Stop Trying To 'Save' Africa - Page 7 - Political Forum

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 08-13-2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inan’Ta

Come ‘on, you’ve been relentlessly annoying me because you don’t like the articles I’ve posted and a single comment I have made to Aegis, who doesn’t seem to care much about that comment himself

Besides, they aren’t my articles, and I’ve already stated that I’m not concerned about personal charity, but rather foreign funding, which I’ve addressed.

Not at all. I stated that the articles are a disgrace and you started getting rude to me, so I bore my fangs.

WEB

Inan’Ta · 08-13-2007, 06:18 PM

[quote=Aegis;62333]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inan’Ta

I do care about your comment and disagree with your philosophy of charity but I also support your right to believe what and as you choose.

I believe that there is a huge difference between personal charity, which as a Muslim I am obligated to pay (zakah) and foreign funding which economically and socially weakens African countries. I also believe that you've every right to disagree with me.

Inan’Ta · 08-13-2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

Not at all. I stated that the articles are a disgrace and you started getting rude to me, so I bore my fangs.

WEB

Well I assure you I wasn’t being ‘rude’ intentionally. I was wondering why you were getting so heated-up.

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 08-13-2007, 06:43 PM

Well the articles are a disgrace for the reason that it is the authors who fail, and not the people they criticize. The authors are more concerned with Africa's image than about saving African lives. They can both go to hell as far as I'm concerned.

Then they have the nerve to actually criticize people who devote considerable time, resources and effort to doing what they fail to do: helping Africa.

WEB

Inan’Ta · 08-13-2007, 07:17 PM

Web

First article...

Quote:

Why do the media frequently refer to African countries as having been "granted independence from their colonial masters," as opposed to having fought and shed blood for their freedom? Why do Angelina Jolie and Bono receive overwhelming attention for their work in Africa while Nwankwo Kanu or Dikembe Mutombo, Africans both, are hardly ever mentioned? How is it that a former mid-level U.S. diplomat receives more attention for his cowboy antics in Sudan than do the numerous African Union countries that have sent food and troops and spent countless hours trying to negotiate a settlement among all parties in that crisis?

Two years ago I worked in a camp for internally displaced people in Nigeria, survivors of an uprising that killed about 1,000 people and displaced 200,000. True to form, the Western media reported on the violence but not on the humanitarian work the state and local governments -- without much international help -- did for the survivors. Social workers spent their time and in many cases their own salaries to care for their compatriots. These are the people saving Africa, and others like them across the continent get no credit for their work.

Last month the Group of Eight industrialized nations and a host of celebrities met in Germany to discuss, among other things, how to save Africa. Before the next such summit, I hope people will realize Africa doesn't want to be saved. Africa wants the world to acknowledge that through fair partnerships with other members of the global community, we ourselves are capable of unprecedented growth.

This person has done its fair share of helping Africa and Africans as stated above. She emphasizes on the prejudice that’s broadcasted on western media which selectively shows Europeans and non-Africans as doing more effort for Africa, while Africans are ignored for contributing to the same issues. All she is asking for is Africa and Africans to be ‘acknowledge’ for their hard work. If that spells ‘disgrace’ to you then that’s your opinion.

Second article

Quote:

One may ask, however, what if these celebrities are really honest about their feelings to help poor African and Asian children? No doubt sometimes the most honest feelings could be misrepresented by the means with which they are fulfilled. Changing child adoption into child shopping is a grotesque representation of a noble gesture. But with such big hearts and philanthropic feeling to save the children of the world, the celebrities can do a better job and save more children from poverty if they adopt whole villages in Africa and Asia instead of only one or two children.

By providing whole villages with schools, clinics and water wells, we will have thousands of young Zaharas and David Bandas owing their welfare and future to celebrities’ charity. Africa would reap large revenues as curious visitors throng to see and learn from the Angelina Jolie and Madonna villages. It would make a drastic change to the way we do charity and foreign aid and would embody the epitome of western altruism and philanthropy. The Colombian singer Shakira is already leading the way in this trend and it is a trend that is worth emulating.

Mr. Goth is suggesting that celebrities should adopt whole villages where they could save and help provided for more than one child in Africa and is actually concurring with what Shakira is doing. If that to you spells ‘disgrace’ then so be. You're entitled to your opinion.

I still disagree with you

Sebelius for VP, not Hillary · 08-13-2007, 07:23 PM

The first author states that he/she has an aversion to someone who was trying to stop genocide in Darfur:

Quote:

"Last fall, shortly after I returned from Nigeria, I was accosted by a perky blond college student whose blue eyes seemed to match the "African" beads around her wrists. "Save Darfur!" she shouted from behind a table covered with pamphlets urging students to TAKE ACTION NOW! STOP GENOCIDE IN DARFUR!

My aversion to college kids jumping onto fashionable social causes nearly caused me to walk on, but her next shout stopped me.

The author sounds like a racist, someone who degrades this white college student as being some kind of dumb simpleton, merely because she is white and not African. Why is it that a white person who wants to stop genocide has to be some idiot who only "jumping on fashionable causes"? Seems like racism and hate to me.

From the second article:

Quote:

But why do the celebrities not adopt American children instead of going overseas to adopt African or Asian children.

Once again criticizing someone for doing a noble deed. The author is more concerned with his or her African pride than what is best for the people of Africa.

WEB

Inan’Ta · 08-14-2007, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W.E.B. Du Bois

The first author states that he/she has an aversion to someone who was trying to stop genocide in Darfur:

Quote:

Quote:
"Last fall, shortly after I returned from Nigeria, I was accosted by a perky blond college student whose blue eyes seemed to match the "African" beads around her wrists. "Save Darfur!" she shouted from behind a table covered with pamphlets urging students to TAKE ACTION NOW! STOP GENOCIDE IN DARFUR!

Quote:

My aversion to college kids jumping onto fashionable social causes nearly caused me to walk on, but her next shout stopped me.

Not necessarily true. She is describing the typical American college kids. The fact that you pay attention to the little details is irrelevant. Besides, she said “My aversion to college kids jumping onto fashionable social causes nearly caused me to walk on, but her next shout stopped me.” She never said “white college kids”, but rather “college kids”. I guess you see everything in white and black heh?

Quote:

The author sounds like a racist, someone who degrades this white college student as being some kind of dumb simpleton, merely because she is white and not African. Why is it that a white person who wants to stop genocide has to be some idiot who only "jumping on fashionable causes"? Seems like racism and hate to me.

Quote:

From the second article:

Quote:

Quote:
But why do the celebrities not adopt American children instead of going overseas to adopt African or Asian children

.

Quote:

Once again criticizing someone for doing a noble deed. The author is more concerned with his or her African pride than what is best for the people of Africa.

That’s a reasonable question to ask, and he answers that question as well.

Quote:

The answer is there are no children for sale in America. Anyone who wants to adopt goes through years of grueling procedure to qualify for child adoption. Over there, children are human beings and cannot be bought as toys, playmates or pets for celebrities’ children. But in Africa, people are still sold in exchange for beads, tobacco and petty cash.

Are you saying an African isn’t entitled to have pride?

Aegis · 08-14-2007, 04:33 PM

[quote=Inan’Ta;62775]

Quote:

Are you saying an African isn’t entitled to have pride?

That is not what WEB is saying. I belive that he is saying that a person's pride, though commendable, should compliment and not eclipse their societal obligations.

heikstheo · 08-14-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inan’Ta

The West feels guilty for Colonialism, manipulating African regimes during the Cold War to their political advantage( then providing them with the arms to slaughter their populace), and of course their wealth. Their aid should not be shunned, but neither should it be mindlessly lapped up - for not all help is beneficial in the long term, and may serve to prevent the country from developing required infrastructure, and make it reliant upon others for key resources.

Other than being more selective with the aid they receive, they can take advantage of their vast mineral resources, invest into the huge tourism industry, and tap into numerous niche markets.

What would you have us do? Would you have the wealthy Westerners just sit idly by and do nothing, so that the Third World can accuse us of being a bunch of wealthy elitists who wallow in our own luxury as Africa starves to death?

Inan’Ta · 08-14-2007, 05:28 PM

[quote=Aegis;62810]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inan’Ta

That is not what WEB is saying. I belive that he is saying that a person's pride, though commendable, should compliment and not eclipse their societal obligations.

First, I would like if Web stated what his intentions are, rather than you stating what you believe he might be saying. Second, there’s on one who’s concealing their communal obligations.