To state that ‘Nigeriocrity’ is a synonymous term for the mediocre attitude of a large percentage of Nigerians is a half-truth. Ab initio it was a survival instinct that was supposed to be discarded when that for which it was forged disappeared; but today it has persisted and has become a fashionable way of life.

According to Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary of current English, mediocrity means ‘quality of not being not very good nor very bad; second rate’. What makes a great mass of people accept unconditionally a second place position when they could have clinched the first position? A whole lot of reasons ranging from fear, lack of ambition, listlessness, and racism could be posited, but none succinctly explains Nigeriocrity

Something else explains the complacency with which ‘Nigerians’ accept derogatory conditions when they could aspire for more. What explains rickety commuter buses; half baked graduates; working for months on end without salaries; hospitals without suitably qualified health personnel; education in structures that in minutes may crash on its inhabitants; pot hole decorated roads; enthusiasm to pay more for less; endurance of shylock landlords with uncompleted buildings and exorbitant rents; the wanton display of wealth by elite politicians and military personnel when their subjects languish with smiles under the burden of poverty?

One cannot help but wonder why very few Nigerians commit suicide. For a country that ranks as one of the most corrupt and poorest countries in the world; albeit having many among the richest men in the world, it surprises every keen observer why the great impoverished masses wait. History shows that Nigerian independence was one of the easiest with little blood shed. Unlike in most African countries viz. Algeria, South Africa and Tunisia et al where independence became a reality with a blood bathed struggle for emancipation; Nigeria had hers on a platter of gold.

The problem started then and may forever be with us because we manage today to manage tomorrow, then to our graves leaving nothing save mediocrity. When colonization ended in Nigeria in 1960, Neo colonialism started .it was garbed democracy and championed by the military for over thirty years after which another phase began with the politicians. Yet in all these change nothing changed. All because Nigerians love life so much.

We’ve managed so much that we can’t visualize or appreciate the normal, having internalized the idea of playing second fiddle .We don’t how the real ought to be; hence we settle for less. Nigeriocrity is life at all cost –at low ebb. But what is life? A life salvaged at a cost greater than what life offers is no life. Nigeriocrity as a way of life has failed having stagnated Nigerians over the years. Like all palliatives it ought to have been discarded over the years for a total cure. It is better to suffer once and open for ourselves a whole new better world than to garnish our whole lives with misery on a miserly quest for survival. A survival for which we are eternally enslaved ¬–that is Nigeriocrity

Today on the 5th day of February 5 people from 4 different countries came to visit us here at the School of the Future. It was 4 male teachers and 1 female. They were all English teachers. This was the 1st time for some of them to ever come to the US. They are here for until June. For the next six weeks they will be at the School of the Future observing the learners as well as the educators. They all speak at least two languages some even four. Therefore they will be helping the learners learn their new languages.

They came today, talked one on one with about 11 learners and had a tour of the new school. They spent some time in some of the classes and got to see how some of the learners act. They got to see how our school differs in many ways. They got to go to the gym and they enjoyed there selves. They played basket ball and did some pull ups. They really had fun. They had lunch with 11 learners and left at about 12:30.

Preamble
“Oh, Obi don’t tell me you are going to swallow that big thing”? “You better believe it; that’s just a tip of the African food treat I promised you guys; more so I didn’t complain when you hosted us”. “But, mine wasn’t as scary as these; what you are doing is akin to suicide which I believe neither I nor Nayasaki would attempt with you”. “John, I don’t think it is that serious, is it not a part of the knowledge we desire? In fact, wait until I introduce you guys to my native food; maybe then, you’ll prefer Obi’s offer”.

Exposition
Whatever we don’t understand towers high above us. It not only elicits distrust but earns our innate prejudice because it precludes and unsettles our conception of the way things ought to be. In fact, people don’t only hate what they don’t understand, they also suspect it and more likely to be prejudicial in their view of such things.

It could be easy to identify racism or sectarianism as the cause of exclusion, discrimination and lack of social integration of foreigners and immigrants within the general society; yet it is also true to state that there exist internal dissention and discrimination within homogenous races.

Racism reflects an acceptance of the deepest forms and degrees of divisiveness and carries the implication that differences among groups are so great that they cannot be transcended. It also elicits hatred and distrust and precludes any attempt to understand the racialized.

Just like racism, ethnocentrism is another factor that militates against tolerance of foreigners, immigrant or other sects perceived as being different. The belief that one’s culture or group is superior contributes to the feeling of dissention and rancor between people from different culture traits.

Although civilization has done so much to efface the popularity of racism, yet people’s private belief and practices remain racist. People of assumed lower status are often made a scape goat, discriminated against or worse still abused by those with superiority complex. Presently, it is deemed a mark of sophistication to be garbed liberal, but our basic individual or cultural practices would always be a clog in the wheel of a useful interaction between people. Unless this trend is backed up with an equitable interaction between people of different culture or sect to foster understanding, we may still be a long way from learning to live together.

The way forward.
The foregoing has been a concise evaluation of the factors militating against people of diverse origin living together in peace. At this point, the pertinent question is what is the way forward?
According to Audrey Smedley,”the mind cannot be changed by laws but beliefs about human difference can and do change as do all cultural elements.” The conflict between people of different culture and beliefs can be excised through understanding. It is only through a mindful and convincing understanding of the fact that every culture is unique and should be judged by their own standard can the perceived feelings of superiority and distrust people bear towards foreigners be effaced. Understanding is a product of interaction. When people interact, they tend to learn more of the other person and are apt to be more tolerant and unbiased.

Hence, for young people to contribute to creation of dynamic and harmonious multicultural societies there is need for the organization of a forum of interaction for people from diverse cultures. The essence of such forum cannot be overemphasized. Apart from the knowledge such a global gathering would generate, it would engender the much needed tolerance and acceptance of people different from us and thus aid in achieving world peace. It is my ardent belief and conviction that in spite of the diversity in global sentiments, people would learn to live together if they have a better understanding of others.

If immigration effect you?
I think immigration does effect you I believe it effect everybody. You don't have to move to a different country you could just move into a different area of your city. So, yes i do believe migration do effect me and everyone else and it is very important.

Well when i reflect on 9/11 I get stuck all over again because the first sene i remeber is when the people were jumping out of the windows trying to survive and took they chance i can picture them prayin to god for life and for them to survive the jump.
I also remeber seeing people calling their families just to say bye ands it just make me wanna cry when see that all over again 5 years laterI just thank god that wasn't me and I feel bad for the families that it happen too. I just pray for everybody that it happen to

Hello i am a student at high school of the future and i am in the 9th grade. Today in history class my fellow students and i watched a movie called Journey of a Man. The movie was very deep and i find it very cool how the Bible may teach you one thing about how humans came about this earth and, when you go to school you learn other wise. The movie explamed to me how man came from a ape and that long ago we had no sex. We all came from Africa and then movie on in groups from place to place. DNA is very powerful ! My only question is if the world could see this tap do you think racism wouldnt be any longer ?

All of the issues we talked about today were about violence. There were many violent issues we talked about like when kids have bad additudes and they shot up innocent people. We seen many parents of victims who died in the Colimbine High School Shooting. People also say that music, video games, and tv make peole so violent. Well, the director of the movie was trying to figure out why peolple say that when the president help make some violence in the area when they throw bombs in iraq and kill innocent people.

My name is Amira Johnson, my birthday is april 29 and i'm 15 years old. I'm light skin with brown eyes and light brown hair. I'm Blessed, very blessed especialy to wake up every morning with air in my body, i'm blessed to have such a wonderful family whoes always there for me. I am also blesssed to be choosen as one of the sudents to be attending the SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE, I am so happy i just can't wait to get inside. I'm smart, nice, funny, kind, fun to be around, friendly, and most of all respectful. I have 7 brothers and 2 sisters and we all have the same mother and father. I have decided that after i get out of school and i finish college i want to be a Dermotologis (a skin doctor) because i have Eczema and i know how it feels to be teased by people who just don't understand. I want to make a differece in our world. I would like to help thoses who can't help them self. I feel as though we should be a family and work together as a whole. When i was a little bit young i used to watch my mother have an alergic reaction, and because i didn't know or understand what was going on i would just sit there and watch. I felt so powerless because i didn't know what to do, i wanted to help her but i didn't know how. I got tiered of the teasing and all the name calling so i said that when i get out of college that i wanted to be an Dermotologis. I love helping out, i'm a very clean and neat person.

I think Nina is a great citizen for young people my age because of the different situations and experiences that she has been through and also shared with us. I have learned alot from reading her story. She said that she enjoys seeing people perceiver though impossible situation. I found out that Nina's story was interesting to me because of what she did for the kids who didn't have a family. Her sister sent her to Orphanage to deliver money and holiday treats for the kids and she didn't know what to expect. I have learned from Nina's experience that you should be greatful for what you have, because there are people in the world that are less fortunate then we are. People who need a family, some food, clothes, a place to live and most of all love, but yet we take things for granted. When we wast food and be ungreatful for the things that we recive, not only do we get the things that we need and more we also get the things we want. I think every body should have something to be greatful for first for God waking us up every morning. I have alot to be greatful for because i have seven brothers and two sisters and we all have the same mother and father.

What is a profile? A profile is an entry that gives an outline of someone. It tells the public someones likes, dislikes,and intrests. In other words a profile characterizes a person.

From looking at other member profiles i learned that u can customize your page and make it your own. I also learned that u can change your display name to what u want it 2 be.

EUTHANASIA.
PREAMBLE: “Chris, please give me a break am your father. Just do me this last favor by telling the good doctor to get it over with. I know it’s no use .I ’ve been like this four years now” Chris replied, “but father, you know God those a lot of unforeseen things in our lives. Be patient things will improve” out side the corridor, Chris sternly warned the doctor not to yield to his fathers plea or he would sue him to court if he complies. But in a weeks time, the father mysteriously died; and the doctor acquitted of all charges.

EXPOSITION: euthanasia ranks as one of the controversial issue in contemporary society. It evokes a lot of feelings and means different things to different people in different places. Its connotation varies from meaning almost nothing to the poor market woman to being a matter of utmost importance to the church leaders and legislators; and to doctors and patients at home with the reality itself.

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, euthanasia also called ‘mercy killing’, is the act or practice of painlessly putting to death persons suffering from painful and incurable disease or incapacitating physical disorder. Because there is no specific provision for it in most legal systems it is accounted either suicide (if performed by the patient himself) or murder (if performed by another).A physician may however lawfully decide not to prolong life when there is extreme suffering and he may administer drugs to relieve pain, even though he knows that this may shorten the patients life.

It would be pertinent at this point to concisely dwell on the forms of euthanasia before an insight into its diverse connotations to the interested parties. The forms of euthanasia generally recognized are voluntary euthanasia, non-voluntary euthanasia and involuntary euthanasia. In the words of Dworkin R, ‘VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA is mercy killing with the consent of the terminally ill person.’ Here the terminally ill person makes the decision because death seems a better alternative than the life he or she has come to despise. In NON VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA, the subject is incapable of choosing between life and death. Hence the decision is made for him or her as in the case of terribly disabled newborn infants. INVOLUNATRYU EUTHANASIA according to Ogbu Alexander, is carried out on a person who is capable of consenting to his own death but does not do so, either because he is not asked or because he is asked an d chooses to go on living. Simply, it is done to a person without his consent. It is important to note that whether ACTIVE (whereby a direct action is taken) or passive (whereby treatment is withheld) it is still involuntary.

The opinion that euthanasia is permissible goes back to Socrates, Plato and the Stoics. However this is totally rejected in the traditional Christian belief because it goes against the fifth of Ten Commandments. Hence, it is contrary to the church’s teaching on the sanctity of life. In the words of John Paul װ, he Roman Catholic pontiff,’ euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God. Since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person, depending on the circumstances this practice involves malice proper to suicide or murder '‘e goes further to state that such killing is incompatible with respect for human dignity and reverence for life.

According to Shopenhauer, ‘If the criminal law forbids suicide, that is not the argument valid in the church and besides the prohibition is ridiculous for what penalty can frighten a person who is not afraid of death itself.’ The stance of some of society’s legal system against euthanasia is purely based on practical absence of safeguards, as it would give free reins to psychopaths to rationalize wanton destruction of human life. A typical example is the Nazi T4 euthanasia program of 1939-1945 that was established with a mandate to kill anyone deemed to have a ‘life unworthy of living’. Hence, the past defeat of Euthanasia society’s bill in the house of Lord’s in both 1935 and 1950.

The ability of modern medical practice to prolong life via sophisticated technological means is evident in the modern society. The physician is at cross roads because passively doing nothing to prolong life or withdrawing life support measures has resulted in criminal charges being brought against physicians; but also legal actions have been instituted against physicians by relatives of the terminally ill patients to remove sophisticated life support apparatus.

According to Robert Harney, “Law as conceived in the declaration of independence is not a social device to advance of virtue, it is a protective device to insure the freedom and the opportunities that men needed for their happiness and their developments. Freedom is not the right to be virtuous; it is the right to do as one pleases.”

CRITIQUE: The foregoing has been an evaluation of euthanasia, its diverse meanings according to individual differences and beliefs. We have on one end the church that strongly abhors euthanasia and the pro-choice group that endorses euthanasia. This is more or less a contest between tradition and liberal dissents. In the words of Chinonso Ndukwe. “Euthanasia is scientifically approvable but religiously abominable.”. Which also more or less about reason and morality. The basis of its condemnation by the church hinges on morality while science upholds individual freedom in its defense.

In the final analysis, it solely depends on our choice. What is morally right or wrong is dependent on time because what is frowned upon today tends to be extolled tomorrow and vice versa; nothing is really eternally morally or reasonably right but oscillates with the ‘age’ and majority.

There can be no better time to address the issue of terrorism than now. The term terrorism is now a household word on the lips of even street kids. If there is any word widely used recently it is terrorism. This is because of its latest exploit which is still fresh are the minds of all, that the mere memory of it makes the heart shudder and cry for its erasure.
Terrorism is the use of unlawful illegal and violent means by a small group of people usually motivated by an ideology which is either political, racial, religions or anarchistic. The basic aim of terrorism is to induce fear and discomfort in the minds of the perceived enemies often as a way of forcing that enemy to yield ground or grant concession to the terrorist group. Its main element is the use of the weapon of fear to instill fear in the minds of the specified target usually a government or an authority such that the authority will advance the aims and objectives of the terrorist group.
The use of terrorism is a phenomenon of the modern age . by modern age, I mean towards the end of the 19th century into the 20th century and now the 21st century. Terrorism was one of the activities that led to the first world war, terrorism featured in the old Russian empire. Pangs of terrorism took place during the second world war but in more modern times, terrorism has taken a new look and dimension that the list of terrorist attacks and the feats achieved, worries any sane mind. In the past, the target of terrorist attacks were military installation and diplomatic missions or their likes but recently they have expanded their list to so-called soft targets, such as mass transport systems sporting events busy urban location hotels and tourist sites. Before I go on I would like to list a few recent terrorist attacks and their effects, on April 19,1995 in Oklahoma City Unified States, a truck bomb exploded at a federal building killing 168 people with more than 500 injured. On January 31 1996 in Colombo Srilanka, ethnic terrorists rammed a truck laden with explosive into a bank killing 90 people with more than 1,400 injured . On August 7th 1998. U.S embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed killing 250 people with over 5,500 injured. On 9th and 13th September 1999 in Moscow. Russia, two huge explosions ripped through two apartment buildings killing 212 people with over 300 injured. Lastly, the most recent and perhaps most fatal till date, on the 14th of September 2001, two hijacked planes crashed into the world trade centre and the Pentagon building. The casualties of the latest attack can only be estimated; little wonder that survivors are still being sought a month after the attack.
Having discussed terrorism in general and its gruesome effects, the most likely questions that would come to mind are “what is the cause of terrorism? Why terrorism? Why would people consent to suicide bombs attacks?. Ordinarily, terrorism is a form of protest or attack on a structure that one detest. According to Louis J Freech of the U.S Federal Bureau of investigation “terrorism… is fueled by Hatred” “Those who harbor such hatred live in a world that is colored by bigotry shaded by conspiracy, and framed by ignorance” Oppression is another cause of terrorism. Stephen Bownan in his book “when the eagle screams” Opines “To be sure, there are leaders of groups and countries whose irrational goals are the annihilation of other cultures. But it is also clear that in great deal of terrorism is born of despair” The editor of Urban book of terrorism states “In many cases… the primary motivation for a terrorist is a genuine frustration with seemingly intractable political social and economic forces”. Terrorism is a symptom of a problem, not the actual cause” remarks Michael Shimoff in his paper. “The policy of terrorism”. He continues: “ our long-term goal should be to eliminate the underlying social and political causes of terrorism---paralleling our actions against terrorism, we must have equally vigorous efforts to enhance freedom, dignity justice and humanitarian values. Only when those vigorous efforts are effective, will we able to dismantle our counter- terrorism and anti-terrorism operations”.
The causes of terrorism are many; apart from state- sponsored terrorism common in the past, the new trend is that of cause-sponsored terrorism. These ‘causes’ are varied according to individual or group state of mind or dissatisfaction. The state of mind of the terrorist is one in which the terrorist is given to do anything, he does not analyze the world the way we see the world. He is ready to pay the supreme price for what he believes in. according to Dr. Obi Cyril “They are people who have given up on the system, they are protesting the system. They--- think there is nothing that they can gain from the existing system so even if they die trying to destroy the system they have nothing to benefit from they would have done something in trying to mate it better. It is that feeling that they have died to achieve a particular cause that drives the mind of the terrorist to commit suicide ?”.
What are the tools of the 21st century terrorist? The tools of the terrorist are ordinarily all weapons of mass destruction. However, the recent trend in development has created a more sophisticated terrorist, making people Coin words such as “cyberterrorism” “bioterrorism” and “ecoterrorism”. The 21st century terrorist belongs to a global network. Our global village has thrown up new scenarios in that new computer and communication technology have made terrorism something more of a leisure game. According to frank J. Cllifor director of the information warfare task force of the centre for strategic and international studies (CSIS)” in essence we ‘ve created a global village without a police department” Robert kupperman, senior adviser to (CSIS) stated that if terrorists choose to use high-tech methods ”no government agency currently exist to cope with the repercussions of their attack. Not long ago, a hacker from Sweden invaded a computer system in Florida and put an emergency -service system out of commission for an hour, impeding the responses of police, fire and ambulance services. Such is the level of sophisticated tools brandished be terrorist.
Another potent tool in the hands of modern day terrorist are chemicals and germs in a subway in Tokyo in 1995, a cult released sarin nerve gas killing twelve people and injuring more than 5,000. The relative ease with which biological weapons could be prepared makes the task of the terrorist easy to achieve. The recent use of Anthrax against Americens points to this fact Anthrax is such an effective bidogical weapon because it is easy to culture and highly resistant. It would take several days before the victims would experience the first symptom a flulike malaise and fatigue. A cough and mild chest discomfort follows. Then comes severe respiratory distress shock and , within hour denth. What the terrorist can achieve with the use of nuclear weapons or radioactive materials is better left to the imagination because of it monstrous effects however, no terrorist group have used the twin weapon of destruction. Perhaps another salient but silent tool of the terrorist is the mass media. “ Publicity has been at once a primary goal and a weapon of those who use terrorist against innocent people to advance political causes or to simply cause chaos “says Terry Anderson a journalist who was held in captivity for nearly sever years by terrorist in Lebanon. “The very reporting of a political kidnapping an as assassination or a deadly bombing is a first victory for the terrorist. Without the world’s attention those acts of viciousness are pointless.”
What are the consequences of terrorism? The tragic loss of human life is the most obvious result of terrorism. But there are broader implications. Terrorism can destroy or delay the peace process in trouble spots on the planet. It provokes, prolongs, or entrenches conflicts, and it accelerates the cycle of violence. Terrorism can also have an impact on national economies. Governments have been forced to spend enormous amounts of time and resources to combat it. For example, in the United States alone antiterrorism spending was budgeted at more than ten billion dollars for the year 2000. Whether we notice it or not, terrorism us all. It influences the way we travel and the choices we make when we travel. It forces countries around the world to spend huge amounts of tax money to protect public figures, vital installations and citizens.
What are the remedies for terrorism? We now know what terror ism is all about, the causes of terrorism and the tools of the terrorist. Hence, to find remedies for terrorism is, the best attitude to adopt would be that of eliminating the causes that gear the terrorist on and ensuring that his basic tools are far from his reach. The causes of terrorism are one and the same whether of cause sponsored terrorism or state sponsored; which in later years seems to have phased out due to the strategies adopted; in the first post - cold war world. typical examples are of lraq and Libia.
Perhaps the most important issue to tackle would be to understand the terrorist himself there is need to deal with the socio-psychological roots, or socio psychological origins of such individuals that seek to destroy society. Some of this socio psychological trauma emanate from individual experiences within the family. Some times they emanate from backgrounds of squalor, racism, deprivation and marginalisation such social form of exclusion and lack of justice throw up some individuals who psychologically can no longer function in the system and once they opt out of the system, they decide to destroy the system. There is no gain saying that terrorist are people with impaired mind who analyses the world in a way different the way normal people do. If not why would Timothy Mcveigh the culprit of the Oklahoma bombing. Express his hatred for the American Federal Government and love for individual freedom by infringing on the right of other people by sending them prematurely to the world beyond?
Maybe if there were limited gaps in the world; gaps between prosperity and poverty, gaps between justice and injustice; gaps between the powerful and the weak; gaps between the developed and underdeveloped, the terrorist would not have seen himself fit to reconcile these gaps. What the terrorist does is to borrow from what they consider to be the advanced to destroy what is the advanced ,because as for as they are convinced that which is advanced does not take care of their people and they are no longer patient, they do not see the need for dialogue or to operate within organized institutions.
There is a need to curb wide coverage granted terrorism by the mass media because that would most certainly reduce the ego of the terrorist which is easily hart when ignored. Mores, it is hightime governments the world over start taking terrorist serious. The envogue policy of governments not taking terrorist serious seems to worsen situations. A million mass destruction civil support terms would not eliminate terrorism. They would be too late, save to pick bones and extract dead bodies from debris. In fact, there is need to adopt the attitude of an uncle towards a mischief kid (the terrorist) perhaps, if an agency can be established were terrorist could present their grievances prior to attack. Such an agency should be independent of the government and answerable to the people because in the final analysis, it is the unsuspecting commoner who gets killed.
Institutions of global governance like United Nations, world bank and international monetary fund (I.M.F) should make more result oriented efforts towards poverty alleviation. They should try to abridge the digital and equity gap in the world today.
All this solutions proffered will be useless if the mental poison administered by manipulators the world over is not eliminated. In the final analysis the terrorist is an individual and it is he/she who takes the decisions to act in the way he/she does. But there is a need to free them from the mental poison administered by their overlords. The part played by inferiority and superiority complexes is to too big to ignore. If not, why must one individual at one end do the suicide bombing while are the other end is an individual who ordered the act alive and healthy? What is the belief about one having achieved a cost after one’s death?.How do they know they are appreciated or that their efforts did help? There is need to protect our method of reasoning from manipulative individuals.
It is America today, perhaps, tomorrow it will be Nigeria. Or more aptly it is already Nigeria; Jos, Tiv, et al. Terrorism may not be eliminated totally, but as least we can reduce its attractiveness by painting it as black as devil, thus, discouraging would be terrorist.

A belief is said to be in the absolute when it is complete and independent; uncompromising and lacking reservation for any other belief save itself. This belief in the absolute varies according to individual temperaments, belief in fact or principle; ideologies and outlook to things. In our every day world we find people acclaiming the existence or non- existence of certain abstract things which they express in the absolute. Such absolute ideas abound like that on reality, fate or predestination, truth, beauty, love and even the believe in an absolute God. However in all this we find ideas contrasting due to difference in opinion or even experience. A great many even tend to answer the question with philosophical rationalistic ideas whereas another few look at it pragmatically. The difference that exists between the two later groups is that while the pragmatists do not entirely deny the existence of absolute edition of ideas they neither believe in its existence. They accuse the rationalist of taking concretely the absolute edition of things. The rationalists on the other hand accuse the pragmatist of sitting on the fence and being cowardly in taking a firm position in the argument. However the belief in the absolute is not what one should treat the way he or she wants. It entails much. Consequently, it would be wiser for one to keep mute if you are not sure of your facts or ready to back it up with convincing arguments. This is because we encounter it everyday of our life. Our position to a great extent determines how the boat of our life sails. No matter how we try, it dogs our footsteps till we take our stand end stick to it. The subsequent discussion. I hope will prove the veracity of the above allusions.

Let us first consider the belief in absolute reality, since people believe in the existence of one and only reality. That is the independence of reality. This is just the rationalist idea of reality. But for pragmatist, reality is still in the making. Schiller calls reality as a mere unresisting ’vλn’ which is to be made over to us. For James Williams we may glimpse at it but never grasp it; what we tend to call the absolute reality for him is just a substitute or faked version of it. This is the pragmatist idea of absolute reality. One can’t help saying that this belief is a matter of choice. This is because in whichever one we tend to believe it reflects adversely on our previous beliefs.
Having reached a stalemate on absolute reality let us consider what people do think about the absoluteness of our destiny. If we assume that everything we do is pre- ordained like the fatalist who believes, that man can do nothing to alter his destiny. Are we ready to accept the fact that the world is a stage with us as actors: are we to believe that we have a foolish God or a puppet master who made the world to watch its inhabitants as characters in a play ? If we are to say no to all this and side with the freewillist who believe that man is absolutely the author of his own destiny- this again leaves us with the question of the veracity of Gods claims as the creator and controller of the universe. Even more disturbing is the doubt it places on the authenticity of the Bible where God stated that without him man can do nothing. The test on John 17: 12 where God again ascertains that all giving to him were safe except the one destined to be lost. All this questions are very unsettling.

Let us consider the absoluteness of truth. For pragmatist like Dewey and Schiller, truth is defined as that which works or gives satisfaction respectively. James Williams states that the “true” is the name of whatever proves itself to be good in the way of belief and good too for definite assignable reasons”. If we are to side with these disciples of multiplicity of truth, who believes in anything being the truth for an individual if he or she wants it. So, that leaves is with many unpalatable questions to answer if a society should operate with such notion of truth one needs not guess much the type of morality that will prevail in it. If what anyone believes counts as true then who would ever acknowledge being in the wrong? Again if we are to believe in the absoluteness of truth how are we to get the standards? This is back to the pragmatist who believes in the notion of new truth being true, if it tolerates and builds itself an previous truth. More so, it is quite evident that our ideas of wrong or right is greatly influenced by how it affects us and in giving such laws self is the first to be considered; our ability to scale through such laws counts in its structure. Are we then for multiple or an absolute truth?
In society today, we see people talking about absolute beauty as if it is realizable quite easily in this terrestrial realm. Well, for the absolute adherents, there is no such thing as absolute beauty; leave for them what the absolutist calls a perfect beauty, they are sure to find one or two defects that stripes that beauty of its absolute standard. Are we to say it is matter of opinion again? It leads us back to where we started. Even at that, the finite nature of man leaves him no right to state any thing as absolute. This is because abstracts such as beauty emanates everyday and lives longer than man himself.

Another abstract that has the quality of absolute attached to it is love. There are claims of people having absolute love for one another but it seems we have much of it from fictional books or dramas. In these books, the authors try to create a world of there own, giving absolute qualities that are far from realizable to characters. But the adherents of the absolute say there is no such love in existence. However, for the pragmatist, the notion of an absolute love stinks. For them, there is no such thing as love let alone having an absolute one. For them, love is a sentiment precipitated by illusionary excitement that fades away leaving the victim in utter hopelessness and frustrations. Is it not foolish to attach the absolute to such a thing? It seems the divine is the only thing that qualifies for the absolute quality. Let us see if it gives us a satisfactory answer.

Lastly let us consider the belief in an absolute God. Our previous discussions have been centered on the rationalistic and empiricist (pragmatic) notion of the absolute. Their notions have been variant in that, while the rationalist claims of the existence of the absolute, the empiricist does not agree totally in its existence. However on the issue of absolute God our world seems to be divided more broadly into the theist, polytheist and the atheists. It will be a waste of time to go into details of the state of belief people has about God. As I said earlier on, it will also lead us back to our previous discussions. on our believes, truth or realities being a matter of opinion and want. But if we are true to ourselves and follow the directives of our conscience, that assertion can’t be true. Any thing can’t be held as true but on the other hand we can’t deny the existence of human or self-element being in our beliefs about our conception of truth, reality or any other abstract.

The world never just existed, something had to trigger off the chain reaction that took place and is still taking place unlike other earthly chain reactions which stops at relatively short periods. I can’t deny the existence of a super-natural (call it super human if you like) influence in our lives. Something affects every human being in a way that if it were in our power we would put it to a stop. That thing, that being or spirit is God and demands absolute respect and every absolute quality. As I said on absolute beauty, the finite nature of man gives him no chance to identify with any absolute quality except on the intervention of the divine.

Conclusively, the use of the absolutes becomes null and void when used to describe human related issues. But since God transcends every absolute, the absolute becomes applicable to humans at his wish.

HIV/AIDS

PANDEMIC IN DEVELOPING

Countries - the way forward


PREAMBLE

Of the 40 million adults and children in the world living with HIV/AIDS in the year 2001, 28 million were in sub-Saharan Africa; 6.5 million were in South/South East Asia; 1.6 million were in Latin America while the remaining 3.9 million were in the developed countries of the world.

The above statistics courtesy of United nations programme of HIV/AIDS (UN-AIDS) points to the fact that the developing countries of the world are suffering most, the impact of HIV/AIDS. The pandemic nature of HIV/AIDS in developing refers to its ubiquity. But, what is HIV/AIDS? Are there ways through which its effect can be eliminated or minimized?


WHAT IS HIV/AIDS?

The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a dreadful infectious disease which was first recognized in 1981 among American homosexuals. It is caused by an infection with the Human Immune deficiency Virus (HIV). AIDS can aptly be said to be a disorder which damages the immune system through the Ribonucleic acid virus (RNA) HIV. The virus is a retrovirus (of the Lentivirnae subfamily) which replicates inside the T4 1ymphocytes or ‘helper’ cells. Thus these cells can no longer ‘help’ or induce other T cells, called killer cells, to fight invaders. The body immune system breaks down, leaving the patient exposed to a variety of diseases. The virus in binding to the receptors present in the surface of the T4 Lymphocytes, enters the lymphocytes by endocytosis or by fusing with the cell surface membrane and injecting its viral RNA directly into the cell. The viral RNA is then copied into Deoxyribonudeic acid (DNA) by the activity of an enzyme called Reverse Transcriptase. The viral DNA enters the lymphocytes nucleus and becomes incorporated into the cells own DNA. Thus, it becomes a permanent part of the cells of an infected individual. Every time the human cells divides, so does the viral DNA, and thus spread of the viral genes is rapid.


The Viral DNA may remain dormant for at least six years, that is, the LATENCY PERIOD. However, suddenly for some unknown reason, the lymphocyte begins to make copies of the viral genes in the form of messenger RNA. These then migrate from the nucleus into the lymphocyte cytoplasm and direct the synthesis of viral proteins and RNA. These assemble to form new HIV viruses which leave the lymphocyte by budding out from underneath the cell surface membrane. The viruses spread and infect many other Lymphocytes and brain cells. Eventually, the cells in which the virus was multiplied are killed.


However, infection with the HIV virus does not necessarily result in AIDS. As with other diseases, some people remain symptomless and are therefore termed carriers. But, sequel to infection, four distinct phases can be distinguished. During the first phase after infection, the body produces HIV antibodies and there is a short flu-like illness. A skin rash is sometimes seen and there may be swollen lymph glands. Treatment of symptoms is possible and does not always take place in a hospital. The second phase is the antibody - positive phase (HIV - positive phase) it is the period between infection and the onset of clinical signs and may last from a few weeks to 13 or more years. The third phase is the AIDS- related complex (ARC). The individual may contract a variety of conditions. These are described as Opportunistic infections and as this stage are not major, life threatening infections. Common bacterial viral and fungal infections occur and are noted for their persistence and virulence. Oral and genital herpes or athlete’s foot are common examples. The ARC stage kind of lengthens the duration of this type of infection, compared with that in a normal healthy person. There is loss of weight (up to 10% body mass) and a significant drop in number of T helper cells. Appropriate nursing is required since this stage is the first real onset of the disease of body organs and the development of secondary cancers. This marks the onset of HIV wasting syndrome which has been nicknamed ‘the slim disease’ in some African countries. This wasting may be due to cancer in the gut causing the patient to be starved of nutrients. It may also be caused by the body changing from normal anabolism to catabolic crisis in which the body is ‘burnt up’ at a dangerous rate. Hospitalization increases and very few survive longer than five years after this stage.


Having known what HIV/AIDS is, one likely question that comes to mind is, How is HIV CONTRACTED? The HIV virus can only survive in body fluids and is transmitted by blood or semen. In 90% of cases, the transmission is achieved by sexual contact. People can contract the disease through three different modes. The first is through INTIMATE SEXUAL CONTACT. Though the disease was first associated with homosexual communities in American cities, where there were high levels of promiscuity, since then it has become clear that transmission can also take place between heterosexuals. It passes from the infected partner to his/her unaffected partner through vaginal or anal intercourse, or oral sex. The risk becomes proportionately greater amongst those who are promiscuous. The second means is through INFECTED BLOOD ENTERING THE BLOOD STREAM. AIDS can be contracted by intravenous drug users practicing self injection by means of unsterilized needles and syringes. Once in the blood stream of the drug addict, HIV can be passed on through sexual activity, to other drug users and to the general public. Unfortunately. the disease can be contracted after being given blood or blood products already infected with HIV. This has happened to some hemophiliacs who were given factor VIII (Anti hemophilic factor A) from infected blood. Moreso, close contact between infected and non-infected people through cuts and open wounds has also been known to pass on the virus. The third means is from MOTHER TO BABY. An infected pregnant woman can pass on the virus to her baby through the placenta at birth or through breast milk during suckling. The chances of the infection being transmitted from the mother to her baby are currently estimated to be 25 - 50%.


WHY IS HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES?

As stated initially, the pandemic nature of HIV/AIDS in developing countries refers to its ubiquity. According to statistics, of the 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, 36.1 million are found among the developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa, South/South East Asia and Latin America white the remaining 3.9 million are found in the developed countries. For a disease that was first recognized in the developed country of United States of America, one cannot help wondering why its prevalence in developing countries have surpassed that in developed countries in so short a time. What is it that makes developing countries so vulnerable to HIV/AIDS?

AIDS is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 5.6 million new HIV infection in 1999(according to UN-AIDS) 4 million were in Africa. Half the infections occurred among young people ages 15 - 24, with females representing more than half of the victims. 25% of adults in Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Zambia, South Africa and Namibia are infected with HIV. Life expectancy in most affected countries will drop by as much as 20 years, rapidly reversing development gains made over 30 years. Reliable reports issued by renowned international institutions (such as World Bank and UN-AIDS) estimate that there will be 40 million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa in the year 2010. The countries of South East Asia such as Cambodia., Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, which are at various stages of development are also plagued by the scourge of HIV/AIDS. These developing countries have a lot in common which may explain why they are faced with a similar problem.


That there exist a correlation between HIV/AIDS and poverty is a crystal clear truth. The four apocalyptic challenges confronting man towards the end of the twentieth century (namely AIDS, destruction of the environment, population growth, war and the flight of refugees) and their consequences have their roots in poverty, underdevelopment and the unequal distribution of resources at all levels. This is especially the case in the developing countries. AIDS is not only a symbol of poverty but a disease of poverty. It thrives on poverty and condemns its victim to poverty. It is poverty that breeds commercial sex workers (CSW’s), commercial blood donors (CBD’s) and injecting drug wars (IDU’s), that are serious sources of HIV/AIDS.

Second, the sexual route which is of primary importance in the transmission of HIV in the world depends on culture, norms and taboos of a particular area. In Asia, premarital sex and extramarital sex is tolerated in the male population while it is unacceptable among women. This has resulted in an increased demand for prostitution, a potent vehicle of the HIV. Similarly, the cultural practice of polygamy in Africa may be a latent factor in the transmission and spread of HIV, especially in women. The subordinate status of women in some culture gives them little or no choice about whether or with whom they have sex and in most cases not often in a position to influence their partners sexual behavioural practices including the use of condom.

Third, limited access to health services and inadequacy of available ones is another factor contributing to the widespread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries. The developing countries do not have the sophisticated health infrastructure capable of eliminating the spread of HIV/AIDS through blood transfusion, mother to child transmission, and unsterilized skin equipments. The cost of AIDS cocktails are prohibitive for sub-Saharan African countries. These drugs can cost as much as $20,000 per person per year, will beyond the financial capacity of African heath care systems.


Fourth, the lack of awareness about HIV/AIDS in developing countries is a major cause of the disease. Among some Africans AIDS is still a myth. Some do not even believe in the reality of the disease, in that a good many still believe that it is a made up story to frighten people from sex. The protective function of condoms is yet not fully appreciated.


Fifth, the ever present incidence of wars which has increased mobility and migration of people in developing countries is a source of the HIV/AIDS infection. This tends to increase high rates of changes in sexual partners, participation in transactional sex and unsafe sexual practices. The part played by military personnel on peace keeping mission to these areas is not to be underestimated.


Lastly, a major portion of the responsibility for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS is due to the silence of developing countries political leadership. The non-chalant and inept attitude of governments in developing countries is a vital cause of the spread of the disease. For instance, the late South African presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana even suggested publicly that it was not cost effective to save children whose mothers were doomed to die of AIDS: "We don’t want a generation of Orphans" Yet these children - 70,000 are born. HIV positive in South Africa alone every year could be protected from the disease for about $4 each with the drug nevirapine(Times magazine January 12, 2001.)


THE WAY FORWARD

Given all these glaring and gruesome facts, the pertinent question that comes to mind is, what is the way forward? The way forward involves treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS for the infected and non infected respectively.

Treatment involves first, RESTORING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM. The strengthening of the immune system is a logical step to help the body cells to combat the virus. Suppressor T Cells in cultures appear to be able to control the HIV virus. A combination of bore marrow transplant (from an identical twin) antiviral drugs and transfusions of lymphocyte blood cells is a form of treatment that has worked once. The use of lymphokines a protein substance is another line of attack. A specific type of INTERFERON called alpha-interferon has shown some success in causing the regression of Kaposi’s Sarcoma (a skin cancer associated with AIDS) DEVELOPMENT OF DRUGS is another form of treatment. Notable among these drugs are Azidothymidine (AZT) which has achieved modest success with prolonged life for the patients. Zalcitabine is a sister compound of AZT that has been shown to block replication of the HIV virus in laboratory cultures. However, it is highly toxic in human unlike AZT which has the side effect of causing Anaemia. Glycyrrhizin has been shown by Japanese researchers to be capable of halting the growth of HIV virus, though no clinical trials have yet been conducted. Ribavirin as shown by laboratory studies, inhibits the replication of the AIDS virus and increase the number of T4 cells without damaging the infected cells.

Preventive measures are required to protect those not yet exposed to HIV .First among these measure is the Adoption of good moral standards. Abstaining from sex prior to infection is a sure way of preventing sexually transmitted infection of HIV. Faithfulness to one’s uninfected partner will prevent HIV infection. In order to achieve this, religious groups have a big part to play in directing their members to adopt good moral standards in order to help reduce infection rate as has been achieved in Northern African countries where their religious practice (Islam) promotes conservative sexual behaviour.

Second, is the prevention of sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS. This can be achieved by awareness and provision of HIV/AIDS education to all children in and out of school by integrating HIV/AIDS education into their school curriculum. This have achieved success in Uganda where anti-AIDS campaign is at its peak. Moreso, the use of a barrier during intercourse can prevent the virus from infecting through blood or semen. Thus the use of a sheath or condom is recommended.

Third, is the prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission through blood and blood products. This cannot be achieved without active participation of the government of developing countries by backing it up with policies. This can be achieved by providing efficient blood transfusion service, screening centres and blood banks. This will put commercial blood donors out of business. This have achieved a huge success in Britain where since 1985 strict legislations have prevented the use of infected blood. All donor of organs transplant including sperm for artificial insemination must be screened for HIV. Moreso, injecting drug users (IDU’S) should be educated on the need to use clean needles and syringes and if possible they should be provided with free ones as done in Netherlands.

Fourth, is the prevention of HIV infection through perinatal transmission. This involves both proper education of mothers and also government policies by provision of access to anti-retroviral therapy which has been shown to reduce mother to child transmission by up to half. However, the mothers should first ascertain whether they are HIV-positive so as to know which course of action to take.

Fifth, is the development of a vaccine to protect people not yet exposed to HIV. The government of developing countries have a part to play here by funding scientific researches so as to find a cure for HIV/AIDS and more importantly a vaccine against the disease.

Sixth, there is need to bar the discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Apart from putting up a legislation against this, people must be made to understand that HIV/AIDS cannot spread by bodily contact, coughing, sneezing or eating together. PLWHA should be taken proper care of, and the women among them should avoid getting pregnant to prevent perinatal transmission.

In conclusion, the part played by poverty in the spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries cannot be overemphasized. Governments of developing countries must make useful effort towards improving the socio-economic condition of its citizens as this is the main difference that separates the developing countries from the developed. It is this difference that makes HIV/AIDS pandemic in developing countries. The scourge of HIV/AIDS will forever dog the footsteps of developing countries unless their governments make spirited efforts to reverse the trend as have been achieved in developed countries where the incidence of the disease was first recorded.