Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:37:27 -0800 [12/31/2008 09:37:27 AM CST]
From: david bett
Subject: RE: ANY HOPE FOR GREEDY AFRICA?
Bwana Aguta
You just hit the Nail on the head. I have some concerns though. After observing carefully what happens in the west and what happens in African societies, I now believe development is cultural. Yesterday I spend some time with my daughter in a very important library/bookstore. We managed to make a good collection on American scientific revolution DVDs., It is very inspiring. Some of the people who made immense contribution never had chance to see the end results of their sacrifice today, e.g space exploration that today we watch clear pictures of outer space beyond our galaxy, but who did it? Their names stand tall as towers in anals of history while Africa’s dump leaders leave disgrace behind.
Many Africans give slavery as an excuse for underdevelopment, I disagree. They also give credit to slavery for the development of the west. I also disagree. Slavery only accelerated development in the west but they were already on the way up. Only a few Whites came and conquorred Africa, enslaved them and looted resources. The few whites who stayed behind like in South Africa enriched themselves, changed the infrutrure and lived well. When Africans took back power, the economy is starting to disintergrate. Look at Whites’ instalation in Africa. There is distinction. For those who read the Bible, Joseph was taken as slave in Egypt. He changed Egypt. The Jewish community revolutionize every society they have been in the world. Africans? I am feed up. Whatever it takes to bring change we must do it. I am currently working on a model for change, you may visit www.piccd.org and give your input please
Our Universities: Thousands of gratuates flow out of these institutions every year. Where do they go? The country is taking a dive. Where are these thousands? I had a privelge of speaking to a group of students at the University of Nairobi in 1994. I spend the Friday night at the hostel in the main campus, Nairobi. When it was time for meals, I was suprised that there was a steel fence to help students stay in line and not cut others, but it did not help very much. I had been to Baraton several times too. Their foundation is completely different. There was no such steel fence but people stayed in line and respectful of others. Mzungu left a mark of discipline in the culture there, but after they (muzungu) left, you can almost touch the void of discipline. That is why I believe development has to do with cultural discipline. My model has to do with changing culture in such institutions that will eventually affect the society at large.
Have a more enriching new year 2009
God bless all
— On Wed, 12/31/08, mathias aguta wrote:
From: mathias aguta
Subject: RE: ANY HOPE FOR GREEDY AFRICA?
Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 4:58 AM
David,
These are indeed weighty matters to refelect upon. However, the problem with Africa has never been greed per se. It has always been about greedy, selfish, leadership without a vision. It is Africa.s leadership that has failed Africa.
Of course I agree with Hongo that Europe developed upon the sweat and resources of Africa but that’s, as I say history. We have seen countries that have come out of that cruel history to become economic giants due to their leadership’s selfless,visionary and patriotic service to the nation. Malaysia and the others South Asia countries have often been qouted as economic models despite questionable democratic credentials. So, as much as colonialism and slavery impoverished Africa while enriching Europe, half a century should have been enough to demonstrate effort toward positive change – wealth creation. Yet, we must forever remain mentally enlaved to history (forgive me Nyongesa) and hence give our incompentent and corrupt leaders excuses for our underdevelopment.
“Africa is a continent of consumers of others’ sweat amd dreams”, you say. That’s a contradiction, given Mr. Hongo’s rejoinder that Europe developed on the sweat of Africa! I think it’s the other way round. The strange thing about this economic and resource exploitation of Africa by the West is that even highly educated, skilled African labour does not want to work for Africa. Instead, a foreign, especially European, contract of employment is the envy and yearning of many highly skilled Africans. We are all eager to take the next flight out of Africa to the developed world then write home to complain about our poor, undemocratic leadership. Yet, we should be the same people expected to develop Africa. We[‘re unwilling to sacrifice for Africa. Instead the dollar beckons and we abandon our beloved Africa to greedy leaders to plunder at will.
Agreed, we need a revolution soon. But I say an economic and, then, political revolution. But the revolutionaries must not be absentee intellectuals and professionals. They must here, in the thick of things, to clean up the mess.
Let’s not just moan about historical injustices by the West. We must demonstrate that we have outgrown the injury and are capable of competing with our past tormentors.
Mathias.
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:29:33 +0300
From: otienohongo@ . . .
Subject: Re: ANY HOPE FOR GREEDY AFRICA?
Dear Bett,
Thanks for your email. As much as some of what you have said is true and warrants some reflections, one line struck me as odd. Africa is partly in its condition because someone somewhere was selfish. The book “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” is an eye opener here. Without the free labour from Africa, the America would never have had the springboard for development that they had. A lot of our so-called backwardness and riches of the developed world is really a result of exploitation. But no need to wallow in the past….
Hongo
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http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=1772
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:31:03 -0800 [06:31:03 PM CST]
From: david bett
Subject: Re: ANY HOPE FOR GREEDY AFRICA?