You make shockingly ignorant statements. First everyone need help at some point of time. Africa need help in many areas including in fighting corruption, in improving it's democratic systems, in building better institutions and name any problem you keep lamenting about
First, try to avoid the type unhelpful emotional language that adds nothing to the discussion; instead, try constructing solid, objective arguments. Also note that merely stating that I am ignorant does not make it a fact.
Second, the main issue is not whether or not Africans need help; it is whether they are also prepared to help themselves. Until they are, no amount of external help will work in the long term. You mention corruption, for example. In say, Kenya, what can the rest of the world do about corruption as long as the Kenyan leadership is so devoted to eating? What, for example, would you like Obama to do about that?
Without help Vooke would a chokora somewhere..and MoonKi will not be abroad acting like he is now a white man....detached from his suffering folks...he would be like most typical kenyans layabouts wasting away in cheap brew while battling Malaria or HIV.
Again, unhelpful emotion. Pointing out that places like Kenya (and the rest of Africa) could do much better is just:
(a) simply noting the obvious fact that Kenya (and Africa) is mostly run down by Kenyans (and Africans); and
(b) not "behaving like a white man", whatever that means; on the contrary, it is based on the observation that white man, Asian man, etc. is not endowed with superhuman qualities, and there is no reason why Mwafrika too cannot lift himself up.
Wherever I am and whatever I am doing, please don't make any assumptions about some "help" that you think I got. And as to whether I would otherwise be "wasting away in cheap brew while battling Malaria or HIV", the simple fact is that I am not. Of course, you are free to dwell on the thought if it gives you some comfort.
There is no doubt that Obama is more than US president. He is the leader of global superpower (let ignore the rise of counter-balancing China for now) with incredible power to help struggling and poor victims of poverty, poor governance and let just say Africans, Kenyans and his Siaya people.
Again, I will point you to all the eating scandals in Kenya, the wastage of money, the misplaced priorities, the bad governance, etc. What exactly would you like Obama to do about that? Please come up with some concrete idea, rather than simply saying that he can do more, more, more.
A few years ago, the USAID rep while ( at budget time) testifying before the USA Congress stated that aid to Kenya (under Obama) was rising so fast they had not had the time to hire enough people quickly enough to manage the "Kenyan file". Right now, Kenya is on the way to being one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Power-Africa thing. Kenya has been admitted into Obama's
Feed The Future Programme. There is even a
Parliamentary Strengthening Program that is supposed to help the elected eaters learn about governance. And so on.
What more would you like, and why?
Obama should have made this clear to Americans, Europeans and everyone in any summit that Africa poverty remain a huge blight in the conscience of humanity...that Africans are still dying in their millions from easily preventable disease..from starvation..
And the USA, even under Obama, has been keeping many alive with yellow maize for years and years, but that is not a permanent solution. Similarly, the USA, even under Obama, has been spending huge sums on African health. But that too is not a permanent solution. What is needed is for Africans to get serious about their food security, basic health, and so on. That is what I have been urging.
Let us, again, take Kenya, as an example. We have heard about huge plans for irrigation, but nothing has come of them while money continues to be wasted elsewhere. Where is the focus on clean water, toilets, and so forth?
What more is it exactly that you would like the USA and the rest of the world to do about starvation and easily preventable diseases in Africa anyway? More importantly, it is good that the rest of the world cares to some extent, but, really, why should they when African "leaders" themselves don't see those as priorities.
What's more, I will note that when (on the China thread) I noted how the USA has been helping in the areas of health, food, and so on, you cheerfully dismissed it because there was "nothing to see as a result" and that China's help with infrastructure counts for much more. And now here you are!
Now that you appear to have finally seen some sense, I suggest that you go back and re-read what I wrote about real human development.
By the way, why should Africa be a "huge blight in the conscience of humanity"? As far as I can tell it is mostly Africans who are finishing Africans.
Obama ought to have done more.
Why is that? And, again, what exactly would you have him do? Please don't just say "more"!
The great thing..Africa is turning the corner..Africa is rising...despite Obama snubs..and thanks to CHINA. All indicators are starting to look sustainably good...this may sound strange to ignorant people who shouts everytime we have news of starving or dying people..unaware that African now has less starvation, less diseases, more democratic gov, more peace and generally standards of living are improving..thanks in part of course to Bush Snr, Bush Jrn and Clinton...and China...
He, he, he ... I really like this one! I never though the day would come!Back on one of your "China-Will-Save-Africa", you maintained that US aid to Africa has had no effect, that it's been eaten by NGOS, and so on and so forth. And here you are, thanking Bush Snr, Bush Jrn and Clinton for "less starvation, less diseases, more democratic gov, more peace and generally standards of living"!
As for the "good indicators" from Kung Fu, what exactly are they? Can China help Africa if Africans will not help Africa? For today's case study, let us take Angola, which:
(a) Has plenty of natural resources that the Chinese want and are getting.
(b) Is China's 2nd largest trading partner in Africa. Something resembling real two-way trade.
(c) Has had the Chinese busy building all sorts of infrastructure. Serious infrastructure.
So are there plenty of "good indicators" there for most of Angola's population? You can get a partial answer by reading this:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-32067602Please read it carefully. It will help you understand what I mean when I say that only Africans will save Africa. So what I would like you to do:
(a)
Stop indulging in fantasies that the rest of the world should look after Africa, this or that person or country should do more for Africa, Africa should be on the conscience (over-milked already), etc. Give up this stuff about "China will save us but Obama is a bad man for not doing more".
(b)
Start to ask what Africans (especially their "leaders") can do and are doing for Africa and Africans. Let's hear what African "leaders" are doing about health, food security, etc. In Kenya, for example, let's read good news about better health care for the children, more clean water, better food security ... instead of the endless corruption scandals.
Africa has the land to grow food. Africa has whatever natural resources are required. Africa has a youthful energetic population that can work. What is lacking is the will and clear thinking in its "leadership". What is there but needs to be discarded is this perpetual saidia, saidia, saidia mentality toward the rest of the world.
(For the latter, let's start with you and your sort: believe me, it is not that mzungu or kung fu has better witchdoctors; even you can do whatever he has done or is capable of doing.)
