Franklin JOHNSTON
Friday, August 05, 2011
A nation's myths are powerful motivators, but myth cannot replace
fact. We have some fictional heroes and celebrations and some say if
it makes poor people happy, why not? But can we face facts and still
celebrate Emancipation? Is a familiar lie better than truth? Can we
build on trumped-up ancestors and celebrations? It did not work for us
in the 20th century, will it work in the 21st? Europe's myths helped
them but most are vague pre-history. We can't mythologise events and
people when facts are known to the contrary. Be creative with Nanny,
but our Emancipation is well documented and was a victory for the
British. They put right their ancestors' wrongdoing; put things back
the way they were - almost! So, let's praise our ancestors who fought
to gain freedom though they lost, and salute British MPs who struggled
30 years for an Emancipation Act - they won.
This is no 4th of July for us. You return my body to my control after
using it for generations and I celebrate? A thief returns my wallet
and I praise him? Our Emancipation was not our work, just as my car is
not my creation - am I bothered? No. Use it and move on. Our leaders
think we will not be inspired if we know the truth but we are not
inspired now. On August 6 we will also tell the world how we bravely
fought for Independence and how well we have done in 49 years.
Puhleease! I am no spoilsport, but these celebrations use about one
per cent of our production days. How does this help us to prosper? We
need to take a close look at all our national icons in case, in their
haste to get control of the purse, our leaders failed to do or
overlooked things which are the root of present problems. Look at our
gruesome crimes, abysmal illiteracy, loveless relations, mindless
tribal behaviour, endemic selfishness. What causes them? How can
people so blessed behave so badly? So much so we are struggling and
poor while our comrades in the region have advanced? Why is our new
nation most likely to make it 50 years ago now a criminal, druggie
layabout? Why is the most conscious country in the early 20th century
now the most materialistic, cruel, excuse-making nation in the region?
We were the cradle of philosophy, resources, unity, Pan-Africanism;
conscience of the world, admired and revered. Today we are an economic
and moral pariah and we don't care a damn! Still, we do talk well! We
are slaves to cruel, selfish materialism. Emancipation? What
Emancipation?
Drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.
1/1
Africa is dying
In the Horn of Africa - Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti - some 5
million people starve and thousands die daily. The UN says it needs US
$2.5b to feed them. We say we need charity, can't afford to give
others. I disagree! We got a lot and we should give to needy nations
as we are able. Some tithe in church, volunteer, donate, but few see
beyond their own group. Africa is needy, but we extend no charity to
them. Why? Marcus Garvey would. The human race comes in a limited
colour palette and it seems black people everywhere are poor, even
here where we run things. Is this fate? Accident? The world was
wracked by man-made and natural disasters - volcano, plague,
earthquake, war, holocaust, famine, tsunami, nuclear, finance - but no
place retains the impacts as Africa. Famine, plague and war lived in
Europe and Asia - they prosper. America is self-sufficient. Japan is
quake-ridden, but creates ways to ameliorate impacts - they prosper.
Africa creates no such self-defence. Disasters in the Caribbean are
never as tragic, as life in America's footprint saves us. From 1957 to
1962 when we got Independence some 35 million Chinese died in famine -
yet they prosper. Disaster by itself does not stop a nation from
prospering. The will to work or orders to work are unquenched by
disaster -work is the key. Big African famines began in Egypt,
devastated the Mahgreb and Sahel as far as Timbuktu. Outside European
and Arab records only archaeology can reveal a disaster history of
black Africa. It endures regular debilitation; no lasting peace,
stability and no sustainable prosperity. We have none either, but a
few sea containers of food solve our problem, not Africa's. Malaria,
population, dictators, tse-tse fly, tribal massacres, lack of water,
sanitation and food continue to plague this rich continent. Its
dramatic, variable biodiversity made it a crucible of creation. But
nature is not kind; it has dark pages but the fittest survive. Will
Africa always be unstable and need help? Maybe. We are taught that
life gets better; not for all of us, it seems. Will the poor be here
forever? Africa's restless natural forces makes it a "work in
progress". South America is earth's lungs, Africa its creative stew -
feral, dark, dangerous, but once in a while new light emerges.
Thankfully, it elicits caring from a sometimes selfish America and
Europe and it survives!
Do we really care?
Over decades we see photos of Africa's kids dying by the thousands -
Ethiopia, Uganda, Biafra. We have not pulled our weight in
philanthropy, neither to our neighbours or Africa. Our culture
vultures feed on her; our GG is asleep and Parliament is mired in
politics and can't even debate a resolution on Africa. Some serious
issues do not resonate with voters, but why has Cabinet formed no
charity for Africa? No appeal, no bank account, no collection tins?
Our churches are rich; pastors are rich; big buildings, risqué
imported evangelists are the fashion. Our universities are neutered -
take no stand. Our singers and entertainers feed on Africa's cachet
but give nothing back. Their hearts are far from Africa - Anancy,
opportunist, charlatan! On TV we see many who walked for days to get
food; each day a few kids died - no water and none strong enough to
carry them or bury them - thank God for vultures! We sing Africa,
locks Africa, talk Africa, wear Africa to make money but we do nothing
for her lost and dying kids. Ananda alert seems a luxury, our politics
a farce and our mango season manna from heaven. They have no such
bounty. We don't know suffering. We pay lip service but we don't care.
We take, we do not give. Many selfishly believe we can't give until
all our needs are met. We give locally but we need our own small aid
agency to channel experts and help to small EC nations and poor
African countries as we are able. We are blessed but mean. Give!
Does our media care?
The largest poverty initiative in London is by a newspaper from
donations it solicits. Yes, media can be corrupt and conscious. Images
of Africa's hunger are in UK media daily. Ours do little to highlight
the desperation in East Africa. No media telethon? No serious
journalism? We romanticise Africa but "back to Africa" is dead! We
just gawk at photos of dead and dying kids. The Rastaman, Garveyite,
Pan-Africanist set no example, they leave that to the white man. We
have no conscious national leaders...how we miss Michael Manley and
Bob Marley! The world misses them too. We are not "white-minded"
either as white people lead in helping Africa. We talk the talk very
well. May conscious youth rise up and restore our failing nation! Our
media can do more.
Do white nations care?
Damn right they do! They give refuge, asylum - the recent Nonvegian
neo-Nazi massacre is the price some pay - and allow Africans to have a
life. London raised the value of billions of our dollars in three days
for Somalia. We get foreign aid for 50 years and other nations take
our restless people, but we give nothing and take no one. Europe has
appeals and donates to Africa. Kids with tins, boxes in shops,
adverts; tax rebates to donors; no visible affinity to Africa, yet so
conscious. Why? Charity? Mother Africa in their DNA? Reparations?
Remittances? Self-interest? Whatever it is, God bless them! Why are we
so cavalier at Africa's trials? We do not have a lot, but why not do
some fund-raising? Do we really care about anyone but ourselves? Prove
it! Stay conscious, my friend!
Query
In Mexico 1968 Dick Fosbury of the USA won gold in the high jump with
his new method. Before the "Fosbury flop" athletes leapt over the bar
one leg first. Where is he now?
Dr Franklin Johnston is an international project manager with Teape-
Johnston Consultants currently on assignment in the UK.
franklinjohnston@hotmail.com
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