Why Doesn't Africa Work?

Tuesday, July 13, 2004

I finally got a real shower today, but I had to go to the gym to get it. There was WATER PRESSURE! There was plenty of hot water, soap, and I didn’t have to rush. I could enjoy actually washing myself and standing under a stream of pounding, hot water. It was glorious, even if it was in a gym.

This begs the question that has been eating at me as the problems with water and electricity have reared their ugly heads. Why doesn’t Africa WORK? I refuse to believe, as many try to imply, that the problems in Africa were inevitable with the end of white rule. The example of the USA proves that wrong. Black people are just as capable as anyone else of good government and bad government. What makes Africa different, though? What makes it different from the US, which was also colonized by Britain? Why didn’t Africa develop beyond tribalism like Europe did and form nations with governments and boundaries? Is there hope that Africa will pull itself together before it’s too late?

I don’t know why Africa stayed with tribal cultures that had no set boundaries or territory. The Native Americans didn’t have such things either, although there was a general respect for hunting grounds. I think the answer lies in what the native populations were not permitted to do. People who immigrated to America were allowed to participate in the government, although Native Americans were not. We simply moved them out of our way or destroyed him. But the colonial populations in America were allowed to participate in a British form of government. We had over a century of practice before we set out on our own in 1776.

The Africans were not allowed this luxury. Once the European powers came in and took over, looking for more resources to drive the industrial revolution, the blacks were segregated and systematically held down. Rule by a few replaced popular sovereignty, mostly due to racism. As the colonies were freed after WWII, they were just cut loose. I suppose after the devastation of the war, they couldn’t afford to do things properly, but that doesn’t make it right.

They needed to educate the population, allow them to participate in self-government and learn how its done. They needed to be introduced to democracy and shown its value. Instead, all they got from “democracy” was racism and segregation. Cutting the colonies loose abruptly just led to chaos. Why didn’t leaders like Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and other leaders who came out various civil rights movements? Why did Mugabe resort to a decade of terror and guerilla warfare rather than work within the system as King did? The first generation of black leaders weren’t corrupt dictators for the most part. I suppose they knew that white populations expected them to fail, so they worked extra hard to do a good job. I don’t know, but I find it odd that Africa did not produce the leaders that America did when the struggle for equality happened. Nelson Mandela is probably the only leader who is reminiscent of King.

Things here just don’t work, and no one seems to be able or willing to stand up and say enough. There’s no popular groundswell for something different, and that I do not understand. I know we are spoiled in the USA because we have things good. Even our poor can get clean water and electricity for the most part. You certainly don’t see capital cities were the water and electricity doesn’t work. Why don’t the populations here feel like they deserve better? I wish I knew.

Another thing that amazes me is that people willingly choose to leave the US and live in Africa permanently. I don't know how Leo spent the better part of 10 years in Cote D'Ivoire. I look around and I see people I work with who are either already married when they go overseas, or just stay single. There seems to be a small trend, at least in South Asia, of finding spouses overseas. But then what happens? Someone will have to give up the land they know and maybe love. The ex-pats we have overseas though don't seem to really like the US that much. I don't know if they never felt comfortable here, or if they just acclaimated so well to their assigned country that the US no longer seems like home.

I look at Yinka, whose parents have lived all over the globe while working with USAID, but she doesn't have a home. She's definitely not comfortable in the US. IT's almost like she doesn't fit in anywhere, while at the same time feeling comfortable anywhere but the US. She seems relatively happy though, so I'm glad for that. It's not a life for me. I miss my friends, my dogs, my home, Richard, my family, and the conveniences of home. Especially the conveniences. You know, things like running water that WORKS, consistent electrical power, drinkable tap water, the ability to travel wherever I want whenever I want, the availabilty of any kind of goods or service you can imagine. I know this is one of the stages of living overseas. I don't remember going through this when I was in Europe, but Europe is like America with a twist. Things are smaller, and more crowded, but they're both highly develped areas. Anyway, I know that I"m going through my "resentful" phrase where I believe everything home is better than here. Soon, I'll go into "acceptance" and it won't bother me that I can't take a shower whenever I feel like it.

Poor Richard called and he was quite frustrated. The new lock he bought for our mailbox is not working. He can't get the key in. I'm not sure what the problem is, but a new lock shouldn't act that way. I understand why he's pissed about that. Also, Emma has taken to pooping her crate again, even when she's gone out. It's happened three days in a row, and Richard's ready to hit the roof. He also didn't feel good, which I think is the ultimate reason he unraveled a bit. Lord knows I understand unraveling, as I've pitched a fit or two in my time. I'm glad he could vent with me, although I told him with my troubles finding a decent shower, I had limited sympathy :) I also said he needed to not let things he can't control get to him like that, or he won't survive grad school. You gotta let things roll off of you unless they are REALLY important.

Well, time for bed.