25 Replies to “End African Poverty. Deport the Despots!”

  1. Get rid of the dictators, end the civil wars, and dismantle their militaries. The west gives more than enough aid to Africa. It just gets into the wrong hands first. And there are enough bottled water companies now up and running to ensure these folks have clean water for life. And BIRTH CONTROL – a free b/c patch for every woman over 10, or vasectomies for every male over 12. They cannot keep breeding at the rate they are. The Catholic Church has a lot to answer for here. It’s irresponsible to denounce b/c in these countries unless the Vatican is willing to pump enormous sums of money into these nations to feed all these little ‘souls’.

  2. The single most important thing that sub-Saharan people and all other disenfranchised people need is the right to personal private property that is free from the King and other anti-free-market protection rackets. That’s how, through honest work, you build the equity that is the root of freedom. That’s why I spent some time a few Fridays ago celebrating the 790’th anniversary of the Magna Carta.

  3. Mrs Thatcher is a VERY ignorant woman.
    The problems in Africa have nothing to do with Catholic teachings. In fact, the only country that is a success story in the fight against AIDS is Uganda.
    “Uganda officially promotes an ABC model– Abstinence, Being faithful, and only after that, Condoms– to combat AIDS, an approach supported by the US government, which is sending billions of dollars to Africa to fight AIDS. Official figures show that only six percent of Uganda’s 26.5 million people are infected, compared to 30 percent in the 1980s.”
    Africa has many, many problems. Following Catholic teachings is not one of them.
    Mrs Thatcher is advised to educate herself about Africa.

  4. Ouch, Anselm. I’m Catholic, and I know that the teachings of the Church have not helped one iota, not just in Africa, but in other countries. It’s not as simple as that, of course. But two of the cardinals being considered to replace John Paul XXII were from Africa and Central America respectively, because their populations are growing, as is the Catholic faith. I just think it the Church has to do a lot more to help followers in poorer nations. You have to admit, when you see all those children, starving, it’s ridiculous to keep having babies when you can’t feed them. Not exclusively a Catholic problem, granted, given the lack of social programmes, etc.

  5. Dear Mrs Thatcher,
    Please refrain from dispensing anti-Catholic rhetoric. Having babies is not the cause of Africa’s problems. May I remind you that the low birth rates of western societies causes its share of troubles too.
    You might want to reread Tony’s post.

  6. Caribana weekend in TO; weak end for three murdered. The denials here are outrageous. Blacks are murdering; the police are impotent. Read the Staff Insp.’s comments; is he blind or colour blind?
    >>>>>>>>>>>
    TORONTO (CP) – Hundreds of people dropped their drinks and kicked off their sandals and flip-flops to flee the scene after gunfire rang out at a jammed public square early Sunday.
    ADVERTISEMENT
    It was one of three fatal but apparently unrelated shootings in a 12-hour span.
    At least 1,000 people were partying at Dundas Square, a downtown gathering spot, at 4:30 a.m. when the shooting happened, said Toronto police Staff Insp. Jeff McGuire.
    “It was packed, it’s safe to say wall-to-wall people,” he said. “I’m sure you’re going to fit more than 1,000 people there.”
    Hundreds of police officers were on the scene as part of stepped-up security deployed for large crowds, such as the weekend Caribana festival celebrating Caribbean culture, McGuire said.
    Ajine Stewart, 24, of Mississauga, was arrested soon after the shooting and faces a charge of first-degree murder in the death of Dwayne Taylor, 21, of nearby Brampton, who died later in hospital.
    McGuire added he couldn’t understand why someone would commit such a crime in plain view of a substantial police presence and security cameras.
    “I mean, we have police officers on horses, we have hundreds of police officers in uniform, and (someone would) still choose to take someone’s life.”
    McGuire said the square is popular on an average Saturday night but that Saturday’s crowd swelled exponentially due to the city’s Caribana festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all over North America and the Caribbean.
    But he was quick to add the shooting was not the result of the festival itself.
    “Shooting people on Dundas (Street) … has nothing to do with Caribana, it has to do with a large crowd gathering after the event,” he said.
    In another case, the body of Umathevan Thiyagarajah, 26, of Toronto was found at a suburban intersection after gunfire was reported.
    Elsewhere, Leroy Whittaker, 46, was shot through his Toronto apartment door.
    No arrests have been made in those shootings, which follow a spurt of recent violence.
    McGuire said there is no trend because the shootings were not connected.
    >>>
    http://www.rapp.org/url/?NKJS8QEJ

  7. Anselm, You challenged Mrs Thatcher with a VERY capital ignorant.
    I too am uninformed. So I followed the debate carefully and I did not see how you filled my ignorant gap. You offered no solution.
    That’s fraud. I want a refund. 73s TG

  8. It’s not anti-Catholic, but I’m sorry if you are offended. As TG noted, you’ve done litle to enlighten either of us, and seem to have focussed on one aspect of my comments, that being Catholic doctrine as it pertains to growing populations in less a less than ideal environment. But again, no offence was intended vis a vis religion.

  9. My dear Mrs Thatcher,
    Reread your earlier comment. You said that the Catholic Church has a lot to answer to. I said BS. The RC is not the problem; they are the solution.
    Tony,
    Line up and wait:)

  10. Um, oh hi, it’s me again. I’m sorry to sound like a broken record, it’s just that I think it’s important. Catholics aren’t the same as Catholosists aren’t the same as Catholosismists. Every time we argue about labels instead of behaviour, we are being distracted from our work.
    There are Catholics who believe in enabling all people, including the disenfranchised. There are Catholics who believe in coddling the disenfranchised. There are (1) give a man a fish, (2) teach a man to fish, and (3) free a man to fish people. I’m with 3, I figure we’ll figure out 2, and 1 is a bad idea (except in an emergency).

  11. The Church could be the solution if it wanted to. I’m with Tony – 3 is where we all belong. I do feel, historically, that MY Church has relied on dogma to intimidate/coerce, even in countries like Ireland, Spain and Portugal. But if you’re saying that the solution is faith, well, I agree totally. But when I look at all those kids starving, I’m sure how aging rock stars or opportunistic politicians can do much until you rid these countries of despots. Which, come to think of it, was the whole point behind this discussion. Perhaps viewing it as a woman, it’s quite different when you see mothers who cannot care for their children, and men who see nothing wrong in having their wives and kids in the fields working (I’m thinking of piece I saw yesterday on crisis in Niger). But while I wouldn’t dream of imposing western views on these countries, there has to be a better balance, more education, etc. Free a man/woman/child to fish, etc.

  12. Anselm, You just took offense at someone commenting against RCism. This is a free country and your opinion is just fine.
    I take all this chatter very lightly. What gets you off the hook is your sense of humour.
    *Line up and wait.* That made me chuckle. Is there a line up down at small debts court?
    Save the labels like ignorant for people who deserve it and you will avoid looking like Parrish. 73s TG

  13. The Live8 concert was made up of people who felt that our government should be forcing its people to give money to people who are poor because their government stole from them. Ironic! Once our government has stolen all our money, who’ll feed us? Bono? It’s easy to be generous with other people’s wealth…that’s the socialist way.

  14. Some of you are confusing Stephen Covey’s teachings with Catholicism?
    I again take offense to a comment, but this time for the use of Ireland as an example of how RC dogma was used to intimidate/coerce. It was offensive because it is false! Perhaps you are confusing state sponsored Anglicanism with the coercive arm of the state?
    If Mrs Thatcher and Tony wish to discuss Africa, the religion of blame should be Islam not the RC Church. Also, South Africa has a huge AIDS problem and it is not a RC dominated country. Perhaps a snear at Anglicanism might also be more appropriate?
    If some of you want to solve African poverty, may I suggest that you look for root causes rather than using false accusations or employing the superficial dogma of a self-help guru?
    Bandaids = live ache!

  15. Kofi, Maurice Strong, Stephen Lewis, Naomi Klein, Mugabe, Castro, & etc. are in denial now: Saddam, their buddy, is to be put on trial, on world-wide live TV. Now this: Crazy John Bolton is on his way to the UN building in New York City.
    Go John Bolton!!!!!!!!!! Kick ass, John.
    >>>>>>>
    monday, august 01, 2005
    Bush Appoints Bolton
    Bush Appoints Bolton to U.N. Job.
    WASHINGTON � President Bush bypassed Congress Monday and appointed John Bolton to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
    �This post is too important to leave vacant any longer, especially during a war and a vital debate about U.N. reform. So today I�ve used my constitutional authority to appoint John Bolton to serve as America�s ambassador to the United Nations,� Bush said, with Bolton at his side, during an announcement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House.
    �I am sending John to the U.N. with my complete confidence … His mission now is to speak for me on criticial issues facing the international community. And he�ll make it clear that America values the potential of the United Nations to be a source of hope and dignity and peace,� Bush said.
    �I am profoundly grateful and deeply humbled,� Bolton said. �It will be a distinct privilege to be an advocate for America�s values and interests at the U.N.�
    Those popping sounds you hear are the exploding heads of lefty bloggers.>>>> LGF

  16. I am not thrilled to be quoting myself, but:
    This might come off as a bit too flip, but the first thing that popped to mind was that that ‘Live 8’ business was not a great idea.
    Along with a headline in a relatively flip magazine over I-don’t-remember-what-humanitarian-crisis in Africa, which was, roughly, “World shrugs, says ‘Who cares? It’s just Africa.'”
    So, the idea that Bono has somehow wrapped up the problems of a continent, crossed with compassion fatigue.
    The ‘compassion fatigue’ might also be linked to some nascent post-colonial ideas that colonialism was a better deal. A violent-looking throng in the Ivory Coast with signs asking France to get lost vis-a-vis matters Ivorian sends — unfortunately — some less than positive ideas. British Somaliland might have been a fun jaunt for the nabob type, not the greatest for the area, but, distressingly, better. It’s nice to wax poetic about Mandela, but when Qaddafi pops back up in the news in response to ‘Live 8’ to tell people that Africa is looked down upon for good reason and they should stop begging, etc, there is some temptation to throw one’s hands up in despair and hope the ravages of colonialism and post-colonial corruption will eventually sort themselves out, ideally with a minimum of dreadful images in the news.
    While writing that, I was trying to avoid coming out and saying “African leaders are corrupt,” it being a little too nasty and all-encompassing and unfair; I have, for example, no substantial problems with the way Botswana conducts itself.
    Too many of them look like wannabe Ceaucescus. The problem isn’t even just the leaders themselves, but wives making Nancy Reagan look like she dressed in rags.
    http://www.legalbrief.co.za/publication/archives.php?mode=archive&publication=Legalbrief_Africa&issueno=17&format=html
    Zimbabwe: Lavish allowances planned for retired presidents’ wives
    There’s no gravy train like the Zimbabwean gravy train, it seems. In plans to guarantee a lavish lifestyle for the First Family, the government wants to amend the law to raise the allowance of the spouse of a retiring president or his deputy to the same level as that of the spouse of a serving president/vice-president. The Zimbabwe Independent reports that under proposed changes to the Presidential Pension and Retirement Benefits Act, when Robert Mugabe retires, his wife will continue to receive the same benefits as those of the spouse of a sitting president. The amendments also include pegging the pensions of presidents and vice-presidents at 90% of the salary of an incumbent.
    Full report in The Zimbabwe Independent: http://www.theindependent.co.zw
    Along with far too many other examples, though Mrs Mugabe is definitely one of the last people on the continent you’d want to see with a plush (or any) pension.

  17. The most telling argument about Africa having a serious problem is that elsewhere in the world Africans are succeessful and prosperous people – just not in Africa. I don’t think the Catholic Church has that much to answer for, not so much as recent, post-colonial developments in Africa, where the failed policies and rhetoric of the 19th Century Euro-Leftist intelligentsia were exported in an attempt to incubate them in a more hospitable environment, but all that happened was the structures of failure were repeated, and collapsed again dramatically.

  18. Hmm… Anselm, Stephen Covey’s name rings a bell. Did he, perhaps, author, “Being the Best” in the early nineties?

  19. Guess not. The name rings a bell as I read his book “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”.

  21. I have to weigh in on this – and I gotta say – I’m with Tont G and Mrs. Thatcher. Catholicism has alot to answer for here. When the Pope died I watched an interview with a “front-runner” from Africa. (name escapes me now) The Mental disconnect this guy had between AIDS and Condom use was stunning. This is a church that needs to be a bit more progressive where life in Africa is concerned. It’s all well and good talking about birth control being a sin – but in Africa condoms are a life and death issue, not birth control. (that would seem to me to be the side effect) Even the nuns in some of these countries have started handing out condoms in direct violation of their teachings. We are talking life and death here not birth control. This is what the Catholic church has to get!

  22. While removing the warlords might sound nice who is going to do it Canada?
    Yes France likes to dash into their old colonies without a UN stamp of approval but the only country who could do anything is the
    USA and why should they get the world upset at them for cutting off the oil for food again.
    Keith if africans are successful elsewhere maybe it’s because to get a job at the RCMP they neet 86 points while your average white sot needs 115.
    Do you really think they are doing that good or, or is it one of the reasons that Canadas productivity falls every year. Remember the survey they did in Ottawa just over a year ago when they found most of the homeless people were not born in Canada. That’s not even getting into the family class.
    PS the list left out MR 161 million Paul Martin

  23. Man, I’m with anselm. I never new the church said to sleep around but to not use condoms. How can you blame the church for something when obviously these people are not following church laws??

  25. Don’t Insult Africa: Raise a Cry for Democracy!

    Here I Come To Save the Day! Yesterday, in an article entitled, “All Rock, No Action”, the New York Times published a dissident voice on the Live 8 effort to help Africa — the oped was written by an…

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