Talking about politically correct subjects in a politically correct way?? Not always, it's too hard for a blogger like me.
So this is about Africa. You know this big place down south, on the other side of the Mediterranean.
Not a day passes without news from there. The melody is always the same, CHAOS in all its forms plus a never omitted mention of colonialism. Whatever happens down there in Africa, it is somehow our fault, always.
You want short sleeves or long sleeves? In case you answer short, they cut your arm above the elbow. In case you opt for long sleeves, off comes your hand (Liberia, The Analyst, 10 January 2008).
In South Africa between 500 000 and 1 million women are raped per year, babies included. (World Net Daily, 27 May 2008).
Want to know how to make speed killing without any modern weapons? Please inquire in Ruanda Burundi. There, only with the help of machetes and other big size knifes they killed about eight hundred thousand people in just three months.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is so fertile that you can plant a broom stick into the ground and you have a fair chance to see it turning green. Nevertheless, famine is endemic over there. It should be said that that the Congo is indulging in a civil war that goes on nearly since the Belgians left there in the early sixties. The horrors happening there everyday defies imagination (CBS News, 27 May 2008).
And so on, and so on. The list is endless.
AIDS is spreading over there like a wild fire. Naturally, we are being told that this is due to cultural particularities and culture has to be respected, anywhere. So they need Bill Gates and his billions + plus European Union Aid + President Bush and his aid program + all good people world wide. Nobody seems to tell them and us that they should simply stop screwing around whenever they leave home.
By the way, in South Africa many people think raping a baby girl is a proven remedy against aids (BBC News, 9 April 2002).
Looking for a country with inflation well above 1.000.000 percent? Just go to Zimbabwe (Associated Press).
And then - at the telly - I see those Africans dancing around and I hate to see this. Dancing for just any reason. Got a new remedy against Malaria? Let's have a dance. Someone from far away Switzerland or elsewhere shows them how to make a stove, how to cook, how to purify water, how to plant a tree that is not withering away next week! another dance. Got a new president elected at 99 percent, the old one has been assassinated: let's have a dance.
So I think Africa and our media should give me a break. Stop talking about this endless list of horrors streaming out there as well as their perpetual non-performance.
I know they are poor but they are not the only ones. Why are the Koreans able to build big ships and TV flat screens? 50 years ago this country was nothing but a heap of rubble after a devastating war. And only 25 years ago China was as underdeveloped as Mongolia. And now?
So why not Africa? Why is there not a single manufactured product coming out of this continent?
These are the real questions to be asked and to be acted upon. By the Africans themselves, just for a change.
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georg- you have left me much to think about and not enough time to reply- i will come back... :)
ReplyDeleteHi Georg,
ReplyDeleteThe art of telling the dark truth through the light of subtly sarcastic humor is a gift indeed.
I think the one difference between the countries of Asia that you mentioned and Africa is that the former had a long history of civilisation and culture to help them break through the temporary set backs that they had for various reasons. In Africa,they are starting with a blank slate. They are not going back to college after a break; they are still in junior school and have only seen European universities from a distance!
It is going to take them hard work and time. How much time? Going by the stark the facts highlighted by you, a long time for sure!
Hi both of you. I am glad you said something because I hesitated to post this one.
ReplyDeleteTo Betmo: yes, let's hear what you have to say. Looking keenly forward to it, especially from you.
To Vinod: thanks for those remarks.You are one of the few people who appreciate my sens of humor, most people are just irritated and don't like it too much.
As to the facts, you are probably right. But this gives rise to another question: why in Asia and why not in Africa. Because everybody, you and me and everybody else, we ALL come from Africa!
Georg
Georg~ I think you need to shoot the Television and stick to the local newspaper, far less aggravating...
ReplyDeleteYes Georg, very well said again. I think all the smart ones left Africa pretty early on, and the rest there have kept busy dancing and 'dipping' and doing pretty little else for thousands of years!
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to think of "a single manufactured product" for hours, but couldn't find any. Unless you'd count Nigerian scam mails as "products" :-)
ReplyDeleteOr May be because - the slaved minds needs to be reconditioned. Cultures characterised by , " You shall do as I say," has stunted growth.
ReplyDeleteOther reasons such as how the americas have been trampling over them ( read confessions of an economic hit man ) is shocking.
Feualistic thinking have pushed them to the ground. And their identities have been crushed. Until one accepts themselves as they are and break open the way,no chicken will come out of the egg.
and on a lighter note - NO news is bad news
"Why is there not a single manufactured product coming out of this continent?" You know, I never once thought about that! You are right the media churns out these heartrending stories about the poor living conditions in Africa and it also splashes these headlines about big money being pumped into African nations as humanitarian aid but not once have I ever seen/read about anything indigenous coming out of there.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if everyone of us were to wash our hands off of this problem then I'd shudder to think of what the immediate consequences may
be...
To Tilman and IDITIS,
ReplyDeleteThis remark about the manufactured products has inspired some, it seems.
As to spam, it is certainly a product but one given free of charge, useless but clogging. Forget it.
To Anrosh: Africa has been colonized but that is already the past for two generations and anyway, its duration was generally 100 years max. We have been colonized by the Romans for hundreds of years. And here again, they were not the only ones. Have a look at Korea, Taiwan, India, China, USA.
Georg
Starke Worte, jedoch fällt es schwer, sie zu widerlegen und das klingt nach Ausweglosigkeit.
ReplyDeleteHi George, you illustrated all these dark facts we already knew. Before reading your post I was wondering about people and countries who are not wealthy enough to buy enough food for this year with these expensive prices. But now I'm thinking about African children who can't eat even enough bread ?!!!! Comparing them with Rozana ,gives me a feeling of shame ,but we are not guilty and also don't know enough ways of helping them. Also we are not wealthy enough to make a world , so only can express our feelings by writings or advertising?...
ReplyDeletethank you for your consideration and reminding.
Très bel article. Bien que je n'ai pas tout déchiffré, j'ai compris le sens de ton humeur. je te conseille de trouver le livre en bibliothèque car à la vente il est épuisé.
ReplyDeleteAFRIQUE : L'HISTOIRE A L'ENDROIT
Collection ''Vérités et Légendes''
Librairie PERRIN de Bernard LUGAN sorti en 1989 donc bien avant la dernière guerre tribale Tutsis-Hutus. Il est spécialiste de l'Afrique (surtout du sud) et aussi l'auteur de ''God bless Africa''.
Il dit en conclusion :
""""""""Que faire pour tenter de sauver l'Afrique malgré elle tout en évitant de continuer à dilapider une aide dont les effets sont à long terme dévastateurs.
Il n'y a pas de solution miracle car le diagnostic est bien posé sa situation est catastrophique (en 1989), demain elle sera probablement pire.
Comment faire pour pour que l'aide dispensée depuis des décennies cesse d'être le moyen permettant aux États africains de vivre au dessus de leur moyens? face à la crise alimentaire que subit l'afrique va-t-on encore longtemps fournir une aide ponctuelle sans effets réels mais qui transforme les populations et leurs dirigeants en éternels assistés.
.....................................
Feindrons nous encore longtemps de croire que ce qui arrive en Afrique est une nouveauté, comme, si soudain, une malédiction s'était abattue sur ce continent, A la veille d'être colonisée l'Afrique était déjà en danger de mort. Et la colonisation l'a provisoirement sauvée en prenant en charge son destin.""""""""
faut bien reconnaître que lors de la décolonisation, nous leur avons laissé des infrastructures plus que correctes : routes, écoles, hôpitaux...... Qu'en ont ils fait?
Sans parler que ce pays n'a jamais su adapter une agriculture moderne lui permettant de vivre (et non survivre). Nous leur avons apporté l'utilisation de l'araire, de la charrue qu'ils n'ont jamais voulu utiliser. Ils préfèrent se courber en deux pour biner la surface du sol. Ainsi ils n'ont jamais pu arriver à produire ce que le sol leur permettrait de fournir.
En effet c'est le seul continent à n'avoir que peu de cataclysmes (tremblements de terre) pas de gel en hiver, pas de variations saisonnières intenses, pas de tornade ou cyclones. Bref! l'Afrique pourrait se suffire à elle même.
Si elle le voulait bien.
Déjà en 1989 il parlait de guerres tribales tutsis-hutus qui s'étaient déjà produites dans les mêmes circonstances avec les même effets. Et on accuse la France!!!!!! Tu as vu qui sème le trouble dans la région du Nord KIWU? encore les tutsis.
j'aime l'Afrique mais l'attentisme de sa population me fait bouillir.
A plus Georg!