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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> On Wings of Eagles
        
(Message started by: Jasmyn on Aug 24^th, 2005, 1:17am)

Title: On Wings of Eagles
Post by Jasmyn on Aug 24^th, 2005, 1:17am

I am presently reading this book by Ken Follett. A great book on actual events that happened to Americans in Iran in 1979.

It just shows that the whole of the African continent has the same mode of corrupt operation. And I should know I live here.

For us living here corruption is the norm.

America and the Western world do themselves a disfavour to invest, aid or get involved with the African continent.

You will get no thanks, only be asked to spend more, risk more lives and in the end be targets because you did not play by the continents rules.

You think you are doing good supplying aid, but aid here goes not to those who need it but is intercepted and distributed to line the pockets of the corrupt polititians/chiefs/power players.

You think "humanitarian" but the powers that be just pass you the buck as they know this is your philosophy and now they do not have to take the responsibility for cleaning up their own mess.

The motto is:
"Give me your money, your aid, your help but don't EVER interfere with the way I spend it and DON'T ever tell me I'm wrong!"

The African powers are not interested in your values, morals or to fix their countries. All they are interested in is your money and sympathies. Sympathies generate more aid.

I know it is hard to understand this from a Westernized point of view especially because you see the ads with the poor, starving childrens faces, the suffering of a humanity and you have so much. So you feel guilty or morally obliged to help. But your help is no help here because of the culture and to try and change the culture will just cause more problems, violence and corruption.

Unfortunately Africa has a lot of mineral wealth, so everyone wants it. But do you really think it is worth the lives of loved ones?

Africa is a beautiful continent with some beautiful people but it is called the dark continent for a reason. No one in history could even come close to conquer it although many nationalities have tried. Many have died and for what... to eventually go back to their own countries and lose it all back to the African way.

Just my opinion.

Title: Re: On Wings of Eagles
Post by Bob P on Aug 24^th, 2005, 8:38am

Isn't this the story of how Ross Perot rescued his employees being held hostage in Iran?

We should make Ross Secretary of Defense!

Title: Re: On Wings of Eagles
Post by vig on Aug 24^th, 2005, 8:51am

wow
what will break the pattern?

http://www.one.org/
a lovely thought, but pure fantasyland, IMHO

Title: Re: On Wings of Eagles
Post by Melissa on Aug 24^th, 2005, 9:38am

Jas, I've felt that way for a long time. I wish it were not so, but those advocating for an end to poverty globally are just not being realistic. To me, peace on earth ain't gonna happen because there are too many people filled with anger, selfishness and corruption walking around. >:(

It just kills me to feel the suffering of those who did nothing to warrant it. :'(

Title: Re: On Wings of Eagles
Post by Frank_W on Aug 24^th, 2005, 10:46am

We have starving, homeless, and destitute people right here in the United States. We have thousands without health insurance. How about feeding and caring for our own people first? >:(

Title: Re: On Wings of Eagles
Post by mcf69 on Aug 24^th, 2005, 10:56am

on 08/24/05 at 10:46:48, Frank_W wrote:

We have starving, homeless, and destitute people right here in the United States. We have thousands without health insurance. How about feeding and caring for our own people first? >:(

My thoughts exactly Frank, I really believe we should get our own house in order before we go playing rich Uncle Sam to the rest of the world....

Title: Re: On Wings of Eagles
Post by Jasmyn on Aug 24^th, 2005, 11:57am

on 08/24/05 at 08:38:28, Bob P wrote:

Isn't this the story of how Ross Perot rescued his employees being held hostage in Iran?

We should make Ross Secretary of Defense!

Yes Bob, this is the same story. I really admire people like him that care for his own people enough to go to the lengths he went to to get his employees out.

I would like him to be my President. Tough but honest and caring. We just don't see this in Africa.

Vig this is pure fantasyland:

“WE BELIEVE that in the best American tradition of helping others help themselves(How do they help themselves? America and World Aid drop off meds and food and the goverments sells it to the people and pocket the money. They built schools and hospitals and it gets vandalized until only shells are left because the people did not suffer to pay for it, it was for free, so someone will come and replace it.) , now is the time to join with other countries in a historic pact for compassion(yes , because propoganda works, polititians that own the media, sends pretty pics of starving kids with tears running down their faces to the world to get your sympathy and money) and justice(like Frank said, it starts at home) to help (not helping, making dependent) the poorest people of the world overcome AIDS (our own president denied its existence) and extreme poverty(all over the world in every country there is poverty). WE RECOGNIZE that a pact including such measures as fair trade(Uh-Uh?), debt relief (Yessir then we can make more debt), fighting corruption (Aggg-Pleeease, how are you going to do that?) and directing additional resources for basic needs (Yes, it's directed but not to whom you think) – education(still corruption in all African schools, mostly teachers on strike and you can still buy a senior certificate and drivers licence, goverment don't supply books and educating adults on family planning and AIDS just have no impact here as it is against cultural beliefs), health(people still die by the thousands because even the poorest have to pay for medical care and you still get AIDS from hospitals) , clean water(I don't even have clean water,I put swimmingpool chlorine in my tanks and then have to boil it if I just want to bring it close to my mouth) , food(even the poorest grows veg to survive because the food drops have to be paid for) , and care for orphans (like I said family planning and AIDS is against cultural beliefs)– would transform (yes make them more dependent and less self sufficient) the futures and hopes of an entire generation (most would have died out by 2020 with aid or without aid because of violence, tribal hatred, religous and power diffirences) in the poorest countries, at a cost equal to just one percent more of the US budget (Tax that YOU pay for). WE COMMIT ourselves - one person, one voice, one vote at a time - to make a better, safer world for all.”

BULL DUST! That is the best " guilt/ or I'll get in heaven then" statement with NO support that I've ever seen!

All I can say is, don't just visit here , live here and your bubble will be burst.

Title: Re: On Wings of Eagles
Post by Ree on Aug 24^th, 2005, 10:51pm

I SAY HIT UP SOME OF THOSE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CELEBS THAT DO THE COMERCIALS FOR other countries that are starving .... Oprah does her shows about Africa... I love Oprah too but Oprah "show them the money" Brad Pitt and Angelina.... sure they visit... they talk the talk they go to the countries PLAY WITH THE KIDS~~ TAKE A KID HOME.... "Brad and Angelina....with your millions....80 cents a day Brad and Angelina..... you have the 80 cents a day SHOW THEM THE MONEY!!!".... I wish I could do more. Me the middle class... heck now with gas prices I'm gettin to be lower middle class... We see the comercials we know whats happening.... we pick our charities.... I say celebs, sports figures... you should be ashamed of yourself with your millions doing nothing...... just my opinion......ree