In surveying the various blogs on WordPress tonight, I came across a few other blog posts on Zimbabwe, which readers might find to be of interest.
But if you’re interested in Zimbabwe, don’t forget to read my original post on Zimbabwe, which has two videos and good analysis. (click here)
This site (click here) urges readers to send a message to the UN Security Council and its neighbors to pressure Mugabe et al to end the violence.
This site (click here) urges Zimbabweans to boycott Friday’s election in Zimbabwe.
This blogger (click here) asks Mugabe why he needs to hold onto power when he is already 84 years old.
This writer, (click here), hailing from the state of Indiana, provides a brief synopsis and commentary on the situation there.
A pretty extreme left writer on Zimbabwe, but who nevertheless knows more about Zimbabwe than most of us. Seems to support Mugabe against the imperialist West. Interesting for a counter-perspective. (click here)
And, just to prove that racist attitudes about Africa still exist, see this site (click here).
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If you consider British and Euro-Israelite success, of offering civilization to primitive Blacks in Africa, racist – then we need plenty more racists to set things right. We can clearly see, if we’re honest, the Blacks are apparently incapable of properly ruling themselves. http://www.davidbenariel.org
By: davidbenariel on Thursday, 26 June, 2008
at 5:01 pm
Yes I do consider your views to be racist, because it essentially proposes that Africans cannot handle to rule their own land, and that whites need to do it for them. Which basically says that whites are somehow superior to Africans.
There may be some problems in Africa now with regards to political conflicts and despotism, but I am optimistic that it will improve and I have seen signs that it is improving.
There are causes for these problems which do not necessarily have anything to do with someone’s race. Abuse of power is something which has happened in almost all societies, and it is simply a matter of citizens, over time, being able to challenge those in power to the point where there are proper checks and balances on state power. However, this is not easy and the historical circumstances are not always right for that to occur.
The different conflicts in Africa each have to be assessed according to the specific circumstances that caused the problem, rather than just making sweeping generalizations that it is related to race. For example, Africa has many ethnic groups, which is sometimes a cause for conflict. Sheer desperation, arising from economic difficulties, can make some prone to join into military groups. It has been alleged, for example, that resource issues are one cause of the Darfur conflict.
In any case, no matter how many difficulties there may be in Africa now, I am sure that none of the Africans want to go back to white rule. They would rather suffer under despotism by one of their own than submit to rule by foreigners of a different race.
Fortunately, I think sentiments of your type are not common and will soon be an archive in some history texts. Or at least, if not, sentiments like yours have no influence over policy makers who actually decide what stance our respective countries will take towards countries in Africa.
I challenge you to reconsider your racist views. I think you will feel much better when you reach a higher plane of truth.
By: Patrick Mosolf on Saturday, 28 June, 2008
at 7:35 am
Blacks have proven, time and again, they can’t handle themselves – much less government responsibilities. Why remain in denial? Furthermore, Southern Africa is part of the biblical inheritance of White Israelites. It’s in chaos and confusion now because it’s in an unnatural state with Blacks misruling.
May White Israelites repent that Southern Africa can be restored to sanity, peace and prosperity, saved from racist Black Marxists who curse every color and creed.
By: davidbenariel on Wednesday, 8 October, 2008
at 8:55 am
Mr. Ben Ariel,
I can only say that I struggle with the proper approach to your comments. On the one hand I think I should angrily and sternly denounce you, and on the other, I think I should rationally defeat your points, and another part of me says I should pray for your deluded soul…
It is widely perceived in the world, of course, that some African countries are suffering from worse problems than other parts of the world. That said, they have no monopoly on difficulties, as we are all prone to human error and weakness. I could probably spend a great deal of time reciting a litany of woes which originate from the First World, or developed countries, the most obvious being our massive contribution to the environmental problems the earth is now (or will soon be) suffering from, the US invasion of Iraq, and the legacy of colonialism. I could write more, but that’s not the point. The point is: no part of humanity has escaped human failure and weakness. Perhaps during World War II, many other countries could have written- “just look at the Europeans- they can’t handle themselves”. In fact it reminds me of a quote from Gandhi, when asked what he thought of European civilization, he allegedly said “I think it would be a good idea.”
The point is, while there are many difficulties facing the African continent now, I think this should not be used as evidence of Africans’ innate inability to govern themselves. When we look at an individual person, or a group of people, we must always consider the concrete specifics of where they are coming from. It seems to me that Africa suffered from the most severe colonialism of all the colonized nations in the world. It also has some specific characteristics that may cause some of its political problems- for example, many African nations have a large number of ethnic groups which find themselves in conflict with each other for dominance. Others who are more expert in African affairs could no doubt add other specifics.
It also seems to me that Africa is generally “off the map” for many other countries of the world in terms of priorities for diplomacy and foreign policy. I have often recently reflected on how little media coverage is given to African conflicts compared to the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
In short, I think that a little patience, faith, and assistance (although there can be a debate about what kind of assistance is appropriate) is what is necessary.
As for your argument that parts of Africa are Biblically ordained, I would question whether this is anywhere in the Bible, except in some obscure minority interpretation. Anyway, even if it were in the Bible, I’m not the kind of person who takes any holy book to be the literal word of God/ Goddess/ the Great Spirit anyway, so this kind of argument does not impress me.
Your arguments are obviously racist, so some reply to that theme may be necessary. There are obviously differences between different groups of people, and some people have tried to use these differences to prove the superiority of one group over another. I reflect that as humans, recently in our history, we are often arrogant and think that we can know everything. In fact, I doubt whether we can ever know enough to determine the superiority of one group over another- all our interpretations will be incomplete and will be based on some subjective and incomplete criteria.
Ultimately we must ask: what approach will lead us to the most harmonious and peaceful world? From my perspective, since I think that as humans we are unable to determine who is better or worse, and we will only stir anger and hatred by making such allegations, wouldn’t it be better to just assume from the beginning that we are equal, although with enriching differences? To state another way, I think it is better to start from the assumption that we as humans are equal.
To conclude, a few comments about you: If I were African, I would perhaps be angered by your comments, as just another of a long series of insults in life from other groups. But since I am not, and since I am not particularly inclined to anger, I can say that I only pity you. I pity you because you are clearly living in a state of delusion which is in fact a prison for you, preventing you from having a greater understanding and appreciation of life. Perhaps as well you have some hidden personal motive of anger which is leading you to continue to make these assertions. I pity you because you are espousing something which is a lost cause and which is being marginalized from human discourse.
I recommend you to search your soul, to pray, to use your heart, to struggle for realization, to overcome the illusions which are containing you. If you are lucky, you will escape from them in this lifetime. Don’t use your brain on this one: it will just lead you back to the same senseless arguments. Struggle for understanding and realization which transcends logic, and perhaps you will still find it before your last breath.
By: Patrick Mosolf on Thursday, 30 October, 2008
at 2:44 pm