It's good to believe in the fundamental goodness and honesty of most human beings - but as to our rationality :
"Aristotle, so far as I know, was the first man to proclaim explicitly that man is a rational animal. His reason for this view was one which does not now seem very impressive…" ( the opening of Bertrand Russell: An Outline of Intellectual Rubbish )
In this article about future trends in West Africa's demographics here's evidence of optimistic men making decisions as rational beings :
"A recent continental survey by a South African foundation, for example, found that 73% of young Nigerians expressed an interest in emigrating within the next three years."
It's elections in Denmark and Israel tomorrow, and the changing of the guards is all set to continue as an infinite cycle of Presidential Elections in Nigeria where more often than not truth can be stranger than fiction, almost everything is possible, and with the spate of random kidnapping engulfing the country no one is safe at the moment, elections are slated for the 25th of February, 2023, unless, God forbid, some unknown highway robbers/ gunmen kidnap the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Mahmood Yakubu, and don't spare Presidential hopefuls, Peter Obi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and their running mates either.
In that case, Mr. President would have no choice but to call in the military and declare a state of emergency…
Russell's Intellectual Rubbish in vile contrast with the sublime:
St Peter of Damaskos: Book I: A Treasury of Divine Knowledge
The Theft of a NationOluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju''Elect me'', he cried. ''Insecurity will become a thing of the past.''He was elected.He came to an understanding with terrorists, bandits and kidnappers.'''I am your man,'' they were made to understand.''Carry go,'' as it is said in Nigerian pidgin. ''Our time has come''.''Massacre and occupy, kidnap and ransom, declare your goals from the rooftops, justify them in broad daylight, I will either do nothing or support you in one way or another.The fools are shackled. Activists bought. Politicians compromised. Everyone else chained by fear. Disunity reigns as different interests cancel each other out. Smile to the keeping places of your treasures gained through blood and pain. I will make it a crime to apprehend you. Your ransom demanding phones will never be traced. The country is yours. Even when your locations are known to all, I will pretend not to know.''And so it unfolded, years after years, the stupefied ones watching as vampires took over their country.
Listserv moderated by Toyin Falola, University of Texas at Austin
To post to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
To subscribe to this group, send an email to USAAfricaDialogue+subscribe@googlegroups.com
Current archives at http://groups.google.com/group/USAAfricaDialogue
Early archives at http://www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa/ads/index.html
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "USA Africa Dialogue Series" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to usaafricadialogue+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/usaafricadialogue/b1cb953d-0b69-4af1-a40d-d558a69e6742n%40googlegroups.com.
