Dreadful Storm

                                    Dreadful Storm
By:Justin Maker

 O spirits of our ancestors,

hear the cries of your children.

A thunderstorm flashes—

a cruel streak across the sky,

shame etched in light.

The fat and powerful rejoice,

sheltered in mansions of concrete and V8's,

as the clouds roar with a fury that scars.

The old, the weak, the hungry, the sick—

they flinch beneath the sky’s terrible drum,

crackling rage unleashed mercilessly.

Lightning dances without pity;

floods rise, striking near orphaned souls

and animals, with nowhere left to run.

Wicked winds and waters lash the land,

tearing through huts and farms,

ripping trees into twisted mud.

There is no kindness in its path,

only the cold, unyielding resolution of force.

Wild winds howl,

rains pour like grief from heaven, storms thunder through a voiceless village— its hearts too exposed to bear the weight of the mother nature violence.

Children and elders, barefoot, forgotten,

stand knee-deep in muddy pools

at the gates of UNMISS camps,

as cruel laughter echoes,

blended with the scream of the storm—

a mockery of their misery.

Soaked and shivering, eyes full of loss,

they whisper:

"This is not the independence

they promised us."

O spirits of our ancestors,

hear the cries of your children.

Only to you we come—

only you can hold our tears

in the thunder’s wake.

Bankruptcy is always the second chance to reform

By:Justin Maker


In business world the best companies merge  out of bankruptcies very strong and successful only if their leaders value morals over profits. Morals sense create sustainable values to businesses and communities in other words values over times equals to sustainable growth while talent "education" over quick profit equals to bankruptcy. It's true that most of successful businesses are established by average people with strong believe in values.Take few examples of the most wealthiest companies in America; Walmart, Apple, Facebook, Koch brothers and etc they are all founded by average people with common goals of delivering value products to large society and in return they are rewarded for the value they have created and offered to society. 
Translation our country South Sudan after two years of senseless war is like a company getting off bankruptcy which if managed right by hiring people with high morals values of justice, equality, liberty, oneness and etc can transform South Sudan to a first class country in east Africa.The government must Chang course to benefit from the young energetic diasporain with high moral values and work ethic not the opportunistic rebellious self center elements who are seeking rewards for the dirty war and suffering they have inflicted on our people and country. The tradition of rewarding; over times equals corruption and endless suffering to our people and country. The silence loyalists and nationalist must be recognized and given fair access to deliver much needed service to our society.There is so much value work that could be offered with no money or little that may translate into improved service delivery.One area which is lack the most is the data. In this high tech age numbers means serious business and data collection can benefit our country significantly. Data in terms of population, education, commerce and taxation,  and the number of productive work force.
To our leaders now is the time to reform and transform South Sudan.

Millennium generation; South Sudan glimpse hope

 Millennium generation; South Sudan glimpse of hope
By:Justin Maker

I had the privilege to attend an event in Washington DC organized by Lual Deng and luol Deng foundation where group of South Sudanese youth born between the 1980s and 2000s " millennium generation" met to share their experiences. These youth came across all walks of life advocates, students, and activists bond by common good, in other words each one of them is doing something good for his local community. 
These youth came from 64 tribes of South Sudan and they did not care about which tribe they belong to but as South Sudanese with common interest searching for peace and unity. 
Superstar Luol Deng the lead of the program presented a mixed baggage of entertainment and sad realities  facing our people at home whether being at the UNMISS camps or in the city.He presented the face of the country as is and of course he made both camps uncomfortable,  government and the SPLM IO for not taking their side . Myself as a government supporter and fair minded gentleman I thought it was fair enough. 
I was impressed by the panelists at the discussion specially Koang Duolany  www.m.ketv.com/news/mentoring-program-fosters-growth-for-south-sudanese-kids, and Jok Dau of South Sudan Youth Congress  http://mentoring-program-fosters-growth-for-south-sudanese www.dutjokyouthfoundation.org, and South Sudan women United led by Margaret Ben . Margaret introduced a peace, reconciliation and forgiveness book by Desmon Tutu a renonounce bishop of South Africa. The book focusses on healing and forgiveness and I strongly recommend it to all peace loving South Sudanese to read. Few veterans from various were also involved. The moral lesson from this event was that " though we all come from different tribes our common interest unite us and we are more united, strong in diversity and our divisions are from old school, these divisions are minor and not rooted in fabric of  millennium generation. We must be hopeful because 72% of South Sudan population are youth and mostly millennium.  

Happy 4th Birthday South Sudan; Better tomorrow ahead!

Tomorrow has come and the independence of South Sudan is real and this nation of ancestors will forever remain sovereign.
A nation born out of sacrifice, bloodshed, and martyrdom shall always overcome.
We never had it easy and nothing is ever too difficult to overcome, we have endured hunger, diseases, homelessness, and even death but yet we strive for your golden name, and your flagship shall forever strive.
The spirit of our ancestors and the martyrs of the Wau Massacre will protect us forever.
The land of Deng Nhial, Gordon Mourtat, Aggrey Jaden, and John Garang your most name shall be given great praise amongst the nation.
Nation at war with itself today will abandon senseless war, rise and proseper for a better tomorrow.
Nation at war with itself today will abandon tribalism, nepotism, and regionalism and unite as one nation and one people.

Nation at war with itself will one day rise with sense of pride and nationalism, and your children will scream "We are South Sudan, We love South Sudan," in unity and