I'm confused as to why people were so concerned with the the Afghan predicament, when Africa has been in dire need of help since before apartheid. Both Africa and Afghanistan need economic, social, and health attention and help. However, I have a weird sensation that the majority of Americans are consigning Africa into the damp depths of oblivion. Why?

why do doctors in africa have to me so mean? "Go hone and die?! Man! when I heard this, I got goose-bumps, and almost started crying!

Africa needs help. I am doing research into a talk I am going 2 give at school about children, and I feel sick thinking about their endangered lives. Why can't they be peaceful? They are entitled to a life. On Newsround Africa last night there was a very disturbing report about how children have 2 bring up a whole family becaust their parents have died of AIDS in Malawi. In Uganda AIDS is on the decline. Why can't everyone recieve the same help? Also there was a report on Tuesday's Newsround about children living with families under bridges and sleeping on streets. One boy was taken to a special centre. Why can't there be more of these as the report stated they can only take in a limited number? It makes me sad to think of those children when we have so much.

I think that the United States should be spending a little more time on the problems in Africa because they've been going on for far too long without enough attention to them. I'll still feel that everything going on in Afganistan is important but we as a country need to worry about what we were dealing with first before we try to worry about something else.
*Now don't get me wrong, I still worry about everything that is going on currently in Afganistan. I think that the two matters shouldn't be prioritized because they both hold importance. I just think that more attention should be placed on both of them.

Perhaps our government doesn't 'care' about starving people in Africa because the American people don't care about starving people in Africa. Last time we tried to help starving people in Africa the American population opposed it in masses and asked 'why should we get invovled in other peoples buisness'?

Hey I'm not trying 2 get in2 a lil message board fight w/ anyone here but i'm just wondering why the US pays so much attention 2 other countries and not 2 itself? No one even really pays us back for it either so whats the point? the US is screwed up enuf as it is, why dont they try harder 2 fix it?

CommonSense- I suggest you ignore marine16 on this one. I tried to argue this non-issue before (in the Venezuela topic), He said colonialism is good, I' said it's bad, then he says the burden of proof is on me. It was rediculous Even when I presented facts he ignored them. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

Third time tonight that I can simply tell you you have no facts. In the course of the discussion you said colonialism good, I refute with colonialism bad, I think that puts the ball in your court, unles you want to clarify in more detail what you think is missing.
Thank you.

Commonsense, you entire arguement was dismanteled in my last post. Stop graspping for straws.

Impact of Colonialism on Africa:
* It plunged Africa into the world economic system
- If they wanted to be developed the would have asked. It wasn't the "White Man's Burden" to impose himself upon these people

* It destroyed the traditional social, economic, political, and cultural structures

* Community and Family spirit was replaced by competition and individualism

* It increased ethnic conflicts due to uneven development strategies
-With different countries ruling differnt people differnt systems were set up and the playing feild was arbitrarily uneven for other's gain.

* It divided Africa into regional and territorial boundaries
-Instead of culture and ethnic groups defining borders, arbitrary lines set up by people who didnt own the land in teh first place divided allies and included hundreds of ethnic groups, many hostile, into the same country. This is very much a factor in ongoing conflicts and war in Africa.

* It decimated African populations
-Europe cared little about the people as more than just tools; farmers, miners, slaves, for their own benefit. Europe brought disease famine and reliance on others that killed off many much in the same way exploration of the Americas had centuries earlier.

* It created economic dependency on the industrialized nations
-48 of the 55 countries in Africa depend on just tea, cocoa, or coffee for more than half of their export earnings. Beyond the adverse effects of only having one crop, it forces people to rely on what other nations want and to provide it for them.

* It created general underdevelopment and poverty


* It institutionalized national and international racism against Africans and peoples of African descent
-Apartheid in South Africa most notably, but also monarchies and elite ruling white classes while the vast majority, the indigenous people were discriminated against and subjugated, leading to accepted rascism


When was the last time you checked country's "top 10" trading partners? I doubt you really check. It is simply a perception of Africa, an all too common misconception. For example Nigeria is the US's fifth largest source of oil. Much of the world's afore-mentioned cocoa, coffee, and tea come from Africa; along with diamonds, ivory, and gold of course.


If you've conceeded the rest of what I've posted then I gues we're done here.

Oh Jesus God NO! Not another Colonialism pseudo-logic-fest!

Let me count the holes, commonsense.

"Aftereffects of European Colonialism is the main source of problems in Africa." You are completley right. If they were still colonies, Africa would be fine and this discussion would not even be takin place.

These points braught up by you, Common sense, also prove my colonialism opinion...

"They, however, were never allowed to profit from what they had. And after colonial powers left, no structure for sustainable development remained."

"When we work with teh people and within an understanding of their culture it is much easier to help them (yes they do want help). "

"Right now sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing worse than normal droughts" I am sure there is a lot we can do to prevent a draught. Also, ever hear of the draught in America? "establishing irrigation among other things" Good call since there is a draught.

"In regions where 1 in 4 people has HIV/AIDS simply treating the disease is inadequate" There is no cure for aids, there is nothing we can do for them. You try telling a tribal women who has 11 siblings she should not have kids because of AIDS.

"Trowing money or medication at tehm was not the answer."..."Obviously easy and affordable access to drugs is important for teh current situation," get your story straight.

"Somalia for instance is an example of US intervention and colonialism and half-hearted humantarianism" You are right, sending people to war, to risk their lives, to get food to poor people is half-hearted.

"Stability and sustainable development in Africa is important for the world that depends on it a lot more than you might think. Just becasue we neglect it doesn't mean we don't benefit form it." You are right, the last 50 years has been horrible while Africa is crumbeling (Sarcasim you fool.) Lat time I checked, no country has Africa on their top ten lists to trade with.

Corrections:
Aftereffects of European Colonialism is the main source of problems in Africa. Establishing governments, cultural impierialism, stealing people and natural resources, etc.
Africa supplies a significant portion of the world's diamonds, oil, coffee, food, and other natural resources. There is no reason they should not be wealthy and stable. Theirs is a beautiful land and reputably the begining of civilization and mankind.
They, however, were never allowed to profit from what they had. And after colonial powers left, no structure for sustainable development remained.
When we work with teh people and within an understanding of their culture it is much easier to help them (yes they do want help). There was a diarreah epidemic killing many children due to dehydration. When medication was thrust upon them few took it and few even knew about it. Trowing money or medication at tehm was not the answer. People continued to die. When it was explained to the people in term os their beliefs and culture and local tribal doctors (more spiritual than medical) were shown how to solve the problem, the epidemic was halted and lives were saved.
Right now sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing worse than normal droughts and starvation partially due to a recently ended civil war. The economy is in shambles and the problems are far worse than even a normal year. Helping the farmers (more than the government), showig people how to purify water, and establishing irrigation among other things, would very much help their current situation.
In regions where 1 in 4 people has HIV/AIDS simply treating the disease is inadequate. Obviously easy and affordable access to drugs is important for teh current situation, but it also wouldn't take that much to organiza public awareness campaign. A voluntary education about causes of disease and disease prevention. For those that choose a certain way of life as essential to their culture, that is one thing, but for people who disire to have a healthier and longer life there are options.

In response to comparisons between Afghanistan and Africa: Much of Northern Africa is Muslim. Somalia for instance is an example of US intervention and colonialism and half-hearted humantarianism. As far as terrorists go. Somalia again has long beena harbor for OBL and people of his ilk. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were targets of bombings in, I believe, 1998.
Stability and sustainable development in Africa is important for the world that depends on it a lot more than you might think. Just becasue we neglect it doesn't mean we don't benefit form it.

Lets see, we have tried to help Africa in the past? Just like in Vietnam, they do not want our help. Also, what could Africa possibley yield? nothing, there is no oppurtunity for corporate investment in Africa. What we would pay to get Africa back on its feet would never, NEVER, be paid back. Helping these countries would not benefit USA at all. Hell, even when we give them medicine, the let it expire. When we give them food, they waste it. When we give them weapons to fight their governments, they become the same government when they win and are thus new enemies.

Do not get me wrong, i am compltley for colonialism. Which in short means, helping countries get stable by following our footsteps while at the same time benefitting America both militarily and economically and resourcefully.

Perhaps there was a time, immediatly following WWII when we could have helped Africa but they are beyond repair. Just like Eastern Europe.

And by the way, Vegan, in case you are living in a cave we are at war with terrorism. When was the last time African terrorists blew up a major building in America? Of course we will rid the government in Afghan and we will see results.