Are Africans incapable of running a country?

[tamarin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6515061.stm

The above article is merely one of thousands that have apppeared over the last ten years involving political instability in African countries. Are Africans incapable of running a country and offering their people peace and prosperity?

 

[Zzarchov]

The problem is, the African's don't have a country. You mention it yourself "offering their people".

The way the lines were drawn up make that pretty hard. And with scare resources an "Us VS Them" mentality erupts pretty quickly inside a country, leading to violence, leading to less than there was before.

The AU is showing real success, it is still a drop in the bucket, but combined with increased Chinese development it might actually right itself. It may seem silly now, but 30 years ago people thought China would be hopelessly backwards forever.

 

[gopher]

An African friend of mine wants to see all borders eliminated so that Africa can be one united state. Not united states. He honestly feels that this is what will end all violence there.

 

[hermanntrude]

doesnt sound too bad, but unrealistic... the muslem countries wouldn't go for it for a start, not without extension of muslem law to the other countries.

 

[Tonington]

Mmm, 26 different African tribal and people groups, on top of the many different peoples who have emmigrated to the continent. We have a hard enough time with the French and English here in Canada, on top of the native peoples...

 

[gopher]

Without borders and government regulations the big time corporate capitalists may stand to lose their businesses to locals and they won't stand for that, either. But something needs to be done about instability there though I cannot honestly think of what can be done at the moment.

 

[westmanguy]

Its to darn chaotic in Africa.

I say stop wasting are money trying to fix it up.

Its up to the Africans to create their own destinys... and they keep getting chaos.

At least Africa is not the enemy.

Except those Muslim African nations, we probably should nuke them up to stop them from gaining any instability.

Main issue is the Middle East. Israel and Egypt are ok, we should just 1 Arabian night, launch hundreds of nukes on all the Middle Eastern populations and destroy them all.

That would actually solve something.

 

[snfu73]

I think much of what is the current problem in africa is a direct result of colonialism. Now, most nations are trying to figure out who they are, and what to do. It hasn't been all that long that they haven't been under the rule of another nation, for many of those countries. Time, patience, help from the rest of the world...these are needed. Many countries are becoming more settled, with improving economies and more stable governments. Other countries have a ways to go.

 

[tamarin]

I wonder how long we should be patient with Africa. A Globe article yesterday highlights how lawless South Africa is now and this is a country still lionized in the West as being a success story after the fall of apartheid. Zimbabwe nearby is a basket case. So little good news comes out of the continent. Is our present patience simply an excuse for not making hard decisions?

 

[Curiosity]

Too many cooks in the problem of the Dark Continent

They have evolved by the "sit and wait for assistance over generations" - and band-aid assistance can't do it because there isn't enough assistance avaialable - either monetarily or voluntarily.

Let them find their own way - tough love and withdrawal unless a person is going to move to Africa and 'commit' definitely becoming one with that vast continent.

A current example is Oprah Winfrey's lovely English school for African girls..... not even a drop in a non-existent bucket... merely another 'dogooder photo op for a celebrity'. Girls taught there is much better than they have - or that their parents can give them - with absolutely no thought to their future once their appetite for the 'hors d'ouvres' life has been whetted....and they are back in their original homes wondering what happened? Where did all the good things go?

Too many drop in temporary people .... Africa has always been the ultimate do gooder destination....

The continent is blessed with so many riches, people willing to find a way to develop the countries, but they have been led down a dreamy road created by outsiders who have no concept (nor do they plan to educate themselves) on what Africa needs, what its people require, and how to go about making those issues of progress happen.

 

[Toro]

Botswana and Tanzania are peaceful countries.

Its a failure of leadership in Africa more than anything as venal and corrupt leaders exploit and steal from their own people.

 

[CDNBear]

Botswana and Tanzania are peaceful countries.

Its a failure of leadership in Africa more than anything as venal and corrupt leaders exploit and steal from their own people.

Sounds oh so familiar Toro...

 

[earth_as_one]

Canada should give food and medical aid to all countries in need, regardless of politics.

But Canada should only give economic and development aid to countries that are moving forward towards becoming more peaceful and just societies. If the country is a brutal dictatorship which oppresses its own people or threatens other states, then Canada should not support that country with economic and development aid.

For example:

Zimbabwe appears headed toward more violence and injustice. Canada should not support this regime. Canada would effectively be supporting injustice and violence.

Ghana on the other hand is peaceful and appears headed toward becoming a more just society. Canada should view its support of Ghana as a good longterm investment.

Canada should also base its aid on need and which country has the potential to improve the most. Liberia until recently was embroiled in a brutal civil war. But today it has a fragile peace. Unless Canada and other nations take this opportunity to help this country develop economically and establish civil institutions, Liberia may soon find itself back in another civil war. If we don't help Liberia now in its time of need then we are partly responsible for missing an opportunity to stabilize Liberia into a peaceful and just society.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0117/p09s02-coop.html

Canada should not support nations which use violence internally or externally. But we can give these nations food and medicine.

 

[CDNBear]

Canada should give food and medical aid to all countries in need, regardless of politics.

But Canada should only give economic and development aid to countries that are moving forward towards becoming more peaceful and just societies. If the country is a brutal dictatorship which oppresses its own people or threatens other states, then Canada should not support that country with economic and development aid.

For example:

Zimbabwe appears headed toward more violence and injustice. Canada should not support this regime. Canada would effectively be supporting injustice and violence.

Ghana on the other hand is peaceful and appears headed toward becoming a more just society. Canada should view its support of Ghana as a good longterm investment.

Canada should also base its aid on need and which country has the potential to improve the most. Liberia until recently was embroiled in a brutal civil war. But today it has a fragile peace. Unless Canada and other nations take this opportunity to help this country develop economically and establish civil institutions, Liberia may soon find itself back in another civil war. If we don't help Liberia now in its time of need then we are partly responsible for missing an opportunity to stabilize Liberia into a peaceful and just society.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0117/p09s02-coop.html

Canada should not support nations which use violence internally or externally. But we can give these nations food and medicine.

So in other words, Canada is right in not supporting Lebanon and Palestine.

 

[Curiosity]

Earthasone

Good points - how about this thought?

Invest in the nations which are pulling up their socks and getting the work done in order to become a viable partner with other nations of the world..... and in turn helping their own people on the continent.

The successful African nations should be supplying assistance to the ones in violence and sickness...
and in so doing create a communication among their own nations rather than expectation from strangers.

What is the point of having nations living in peace and wealth not helping their own neighbors?

Is that how things should be run?

 

[m_levesque]

I wonder how long we should be patient with Africa. A Globe article yesterday highlights how lawless South Africa is now and this is a country still lionized in the West as being a success story after the fall of apartheid. Zimbabwe nearby is a basket case. So little good news comes out of the continent. Is our present patience simply an excuse for not making hard decisions?

What an American type attitude! What do you mean "we"? Why are "WE" to be patient? Why does Africa have to conform to US?

 

[CDNBear]

What an American type attitude! What do you mean "we"? Why are "WE" to be patient? Why does Africa have to conform to US?

I'ld say that sounds more RC the American.

Do you not support the Church in its endevors to Christianize the whole of Africa?

Is that not conformity?

Has that not exacorbated some of the blood shed?

 

[m_levesque]

I'ld say that sounds more RC the American.

Do you not support the Church in its endevors to Christianize the whole of Africa?

Is that not conformity?

Has that not exacorbated some of the blood shed?

No way has the Church been a bad thing for Africa. Holy Mother Church is the only hope the pagans have for redemption out of their situation.

 

[CDNBear]

No way has the Church been a bad thing for Africa. Holy Mother Church is the only hope the pagans have for redemption out of their situation.

I have two words for you sir...

Rwanda.

Hypocrite.

So it is unacceptable to "Americanize" Africa, but it is ok to "Christianize" it.

Oh the hight of arrogance.

 

[m_levesque]

I have two words for you sir...

Rwanda.

Hypocrite.

So it is unacceptable to "Americanize" Africa, but it is ok to "Christianize" it.

Oh the hight of arrogance.

That is the mission of the Church, to bring truth to the darkness, to open eyes to the majesty of The Church and to make all mankind subject to the Holy Father.