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Vubundada_Kandaba Villager

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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 01:29 |
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Alright, my Good people, please lets keep this civil and no name calling and insults. I know what Slavery and Colonialism has done to Africa, but we can not really use this two aspects of our history as an excuse over and over again to explain why Africa is in the shape it is in today. Honestly I think it is time we start facing our mistakes and inability head on and address them right on. It really pains me to see the rest of the World progress whereas Africa at times seems to be moving backwards. In my honest opinion, many Countries in Africa have the potential to be as advance as Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Germany, France,United Kingdom and even Canada. The question then remains, how come we are not at the levels I listed? Lets look at some examples at how other Countries did it and why it is possible any Country has the potential to be like Singapore and France. I picked these countries below because they all had corrupt rulers but despite this; these corrupt and dictatorial rulers had a vision which many or our leaders in Africa seem to lack.
South Korea
Korea was a peninsula that has been occupied by outside forces for most of its 2000 year history. Japan occupied Korea from 1905 until 1945. After the Korean war of of 1950-1953 the Peninsula was divide into two, North Korea ( Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea/Communist Korea) and South Korea (Republic of Korea).. In April of 1960,Major General Park Chung-hee led a military coup and overthrew President Syngman Rhee . General Park was assassinated in 1979 and a powerful group of military officers led by Leutanant General Chun Doo Hwan, declared martial law and took power. Since the early 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy under the military regime. Four decades ago, GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, South Korea joined the trillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita is equal to the lesser economies of the EU. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption.
Taiwan
Lets now look at Taiwan, a Country with a population of 22.7 million. Taiwan was occupied and Colonized by Japan from 1895-1945. After the expulsion of Japan, Taiwan reverted back to Chinese Rule under the Nationalist Chinese KMT adminstration. Through nearly five decades of hard work and sound economic management, Taiwan has transformed itself from an underdeveloped, agricultural island to an economic power that is a leading producer of high-technology goods. In the 1960s, foreign investment in Taiwan helped introduce modern, labor-intensive technology to the island, and Taiwan became a major exporter of labor-intensive products. In the 1980s, focus shifted toward increasingly sophisticated, capital-intensive and technology-intensive products for export and toward developing the service sector.
Taiwan has transformed itself from a recipient of U.S. aid in the 1950s and early 1960s to an aid donor and major foreign investor, especially in Asia. Taiwan is now a creditor economy, holding the world's third largest stock of foreign exchange reserves ($253 billion as of December 2005). Taiwan firms are the world's largest supplier of computer monitors and leaders in PC manufacturing. Textile production, though of declining importance as Taiwan loses its competitive advantage in labor-intensive markets, is another major industrial export sector. Imports are dominated by raw materials and capital goods, which account for more than 90% of the total. Taiwan imports coal, oil and gas to meet most of its energy needs.
Brazil
On March 31, 1964 the Brazialian armed forces launched a coup led by President Humberto Castello Branco, followed by Arthur da Costa e Silva (1967-69), Emilio Garrastazu Medici (1969-74), and Ernesto Geisel (1974-79), all of whom were senior army officers. Geisel began a democratic opening that was continued by his successor, Gen. Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo (1979-85). The military regimes developed a plan that made Brazil one of the most advanced industrial sectors in Latin America. One of the most important aspects the military put in place was the development of renewable fuel and today Brazil does not import fuel; instead the Country now uses Ethanol from Sugar cain to power its economy. Accounting for one-third of GDP, Brazil's diverse industries range from automobiles and parts, other machinery and equipment, steel, textiles, shoes, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, and petrochemicals, to computers, aircraft, and consumer durables. Most major automobile producers have established production facilities in Brazil.
Characterized by large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy grew, on average only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed a series of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazil absorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to the resiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put in place by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LULA DA SILVA. In 2004, Brazil enjoyed more robust growth that yielded increases in employment and real wages.
Malaysia
Malysia is a country with a population of 25.6 million. Malaysia was occupied from 1511 by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British until 1945. During the 1960s Ghana was well off than Malaysia. Today Malaysia is a leader in the Semiconductor industry and the economic growth of Malaysia is due to the government allowing Foreign Direct Investment. Malaysia today is way advance than all African Countries with the exception of South Africa by developing its Electronic and Semi Conductor industries. The Government of Malaysia has taken an active role in guiding the nation's economic development. Malaysia's New Economic Policy (NEP), first established in 1971, sought to eradicate poverty and end the identification of economic function with ethnicity. In particular, it was designed to enhance the economic standing of ethnic Malays and other indigenous peoples (collectively known as "bumiputeras" in Bahasa Malaysia).
Malaysia successfully developed from a commodity-based economy to one focused on manufacturing. Today the Government of Malaysia seeks to make the leap to a knowledge-based economy. At independence, Malaysia inherited an economy dominated by two commodities--rubber and tin. In the 40 years thereafter, Malaysia's economic record had been one of Asia's best. From the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, the economy experienced a period of broad diversification and sustained rapid growth averaging almost 8% annually. New foreign and domestic investment played a significant role in the transformation of Malaysia's economy.
Cuba
Do I really have to say anything on Cuba. Look at the progress Castro has achieved in the field of Education and Literacy despite US Foreign Policy. Today Cuba manufactures all the vaccines and medicines it needs.
References from the State Department and other Sources.Last edited on Wednesday September 13th, 2006 01:07 by Vubundada_Kandaba
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MarcusGarveyLives Villager

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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 07:17 |
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| Taking one specific example, did Patrice Lumumba lack "Vision And Common Sense"?
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stick-upKid Villager

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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 11:57 |
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I think the biggest problem was the creation of nations from a patchwork of ethnicities and tribes etc. Since the scramble for Africa europeans created these states not for the benefit of the people but to make administering them easier - divide and rule.
Nigeria was created in this fashion, with distinct ethinicities, who didn't really want to be together, bundled into one country.
The whites who did this knew full well that these states would never work. For a nation to succeed its people must have a common bond like religion or race or ethnicity -- In the newly carved African states non of these factors were true, and this was a deliberate act by europeans to cause future mayhem.
When Biafrans attempted to breakaway from Nigeria to form their own homogenous state, guess who backed the status quo i.e. the corrupt nigerian dictatorship? Britain and America, of course
So now you have leaders who are supposed to identify with 120 million people accross multiple ethnic divides. Is that some sort of sick joke by europeans? Hmmm what do you think!
If western states didn't meddle in African affairs, maybe countries would have been born from united tribes rather than tribes forced together.
Historically, when peoples have been forced to live together its always been a recipe for disaster (check Bosnia/Yugoslavia conflict).
The countries you mention, Vubunda, are peoples united against a common foreign aggressor, not a patchwork of ethnicities bundled together, therefore your examples are invalid.
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Vubundada_Kandaba Villager

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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 12:05 |
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MarcusGarveyLives wrote: Taking one specific example, did Patrice Lumumba lack "Vision And Common Sense"?
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Unfortunately Patrice Lumumba was murdered before his real potential apart from leading the independence movement was realized. He was a good man and leader but was not never given the chance to develop and lead this nation because he was overthrown shortly right after independence ten (10) weeks later.
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Vubundada_Kandaba Villager

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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 12:29 |
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stick-upKid wrote: I think the biggest problem was the creation of nations from a patchwork of ethnicities and tribes etc. Since the scramble for Africa europeans created these states not for the benefit of the people but to make administering them easier - divide and rule.
So now you have leaders who are supposed to identify with 120 million people accross multiple ethnic divides. Is that some sort of sick joke by europeans? Hmmm what do you think!
If western states didn't meddle in African affairs, maybe countries would have been born from united tribes rather than tribes forced together.Historically, when peoples have been forced to live together its always been a recipe for disaster (check Bosnia/Yugoslavia conflict).
The countries you mention, Vubunda, are peoples united against a common foreign aggressor, not a patchwork of ethnicities bundled together, therefore your examples are invalid.
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@Stick-Up Kid. You made some good arguements but where do we go from here? We can't go back to being kingdoms and ethnics groups who ruled their own Kingdoms prior to the European entry to Africa. But still, just because we find ourself where we are today due to colonialism does not mean those who are elected to power should not have a vision and common sense. My main arguement for bringing this debate is because African nations seem unable to make the switch from a Commodity based economy to one that is focused on manufacturing base economy with the exception South Africa.
Look at Malaysia for instance. It has several ethnic groups that were bundled together by the colonialist, yet their prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammed had a vision. Look at where Malaysia is today. Due to Mahathir's vision, today Malaysia is a leader in the Semiconductor industry, with a large Chemical processing industry. Furthermore it is now becoming a leader in the electronics industry, automobile manufacturing, textiles, and raw material processing. All this happening despite corruption taking place. Now how comes that our leaders in Africa have not done what the Prime Minister of Malaysia has done.
Malaysia successfully developed from a commodity-based economy to one focused on manufacturing. Today the Government of Malaysia seeks to make the leap to a knowledge-based economy. At independence, Malaysia inherited an economy dominated by two commodities--rubber and tin. In the 40 years thereafter, Malaysia's economic record had been one of Asia's best.
Last edited on Sunday September 10th, 2006 12:30 by Vubundada_Kandaba
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MarcusGarveyLives Villager

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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 17:15 |
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Vubundada_Kandaba wrote: MarcusGarveyLives wrote: Taking one specific example, did Patrice Lumumba lack "Vision And Common Sense"?
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Unfortunately Patrice Lumumba was murdered before his real potential apart from leading the independence movement was realized. He was a good man and leader but was not never given the chance to develop and lead this nation because he was overthrown shortly right after independence ten (10) weeks later.
-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-
Now there's a surprise!
Did Marcus Mosiah Garvey lack "Vision And Common Sense"?
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Tahliba Villager
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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 19:49 |
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Vubundada_Kandaba wrote: MarcusGarveyLives wrote: Taking one specific example, did Patrice Lumumba lack "Vision And Common Sense"?
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Unfortunately Patrice Lumumba was murdered before his real potential apart from leading the independence movement was realized. He was a good man and leader but was not never given the chance to develop and lead this nation because he was overthrown shortly right after independence ten (10) weeks later.
Therein lies the answer to your question.
Lumumba was not 'unfortunately overthrown or murdered' It was a concious and deliberate act. By who? For what reason? How many others did it happen to?
As for your comparitive countries/states...Can African states, historical developement honestly(scientifically) be compared with the likes of Tiawan Korea et al (is this the group known as the 'Tiger Economies')??
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Vubundada_Kandaba Villager

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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 20:02 |
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MarcusGarveyLives wrote: Now there's a surprise! Did Marcus Mosiah Garvey lack "Vision And Common Sense"?
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Marcus Garvey had vision and common sense; but unfortunately he never was the leader(President/Prime Minister of any Country). I am not talking here of leaders like Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and Martin Luther who were civil rights leaders. I am talking here of leaders who are presidents and prime ministers yet lack vision and common sense to ran a country.
Ask your self this question MarcusGarveyLives. Why does Africa seem unable to move away from a Commodity based Economy (exporting of bananas, peanuts, beef, copper, rubber and timber) to one that is based and focused on Manufacturing (computers, electronics, automobiles, aircrafts, steel, software and chemicals, etc, etc). For how long should we just export Rubber, Tin, Copper, Peanuts, Cocoa and Cotton to the West?
The West buys Cocoa from west Africa for $1 a kilogram or ton or whatever the current rate is and then sell back to us chocolate bars for $1 a piece. With this rate, we will forever continue to tow the line and we will never catch up. Let me borrow something from your book. Below is a pictures of Cocoa beans which Africa sells to Europe at a price I am assuming to be at $1 per 100 kg. Europe than process the Cocoa and sells it back to us in the form of chocalate bars that costs $1 per bar (less than 100 ounce).
Africa sells Cocoa Beans to Europe at $1 per 100 kg ( assuming pricing rate)

Europe sells Chocolate bar to Africa at $1 per bar (60 ounce).

Who is getting richer and richer and who is getting poorer and poorer here; and whos fault is it for lacking vision and common sense? If Africa had followed the examples of Marcus Garvey; we will be neck to neck with Europe in terms of GDPLast edited on Sunday September 10th, 2006 20:10 by Vubundada_Kandaba
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Tahliba Villager
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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 20:23 |
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http://www.blackchat.co.uk/theblackforum/forum34/23359.html
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Vubundada_Kandaba Villager

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Posted: Sunday September 10th, 2006 20:42 |
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Tahliba wrote: Therein lies the answer to your question.
Lumumba was not 'unfortunately overthrown or murdered' It was a concious and deliberate act. By who? For what reason? How many others did it happen to?
As for your comparitive countries/states...Can African states, historical developement honestly(scientifically) be compared with the likes of Tiawan Korea et al (is this the group known as the 'Tiger Economies')??
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@Tahliba. Yes Africa at this very moment can develop like this Countries of East Asia known as the Tiger Economies. The first thing South Korea did in the 1960s is increase the nuber of schools and Universities from seven (7) to about forty seven (47) check fugures and numbers. They also opened many vocational training centers to train a skilled workforce. The government then encouraged private businesses and entrepenuership and they sponsored and gave credits to those companies that are doing good. In addition the government targeted and sponsored specific industries that are technology based such as electronics, automobile, aircraft and heavy industries.
At this very moment any Country in Africa has the capability to be another Japan or Singapore. The key is to develop both our human resource together with the natural resources coupled with GOOD LEADERSHIP. Good leaders with a vision and common sense equals a succesfull country like Japan.
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defyfear Villager
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Posted: Monday September 11th, 2006 03:47 |
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http://www.cic.sfu.ca/horvat/HowKoreaMadeitIntoOECD.html
Moreover, as government officials explained, an absence of foreign investment meant an absence of technology transfers. Korean labour costs were rising (thanks in part to the return of the military to their barracks), and the country had high interest rates (thanks in part to the huge volume of non-performing loans banks had been saddled with during the days of financial repression). So Korea had no choice but to open its doors to foreign investment and foreign technology, without which Korean products would be unable to compete successfully in overseas markets.
Africa has opened its doors to the world just like Korea. For alot longer I may add. How come one succeed and one did not.
So if...
Korea had no choice....
then Africa must have had a choice. Africa made the mistake. Especially the leaders.
Is there something missing like who or what would allow a country to 'choose' a plan to follow.
Choices for the government...
Either those military coups or those barreling unionized workers against government.
Why would who or what decide to invest in Africa but not include technology transfer as a part of the package like Korea, WWII defeated Japan, Malaysia, Brazil, WWII defeated Germany, Israel etc.
I guess Africa choose to not want the technology and wanted to be considered 'backwards' by the world because Africa had a choice.
I mean are military dictator or ruler really have such vision alone to transform countries in progressive nations. Or they had assistance.
Korea and Taiwan perhaps was needed to keep Japan in check by US after its WW2 glory days. Hence the reason for technology transfer.
They needed assistance like everyone else. Alot of outside assistance.
Malaysia to aid technology transfer to its businesses
http://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNews&itemid=2280&language=1
Even Malaysia will put basic homegrown research to the side for foreign technology.
That is a choice Malaysia made.
Some warranted points made otherwise.
Just some feedback...
Last edited on Monday September 11th, 2006 03:50 by defyfear
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DtotheJ Villager
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Posted: Monday September 11th, 2006 15:41 |
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Vub,
you should have asked a question about African american elected officials...
you would have 5 pages of comments by now...
People are dodging/avoiding this question like the plague
but what else is new.....?
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Last edited on Monday September 11th, 2006 17:10 by DtotheJ
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Buu Villager

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Posted: Monday September 11th, 2006 21:15 |
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Vubundada_Kandaba many of those example you give are very bad ones. It's no coincidence that countries in the Pacific Basin like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan have been successful, if you take a closer look at them they all have something in common, that is they don't have vast natural resources the West/US might be dependant upon, indeed it's the complete opposite, the rebuilding of Japan after world war 2 was at the time when the US controlled 50% of the worlds resources. The control of Saudi Arabian Oil, which Japan is dependant upon, for example gives the US a veto power over these countries
No one has every taken into account of natural resources used to rebuild Japan.
The US was very concerned that the conquered Japan would associate itself with China, Europe with the Soviet Union if these countries weren't reconstructed along US guide lines, the US is still very concerned with the reunion of Korea via Chinese guidelines under the control of North Korea and not itself. Recently US has paid more attention to South Korea over its long term growing concern of uncheck rivalry of Japanese, so its invested heavily in South Korea to balance it out and they to will also become more dependant of US controlled resources.
In regards to Africa I think the root of the problem is "the people", in most cases, most of these goods which are sold back to Africa by the West at extorted prices are still afforded with the exports of Oil and so long it's affordable and able to "get now" then there will be no problems now.
Take the Dictatorship of Gabon for example.
http://www.blackchat.co.uk/theblackforum/forum9/23849.html
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TheDogon Villager

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Posted: Monday September 11th, 2006 21:33 |
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I don't see what is so hard to understand? Most African countries are chasing "Westernized" ones. Most African people including those in the West, really don't believe that their own African standards are as good as any on the planet. So what happens?
Well, African countries become mirrors of Western Capitalism. The poor get poorer, the leadership becomes more corrupt and more wealthy. And they are stuck in a cycle. They despair over the state of their country, so they seek to become more Westernized, because being more like "White" is more like right. . .this in turn causes them to fail even more horribly.
Africa's problems are too complex than to just lump them all on the bandwagon of not being Western enough.
____________________ “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning.
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Vubundada_Kandaba Villager

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Posted: Tuesday September 12th, 2006 00:08 |
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@DtotheJ. You made me really laugh but you are absolutely correct. We need to stop this mindset of sweeping everything that is a failure under the carpet and then we go on and pretend like all is well; when in reality all is not WELL. The only way to progress and move forward is by criticising,correcting and critiqueing ourselves.
@Buu. Thanks for your input. But I would like to say this, if you look at the History of Japan, the companies and industries that are existing there today were started back in the late 1860s. By the time Japan went to war with America, they had already established most of these industries they have there today. It will be fair to say that Japan will be where it is today if World War II and World War I did not happen and if they the Japanese did not attack America. So many people are mistaken that Japan developed because of America which is not really true. Yes America helped rebuild Japan, but they (America) were rebuilding what they (America) had destroyed.
I honestly believe that many Countries in Africa can be like Japan if we had GOOD leaders who have a vision and some common sense. Just look at India, Malaysia and Brazil for instance. We need to ask ourselves, if other people can do it, then what is preventing us( Africa) from doing the same. What is preventing African countries from selling computers, electronics, plastics and steel to the West instead of selling them peanuts,Cocoa, cotton, soy beans and raw materials? Why do we have colleges and universities in Africa if we are not going tomove away from a Commodity based Economy to an Econmy that is focused on Manufacturing?
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TheDogon Villager

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Posted: Tuesday September 12th, 2006 01:05 |
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VK, I tried. Well, let me try again.
I am speaking as an African-American. So much of the time I am in conversations with other African-Americans who wonder why African-Americans don't perform as well as other groups.
Like I said, I think the answer is much more complicated than many people are willing to accept. For them one target, one bullet.
I get into these conversations and it becomes obvious that the African-American I am talking to has simply forgotten some basic facts.
1. Humans don't differ on a "racial" basis. We differ on a cultural basis. Culture meaning a system of beliefs/behaviors.
2. Well, if that's true, are African-Americans willing to adopt traits of other cultures?
Noone really thinks about the importance of such questions. Let me illustrate;
How closely have we studied the behavior of the "successful" cultures. . .since we are always comparing ourselves to them? I would submit, we have studied their behavior very little. Let's look specifically at the American situation. Let's look at two comparisons that African-Americans love to use. Jewish-Americans typically send their children to a community school. These schools can be public or private. But in addition their children attend another school that teaches them both the Jewish religion and Jewish Culture.
Are "Black" folks going to do that?
Hell nah.
Asian-Americans typically put tremendous pressure on their children to do well in school. It is like a competition where they have to defend their family's honor. To bring dishonor upon one's family is like a death sentence. Children aren't necessarily smart, like we like to pretend. They just spend much more time studying and trying to be perfect.
Are "Black" folks going to do that?
Hell nah.
Well why won't we? It's not necessarily that we love failure or anything. But that when you adopt a practice of another culture, you are most likely going to lose a bit of your cultural identity.
I am not a continental African. But isn't a significant part of the African identity still tied up in this commodity based economy? Isn't a significant part of the African identity still tied up in the land or ownership of livestock, etc., etc?
You can't change this stuff overnight. It's a big, giant complicated beast. And we need to stop pretending that it's simple.
Last edited on Tuesday September 12th, 2006 02:12 by TheDogon
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Vubundada_Kandaba Villager

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Posted: Tuesday September 12th, 2006 02:21 |
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TheDogon wrote: Hell nah.
Well why won't we? It's not necessarily that we love failure or anything. But that when you adopt a practice of another culture, you are most likely going to lose a bit of your cultural identity.
I am not a continental African. But isn't a significant part of the African identity still tied up in this commodity based economy? Isn't a significant part of the African identity still tied up in the land or ownership of livestock, etc., etc?
You can't change this stuff overnight. It's a big, giant complicated beast. And we need to stop pretending that it's a simple.
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@The Dogon. Some-one raised the same question and that is "will Africans loose something when we move from a Commodity Based Economy to a Manufacturing Based Economy"?. The answer is NO, and NO. The only thing we will loose in the process is collective poverty.
Education and manufacturing is not a white thing. Today thousands of Africans are trying to get to Europe with hundreds perishing in the seas this year alone in an attempt to cross over. Now why will they do that? Because they are looking for opportunities which they do not have in their own Countries. The question then remains, Africa has all the Natural Resources yet we are poor. The answer lies in the fact that we sell Europe and America copper or iron ore for $1, and Europe and America converts our Natural Resource we sold into some equipments and then sell them back to us for $100. When are we going to see this?
It took South Korea less than twenty (20) year to move out of poverty. Obviously to get to where South Korea and Japan is will take time and Africans are aware of that, all we are looking for from our governments is a plan in motion that will lift us out of poverty and into prosperity.
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TheDogon Villager

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Posted: Tuesday September 12th, 2006 02:35 |
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Vubundada_Kandaba wrote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@The Dogon. Some-one raised the same question and that is "will Africans loose something when we move from a Commodity Based Economy to a Manufacturing Based Economy"?. The answer is NO, and NO. The only thing we will loose in the process is collective poverty.
Who says? You say? Well, I want a second opinion. Aren't there other Continental Africans in this forum? Because I ain't saying that I am an expert. But when speaking in general about Human Beings and their cultural identity. It becomes clear, their cultural identity is tied up in something. And that something is as important to them as life.
For Jews, it's religion and tradition. For American Indians it's their s connection to the land. For other groups, it's something else that makes them special and unique.
Even if you were correct, the "stigma" is still a problem. For example, an American Indian tribe, choose to go into the whaling industry as the means for supporting their people. Because of the "stigma" other alternatives had.
From the Westernized African-American Viewpoint, I could say that's an insane decision. But I am not an American Indian. I don't know what it means to be culturally defined as one. They had a choice to become more Westernized. But they choose to do something that was more traditional. I have no doubt they will choose differently in the future, seeing their survival will be dependent upon that. But I can't change them, they must make the "correction" (if one could call it that) themselves.
Education and manufacturing is not a white thing. Today thousands of Africans are trying to get to Europe with hundreds perishing in the seas this year alone in an attempt to cross over. Now why will they do that? Because they are looking for opportunities which they do not have in their own Countries. The question then remains, Africa has all the Natural Resources yet we are poor. The answer lies in the fact that we sell Europe and America copper or iron ore for $1, and Europe and America converts our Natural Resource we sold into some equipments and then sell them back to us for $100. When are we going to see this?
It took South Korea less than twenty (20) year to move out of poverty. Obviously to get to where South Korea and Japan is will take time and Africans are aware of that, all we are looking for from our governments is a plan in motion that will lift us out of poverty and into prosperity.
VK for us to speak, you must stop putting words in my mouth. I never said education/manufacturing were "White" things. Can you understand the words that are about to be typed?
We will see. I have tried to use other cultures, because it's plain to me that many Africans just don't see how Africans are Human Beings too. I have tried to show that the behavior of other cultures isn't tied to some superior analysis on their behalf of the environment. They merely possess traits that give them the advantage now. A simple illustration is you noting that African immigrants die trying to make it to Europe/America. Well, they should. Seeing that they would have an easier time making it over here than in their home countries.
This is a quick fix. Right? It's a fix for the individual. Not for the community. Well, we are talking community problems and resolving large scale issues, right? We are talking about changing the culture(s).
Look this isn't working. Maybe if I approach things this way.
VK, please explain, if it is so easy to change African ways. . .why haven't Africans made the necessary changes in your opinion?
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safetyblitz Super Moderator

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Posted: Tuesday September 12th, 2006 03:07 | | | |