Author: #SilentNoises ~knm

Let those that have ears, see
Let those that have eyes, hear
Let those that have mouths, do what is right.
Let those that have a conscience be guided to guide.
Let not folly make you jolly
Tomorrow is unknown
Yet we plan as though we own.
Short and sweet
Lengthy and bitter.
The end is still the end but it could have been a different ending.
Then, ‘had I known’ swings,
Lip to lip with careless flings
Regrets cascading down the face and spinal column,
With careless abandon as a waterfall.
Sshhhhhhhh.
The whispers of the conscience,
Create a hallow on the brain.
Unfinished.
Finished.
Incomplete?
©kwasintemmensah 110517

Looking into the unknown.
Journeys unknown
New trails to blaze
One with nature
Good health is the 🔑

Can we learn from Tyler P.?

It was somewhere in 2004, when I first heard of Madea. It was a group of minorities discussing one of his plays. Each out of a group of about fifteen guys had something good and positive to say. One had not watched a particular play and another offered to bring him a DVD. The conversation now shifted to how come a play that had just been acted on stage had a DVD. That was very much unlike Tyler Perry , some said. All this while I just listened as I was confused. You see all I had known were my local actors and a few Western actors and actresses whom I held in extremely high esteem.
Now, sharp words of anger rained on this guy for having a DVD that would undermine Tyler Perry’s business. What he had is what is called “bootleg” or fake version.

I am surprised at some of  our own. Some of our very own will pull you down. They will not support or patronize you. They will not even offer sincere criticisms. They will rather seek to benefit from what you have or are doing irrespective of if it will collapse your venture. The sad part is they are in your inner circle and know what you have to offer but be it hatred, selfishness or angst at not being able to do what you are offering , these same who smile in your face like laughing jackals, will bring you down swiftly no nobody’s business. It is sad.

Today, Tyler Perry stands tall among the African American community because of the support of his people. In his interview he stated that his plays and shows and all were geared towards a people who could identify with the surroundings and characters.

Often when we (Ghanaians) and or Africans try to start a business, it is our very own who bring us down. In as much as we might not get it right the first time, it is only with support that we can get it right the second and subsequent times. It is rather sad to see us rain derogatory terms and words on any individual who is in a profitable start up and attribute the success to thievery.

Again, Tyler did not cook his books or steal from his own company. Neither did I ever read about him living large before he could afford it. If he had done so, I bet you he would not have succeeded. So therefore as I admonish the goose, so allow me to do same to the gander.

Hand in hand, honesty and integrity, discipline and principles, let us strive to uphold one another and together change the color of the grass where we stand to make others on the other side see it to be greener.

I am #SIGHlentNoises~knm

I read the message on Facebook. It was short and urgent. It requested me to get in touch ASAP. This was in 2019

In  the last days of January, 2020, while at church, I read the newsflash. I disregarded same. Though not close to me by any chance, it would hit very hard. He was an exemplary father and husband.

No matter how busy we are, there is the need to make time for those we call family and friends. When one is loved or you are loved, time is of no sequence because one would find the urgency and convenience to be in touch. Life is fleeting.

I hardly frequent Facebook these days so when I read the message, I was a day late. I immediately called that night. It was after 11:30 p. m. I went to bed knowing I had called. I was sure the call would be returned.

I drove home after church with tears in my eyes. Why on a Sunday? Why him? Why with his daughter? What would happen to his seven month old daughter? It could have been me. it could have been …

Every human is responsible for their actions and so to blame it on extenuating factors is only a facade. Most people attribute their actions as a reaction to some happening in their lives. There are times we choose to neglect people on purpose. There are times people hurt us in such a way that we ask ourselves why they chose to hurt us in particular?  There are times all it takes is to say SORRY. There are no regrets for then what would you have to say? Had I known … Time is of essence. If only….

I had to go into class the following morning. I was apprehensive and could not fathom why. I kept thinking about the call though. Then my call was returned. My cuz Adei spoke to me with a shaking voice.

I can only imagine the shock as felt by his wife at that moment.  The disbelief. Losing two people you love at a go. This life is not ours. “I will be right back” turned into ” gone into eternity”.  Life is fleeting and is never assured us.

My mother comes from a large family. She had siblings maternally and siblings paternally. It was only when we had grown up and with the demise of both mom and dad that we began to meet and hear about mom’s paternal siblings. They were a lively bunch those aunties that we met. Then of course we met our cousins.

No human is an island and so when you meet family that are welcoming; when you have friends that have your back and wish you well and not your downfall, you want to either return that love fully or to your possible best.

He left a legacy. Everyone is in tears. He inspired. He motivated. He gave back. At 41, he was fatherly. He lives for his imprint is engraved in our hearts.

Cousin Adei did not mince words. Mom, my aunt was gone. She had packed bag and departed suddenly. She had joined her paternal sisters in the bosom of the Lord. She sent me the flyer for the funeral service  in Maryland. I sat through class in silent pain and gut wrenching anguish. I was lost. I cried a sea within me yet smiled when others laughed with me. The blame was mine.

I never met my aunt. She was my mother’s junior sister. I only spoke on the phone with her a couple of times. All my questions will remain unanswered. How on earth do I attend the funeral service of an aunt I never did meet in person? I never really made time. I blame myself. The guilt is mine.

I share this story with you that you make time for true family and true friends. I share this story as a way of making amends so you do not make the same mistakes I committed. I share this story as an apology to my Aunt Veronica and my cousin(s).

I rewrote this piece to incorporate the legend KB and his daughter. May the souls of the departed rest well. Till we meet again, we shall strive to make amends here on earth.

Aunty sleep well. 💋

This is mind boggling. Charley someone define change for me. Or does change mean doing the same thing but in a different format?
Why can’t we face reality and condemn things when they are wrong?
Let me start with the (konumtea) formed to investigate the loss of the confiscated excavators? Do we need a committee to sit and draw allowances while….
Let me ask, what is the use of our CID, BNI, MP, SFO, office of the SP? Not to mention the NS. Why? Are we as a country so rich that we can throw money away anyhow?

Then what is other committee inaugurated recently to investigate and mitigate the free fall of the cedi? What has another committee got to do with this? There are enough brains in the government to deal with strengthening the cedi against the dollar. Ghanaians are some of the smartest and brainiest (is ther such a word) on earth.

1D1F. Please what are the options available to Neoplan? What are the chances of it being fully government owned and managed? Why can we not use the Neoplan services to create long term employment by provision of buses and possible manufacture of spares? Speaking of the Neoplan saga, why cant the educational blueprint be rewritten to focus on a more manufacturing based economy?

It is said that it is not good to compare. I agree when it is in reference to individuals but when it has to do with countries, please I beg to differ. I will say it with a big SIGH.
Let me compare Ghana to Rwanda. What can’t Ghana do right?

Our politicians travel a lot. Everyone loves per diem. I am just asking that when they travel, they should see. They should open their eyes and ears wide. They should go back home with innovative ideas. They should live patriotism and not just mouth it.
Beautiful schools can be built for students in Ghana instead of this double triple track system. Are our children trains to be running on tracks? I was at this school the other day and the tracks and gymnasium were simply fabulous. As for the classrooms simply conducive for learning. This was an elementary school. I wept for Ghana where we commissioned a world class dam fifty-five years ago and in the year 2020 we are commissioning boreholes. Really?

What can be done about these churches whose leaders use foul language and make sex the topic of preaching? What can be done about those churches who prey on the infantile minds of their followers?

Can we as a nation, as a people learn to be responsible for our actions?

For now, until I see otherwise, the value of CHANGE is the same. The players are different though.

Let me board my € 5… ion Airbus. Let me ride in corruption and style. This is the plane that would be used to retrieve the Guinea fowls that flew away and also used as a reconnaissance aircraft to track some 400 missing tricycles.

The value is the same!

#SIGHlentNoises~knm

Would we as a people go to heaven if the call came in today?
Religion is a way of life. Religion is an opioid that is addictive. Now you know when you are addicted to a substance or something you see nothing wrong with that. You will do all to defend its use. So has religion become for some and it is sad to think that the very educated or enlightened who should lead the charge with questions rather defend the most useless of thoughts and actions.

It is sad that some of the so called men of God have taken this myopic fanaticism to heart and in turn hypnotized their church members. The state of hypnotism is so bad that instead of church members glorifying God they tend to worship these leaders. These leaders attribute to themselves unimaginable powers with which they protect church members. No wonder we have names and pictures flying all over the place without reverence to the Creator whom we worship. No wonder these leaders engage in business ventures that invariably fail and church members are left to suffer.

Some of these shepherds have failed for dividing their flock. The spread of wanton gossip and malicious expending of church funds coupled with favoritism is a canker eating away the piety of some of these shepherds. The love of material things has clouded their very ability to be in tune with the creator. When one attempts to point this out discreetly, one is threatened with generational curses, name calling and even possible redeployment from this world.

If the educated, enlightened and even the high and mighty elite will not call a spade a spade and would rather be in bed with these charlatans, thinking that is their way to heavenly eternity, then it falls on us pragmatic thinkers to rise up against this cancerous trend that is steadily eating away at our very core of a people as Ghanaians irrespective of our locus.

It is our God given right to think and ask ‘how, why, and really?’ Bob Marley urges us on with the words “Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight’

~knm

Attitude is everything. Your attitude everywhere is your footprint. Your footprint is how people recognize you by. Your footprint determines how you are described in a setting. Your footprints determines your description after you have left this earth.
Your attitude is your footprint. Why walk around with a sullen face when you can walk with a smile and make someone’s day?
Why talk with anger when you can easily talk with humor and make people feel at ease?
Why plot the downfall of others because you are not where they are? Be polite and ask them they will teach you.
Your attitude is everything.
Have you ever wondered why it is so difficult to keep a partner?
Have you ever wondered why no-one consults you?
Have you ever considered you practically have to plead for something that should come naturally to you?
Attitude is all. Attitude is everything.
Your attitude defines you. Your attitude is your magnet. Do you draw people closer or do you drive people away from you?
Your attitude defines your language. Do you speak with clarity and humility than with arrogance and yells?
Your attitude is you. Do you know it when you are wrong and especially need to apologize? Have you ever thought about the consequences of your actions?
You are your attitude. Your attitude is an exhibit of your character. What then is your character?
We leave our footprints in the sands of time. We leave attitude in the memories of people. We leave the tritas of our characters like a cloth fluttering in the breeze.
Can you change your character? How so?
Start with reflective thinking. Then practice mindfulness.

New look.
Left and Right.
Beyond and Afore
Whispers and Screams
Whichever way
Someone must listen
It is all
SIGHlent Noises!

At the end of the day, when they put their feet up and their backs to rest, let the cycle of events of the day bring a smile to the lips for then, a change was effected no matter how subtle.
They that commit to themselves first, position themselves to help others and by so doing actually better other lives. For when the thoughts are centered on the how, the why comes into play.

Every Monday, we will do well to post a new article or poem. It will engage you throughout the week for it will be satirical, humorous and thought provoking.

~knm

For some funny reason, I am at peace. I am so at peace I continually ask myself if I am the same Don Major.
The answer came back in the negative. The Major of yesterday is not the same Major of today. Maybe even tomorrow’s Major might be different.
These are the stages of life. This is psychological evolution. This is  reflective mindfulness being manifested in my daily life.
That is why I would rather walk with progressives than sit in stagnant waters.

Enough of this Don Major. Let’s talk small about Ghana. Ghana as country. Ghana as a home to twenty-two million plus men, women and children. Maybe one day we will talk about the foreigners who have invaded the land and zigzaged across our legal terrain and have utilized the loopholes in our fabric to permeate our very establishment. (A whole heap of Nansins)

I think the constant brouhaha is all about how to make the country great in the midst of all the looting, corruption, wanton debauchery, myopic religious fanaticism and lawlessness.

About lawlessness, do you know we have some very fine magistrate’s and judges in Ghana who have been posted to areas where their expertise is not being utilized? I would rather have them in the urban areas where their fairness, firmness and incorruptible traits would be most utilized.

Enough. Back to what is on my mind. I have always advocated for a rewiring of attitudinal thinking. Attitudinal thinking that will focus on solutions rather than complains. Attitudinal thinking that would focus on pragmatic solutions and not ad hoc measures. Attitudinal thinking that would put the country Ghana first.

I do admit that one bad nut would definitely spoil the soup but what if we wash the nuts thoroughly in order to fish out the rotten ones? That is how we must hold our politicians accountable. Hold them responsible.

So yes, join me in offering solutions devoid of insults and stop the bashing, lambasting and negativity.

Let us begin to climb the narrow path of positivity and educate one and all only for the good of the country and the unborn children.

Let us rewire our attitudinal thinking in positivity.

#SILENTNOISES

For some funny reason, I am at peace. I am so at peace I continually ask myself if I am the same Don Major.
The answer came back in the negative. The Major of yesterday is not the same Major of today. Maybe even tomorrow’s Major might be different.
These are the stages of life. This is psychological evolution. This is  reflective mindfulness being manifested in my daily life.
That is why I would rather walk with progressives than sit in stagnant waters

Enough of this Don Major. Let’s talk small about Ghana. Ghana as country. Ghana as a home to twenty-two million plus men, women and children. Maybe one day we will talk about the foreigners who have invaded the land and zigzaged across our legal terrain and have utilized the loopholes in our fabric to permeate our very establishment. (A whole heap of Nansins)

I think the constant brouhaha is all about how to make the country great in the midst of all the looting, corruption, wanton debauchery, myopic religious fanaticism and lawlessness.

About lawlessness, do you know we have some very fine magistrate’s and judges in Ghana who have been posted to areas where their expertise is not being utilized? I would rather have them in the urban areas where their fairness, firmness and incorruptible traits would be most utilized.

Enough back to what is on my mind. I have always advocated for a rewiring of attitudinal thinking. Attitudinal thinking that will focus on solutions rather than complains. Attitudinal thinking that would focus on pragmatic solutions and not ad hoc measures. Attitudinal thinking that would put the country Ghana first.

I do admit that one bad nut would definitely spoil the soup but what if we wash the nuts thoroughly in order to fish out the rotten ones? That is how we must hold our politicians accountable. Hold them responsible.

So yes, join me in offering solutions devoid of insults and stop the bashing, lambasting and negativity.

Let us begin to climb the narrow path of positivity and educate one and all only for the good of the country and the unborn children.

Let us rewire our attitudinal thinking in positivity.

#SILENTNOISES

My fellow country men and women,
My humble greetings to you all. On the occasion of our 62nd anniversary as a nation, permit me to say Ayekoo. Well done.

I come to you today as not your President but as one of you. It would be wrong for me to say all is well with us as a nation. This occasion is a solemn one for me and should be for us all. This is a moment we need to sit and reflect; to take stock and duly make amendments to or rewrite our nation’s blueprint. This exercise would be meaningless unless we take stock of our own lives.

Fellow country men and women, this is our country. This is our home. I urge you all to put aside the party colors. Let us link arms, go hand in hand and rebuild this country.

Remember, this is our country. We can expect government to do this and that but in reality there are so many little things we can do to make our country better. Government cannot do everything. You and I as individuals play a greater role in the development of our nation. I urge you all to be responsible for our nation just ast as we take care of our clothing, shoes, cars, houses. After all this is our home. We as a people can begin to be responsible for our actions. We can be committed to whatever we do. Let us start by keeping our surroundings; our environment neat. Let us draw attention to others who litter with ease. Let us do this devoid of insults and fights.

Those in political offices and other high ups should eschew pride and arrogance. They have to remember they are here to serve the people. Henceforth, no political appointee will b e assigned police personnel again. To cut down waste in the system, the number of ministers and deputies would be shaved to a bare minimum. All meetings will be held in boardrooms and no longer at hotels who charge exorbitantly. All travels outside the country per air travels will be on economy class. I will set the pace. We are voted into office to serve and not to be served.

The priority of the nation would be affordable healthcare for all and a vibrant and realistic educational blueprint. With that, henceforth, no government official will travel outside the country to seek medical assistance. It is good to travel to seek knowledge; knowledge that should be brought home and harnessed for the good of the country. With that, there will be no more government scholarships unless the students are coming back home. There is the need for us to bring up our educational levels to comparable levels.

This country has done very well on private sector participation. During a period in this nation’s history, a lot of businesses were owned by the indiginees. That day is coming. Henceforth, I charge the ministries responsible to give tax breaks and put in place smooth structures for our local businesses to grow. I do not expect to see any impediments put in their way.

This is a solemn day. This a day of reflection. Today marks the beginning of a new Ghana.
Thank you all. Let us make this work.