Support of Africa.

[Feuergeist]

Just a bit to get started, I'm to tired to gather all my thoughts on the subject, so I'll post later.

Do you think that the United States, and other nations for that matter, should continue to support African nations financially, economically, etc?
Keep in mind the fact that the world has been metaphorically raping the continent for well over 100 years.

[trillobyite]

You also forgot that the continent has been metaphorically raping themselves too. I mean, some African cultures are fine, but others are so unbelievable that the leaders of their tribes say that AIDS is not caused by a virus (One of them actually said this). I mean, no matter how much financial help he gets, he doesnt want to help anyone and insists that everyone should just pray. In fact, if someone says that someone else has AIDS, the person who said it is stoned and killed. But then again, this is only one of the countries in Africa, so I don't really know that much else about it.

[trillobyite]

oops forget this post

[HNJhack]

well this is all fine and dandy, cept for on eMAJOR flaw. Africa does not exist! We were raised as childs to believe that it does. The gov't says that it does, so we will give it more money. As for the "Africans" i don't know,... experimental accident?? (didn't mean to offend anyone, it's all in good fun). ^_^

[Feuergeist]

Africa is there alright. I've been. I've seen what its like down there. It just astonishes me how poorly they live. Those African villages that you see on tv, they're real alright. No words can express how one feels with all those children running around, begging for something, anything. Plus having the knowledge that their parents probably have Aids and these kids mostly likely won't grow up with a mother or father.

During the Imperial Age (if you would even call it an age), the main European countries found bountiful resources in Africa. After the Industrial boom, Africa provided a source for even more production, at no cost to them. Plus, Europe was reaping huge profit, since they would sell the goods back to the African people after using African resources to make them. This continued for years upon years. Finally, fights for independence and other actions made for most of the colonies to vacate. Thus, we are left with an Africa that has been raped, ravaged, and other such pilaging verbs. Was this a good state to leave Africa in? No, reperations should have been brought forth. There were some, but they were mostly superficial in nature, and just dug Africa deeper into its hole of economical arrear. On public television, you see President Bush of the United States posing help programs and such to Africa for AIDS. While I'll admit that the AIDS epidemic is something that should be taken care of, if Africa isn't allowed to return to economical stability by itself to a substantial degree, Africa will begin to slowly deteriorate, further increasing its debt, thus never letting it return to a viable state ever.

Several months ago, there was a proposed revolution in Liberia. Standard action really, Bad ruler, man overthrows, people do not like new man, they try to overthrow him. Aparrently, there were some ordaninces that were supposed to be passed, and several other leader-esque actions that were supposed to take place, that did not, and a group of farmers were rather irate over the whole issue. Due to lack of funds, they did not have proper equiment, or forces to overthrow the powers that be in Liberia. So who do they turn to? Why the U.S. of course. The rebels/farmers wanted troop support in order to bring about their overthrow. I believe it was stated that "we won't allow an overthrow of a legitimate government." In any case, this ultimately lead to the U.S. not aiding Liberia. (There could be some possiblilty of error in these words. I have not followed the issuse since August, and there might have been some change of action since then) Perhaps the U.S. was adopting the same isolation policy it was attempting during WWII, or maybe the U.S. shares my point of view. If constant aid is brought to African countries in every situation, all that will bring is reinforcement in the fact that Africa is still dependant on outside aid.

There, however, has been some progress in shedding this "slavery". Several Governments in Central Africa have formed commities to oversee and lead the reconstruction of Africa. First and foremost on the majority of these commities' lists, the reduction, and possible elimination, of warring partys, tribes and such. The civil wars going on in the Congo are a major point in their reconstruction, although diamondsare not exactly an easy thing to stop a war over. Furthermore, technology is increasing in Africa. Although the average household in Africa does not have a Television, more have a radio. Radio is the prime means of communication in Africa, and its for the better, untill better means are brought forth. This is much better than tribal drums, since obvioulsy, tribal drums do not travel across a continent. Nontheless, progress cannot continue unless outside corparations terminate their subsections in Africa. The abundance of cash crops and lack of subsistance farming are one major source of the country's poverty. If there were more self owned farming outlets instead of the money machines, Africa might be able to pay off some debts, and start making enough money to pull themselves out of their slump. It is their land, and they have enormus potential as a nation with their resources avalible. Now they must shrug off outside influence and make money off of their stockpile, instead of letting others do it for them.

Freedom is a great concept. Being able to say no. Everybody wants it, though most don't have it. Africa will never have it, and will continue losing grasp down their 'hole' unless they take some initiaive and start controling their own land. They cannot do it by themselves either. The U.S. , as well as several other nations need to start withdrawing subsidaries and begin to let Africa stand on its own two feet. How is it ever supposed to walk, if it is always keep it on its knees?


*I realize that this could be 100000x better, but I'm do damn lazy to do more research and get all the details. This is based off of what i can remember from reading a newspaper article back in June of 2003.

[Feuergeist]

WEll somebody else must has a viewpoint. :grumpy:

[87x]

umm... sounds like africa did it to themselves.. if they live at a place with all these resources then they could just build a factory to export these resources and bot buy them back from europe.. and you can't really blame europe because they were just being a smart business by making the most profit out of what they were doing...

as for recent events.. i have never followed politics or the news.. i only know what people tell me... but it is in my opinion that when the president makes public announcements to help other contries it is a publicity stunt.. most people in america hate george bush because he went to war.. reelection is comming up and he needs to raise his popularity level.. anything that appeals to the masses would be a good move for him to do..

i stopped reading after this point in your post.. it kinda bored me..

[Feuergeist]

umm... sounds like africa did it to themselves.. if they live at a place with all these resources then they could just build a factory to export these resources and bot buy them back from europe.. and you can't really blame europe because they were just being a smart business by making the most profit out of what they were doing...

as for recent events.. i have never followed politics or the news.. i only know what people tell me... but it is in my opinion that when the president makes public announcements to help other contries it is a publicity stunt.. most people in america hate george bush because he went to war.. reelection is comming up and he needs to raise his popularity level.. anything that appeals to the masses would be a good move for him to do..

i stopped reading after this point in your post.. it kinda bored me..

Thats the thing though. Africa didn't do it to themselves. If they had not leeched of their resources, and plundered, they wouldn't be in the position they are in now. And they simply cant just pick up and take over, since we wont remove our station there.