Without a doubt, Africa is a dysfunctional continent. War, poverty, disease, corruption, and immorality abound. For decades the countries of the West, through their governments, private charities, and churches have poured billions of dollars into Africa preventing starvation but doing nothing to lessen the litany of dysfunction.
Kevin Myers, writing in the Irish Independent, shares this frustration. His proposed solution to the issue, unfortunately, is as barbaric as the system he seeks to dispatch. He advocates for the West to turn its back on Africa. Let them starve, let malaria kill them, and let them kill each other. All this in the hope that the corrupt systems will fix themselves.
Indeed, we now have almost an entire continent of sexually hyperactive indigents, with tens of millions of people who only survive because of help from the outside world.
This dependency has not stimulated political prudence or commonsense. Indeed, voodoo idiocy seems to be in the ascendant, with the next president of South Africa being a firm believer in the efficacy of a little tap water on the post-coital penis as a sure preventative against infection. Needless to say, poverty, hunger and societal meltdown have not prevented idiotic wars involving Tigre, Uganda, Congo, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea etcetera.
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So, how much sense does it make for us actively to increase the adult population of what is already a vastly over-populated, environmentally devastated and economically dependent country?How much morality is there in saving an Ethiopian child from starvation today, for it to survive to a life of brutal circumcision, poverty, hunger, violence and sexual abuse, resulting in another half-dozen such wide-eyed children, with comparably jolly little lives ahead of them? Of course, it might make you feel better, which is a prime reason for so much charity. But that is not good enough.
For self-serving generosity has been one of the curses of Africa. It has sustained political systems which would otherwise have collapsed.
It prolonged the Eritrean-Ethiopian war by nearly a decade. It is inspiring Bill Gates’ programme to rid the continent of malaria, when, in the almost complete absence of personal self-discipline, that disease is one of the most efficacious forms of population-control now operating.
In former times, the West believed in its own God-given mission to bring civilization to the “savages.” While the abuses of colonialism are etched in our minds, the other things it brought are hazily remembered. The West used to believe it could bring civilization to the uncivilized. This meant much more than food. It brought government, it brought education, it brought technology, it brought culture, and most importantly it often brought Christ, His Church, and His sacraments.
Since the West has largely renounced Christ, we no longer see our culture — our civilization — as having anything to offer to the rest of the world other than money. But money has not and cannot fix the problems in Africa. So is the West now — weary in its largess — disposed to let millions die speculating that the cancer that now runs rampant will also eventually be the cure? I pray no.
We must continue to feed the hungry, for as we do to the least of our brothers, we do to Christ. But we must also rediscover what else we have to offer besides money. We must rediscover Christ and His culture. His civilization. Then we can once again provide real hope and real change.
If we in our frustration cut off the only thing that we mistakenly believe is all we have to offer, money, then we will have become the most uncivilized of savages. Then perhaps one day in His mercy, Christ will send Christian Africans to bring civilization to us.
July 23, 2008 at 4:39 am
Where are the Benedictine Monasteries on the continent? Civilization can not exist without monasteries.
July 23, 2008 at 4:57 am
Very well written. You’re dead on the money.
July 23, 2008 at 4:57 am
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July 23, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Perhaps walking away is the only decent thing to do. We’ve treated the Africans like simple children for so long and they hate us for it.Even if we mean well, we can not force Western ideas on people who don’t really want them.
July 23, 2008 at 3:01 pm
“Even if we mean well, we can not force Western ideas on people who don’t really want them.”
It would appear with the advent of our own contemporarily depraved culture, that we cannot force them upon ourselves either. In a sense, we are even sicker than the respective Africans as we have had so many blessings–and so many misused or now spit upon. One need only to look at the left half of our own electorate and recall a number of over 40 million plus children slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs and the ravages of AIDS among some of our most fashionable..
July 23, 2008 at 4:51 pm
I highly encourage everyone to watch this documentary, on how our policy and aid has detrimental effect in the third world countries.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5277094596195828118&hl=en-GB
July 23, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I am quite shocked by your post. I think you should ask yourself a question as to where the Africans get their weapons from and how the so called dysfunction came about to start.
Is it ok for the West to milk Africa or all it’s minerals and raw materials such as Gold, Diamond, Oil.
July 23, 2008 at 4:57 pm
For decades the countries of the West, through their governments, private charities, and churches have poured billions of dollars into Africa preventing starvation but doing nothing to lessen the litany of dysfunction.
No disrespect, because I have often use the word dysfunctional when it comes to Africa but your assessment is way off. I could give you countless success stories about Africa which came about from foreign aid, NGO’s etc; Ethiopia, Tanzania, Morroco, South Africa, Ghana, Tunisia etc. These countries are by no means utopian societies (but what nation on earth is?), yet the underriding problems that have plagued them (starvation, instability, drug-addiction, AIDS etc) have been routed within the last decade.
Dymphna states Even if we mean well, we can not force Western ideas on people who don’t really want them. which is absolutely accurate, but it also misses the point that many African societies really DO want Western ideas. It is their governments, rebel factions, old-guard elites etc who don’t want them, because it upsets the Status Quo. The successes I mentioned above can only occur when there is a consent between the government and the majority of the populace.
And to ANY CATHOLIC who could even consider the remotest of possibilites of turning their backs on Africans, I would kindly yet adamantly remind them of the gospels; “WHATEVER YOU DID UNTO ONE OF THE LEAST, YOU DID UNTO ME”. Our Lord was extremely clear here on the subject.
July 23, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Mr Myers (not a very Irish surname I wonder what has formed his view of humanity) is somewhat out of date. The only proper charity is Christian charity. When world problems are tackled by marxist ideologies there is a tendancy to reduce humanity to machines. Machines that can be helped and pointless machines that are a waste of effort.
I say Mr Myers is out of date becasue there is already an extermination program operating in poorer countries.
July 23, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Ma, very correct. There will be a new set of problems in the world in 50 years. Maybe worse. We’ll see.
July 23, 2008 at 8:04 pm
deusadonat,, I wonder what right you have to say my comments are way off. Are you African? have you lived in Africa or personally gone out of your way using your own money to bring about change in the dysfunctional Africa?
And are you really sure that pouring millions of dollars in Africa the solution to ending what you describe as dysfunctional?
I have done all of the above and I tell you Africans aren’t all hopeless or dysfunctional for that matter and I tell you there is no dignity in the handouts nor can economies or individuals be sustained on those handouts!
I am not a Catholic but went to very good Catholic schools so I am familiar with the religion. My God doesn’t live in buildings or books but in my day to day actions and treatment of others.
For further details about my work please visit http://Www.ethnicsupplies.co.uk
July 23, 2008 at 8:25 pm
As to Africans and their Culture. yesterday the Bishop OF Sudan ssaid this to his fellow Anglcian Bishops:
“Because of the actions of the American church, “we are called infidels in the Islamic world when they hear of the same-sex blessings,” he said. “It will give [Islamist militants] reason to kill” Sudanese Christians he said.
The archbishop, known as an expert in the field of reconciliation said, “I am here talking to my brothers and sisters in America. We have experienced offense by their actions. I am not trying to offend them in return but tell them that I love them. We have had a painful experience and they must ask for forgiveness so we can go on together.
“If there is a cultural problem in America, it should be kept in America and not allowed to come into the Anglican world. I am not saying the Americans should all be excluded, but keep Gene Robinson away and we will find a way to help them.
“This issue of homosexuality in the Anglican Communion has a very serious effect in my country. We are called ‘infidels’ by the Moslems. That means that they will do whatever they can against us to keep us from damaging the people of our country. They challenge our people to convert to Islam and leave the infidel Anglican Church. When our people refuse, sometimes they are killed. These people are very evil and mutilate and harm our people. I am begging the Communion on this issue so no more of my people will be killed.
“My people have been suffering for 21 years of war. Their only hope is in the Church. It is the center of life of my people. No matter what problem we have, no material goods, no health supplies or medicine; no jobs or income; no availability of food. The inflation rate makes our money almost worthless and we have done this for 21 years. The Church is the center of our life together.
“The culture does not change the Bible; the Bible changes the culture. Cultures that do not approve of the Bible are left out of the Church’s life; people who do not believe in the Bible are left out of our churches. The American church is saying that God made a mistake. He made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Adam.”
More here
http://descant.wordpress.com/2008/07/23/im-proud-to-be-an-episcopalian/
Who is sick and whio immoral?
July 23, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Ethnic supplies,
How do I put this? What the heck are you talking about?
First you state that you are “shocked” by my post but provide nothing that I said that actually shocks you. Curious. Exactly what part of my post did you infer that I support “milk[ing] Africa or all it’s minerals and raw materials such as Gold, Diamond, Oil.”
Did you even read my post? I ask this question in all sincerity because your next comment clearly shows that you did not read Deusdonat’s. His comment was directed at quote from my original post and had absolutely nothing to do with your comment. Similar to your original comment in relation to my post.
Then, after such indiscriminate and indecipherable commenting, you have the temerity to advertise your site here. Tacky.
July 23, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Patrick, I stumbled upon your psot and was shocked by the opening paragraph and unless I misunderstood teh sentiments were continued in Deusoanat’s post and thus my comments.
My directing you to my website was not intende as advertsing,as I really do not to advertise here, but merely a way of making a point. I am really fed of people who have have never even been to Africa but decide to be judge and juries of waht is right and wrong about Africa. You amy answer the same questions I put to Deusonats taht may help me udnerstand whether you openign paragraph is born out of genuine experience of life in Africa.
Otherwise Africa is just a continent like anyother with more than it’s fair share of problems some of which are historical (the scramble and partition of Africa being one)
July 24, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Ethnic Supplies,
I was unaware that I was even talking to you. My post quoted the initial article above. Are you the author? If not, I never said anything to or about you. But I will address your comments here:
I wonder what right you have to say my comments are way off.
As mentioned, I didn’t. I quoted the original article.
Are you African? have you lived in Africa or personally gone out of your way using your own money to bring about change in the dysfunctional Africa?
Depends on your definition/yes/yes.
And are you really sure that pouring millions of dollars in Africa the solution to ending what you describe as dysfunctional?
That depends on what the millions of dollars are for and where they go obviously. Throwing money into the air or at corrupt officials is not the solution. Neither is turning one’s back completely.
I have done all of the above and I tell you Africans aren’t all hopeless or dysfunctional for that matter and I tell you there is no dignity in the handouts nor can economies or individuals be sustained on those handouts!
I never said Africans are dysfunctional. I mentioned African societies. I also mentioned specific African countries which HAVE improved drastically over the past decade. I don’t know if English is your first language or not, but you might wish to re-read my post as it seems to be lost on you.
I am not a Catholic but went to very good Catholic schools so I am familiar with the religion. My God doesn’t live in buildings or books but in my day to day actions and treatment of others.
Our God (or rather “The one, universal and eternal God”) doesn’t “live” in any geographic location either. So, obviously you aren’t very familiar with the Catholic religion at all.