Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Moderator's Plea

The Oracle, Prof. Toyin Falola has spoken and honestly the time has come for us in this forum to heed the appeal. 

I want to thank the Moderator for taking 4 hours daily of his precious time to read the postings. 

Prof. Segun Ogungbemi

On Apr 5, 2015, at 9:47 AM, Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:

Fellow Citizens, My People:

I am addicted to reading all the posts, comments, arguments and counter-arguments. As they are archived, they represent the intellectual voices of this generation. It takes me a minimum of 4 hours a day to manage the postings. I am happy to make the sacrifice, which has damaged my own behavior—even in cinema, restaurants, office, class, church, plane, car, etc. I check and post. I even check and post when my car stops at the red light!

Arguments matter. Style and substance matter.

What we need to eliminate is not passion, not emotions, not even the intensity of passion. 

What we need to eliminate is rude language, insults, and personal attacks.

To abuse someone does not elevate an argument.

I do not censor anyone, and I could not even have done so in moments of great disagreements as to whom to vote for.

I plead that great arguments should not be compromised by the silliness of personal insults.

I plead that we remain sensitive to a site that has become the intellectual resources for scholars, students and others.

I plead that we remain committed to our arguments but do not behave as if the purpose of an argument is to win, but to expand spaces of conversations. "Not even God is wise enough," declares a Yoruba proverb.

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