Message to Equatorian Folks

I hope all is going well with you. We had had Dr. John Garang's Memorial service held yesterday at the Church By Side of the Road. Many turned up from the Nuer and Dinka side with the exception of 4 Equatorian.

This is really a challenge to us. I was very disappointed in our Equatorians to see our row were empties. Our numbers are great in Seattle. This show that we are the most in discriminating against others. Non of the Chapters representatives from the Equatoian were even there. Why did they take the office then if they cannot do the job they are call to?

We seemed to claim ourselves as the best people in the south Sudan, but without action. We know best how to gossip and blame others. How do we think that without our availability we can be known to other communities? We are like bugging dogs who never bite. Your personal hatred for Dinka will not help if you don't come forward and present yourself. Wisdom is better than folly.

Unless we leave such weakness of our proudness. We will never get anywhere. We will be always second or even third class in our own state. This is true and fact. We have nothing only hatreds for others with no confrontation. Who cares, if you are angry and don't stand up for yourselves? Our personal problem should not be a public or a community matters.

I am so distressed and fed up with this continue unnecessary behaviour of our Equatorian Folks. We are only strong amongst our fellows Equatorian, but coward to confront or meet the reality. All we know is talking about "De amulu de, da amulu da; Jenge del ma aruf haza". But Jenge are going ahead of us despite what we think of them. They are coming out of Mura each day and turning us into Mura. What do we really want? Do we want to remain Abit (slaves) as Arabs says?

Words without action has no effect. Now election for the presidential office of the South Sudanese Community in Washington State is coming up. If we remain with the same behaviour, we shouldn't even expect of taking that office. Our fellows Bar el Gazal and Upper Nile States will not vote for you as they have their own people and are well organised. And we will never get the benefits from the community. But they will take all the advantages of using our names and numbers to fill the population of the South Sudanese here in Washington State. The benefits are for them.

Stopped crying and blaming. Instead to support our brothers and sisters who are there willing to stand up and represent us. Come out from your caves and speak up. Your voice and vote will make a different on the community. Make yourself available!

Alex Labal