I have decided to put my blog on stand-by for a while

The reason is that over the weekend I have been receiving comments, e-mails, text messages and a phone call telling me various things, which I am far from comfortable with. Someone even made a Facebook group with the aim of boycotting my blog.

Basic message is that I am not giving the right impression of Tanzania. That the image I display of Tanzania  to the world is damaging Tanzania's image. To me there simply is no right impression, but apparently there is, and I am not meeting these standards. I am highly aware that Africa is not just Africa, that Tanzania differs from other African countries and vice versa. I also know that the image of Tanzania in for instance European media often does not correspond with the one of the Tanzanians. But again 35 million Tanzanians do not make one idea, but many. I am an ex-pat, I blog from my perspective.

I find different viewpoints expressed on different blogs inspiring, which is why I read different blogs. I have only ever intended to reflect my impressions, which I have emphasised over and over. I have also emphasised that my views are mine and do not necessarily correspond with the NGO I work for.

I don't believe that this kind of group pressure should shut someone up, but I also feel I have no choice.  However, in the mean time - until I figure out if/when I will return to blogging with a public identity - I will be happy to provide you with more detailed information if curious. I will also be interested in - and happy -  to hear from other bloggers who have experienced the similar. I am still interested in dialogue, but I will not tolerate that people dictate me what to write on my blog, or comments where people i.e. name themselves 'Killer' or call me 'dog'.

Comments

[Monica]

Go on with your blog, no matter what!

[blackstone]

This is part of a bigger dynamic wish i hope you will understand. It's okay for you to give up or be quiet. It won't effect you, if things get crazy in tanzania, then you can always pack up and leave, like your doing with the blog. others do not have that fortune.

[Pope]

I didnt see any offense on that statement, may be just because it was written by white, but we should ask our selves how many statement like that appear in our Blogs?

[Rebekah]

Oh, Pernille. I'm so sorry. Please let us know if/when you decide to start blogging again. In the meantime, you will be sorely missed.

[POTASH]

The beauty of blogs by white girls in Africa is that they remind all those bleeding white liberals back home what they are missing.

Are you blogging for Tanzanians or are you blogging for the kids back at home that need to be convinced they can make a difference in Africa?

The Tanzanians want you to stop but the kids back home are spellbound. Who are you gonna chose?

If you asked me, I would say the silly Africans can go fly a kite. After all if they knew the least bit about what is good for them then you wouldn't even need to be hear writing about their issues.

Blog on

[DeTamble]

I'm very sorry to see you go! I understand why you're going but I'm hoping you wont stay away for too long. All the best. Bye Danish Pernille!

-DeTamble

[Anne-Marie Weeden]

Bummer. I'm sorry you're getting flak.

I wish people would realise, it's like television. If you don't like it, you can change the channel.

And I will miss your blog while it's down.

[Salam Taki]

Pernille,

Putting your blog on stand by as you say it is giving victory to haters of free speech and rights to opinion.

An Information Officer working in Tanzania is not necessarily a Public Relations or Marketing executive for Tanzania.

Don't give up, so your right of opinion a big favour by blogging soonest!

Yours up in arms,

From Uganda, and in Southern Sudan,

Your Peace, Salam Taki

[Jennifer Kimani]

Pernille don't give this guys a chance to discourage you at all!!! Why would anyone register themselves on facebook and take the liberty to insult you and then expect you to apologise????? Like Said said, restrict your readers but don't give them that satisfaction to make you give up.

I love your blog and half the time i get a different view of Africa from another angle. Problem with africans we always feel like we are some sort of negative target from the west or North whatever but never seem to accept other peoples views of us.

Pernille once again don't give in at all.

[Liz]

What 27th Comrade said at the very end of his comment I agree with. I found your whole view on things very refreshing and different.

I will be very sad to see this blog go. I enjoy reading it every day with my 10ocklock cup of tea :-( Hope you reconsider.

[The 27th Comrade]

Hmm. I'm in a dilemma, here, because I am one of the people who hate the stereotypes, when I see them. (The ones about Uganda, at least.) So, you know, I understand the Tanzanians' viewpoint.

But by insisting on seeing things your way, reporting your viewpoint, your this, your that, your ..., your ... you create the mindset, the environment, that enables unfair stereotypes in the first place. It should not be about how you see things. It should take into consideration what people are trying to communicate (that you, in seeing things your way, may not immediately understand, and therefore misrepresent).
When they get pissed about how you represent their country, can you try to see things their way for once? It can still be about how you see things, but does the way you see things have to be rigid and beyond being affected by how people want to be seen? By what people are trying to mean, rather than what your viewpoint says they mean?

I don't think I made my point well, anyway. :-( I'm trying to say that your way of seeing Tanzania, the one they hate, may be a misunderstanding. Like if I said Americans love murder, because of their high murder rate. I'd have looked at statistics and news and come to a conclusion from my viewpoint. Would it be right? If they protest, should I remain rigid?

And on Kelly's comment. She says: "but I think that is the price of being White and blogging in an African country"
Yeah, we hate naive people trying to explain us to the world when they didn't know where to locate us on a three-country map two minutes ago. At least I do. Especially because it is _always_ merely an extension of the superiority complex y'all are taught to hold over other places/people/cultures.

All this said, I found Pernille-style blogging very balanced. It actually stood head-over-shoulders above its category. Therefore, if you stop blogging, Pernille, we are left in a worse state. And this coming from the militant half of this debate. :o)

[Joel]

People are not dictating you what to write on your blog but rather are asking you not to insult others. To own a blog should not be used as a free pass in humiliating others ! To compare that police officer leg with a tree is totally reprehensible and we are not going to tolerate that kind of habit.

[A Tanzanian in UK]

Dear Glenna,
s
Sounds like SORRY IS HE HARDEST THING FOR YOU TO SAY.Be thankfull that the wrath of people you insulted hasnt yet touched the mainstream media.Do you think if a Tanzanians in your home country enjoy the so-called freedom of expression as you claim.I have been there,and all I can remember is people making monkey chants.You're a first class racist,period.

[Heriki Sali.]

Pernille,

Yes, we have a lot of issues and problems in Africa, which apparently is the main focus on your blog. Though, I do agree there is not one perspective about Tanzania I have yet to see a positive view about it on your blog. Indeed, this could be just the type of person you are, that is, it says more about you, "glass half empty".

Just in case you haven't noticed Africa, indeed Tanzania is different from Western world. It's better if you observe and blog about from African perspectives, than otherwise.

That you should feel free to write whatever you like, its a free world.

It's easier for any expat to feel superior than majority of Tanzanians, as they go about their business. After all, you could cruise on your Landcruiser with your AC on, and feel completely and utterly disdain about your surroundings, and not be part of it.

One American blogger captured your type beautifully, at her latest posting (feb, 28,2008) at http://janaimani.blogspot.com

Also, the statement about a female traffic officer in a tight blue skirt and with "legs as thick as small tree trunks" was uncalled for, and it is a tantamount to prejudice.

Mind you, Tanzania bloggers also criticize their country, but there is a difference,
the view is that one is patriotic, the other is mzungu with attitude respectively. (See:http://mettyz-bongoland-reflections.blogspot.com/)

Others like http://www.taittanzania.blogspot.com/ are more funny and reflective.

Heriki Sali Tanzanian in New York.

[Marie]

I am so sorry to hear that. Though as someone who has seen her own words twisted, taken out of context, and regurgitated with venom, I know exactly why you are making the decision that you are making. One reviewer attacked my stance on mountain gorillas. Hey, I'm just talking about what I saw one morning, not pretending to be some kind of expert here! In fact, I don't even have a stance! Mountain gorillas seem pretty cool to me.

Another was angry that the Africa I described was not the one she wanted to read about, since she was going there soon (on safari) and knew exactly what I should have written.

A bigger question might be: When you put something out in public, does all your ownership cease? Do your published thoughts become as much the property of the reader as your own property? A little, I guess.

I'll miss your lovely photos and stories.

[Peter]

Hey Pernille,

I have always loved your blog. And your candid observations. And the great pictures. And the forthcoming flavour in which you present life in Africa.

Don't give in. That's what the criticasters want... ;-)

Peter

[Saidi Situ]

Don't give up. Don't let these pepole win. We support you. Tanzanian's support you. Please don't let us down. I'm with you all the way. I have added your blog on my favourites and made this blog my home page. Never knew about this blog before last week's incident. i love it.
It has given me a chance to know how my country look like from a foreign perspective.

Facts' in the past. 'Options' in the present. 'Possibilities' in the future.
The future can not be 'predicted' but can be 'created'. Now please create a new future.

[Kelly]

Oh no!! Don't give in! Your blog is great! I also felt the flack of writing a blog from my perspective and having a lot of readers who had a lot of negative things to say, as I know Glenna, above does too, but I think that is the price of being White and blogging in an African country.

If you were an upperclass Tanzanian who had lived abroad and returned to TZ and blogged the exact same thing people would I'm sure have a lot less negative things to say. It is definitely a double standard and I guess maybe rightfully so...

Anyway, I gave in as well and my blog is friend's only now. You need a login and be invinted in order to read it. Instead of stopping blogging altogether maybe you should consider taking this route, just making your blog more private.

Not to plug blogging on livejournal, but I love that site because for each entry I write I can customize who is allowed to read it. Even out of people with logins, I can choose who can and cannot access the entry. Worth considering at least!

[babs]

Pernille
you say that there are many views. That is true. However, on the issa michuzi blog, where all this started, the majority of the comments (I assume from Tanzanians) are in your favour.

I hope you will be back blogging soon. You don't deserve this.

[Glenna Gordon]

Oh Pernille! I wish I could change your mind because I LOVE your blog! Also, I get all kinds of crap comments on a very regular basis. I'm thinking of composing something better written than this comment, about your blog and the perils of expat blogging in general, and will put it up on my blog soon. Stay posted!