Bittersweet Africa
Posted September 12th, 2008 by joequaye
Endowed with many resources and yet development is far from realization. One will ask, where does the key which is supposed to unlock our dear continent lie. We then have to pause for reflection and ask ourselves questions. This is not about 'our politicians did this or did that'. Its about what can i do to help the small community that i find myself in. Its not all about money. Commitment is the word. Remember that doctors treat patients but not for free. The same applies to development partners. There's nothing like free aid. There's not a word like "mutual benefit" in their dictionary.
Coming back to the issue, yes we have the key to free Africa. Lets start.
I am a young person and very capable of turning the small community around. But i eat and through the rubbish anyway. I change change girls as if they are clothes. I party when its time to learn. I see impunity all around and i become silent. Children abused, exploited and denied their childhood, and i still keep mute. Instead of of keeping to time, i leave the house at the time the meeting starts. The world becomes my world. i do what i like. No rule, no law, nothing in principle.
Then when the expected comes, i call it the "unexpected" forgetting that 1+1=2. Then we hear things like AIDS, malaria, child abuse etc. and i now start the cry our leaders often cry "development partners, development partners", as if they created the MESS!
Well, now i know that i have a devine responsibility to keep, to Speak Out when things happen. Have a character worthy of emulation, help my community come out of its problems. I can do it and sure enough you can. Its a painfull fact that Africans are lazy. but i can prove that wrong. BE THE CHANGE!!!
I would like to appriciate you for raising the questions of why?and How? regarding Africa development problems and I agree with your solution of BEING THE CHANGE WE WANT.
However,I would like to share what i think differently about Africa ,specificaly what you mentioned as" a painful fact that Africans are lazy" doesnt fit to my reality of hard working but undervalued Africans in general.Are Africans "lazy" If Africans are considerd "lazy" for a certain perspective the first step to be the change is starting to check the opinion and looking carefuly the facts.
Are the poor African farmers not working hard Are not the African child abused of hard work sharing the burden of his family?probably it is the values of their products are defined lazy and caused the poor? joequaye please redefine laziness.
Hey Joseph, I like the fact that you acknoledge that we the "youth" are the hope or call it the change for Africa. It's all been said before, but it all lies whether we really believe that we can be the change. Do I believe that I can bring about a meaningful change to my country and to my continent??? NO, Maybe, why not. definitely... (possible answers) I have to believe that I can be part of that youth taskforce for change, otherwise all my hard work is going to be in vain! And coming back to the term "Lazy"... we Africans as Emishaw pointed out, are all hard workers and yet most of us also say that we are Lazy... Are we maybe listening to the "colonialists" that used our so called "laziness" to come into our continent and exploit our natural resources??? I for one know that my countrymen farmers have been working their land since time begun and still live in subsistence. Outside our continent, technological inputs have improved the farmers gain despite the fact that they have a less arable land compared to ours. So, Lazy, I think not, maybe revolutionizing our agriculture sector could be the biggest task that our governments face these days!
Thanks for your comments. i am happy that you are saying that Africans are NOT lazy. The argument i wanted it to bring is actually coming out. You know, if we believe in ourselves we can get to the promised land but with hardwork and committment from everyone. By commitment i mean constantly educating everyone that he/she has a duty! Whether a farmer, politician, health worker, young person, he/she has a duty to remain in his country to work forthe betterment of it. Why do some Africans work with luke-worm attitudes in Africa and is willing to work 24/7 in a western country?
I will love it if we provide answers
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