MARK STEYN: Outsourcing to Ouagadougou

Jerusalem Post ^ | 6-9-05 | MARK STEYN

[Stultis]

Africa ping...

[Dog Gone]

It's hard to say that Africa has, in general, shown much progress since the end of colonialism, or white rule in Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Certainly not in Zimbabwe. In many countries, it's still a tribal thing and not a nation thing. Look at what happened in Rwanda.

Africa has the potential to be one of the richest continents, but they continue lag far behind the rest of the world.

They're not trying.

[MissionMan]

I'm not sure what the right places would be.

The airport.

An air-conditioned taxi to where one is staying.

Actually I work with a small NGO and we started an
orphanage and run a child-sponsorship program in Burkina Faso.

[finnigan2]

"Africa has the potential to be one of the richest continents, but they continue lag far behind the rest of the world."

- Anthropologists say that the human race first originated in Africa and migrated outward. If so, this means that the continent of Africa should have had a head start when it comes to the development of civilization.
It's therefore strange that after decades of scouring the continent, no one has ever stumbled across the remains of an older, richer civilization such as existed in China, South America, the Roman Empire or Egypt.
It's been grass huts, tribal customs and tom tom drums from the beginning. It's history is littered with Mugabe and Jesse Jackson type wannabes - and that just about explains it's perpetual inability to progress.

[Dog Gone]

That's not completely accurate. In northern Africa, the Egyptians built quite a civilization.

But in what we think of as "black africa" it just never worked out.

But any cultural differences that might have made the difference have had an adequate time to disappear. Most of the countries are extremely poor because the few in power divert all the wealth. And elections there are a joke, even in formerly great Egypt. The incumbents always win. Fancy that.

[PLK]

If we are going to change the West's perception of Africa, events like this are the perfect opportunity to do something for Africa's self-esteem," said Kershaw. "But the choice of artists for the Live8 concerts will simply reinforce the global perception of Africa's inferiority."

I have never read anything so condescending and demeaning in my entire life. It makes me embarressed to be a white person.

[Dog Gone]

It's a subtle distinction and it is so steeped in fears of being called a racist for anything that is said on the subject that it's almost literally a minefield.

The fact most certainly is that Africa is inferior to every other continent. But to state that out loud subjects one to allegations of racism.

Best I can tell, race has nothing to do with it, given who holds positions of power within our own government.

But you just can't say that Africa is a pathetic dump, largely of their own doing without paying too high of a price.

[Neophyte]

They're not trying.

Oh, but they certainly are: to get into refugee quota for some prosperous Western country, and when they can't, just to obtain a place among bullsh*t "boat people" aiming at the same destination.

Then, the ancient marble squares of Italy get all pissed over acquiring a bizarre yellowish hue... or is it just centuries old patina?

[irv]

"If we are going to change the West's perception of Africa, events like this are the perfect opportunity to do something for Africa's self-esteem,"

Is it just me, or is this a complete non-sequiter? Putting aside the complete idiocy of worrying about a continent's self-esteem, how does said self-esteem affect someone else's perception?

Oh wait. I see. I'm being too literal. It's only their intentions that count, not whether they're actually making any sense.

never mind.

[alwaysconservative]

I'd have low self-esteem if I'd been taken on by Western do-gooders as a permanent poster child for the world's irredeemable losers.

This is one of Steyn's best articles, and THAT's saying a LOT, because this man is such a genius! Thanks for the ping, Pokey!

[knighthawk]

Ping

[BlueMondaySkipper]

I have never read anything so condescending and demeaning in my entire life. It makes me embarressed to be a white person.

You should do what I do: Measure yourself by your self, not by your race.

There are WAY too many terrible people in all races for anyone to assume responsibility for them because they happen share that race.

I'm only embarrassed when I or someone who I've placed my trust in does something embarassing. Those self-adulating jerks are the ones who should be embarassed for themselves. Since it appears that they aren't, it gives a good indication of their (lack of)intelligence.

[Tax-chick]

ping

[tjg]

India's 20th century leadership had a noted distain for capitalism. This attitude, combined with corruption and the caste system doomed them to third world status.

But they've smartened up, just like the Chineese, by empracing regulatory reform and encouraging free market capitalism.

It's not that their accounting is so much better, it's that they currently have the bussiness climate which allows them to perform the bussiness at a price so low it makes that outsourcing worthwhile for their customers.