Hippy Values VS. the 21st Century

Freedom is what we want to celebrate this issue: freedom to be an individual, freedom to be free (even when incarcerated), and the freedom we can sometimes take for granted when it is threatened by aimless and destructive terrorist forces like Al Shabaab.

In this whizz-snap, 2.0 world of ours, talk of rogue militant groups is almost a tired subject in the local media. This is not to take away from the real human distress felt in times of war. We mourn with the Kenyan families who have lost loved ones in the current month-long battle for freedom and security against pointless and violent forces.

Civilian casualties and displacement may very well be the ugly truth in the coming months. We’re feeling it here in the city with rogue grenades thrown at pubs. But this is not a good plan for local Al Shabaab operatives. Talk about adding fuel to an already simmering fire. There’s a very informative and insightful article on The Economist site, written by local literary stalwart Jonathan Ledgard that everyone must read.

(www.economist.com/node/21534828)

Will the military gamble pay off? It has to. We value freedom over would-be oppressors above all else. The fight against destruction for its own sake will always be beaten by the sheer will of people who have basic goodness in their hearts. Today, the love for brother and sister in Nairobi is strong. Our sense of freedom is strong. Do not mess with this, Al Shabaab. You’ll get burnt.

Summarizing this sentiment is a comment from “Ixmal” in response to Leggard’s article: “Kenyans are more fed up, not frightened, of the constant Al Shabaab sniping at their heels while hosting half a million Somali refugees: This after surviving over 200 dead I the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in East Africa by elements traceable to a nascent Al Shabaab.”

Exactly. Enough, already. Our lives are far too important right now to succumb to some cheap, imitation, poorman type of terrorism. Our family and friends are far more important. Our will is stronger. This is the attitude that stamps out terrorism. Is it unrealistic or naïve to believe that love rules? Not in the pages of this magazine.

Freedom is our basic inherent right as human beings. Al Shabaab can never say they are fighting for this. There are some other guys fighting for freedom on the “inside” (literally)—they are a bunch of prisoners who use music to fly beyond their cages. And now there’s a record label involved. Its aim is to unlock and cultivate latent musical talent in prisons across the country. (See our article in Urban Presence: Music Behind Bars.)

And speaking of unlocking latent talent, one organization has the goal of putting a Kindle in the hands of every Kenyan primary school student. To support the effort, Safaricom’s new cloud networking solution will serve reams of educational material to these tablets. Now, that’s cool. (See our article in UP Next: Re-Kindling the Mojo.)

UP Town has the usual arts and entertainment beats, including new albums, books, eats, treats and a holiday gift guide.

Be sure to keep your eyes peeled on a couple of new UP promotions on the go. We’re sponsoring the People’s Choice Awards for ‘Best Culinary’ at EatOut’s Taste Awards Show at Tribe Hotel on December 1st. (Vote via www.upnairobi.com/ tasteawards.)

Vote early. Vote often.

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