In the background, while reading, I've been watching the Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2008, and did not need to engage my brain much for it. There were the same arguments danced around in a intellectual bout of foot-stomping with even one going far enough to call the governments actions illegal (he was not permitted further along this course).
Then Senator Afifah Mohammed (Opposition Senator; Temporary) began speaking. What drew my attention, initially, was her over-emphasis and young voice which seemed to me to border on whining. Her elocution was distinctive, to say the least. But on watching her I recognized her youth, and truly - she is or was a member of the UNC-A, the present Opposition.
What made her a diamond in the rough? She brought forth numbers, demonstrated that she did her homework, and shared them in Parliament. The figures showed the disparity and also her inexperience (quoting percentages would have been more sensible and less mind-numbing), but she did bring facts to debate. She did stare at the page too much as well, showing some more inexperience in being able to speak instead of read.
But she has the right tack, I think, and may be one to watch should she actually work on her weaknesses. And all of that is if she actually wrote what she read... the Slinger Francisco reference had me wondering. A person her age does not seem to be someone who would be familiar with the Mighty Sparrow, but then... maybe she does.
A parrot? A diamond in the rough? Uncertain. But whoever wrote what she read certainly put together a package that made her seem worthwhile. It was her maiden participation in parliament - and now she has to follow up with that... and improve. She certainly seems to have potential. Being someone apolitical, I am not sure where the debate is actually going and where merit lies - but I can say this: No one has argued the figures the young senator quoted.
And that, you see, is interesting. They demonstrate a skew that should be apparent, though properly simplifying the ratios would have made for a better presentation in Parliament... or media.
Some more scrutiny is needed. Be she a parrot or diamond in the rough, though, her points were not lost on this observer.
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