Reductio Ad Absurdom

When I sat to the Cambridge Junior School Certificate examination in 1946, we had separate subjects of Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry. Two years later in Form 5, the subjects were still separate but came under the umbrella of Elementary Mathematics. I don’t know what the picture is today, because not being conversant with the classroom I find even the questions in the general paper of the NPSE examination a bit of a teaser and often wonder whether I could cope with them were I to sit that examination which is intended for Eleven years plus old kids. In Geometry I was more amused with that which had to be proved, or the Quad Erat Demonstradum or QED in the Pythagoras Theory about the Squares in a Right angle triangle than in attempting to prove it. But the theory which I found ridiculous was that which started with “If A is not equal to B then it is either greater than it or smaller than it. It was known as Reduction to absurdity.  (Photo: Dr. Sama Banya)

The zeal of the Torchlight newspaper which is reportedly owned by his Excellency’s former press secretary Sheka Tarawali or Shekito, to promote the cause of the APC can only be matched by that of the African Champion newspaper. Quite frankly the party’s propaganda machines are reducing the art of political propaganda to absurdity. A number of such newspapers carried banner headlines after the departure of this year’s Pilgrims to the Holy land of Mecca which read, “APC sends 100 pilgrims to Mecca free.” On reading the headline one could not think of a more benevolent political party than the ruling red sun. However one is quickly disillusioned even before completing the first two lines of the accompanying story. That was because the so-called APC scholarships were in fact provided mostly by the Libyan Leader Colonel Muamu Kaddafi plus 500 thousand US$ while the rest may have come from Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. What was wrong with letting the public know that like in material and economic aid, Kaddafi was also benevolent and even more so in the cause of Islam, witness the great Mosque at Rokupa in the east end of Freetown.

A characteristic of the APC is how quickly they take back their words. While in opposition Brother and Leader Kaddafi was the embodiment of evil. Former President Tejan-Kabbah was criticized for cuddling up to him. The official mouthpiece of the party, the We Yone newspaper even embarrassed the great Libyan during his first visit to Sierra Leone by declaring that he was not welcome. However since assuming office hardly a week goes without our calling on one of the countries benefactors. He is involved in all aspects of our development; it therefore was most silly to have declared that the APC government had sent 100 pilgrims to Mecca free, rather than giving the credit to Brother Kaddafi. But that’s how we do it under the red sun in the interest of propaganda.

The most ridiculous if not childish action was the front page headline in the same torchlight newspaper which read, “Blood for Blood Fire For Fire SLPP 2012 Plan Unfolds.” The story behind the headline was that there was a squabble between some supporters of John Benjamin who again is portrayed as being over thirsty for power on one hand and supporters of one of the contenders for the SLPP flagship position, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio. There is a photograph of the SLPP headquarters building, but it looks blissfully quiet and peaceful and yet the torchlight describes that as a sign of future violence by the SLPP. Could anything be more ridiculous? The newspaper forgets, no, dares not mention all the violence and destruction that have been unleashed on the SLPP building and supporters since September17, 2007. How politically dishonest; the editor must be fooling himself or must have a very low estimate of the intelligence of his readers to have come up with such a headline and story. But with the APC everything goes.

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!

---

© 2010, https:. All rights reserved.