Reflections on evilness and the state of Africa
A friend of mine posed this question in her blog "What makes people evil". This inspired me to write quite a long comment about the state of Africa, which I might as well share with you her too ;)
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Well, my experience from living here in Kenya for a period (even though Kenya is one of the most thriving and peaceful African communities), is that it basically is up to the individual whether he or she is good or not. Most of the wrongdoings in Africa is to some extent linked to accepting the status quo - just as in Blood Diamond, the phrase "This is Africa" or "This is Kenya", is used as an excuse for the country or the region not moving anywhere, and newer being able to do so - which is really sad.
The people who are "evil" down here, that is muggers, conmen, corrupt officials etc., all see themselves as justified for their actions, as they have families to feed or because nobody ever supported them (survival of the fittest). The interesting thing is that this even counts for the rich bad people too - what is important is the thrift of you, your family and your friends, everybody else must try to make it on their own.
By my belief one of the biggest reasons for this, is undependable governments throughout many years - if you cannot depend on the system, you will have to make your own way in the world - if you tried to change it a few times and failed, the easiest way out is a "TIA" attitude - accepting status quo, is to fail as a leader of change.
Anyway, luckily I see a lot of positive development in many African countries now a days. Kenya lived under a dictator for 20 years until the last election in 2002 where he democratically was replaced. The current president has used most of this term on slowly rebuilding the country, and on the way fighting corruption, bad economic growth etc. Kenya is on the right track now, and so is Tanzania, Ghana and a few others. South Africa is fooling a bit around, and does not seem to be moving much, Rwanda is developing strongly by surprisingly having an extraordinary strong, open minded and development focused leader (who nevertheless is a dictator - political opposition to him always seems to get beaten down in the press very quickly), Nigeria - heh, etc.
So my hope for the world of tomorrow is that this development continues, and that other areas of the world does not develop into a status of utter stupidity - like a Christian/Muslim war or whatever - aie, humans can be so stupid at times.
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Hugs and Smiles from Sunny Kenya
Kristian
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Well, my experience from living here in Kenya for a period (even though Kenya is one of the most thriving and peaceful African communities), is that it basically is up to the individual whether he or she is good or not. Most of the wrongdoings in Africa is to some extent linked to accepting the status quo - just as in Blood Diamond, the phrase "This is Africa" or "This is Kenya", is used as an excuse for the country or the region not moving anywhere, and newer being able to do so - which is really sad.
The people who are "evil" down here, that is muggers, conmen, corrupt officials etc., all see themselves as justified for their actions, as they have families to feed or because nobody ever supported them (survival of the fittest). The interesting thing is that this even counts for the rich bad people too - what is important is the thrift of you, your family and your friends, everybody else must try to make it on their own.
By my belief one of the biggest reasons for this, is undependable governments throughout many years - if you cannot depend on the system, you will have to make your own way in the world - if you tried to change it a few times and failed, the easiest way out is a "TIA" attitude - accepting status quo, is to fail as a leader of change.
Anyway, luckily I see a lot of positive development in many African countries now a days. Kenya lived under a dictator for 20 years until the last election in 2002 where he democratically was replaced. The current president has used most of this term on slowly rebuilding the country, and on the way fighting corruption, bad economic growth etc. Kenya is on the right track now, and so is Tanzania, Ghana and a few others. South Africa is fooling a bit around, and does not seem to be moving much, Rwanda is developing strongly by surprisingly having an extraordinary strong, open minded and development focused leader (who nevertheless is a dictator - political opposition to him always seems to get beaten down in the press very quickly), Nigeria - heh, etc.
So my hope for the world of tomorrow is that this development continues, and that other areas of the world does not develop into a status of utter stupidity - like a Christian/Muslim war or whatever - aie, humans can be so stupid at times.
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Hugs and Smiles from Sunny Kenya
Kristian
posted by SmileyDane @ 7:54 AM
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