| Good news from the heartland – David and Goliath revisited |
| By Dina Peace |
Published
05/21/2008
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FrontPAGE - IntermXx
| Unrated |
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THEY SAY THEY ARE BULLETPROOF, AND THEY’RE WINNING.
Eighteen years ago, there was an article published by the Free Press. It documented a brutal bush war that took place in a country in Africa called Mozambique. The people involved in the drama were a powerful guerrilla army and a motley group of untrained youths. These young men, who were between 14-20 years old were determined to save their country from the iron-vice grip of the guerrilla faction. December 9th 1990 was the date that this story, written by Remer Tyson appeared in the Freep, with a headline that read: THEY SAY THEY ARE BULLETPROOF, AND THEY’RE WINNING.
Mozambique at the time of the publication of Tyson’s article was deep in the hell of war. This African country had a Soviet backed army of 60,000 men against rebels known as RENAMO. This group numbered up to 20,000 men military- trained and armed to the teeth with modern weapons supplied by backers from The South African Defense Force, Europe and the United States. RENAMO terrorized the countryside and killed an estimated 100,000 civilians. The United Nations estimated that over 1 million Mozambicans were displaced by this war.
So here enters this youth army of teenagers who went by the name of NAPRAMA meaning “irresistible force” in the Macua language. Led by a thirty year old man named Manuel Antonio, this small army became steeled by the belief brought on by Antonio that they would be protected from bullets from the enemy’s machine guns, mortars and AK 47s. Antonio himself claimed to be sent by God to save his people from the guerilla movement. It was said that the members of NAPRAMA were anointed by Antonio with protective herbs and ointments.
“NAPRAMA supporters say RENAMO” wrote Remer, “ ... has become convinced Antonio’s followers are protected against weapons of war. When NAPRAMA come marching, the guerrilla flee in panic.”
Remer had also interviewed a couple of members of Antonio’s army. They testified that they attacked six of RENAMO’s bases by just arriving singing and shouting. Every single time the boys came, the enemy fled, leaving their weapons behind. Think of Joshua’s followers destroying the house of Jericho in the Old Testament.
So making a long story short, the young boys of NAPRAMA where able to do what Mozambique’s USSR funded army was unable to do- turn the tide of a 15 year horrible civil war, free thousands of civilians captured by the RENAMO and being a major influence on the guerilla’s acquiescence to a partial cease-fire.
It would be interesting to find how people feel hearing a story about young boys walking upright into battle against trained and modernly supplier soldiers with just their faith and a few spears and emerging victorious? This is not Hollywood glamour and tricks that is discussed here. It is a factual account documented and witnessed by a professional journalist that was published in a major mainstream paper. What would hearing that type of news do for a person who is struggling to find employment in a recession? Or a child who attends a failing school. How about a single parent determined to make ends meet? How about a young adult desperately trying to find his or her way in life? What would it do for the citizens of Detroit, which recently was voted “The Most Miserable” in the United States?” It is like a modern adaptation of the famous Biblical story of David and Goliath.
Even amidst scandal, unemployment, under-employment, sorrow and hopelessness, we can choose to draw upon the strength of those brave NAPRAMA soldiers almost twenty years ago. It is available for all of us and without giving up, even in the face of seemingly unsurmountable challenges, due to our faith and determination will we succeed.
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