WAR: The Unseen or Delayed Effects

The Delayed and or Unseen Effects of War: Coming Soon On Dadaman Walking

Ever since the violence and destruction described as Sierra Leone's Rebel war, I thought about and participated in discussions on the unseen and delayed effects of war on a country and people. My great friend J emphasized the knock-on effect on those that were already living away from home, needing to be responsible for parents/extended families living in exile, the effects on a marriage of an influx of displaced and unhappy in-laws ; the loss of so many lives of those with what anywhere else or at any other time would have been manageable medical conditions is still a factor; many of us know stories of old uncle... or aunty...who had to jump over a wall and walk in the bush for a number of days, who has never been the same since, or who died later; and in my current line of work, I see folks one might consider as having made it to safety and asylum, only for the family to be rent asunder by the stress of relocation and acculturation.

Now I could write something superficial just quoting a couple of friends and relating personal or third-party anecdotes, or preferably, we could all contribute to this and see what we come up with. So if you have something to say on this subject or know someone who might, let's put this info together. You can add comments to this blog or write to me at salonedada@gmail.com. This is our space and I'm always keen that we tell our own stories wherever and whenever possible.

Les