when we assign judgment.
Indeed, the current debates over reparation, holocaust denial, abortion, and gay marriage are precisely exercises in legislating morality. Now, whether the law can redress moral forms of injury through material forms of compensation is a whole other issue.
26. Open Blog: KenyaUnlimited » This week in Kenyan Blogs
(No Comments) | February 27th, 2006 at 2:52 am
[...] Kenyan bloggers were also sharing more about themselves by answering questions posed by their readers. There was ask M of thinkers room, and questions answered of Kenyan Musings. [...]
27. JKE
(52 Comments) | February 27th, 2006 at 4:49 am
>>
- Thirst for knowledge
- Compassion for others
- Strong characters
28. JKE
(52 Comments) | February 27th, 2006 at 4:50 am
= GOOD!
29. KenyaUnlimited Aggregator » Ask M II
(No Comments) | February 27th, 2006 at 5:50 am
[...] Ask M II [...]
30. Emerald'a
(4 Comments) | March 17th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
LOL…that book ! lemme know when it hits Kenyan shelves. ama I send yu kala yu tumia me? walala….
31. Ask Archer « archer
(No Comments) | February 25th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
[...] like to know about me (or anything else in general) Sort of like the “Ask M” (part 1 & part 2) series a couple of years ago. You may ask your questions in the comments section of this post [...]