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Kayamone Sutton
Joined: Jul 3, 2004
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Africa a promising continent
July 3, 2004 - 01:26 AM
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Sup everyone, this is actually my first post on TIG, ive actually only been a member for about a few minutes, anywho, an issue has popped into my mind just now as i was cruising through the forums, and thats the issue of how the entire world has practically turned its back to the issues currently affecting Africa, mainly America, and the modern, developed countries in Europe and in asia. Now, I know some of you may be thinking that there are initiatives to help the people of Africa, to feed them, give them medical assistance, but we have been doing that for decades, and where how far have we gotten in this endeavour? Not very far. People are dying, there are still civil wars raging, people are dying on a biblical scale, you have mass genocide, and the continent is just in utter chaos.
Not too long ago, I finished reading a great book by Henry Kissenger entitled "Does America Really need a foreign policy," and basically what he did was break down issues effecting each and every region of the world, now when he began talking about Africa, he made a few comments that made me wonder, why is the world, including America, practically giving the African people the cold shoulder. Should we not be doing a lot more than we are to help these people resolve their problems, help them develop their nations so that they too can enjoy life without disease, hunger, famine, and the hardships that they have been going through for literally, centuries? Why have we not put an end to oppressive regimes that purposefully hurt the people and keep them starving and suffering as a scare tactic to get them to do what they want, and to make them acknowledge their power over them?
The United States and the nations of Europe have fought for years in various military conflicts for Freedom from oppression, and to develop and better themselves, and we try to spread our ideals and our freedoms to the rest of the world, but it seems Africa as a whole has missed out on it entirely. Why is that? Sure it will be expensive, time consuming, and full of problems, but what isnt expensive, time consuming, and problem plagued? It is the modern, devleoped, and civilized world's moral obligation to do all that we can to assist these people. To do what we are doing and to continue to give them the minimum amount of assistance is hypocritical and morally wrong. How dare we. How dare the world.
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Raja
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African problems
July 9, 2004 - 01:34 AM
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Kai,
You raise some serious questions, but unfortunately, I don't think there are any feasible short-term solutions. In my humble opinion, the problem with Africa is that it truly is between a 'rock and a hard place'! On the one hand, all of its borders are artificial colonial vestiges, and on the other, no one can bare watching everything that exists today simply fall apart. For if that were to happen, how long would it take for Africans to establish new borders and build new identities? Furthermore, how much bloodshed would flow while wars are faught to decide where exactly the new borders will lie?
These questions allude to a mere sprinkling of the issues that must be tackled with regards to Africa today. The sad reality is that even though the starvation and bloodshed are the result of the political status-quo, no one is willing to go through the turmoil that a sudden change will bring about.
The solution: patience. I guess we (and maybe our children) will have to wait and see whether the Africans can figure out how to live and prosper within the relatively new and unjust systems that they live under. I don't see any other way....
Raja
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Kayamone Sutton
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Re: Africa a promising continent
July 9, 2004 - 12:20 PM
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no comments?
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Kayamone Sutton
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Re: Africa a promising continent
July 10, 2004 - 11:43 AM
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Well, see thats the problem. We have the power to do something about it. We have been sitting back doing nothing and watching things happen there for decades. In my opinion, i believe it has gotten to a point where its near hopeless for them to solve their problems without outside influence. They "play" by a different set of rules than the modern world does (they engage in blood fueds and all of that stuff) which is causing a problem, and it will continue to go on until someone does something about it. Remember that ideals are passed down to the next generation of children, therefore that keeps the hostilities going.
In addition to that, we all know that there is no real short-term solution to this problem. Its very evident, however, what I was pointing out is that America and all of the other able countries in the world refuse to give the adequate amounts of aid that is needed to solve the problems in Africa because it will simply take entirely too long. Think of it this way, aid by america and an international coalition (NOT the UN, cuz the UN sucks and is ineffective in the ever changing world) would serve as a catalyst to peace and would have more effective and prolonged positive effects than if we continue to do nothing and allow them to fight on and solve their problems their own way.
Another question that I must raise is, how many people need to be killed, slaughtered, and murdered before the international community recognizes the extent to the problem and says "Enough is enough!! We need to do something now because this is getting rediculous." Millions upon millions (a number HIGHER than about 4 million) of innocent men, women, and children have died because of Africa's problems, need another 4 million, let alone another hundred thoudand die?
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An
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Re: Africa a promising continent
September 18, 2004 - 02:07 AM
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The western civilizations simply doesn't need a "modern" Africa or said the other way around - it needs undeveloped countries for:
- cheap labour
- easy exploitation of resources, as these same resources would be harder to come by, if the countries developed.
- places that can be influenced with money.
- ...
Any changes in the structure, would result in it's total colapse. Our global way of life simply isn't prepared for a unified way of life, where there were not be any ...(suit yourself) - simply said, not ready for a perfect world for everybody.
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Z
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our own motivation
November 28, 2004 - 02:39 AM
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I'd like to comment on something. I really think that we are much more powerful than the government, and we all know that. So I really, really beleive that the government wil not do anything about another country's problem. if they do, its only for their OWN benefit. But since we know what is better, we must teach others about the world's condition and take part actively. I'd also like to comment on the real reason why there is no peace in the world (but this is just my opinion): there is no peace because of religious problems. Why are there religious problems? Because the religious people are ignorant that all religions come from God and they just fight. But I'm getting off topic. There are many Bahai communities that are in Africa and NOT ONLY teach about world peace but actively help. They educate small populations on how to spiritually help themselves and their family and children. Ah, but this is such a wide topic, and I feel unsatisfied just talking about it and not coming to a conclusion. We must do something, but what?
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Dina Badawy
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help your self
November 28, 2004 - 03:57 AM
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peace be up on every body
i believe that our life won't be changed untill we change ourselves,we build our future not the others,we will be wrong if we wait for them,don't wait for the others to feed you,go&feed yourself,your family&your country
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Teresa
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Re: Africa a promising continent
November 28, 2004 - 05:16 AM
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As much as I hate to say it, VonFALLout has some points. As an American, and one who has just recently started reading the foreign news on Africa I can honestly say I had no clue. But, I think that where VonFALLout was right, everyone who the US is involved with, serves a purpose. Afghanistan was our "example", don't mess with the US or we will come and kill you (which we did not). Iraq, had oil and they the Iraqis suffered under a tyrant, hence our excuse to liberate them; we really just wanted the oil. Britain, at least the current administration is on our page, is in our colation. If Blair were to back out, I bet you money that Britain would become our enemy quicker than one could blink. Up until this administration, we had been pretty active in the Middle East conflict, we have not been this past 4 years, but typically the US (not myself) was Pro-Israeli. What was to gain there, I am not 100% sure, but, obioulsy Pres. Bush has wanted nothing there and has not forseen the need to get involved in their politics. So you see, the main players, have served a purpose. I do not know enough about our relationship with France/Europe to even go there; so I will not bother.
But my point is, yes, we have been sending medical aid and food for decades...no it is not working. Millions of people are dying from poverty, from AIDS, and just purely not being able to survive in such deteriorated conditons. Yes, we have AIDS in the US, we have HIV, but it seems to me that since it is not on such a full blown scale here, it can still be swept underneath the carpet. For people are dying faster than they can populate their civilization. Less workers, less families, less of a chance for their society to recover. I believe this is a grave situation, far worse than some of which we have involved ourselves. But, I do not see the US getting more involved than the occasional extra funds (of which we cannot afford, but our Pres. and administration apparently never had to balance a check book before). This administration calls rebels in Iraq insurgents, terrorist. But yet, the real terrorist to a culture live and thrive daily in Africa. You will not see Pres. Bush declaring war on them, they run the country...and we have nothing to gain.
Like Zarrinmaani, I too wish there was more that we could do as citizens, as people, as those who care for our neighbor and want to see them pull this out. But the notrious question...what can we do?
Teresa
www.geocities.com/umhbtexasdem@sbcglobal.net
FREEDOM IS THE SOUND OF OPINIONS CLASHING!
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MOHAMMED ALIYU PAIKO
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Design our own solutions
May 11, 2005 - 06:33 AM
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Hello everyone!
I've followed all discussions in respect of our dear continent, AFRICA and i am really impressed at the level people are taking interest in its development.It goes to show that indeed this generation has an interest in our own continent.
But looking at it positively, I think all discussants that point to the argument that we need to help ourselves are quite right. We need to sit down and look for the solutions to our own problems as they affect us.
Remember "HOW EUROPE UNDERDEVELOPED AFRICA?" maybe the author exagerated some few points, but the facts raised in the book cannot be all dismissed with a waive of the hand. At the time Europe and the Americas were having their INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, most of our intelligent Africans, who could have competed with their conterparts elsewhere, were still under slavery. Recall that in the THEORY of EVOLUTION, we did not evolve as people at different times with others.
Having missed the equal opportunity to grow and develop at the same pace with other continents, it is only natural to find us lagging behind the way we are now, after those setbacks. The only way to catch up would certainly be to design our own pace of doing whatever, to suit our local needs.
Some of us have become addicted to receiving Aids from others, resigned to that position of fate and as such can no longer do anything to help themselves. I think that is a mistake. After all, there is ability in disability only if there is will and zeal to excell.
Let us sit down, evaluate our situation and design the most suitable solutions to our own problems,belonging to THE COMITY OF NATIONS irregardless. For those who depend on foreign Aids, remember no Aid has ever been given without it being repaid back one way or the other.Even if the Aids were to be free of charge, dont you expect that at one time or the other THE DONOR WOULD BE FATIGUED?
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Anyes
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Africa a promising continent
September 7, 2005 - 08:45 AM
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Iam very impressed by the brilliant ideas contributed by the youth in TIG,I strongly believe this is one of the resource that Africa has and should be built on to develope. The challenge has always been in trying to get what is far from our reach and ignoring what we have on ground.Africa has a number of resources which most developed countries never had during their transition to development, this is why history put it that; developed countries exploited Africa to develope, to me this was using some of african abundant resources to develope, fortunately enough they have through Aid given a hand to Africa to also develope, However the great desire for africa to be at a higher level, has tempted development actors and the entire society to underlook the means they have in their amidst, concetration has been more on out side support and not new innovations, the elite have taken/made diccisions on behalf of the rural poor and also rellocated money according to their interest,the traditional culture is gradually fading away to having everything westernised, all this takes place at a very high speed. Africa still stands a higher chance to development, need to be slow but sure in the transition to development, by taking a holistic and empowering aproaches, building on what is already on ground, the top-bottom approach should stop, if Africa is to develope.Developement should be steered by people,but not developement steering people as it is currently, for ownership and sustainability which is also the Bottom-up approach.
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