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Indeed they should. And they should realise that the "compassion" of liberalism has done immense harm to Africa with its botched, well-intentioned quick-fix solutions.
How many dictators has the West propped up by throwing money at them? Why are we so slow to condemn the hideous crimes of black leaders against their own people? Africa would be in far better shape if we reacted to all evil regimes like we did to apartheid South Africa. Instead Chirac insists on flouting a travel ban on the ZANU-PF leadership so he can make a few headlines by shaking Mugabe's hand.
Of course in many places the World Bank and IMF are setting tough but necessary economic recovery programs in exchange for aid. But because it took them so long to get round to that way of thinking it has made it tens times tougher for the ordinary people of the continent.

Liberal compassion benefited the ruling cadres, allowing them to buy mansions in the south of France, and betrayed 95 percent of the black African population. It was complicit in condemning them to penury, although the ultimate responsibility must rest with the leaders themselves. At the moment we are in a situation where the few things which do go right on this continent are because of the vision of brave African leaders willing to stand up to evil western neo-imperialists. And all the things that do go wrong -- yup, it's us evil Westerners again.

What were you doing in Africa? Excellent post. One of the things that disturbs me most about this continent is the appetite of the ordinary person for blood. Either watching executions (Bar Beach, Monrovia beach, Kigali stadium) or participating in them. Mob justice, another thing to blame on the West.

I have seen this happen many times but one occasion particularly sticks in my mind. A ten year old street boy in Nairobi stole a bulb from a street lamp and was caught by the mob. A wealthy businessman came past in a Saville row suit. He put his briefcase down and jumped on the child's head till his brain oozed onto the pavement. This man was hardly a member of the oppressed masses, filled with seething resentment against the injustices of society because he was one of those profiting, and profiting handsomely, from those same iniquities.

"What were you doing in Africa? Excellent post. One of the things that disturbs me most about this continent is the appetite of the ordinary person for blood."

I'm an oil well drilling consultant.
In Nigeria I was working for Ashland Oil and AGIP in the bush out of Ebocha and offshore out of Warri. I stayed three years in that place, but I never want to go back.
I was in Uganda and Tanzania for AGIP- better than Nigeria, but not by much.

I, also, was bothered by the blood lust and the complete indifference to the suffering of their fellow Africans.
I absolutely do not understand the mentality of someone who could stomp the brains out of a child or whack off their hands.
I saw that insane look in the eyes of the people on Bar Beach, and it's frightening.

What you described is abhorrent, I can't imagine living in such a society. We Americans feel like the world is collapsing when rioters loot and turn over a few cars, or fear the serial killer preying on the innocent. But give me those terrors before a culture where murdering a child is acceptable and even entertaining.

Looks like despite abortion, Americans still have a fairly good grasp of the value of human life.