Posted on 09/14/2010 1:45:30 PM PDT by fightinJAG
[snip]
The chapter on aid (the charities at work in Africa) is a must-read section in itself. Mills says that the bleeding hearts who surge into the continent under various auspices undermine the self-confidence of sovereign states to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. On this topic, Mills (usually measured and courteous) allows himself a caustic tongue.
Mills also discusses South Africa’s resistance to globalisation and generally Africa’s eagerness to attend the myriad international events to which its leaders are invited, instead of submitting strategic and detailed execution plans at these events.
“Africa has the biggest voting bloc in the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other such organisations,” Mills notes. “But what does it ‘trade’ its vote for? Help for Cuba and the Palestinians, blocking UN managerial reform, and manoeuvring around tougher action on Burma and Iran. None of this does one bit for Africa or for Africans outside of the New York diplomats, who revel in such posturing, or those leaders overwrought by their own anti-colonial complexes. Africa is often the subject of these meetings, but its leaders generally miss the point.
(Excerpt) Read more at witness.co.za ...
“Africa” is not one nation, but many (54 at last count).... otherwise your points are well taken.
If you dare to criticize the Obamessiah then you must be a racist!
</s>
The topic of this thread is Africa and why I highlighted Africa. It could be Zimbabwe and my points would apply there. Or it could be Haiti and the same points would apply there. People confuse Christianity with socialism and humanism. Both serve to enslave the impoverished when over done and they get off on being the plantation owners.
Thats a good point. I think what bothers some people is the fact that while they reject our lifestyle and culture, they still ask for, if not outright demand, our help. They can't have it both ways.
The West does not accept this because they want to show that they care about other humans. The problem is that no matter what you try to do to help there are some groups of humans who just won’t accept the help. After a certain point you are wasting time and resources that could benefit groups who will accept help, change, and try to make their lives better.
Since demonstrably the West has everything known to man to "help" Africa and Africans, and they still haven't become developed, we should start accepting that:
(1) this is the chosen lifestyle and standard of living; and,
(2) what a people chooses for itself -- especially in light of many available alternatives -- should be respected, even if it ultimately leads to the demise of that people or their civilization.
Instead of continuing to view this as a situation about which we must "show we care about other human beings" by, essentially, offering them what WE see as the model for success, why don't we change the mantra to "showing we care about other human beings" by respecting that they want to live out their tribal heritage, walk miles for water, dig for roots and suffer the joys as well as trials (drought, disease, infant mortality, etc.) of their accepted lifestyle and standard of living?
IOW, let's start saying we finally have realized that showing care for Africans at some point means respecting that they are going to do it their way.
Since demonstrably the West has everything known to man to "help" Africa and Africans, and they still haven't become developed, we should start accepting that:
(1) this is the chosen lifestyle and standard of living; and,
(2) what a people chooses for itself -- especially in light of many available alternatives -- should be respected, even if it ultimately leads to the demise of that people or their civilization.
Instead of continuing to view this as a situation about which we must "show we care about other human beings" by, essentially, offering them what WE see as the model for success, why don't we change the mantra to "showing we care about other human beings" by respecting that they want to live out their tribal heritage, walk miles for water, dig for roots and suffer the joys as well as trials (drought, disease, infant mortality, etc.) of their accepted lifestyle and standard of living?
IOW, let's start saying we finally have realized that showing care for Africans at some point means respecting that they are going to do it their way.
Sorry for the duplicate post previously. Mouse fart, I guess.
Also thinking: another way to articulate my points is this:
The West has been like the Obama administration on Obamacare. We essentially keep telling the Africans “if you only REALLY understood what we’re offering you, you’d jump at the chance to have a developed/Western lifestyle.”
Essentially, the Africans are saying, “You think we want to or need to change, but we don’t agree. Butt out.”
Thankfully, those days are over. (Or getting there.)
I also thought that was a weak argument on the author’s part. Took away from the article, really.
Genital Washing Video for African Males -- Paid for by U.S. "humanitarian" tax dollars.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.