"NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD"

This is a posting from Thanksgiving 2006:





The heading of this posting is the title of one of the great hymns of the Church that can overwhelm as one reflects on the words and reflects on the fleeting nature of our lives on this earth.
Yesterday, Thanksgiving was celebrated as millions of Turkeys in the prime of their lives met with untimely deaths to provide the main course of the thanksgiving feast. In the same manner, young lives are being sacrificed in Iraq in defense of or is it attainment of freedom?
In Nigeria, premature death is catching up with many both children and adults through ravaging infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, Typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and insect borne diseases like Malaria,and the rest of them. Many are dying from negligence and carelessness both at the hands of providers but mostly government negligence and irresponsibility. A country like Nigeria which produces millions of barrels of crude oil each day which sells at over $60 per barrell should at least provide the bare basics in public health for her citizens, instead Nigeria is a destination for medical missions of mercy, just like the poorest nations like Haiti and Bangladesh.
A co-worker recently could not figure out why she should join on a medical mission to Nigeria. She argued that Nigerians should be conducting Medical Missions to other poor African countries, and helping them in other areas too not just health and she is absolutely correct. However, such will never be the case in the foreseeable future. With the level of greed and corruption and selfishness besieging Nigeria, the suffering and dying will be there and will actually get worse.
Talking about the many, problems politically and otherwise, in Nigeria, is a good start, but taking some action or doing something about them is another step forward. The other day I was asked by someone if I knew of anything being done about the situation in Anambra State, probably implying that all we are doing is talk and nothing else. I chose not to answer at the time because my answer may not make sense to him. Anyway my answer to that question will be that, YES, something is being done, even if in different ways about the situation. People are speaking up, a lot of people are FASTING and PRAYING seriously about it while others are raising awareness at the grassroots level, educating people on the ground, many of who do not really understand what is happening or are too busy trying to scrath out a living in the land of plenty before caring about political issues.

Despite the bleak outlook, Nigerians still have a lot to be thankful for and Nigerians need to get up and get involved in affairs concerning them. Ndi Igbo need to arise and get involved and develop and uplift and clean up our cities and towns. It will take a lot of sacrifice be it in terms of money, comfort and even lives of which a lot have been lost on the bad roads and to violence and lawlessness and disease. We need to give thanks everyday, not only on Thanksgiving day, but everyday and then we need to do more by using our various talents to make a difference for our fellow humans. NOW THANK WE ALL OUR GOD.

Remain Blessed,
Chinwe Amala Enemchukwu
Orlando, Florida