Features
A change is gonna come
The “A CHANGE GONNA COME” song by Sam Cooke was inspired by various events in his life, most prominently when he and his entourage were turned away from a white-only motel in Louisiana. Cooke felt compelled to write a song that spoke to his struggle and those around him, and pertained to the Civil Rights Movement and African Americans.
Sam Cooke wrote the song in 1963, recorded in January of 1964 in Hollywood, CA, and released the song as a single in December, 1964. He performed it live on ‘The Tonight Show’ with Johnny Carson television show and gave testimony to his struggles (shared and personal) for the civil rights and social justice.
As a little boy, when Sam sang in church, everyone made note that his voice had ‘something special’. His refusal to sing at a segregated concert led to what many have described as one of the first real efforts in civil disobedience.
Sam was not only a great soul-singer but he was a civil rights activist in late 50’s and early 60’s America, where he was given a platform for both his music and his opinions and in the eyes of the society then, this made Sam Cooke a very dangerous man.
Thus, the song – “A Change is Gonna Come” is much more than a civil rights anthem. It’s become a universal message of hope, one that does not age. Generation after generation and people all over the globe have heard the promise of it. It continues to be a song of enormous impact.
I am sure some of you would obviously wonder why this song?
To my mind, Sam Cooke wrote the song for such a time as this in Ghana as we traverse the journey towards three decades of the Fourth Republican dispensation in 2023, with the dire challenges of a HUNG PARLIAMENT and with all the issues of ‘uncertainties’ around the 2022 Budget Statement facing us as a Nation and as a People.
Like Sam Cooke, I am relating the challenges he faced with the civil rights movement to the job uncertainties for our youth amidst several insecurity threats and forms, entrenched positions of the two main parties in the Parliament forcing the populace to question whether we have missed the road to the future promised by the parties since the dawn of the 4th Republic in 1993.
The situation we face now is akin to the period of the intense American Civil Rights confrontations of the sixties, when black as well as coloured lives mattered for little.
You see within all the confusions, denials, strives, hunger, joblessness, lack of amenities for the blacks, unequal pay for same jobs, lack of equal opportunities (not on party lines as we witness now) and no housing facilities for majorities of the blacks, ONE SMALL VOICE with so much hope against dire indiscriminate, police brutalities rose up with just the lyrics of a melodious song: ‘CHANGE IS GONNA COME’- to push for a change.
“I was born by the river, in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river
I’ve been running ever since
It’s been a long
A long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Oh, yes it will
It’s been too hard living
But I’m afraid to die
‘Cause I don’t know what’s up there
Beyond the sky
It’s been a long
A long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Oh, yes it will
I go to the movie
And I go downtown
Somebody keep telling me
Don’t hang around
It’s been a long
A long time coming
But I know, a change gonna come
Oh, yes it will
Then I go to my brother
And I say, brother, help me please
But he winds up, knockin’ me
Back now I think I’m able, to carry on
It’s been a long
A long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Oh, yes it will”
Don’t forget that when Sam Cooke composed the lyrics, he never dreamt beyond the impossibilities to imagine or think, much less, see the election of the first African-American President of the United States of America – Barrack Obama: because he never thought that was going to be the end of the struggles of the black race in America.
It means for us in Ghana, our fight is far more than just a slogan of ‘BREAKING THE EIGHT’ or the ‘GREAT RETURN OF THE JOHN FROM THE WILDERNESS – Baptist’ or a possibility of an ‘ABABASE IN EAGLE CLOTHING’. Indeed, our fight is even more precarious with the possibility of a ‘THIRD FORCE’ of the ‘Bilson’ stock. Thus, what we are faced with has nothing to do with our individual or collective allegiances to the two main political traditions of the 4th Republic. It has, instead, everything to do with how we can be ‘A BETTER NATION AND A PEOPLE’.
It also has everything to do with how our HONOURABLE Members of Parliament continue to conduct themselves in front of TV cameras for not just us as adults but also before our children and their own children and those of the MPs too.
Otherwise, how on earth will an ‘Honourable Member’ so conduct himself ‘dishonourably’ and we all pretend we did not see anything – from the voting for the SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT; to the whisking away of the Speaker’s Chair; to the rejection of the Government’s Budget Statement; to the inclusion of a budget allocation for the sea defence issues of the Volta Region, especially where ironically, there is an ‘ANLO NEW TOWN’ in a prominent part of the ‘Garden City of Ghana’, Kumasi, where the people are predominantly EWES?
What are we trying to teach our children and their children too? …that lawlessness pays?…for as long as you end up as a Member of Parliament to assume a certain level of immunity? …and from what?
Sam Cooke’s ‘CHANGE IS GONNA COME’ song, no matter how long, should let us all be mindful of the truth of life that NOTHING IS FOREVER and that…”It’s been a long; A long time coming; But I know a change is gonna come; Oh, yes it will.”
I do not want to assume that, there is an existing CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICS at the Parliament House for our Honourable Members of Parliament, on how to go about the business of the House, (or if there are sanctions for dishonourable behaviour in the House) or they are kept away from common men and women like the people who voted and or vote for them every four years?
Otherwise, we would institute a monthly ‘BADGE OF DISHONOURABLE MAN / WOMAN’, where the public would be invited to vote on a Member of Parliament who tops the list of dishonouring himself or herself in any particular month with the support of all media houses in the country.
I am not a ‘prophet’, nor would I, for any reason assume such a position on earth, but as long as night follows day, I know a CHANGE WILL COME SOONER THAN LATER in the way our elected officers are conducting ourselves in public life.
On a personal level, I wish we could amend the 4th Republican Constitution that justifies the appointment of a certain percentage of Members of Parliament as Ministers of State so that they could apply themselves solely to the matters of state as MPs. However, a government could be permitted to nominate any MP for a position but not by a stated quota in the Constitution.
Members of Parliament, Ministers of State and other public office holders should always know that they do not occupy these positions of themselves but because of us as Ghanaians; that we vote them into office as MPs and thereafter, get appointed into those public positions because of us, the people and they should never forget that.
They should also be mindful of the impact their actions and inactions have on the general populace so they ought to act RIGHT ALWAYS WITH HONOUR and nothing else.
By Sam Cooke The author is a Land Economist & Appraiser, Event Architect & Planner and Sport Business Consultant
Features
Preventing the brain’s melting point with BOS
The human brain is a complex and delicate organ, susceptible to damage from various factors, including extreme temperatures.
The brain’s melting point, also known as the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, is a critical concern for individuals seeking to maintain optimal cognitive function.
Fortunately, the Brain Operating System (BOS) offers a revolutionary solution to prevent the brain’s melting point.
Understanding the brain’s melting point
The brain’s melting point refers to the temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade, leading to irreversible damage.
This temperature threshold varies depending on individual factors, such as age, health, and environmental conditions. However, research suggests that the brain’s melting point is approximately 104°F (40°C) to 107°F (42°C).
The role of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
BOS, a cutting-edge technology, plays a crucial role in preventing the brain’s melting point. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, ensuring that it remains within a safe range.
How BOS prevents the brain’s melting point
BOS prevents the brain’s melting point through several mechanisms:
1. Temperature regulation: BOS continuously monitors brain temperature, adjusting neural activity to maintain a stable temperature.
2. Heat dissipation: BOS enhances heat dissipation through increased blood flow and sweating.
3. Neuro protection: BOS protects neurons from heat-induced damage.
Benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point
The benefits of BOS in preventing the brain’s melting point are numerous:
1. Prevents brain damage: BOS prevents brain damage caused by excessive heat.
2. Maintains cognitive function: BOS ensures optimal cognitive function by maintaining stable brain temperature.
3. Enhances brain resilience: BOS enhances brain resilience to temperature fluctuations.
Real-World applications of BOS
BOS has various real-world applications:
1. High-performance computing: BOS enables high-performance computing by maintaining optimal brain temperature.
2. Medical applications: BOS has medical applications, such as treating heat-related illnesses.
3. Space exploration: BOS is crucial for space exploration, where extreme temperatures pose a significant risk.
Conclusion
BOS is a revolutionary technology that prevents the brain’s melting point, ensuring optimal cognitive function and overall well-being. By leveraging advanced neural interfaces and artificial intelligence, BOS monitors and regulates brain temperature, protecting against heat-related damage.
Glossary:
1. BOS: Brain Operating System.
2. Brain’s melting point: Temperature threshold beyond which brain tissue begins to degrade.
3. Neural interface: Connects human brain with digital devices.
Contact Information
virginvtech@yahoo.com
Additional resources:
1. BOS research: Explore scientific studies.
2. Neural interface resources: Discover books and articles.
3. Brain-computer interface communities: Join online forums.
Future directions
As BOS technology continues to evolve, we can expect:
1. Improved temperature regulation: Enhanced temperature regulation mechanisms.
2. Increased cognitive enhancement: Advanced cognitive enhancement capabilities.
3. Expanded applications: New applications in various fields.
By harnessing the power of BOS, individuals can safeguard their brain health and maintain optimal cognitive function, even in extreme environments.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
Lotto wahala and Tuobodom palaver
In Sikaman lotto is not a game. It is a profession, a noble career which people aspire to. It is the highest paying profession after armed robbery and the most widespread job on this side of the Atlantic.
In places like China, lotto is a disease that has no cure. Once you are infected, no doctor on earth can cure you. May be Kofi Larteh, Ghana’s most celebrated magician, can help ease the symptoms, but no definitive cure will be forthcoming.
Coming back to Sikaman, lotto has been the financial messiah of many. That is how people look after their large families, pay school fees, marry two wives and do their own ‘monkey things.’
If you are very poor and you win a lottery, chances are that you will die before you even collect the money. You’ll die out of excitement or you’ll start day-dreaming in the streets and an articulated truck will hit you.
As such, very heavy wins are not recommended for poor people, lest they get listed too soon in the obituary columns.
The sad story is told of a heavy-duty caterpillar driver who had a very heavy lotto windfall of several millions, his first big win after several years.
CATERPILLAR
He was driving the caterpillar home when he saw his son running towards him, shouting. “All your numbers have dropped! All your numbers have dropped! He could not believe his ears.
All the four numbers he had staked had dropped and his son, who had gone to stake them for him, was himself over-excited. The poor caterpillar man just could not handle the good news. He suddenly stepped on the brakes and the caterpillar jolted him a trifle too violently, throwing him off. He landed right in front of the still moving heavy-duty machine and it crushed him flat.
I don’t think the bloke would have died if he had won a smaller amount. Sometimes too much cash is not good for the health.
Seldom, people get too confident and that can also result in a wake-keeping, like that of a man who used his lifetime savings and borrowed extra money to crack the machine with a two-sure that the compiler must compulsory drop or the world will end.
Even the shadows of the numbers or their counterparts were nowhere near the winning numbers. His shock-absorbers crumbled under the weight of the heavy disappointment. He crashed to the floor and started foaming at the mouth. He was declared dead on arrival at the nearest clinic.
WINDFALL
Recently, there was a countrywide lotto windfall, and in Kumasi it was more than a festival. Most stakers had between ¢30m and ¢40 million on two-sure that the lotto magicians had predicted at least three weeks earlier,
Kejetia chop bars were besieged with overnight millionaires, carrying huge appetites induced by Opeimu Bitters popularly called Opeimu Peters. All the meat and mudfish got sold out within an hour and procurement agents had to double up to restock.
While some were celebrating, others were weeping and gnashing teeth. The problem was that, three weeks beforehand, the two sure numbers were declared by all the lotto sorcerers, dreamers, magicians, tellers and all the self-appointed and self-promoted forecasters.
Everybody including 10-year-olds, who staked and lost. The following week, they were advised to continue staking. The faithful did continue but the faithless stopped. All of them lost. In the third week or so, a good number of confident stakers had lost faith in the two numbers. That was when the number landed.
So the windfall was for only those who had the unshakeable faith in the numbers. See what faith can do? It can move dollars. Don’t waver, so saith the holy scriptures.
The faithless indeed gnashed teeth. The winners on the other hand celebrated with a song that is as controversial as the business of lotto. It is a song played by the group called Nkasei and has something to do with a town in the Brong Ahafo Region called Tuobodom whose capital we hear is Jinijini.
I hear it is a derogatory song and the queen mother of Tuobodom got charged and breathed out electric current during her protest on air. She allegedly ended up demanding a mobile phone from Nkasei so that she could communicate with them to settle the matter peacefully, lest wahala.
Well, the song is rising up the charts and Nkasei are making the dough, but should it be at the expense of a whole townsfolk, their forebears and generations to come?
WATERPROOF
Waterproof, the famous comedian, was allegedly given hefty slaps at the Kumasi rail station by some Frafra jingoists who felt he was deriding their tribe. And Bob Okala had to run with his tail between his legs when he was confronted and realised that slaps were going to be visited on his lean face.
Let’s not use words and lyrics to cause discomfort to others.
This article was first published on Saturday July 9, 2005
