by Rick Lowe
I have been having a discussion with an "African Woman" regarding comments made at Nicolette Bethel’s Blogworld to her blog titled The Question of Blackface. See them by clicking here.
Here is the exchange with the "African Woman":
Hi Rick Lowe,
I read some of your comments at nicobethel.net and I must say as an African I am pretty upset…this is what upset me the most…
"My point is we keep dredging up all this stuff and it is used as a crutch to describe why the people there can’t get out of the pit they are in.
What prevents the African leaders meeting to resolve their boundary issues if it is such a problem? There has to be a way forward rather than continual hand wringing??? The African’s now have to solve their issues together, don’t you think?
Do you think it might be that the African leaders don’t want to give up their feifdoms? Not unlike those Europeans and megacorporations wouldn’t you say?"
"There has to be a way forward rather than continual hand wringing???"
WHAT THE HELL??? You know what Nick, youre probably an American who hasnt lived in Africa and known the pain of knowing that people have exploited you and then look down on you afterwards for ‘being poor and primitive’. Please Nick you dont know anything about the real African’s struggle, you know nothing about the low self esteem an African gets from reading our history, you dont know the pain of people seeing you as a charity case coz youre from Africa, you dont know the heart ache of reading ignorant crap like the ones that people like you usually sprout about ‘the corrupt leadership in Africa.’ Are you trying to tell me that there is no corruption whatsoever in the US?? How come you guys still managed to get rich even though there is corruption?? Oh I know, nobody has stolen your resources from you! And it doesnt hurt that you’ve got heaps of companies all over the world exploiting "3rd world" countries in the name of globalisation.
Nick dont go around talking crap about things you’ve only ever read about…as Africans living in the situation and trying our best to make some sense out of everything we dont need people like you talking crap. Im sorry to be harsh Nick but Im pretty upset…people dont trivialise the damage that Europeans and multinationals have done/are doing to our continent. You are right that issues like corruption play a part but they are NOT the main cause.
Posted by: African Woman | October 29, 2006 at 01:29 AM
Thanks so much African Woman:
First of all I am a Bahamian, but that’s not relevant.
Can’t you see you are just wringing your hands as well? You did not propose one possible solution.
At least I suggested it’s time for the African nations to get to work to solve some of their problems.
Some people in my country look down on me too, but that doesn’t prevent me from trying to find solutions to problems I encounter each day.
But maybe I just don’t like hand wringing.
By the way, you might want to take a few minutes and read this as well: Businessman launches the Africa No “Mo” Corruption Prize….
Posted by: Rick | October 29, 2006 at 08:40 PM
My good friend Rick Lowe, you don’t know anything about what "African" people are doing in their day to day lives to solve their problems.
Harsh as this might be Rick I think you are full of arrogance…you obviously think you are the only one who sees our problems and you dont believe we have the brains to solve them ourselves.
Have you been to EVERY African country, have you talked to EVERY African person? How then would you know what our plans are…you think you know everything my friend and to me that is just offensive. You say ‘even in my country people look down on me blah blah blah but I try…’ that to me seems like you’re saying Africans dont try to do the same…and how do you know I ask? And you talk about ‘African’ people getting together and solving their problems…as if it is that easy! Its not easy coz when you talk about Africa you talk about many different countries with different economies and governments, different peoples and cultures, different situations and different agendas.
And since you have come up with SUCH a bright idea Mr. Lowe please flesh it out for me, how exactly are the countries going to work together to solve their problems?? And since you’re all about cooperation between countries how about ‘Africa’ working together with the Bahamas huh?
And since I’m on a roll please explain to me why other countries in the world have managed to "develop" even though there is corruption in those countries and why Africa hasnt despite being in the same situation??
Posted by: African Woman | October 29, 2006 at 11:45 PM
By the way that article is a joke…
Posted by: African Woman | October 29, 2006 at 11:49 PM
Yes, maybe Africa should consider some of The Bahamas political and economic reforms of the early 1990’s as these might help your situation in many of the African countries that suffer from corruption, one political party states and failed economic policies.
Maybe a civil discussion could yield some results, but as you have all the answers and prefer the current state of many of the African nations it will be a waste of time.
By the way, how are things in Australia?
Posted by: Rick | October 30, 2006 at 06:40 AM
Australia is great thanks :)…you know what Mr. Lowe I have decided that you’re not worth me stressing…people like you think you are the only ones who think about ‘issues of life.’ And for that matter you’re not even African, you don’t have a single idea of what we think, why we think that way e.t.c. Im all for constructive critisism but you my dear are just throwing cheap shots that dont really help.
Posted by: African Woman | October 30, 2006 at 09:55 PM
Before you end the conversation "African Woman" you might also wish to review the following blogs about this difficult subject.
AFRICANS AND VICTIMHOOD. Thanks to Nicolette Bethel and her Blogworld for this link.
I hope that one day there will be a resolution for the sake of the people of the various countries that comprise Africa. You have been fortunate enough to leave like many others. What about the people left behind?
