The news this morning is that Zimbabwe is declaring Mugabe the winner of the latest election. A few days ago, Yahoo's headline was "Mugabe in one-candidate RUN OFF!" (Run Off? with one candidate!? I loved that one!)
(by the way, please take a second to read the Zimbabwe Wikipedia link above, the whitewashing by Wikipedia of the situation there is breathtaking....Wikipedia makes it look like Zimbabwe's only problems have to do with "land issues" and us, it's incredible...no mention of Mugabe's tactics against his people.)
The recent election was a scam, and people were beaten who didn't vote for their one candidate!
Sudanese rapper Emmanuel Jal says this at Mandela's birthday party this weekend "What I'm afraid of is if Mugabe is going to be isolated and put in a corner and we all pronounce negative stuff, we're going to make him into a monster," he said. We're "GOING TO MAKE HIM A MONSTER"? What part of Mugabe's not a monster unless you're a socialist, White-hating monster yourself? Jal adds that "Cultural values are stopping Africa's leaders from speaking out against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's regime."
That says it all, doesn't it? Those values like kicking out the stinking White imperialists who had Africa running pretty well just so mad dictators can run a rich continent into the ground as fast as possible, murdering and terrorizing their Black inhabitants? Remember this by Mr. Z, the article about how democracy's doing in Africa? Why couldn't they have realized that Africans could have been taught to run a country more efficiently than what's going on now? They had to kick the imperialists out immediately, and they're suffering terribly now. One can hardly blame the Africans for wanting to rule their own, but the method of achieving this goal has been deadly.
But, if you want a really even handed piece on Rhodesia becoming Zimbabwe, read this....it gives a very good account of what has happened there. Here's another article which is heavily biased against "Whitey" and really doesn't condemn Mugabe as he should be, but gives a pretty clear account of how some of the Blacks in Zimbabwe are feeling. There's some truth in it, of course, but the conclusions are oddly pro Mugabe in my opinion. Some African leaders are speaking out against Mugabe, but not enough.
Where's Mandela? Wouldn't you think he'd be all over the situation, this fighter for the people's rights? How can he turn his back on the Blacks who are suffering so badly in Zimbabwe just to prove his point that Africa was right in getting rid of oppressive White leadership? Maybe it's because he's having trouble in South Africa, too?
Russia, China, and SOUTH AFRICA voted against a Security Council resolution against Mugabe! BIG surprise, huh? Couldn't be Russia and China are sharpening their claws for some of its riches? Couldn't be that muslim African leaders are sharpening their claws to fill the terrible Zimbabwean void of unrest and no healthy resolution with islam, could it? Most African leaders are staying quiet, taking riches, screwing their people, and hoping nobody notices. So far, so good. At least "Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, among the veteran leader's most vocal critics on the continent, called on the African Union to send troops into Zimbabwe and labelled Mugabe "a shame to Africa".
It's a real shame. Should we do anything about it?
22 comments:
Considering that this all began 20 years after black rule began, its pretty bogus to blame this on anyone but Mugabe.
He has ruled Zimbabwe for 28 years.
Well, the answer to your question depends on who you are. Personally, there is nothing we (Americans) should do about it. Over time, all the wolves will kill one another off and make room at the top of the food chain for new generations of wolves. By the way, what is happening in most African nations follows the "Guava Theory" of human development.
On the other hand, if your name is Barack Obama, you can propose the Global Poverty Act that demands the people of the United States give up $385 billion of their hard earned money to the coffers of all the Mugabes throughout Africa. No, it won't solve anything, but it will make Obama popular among other African scum.
Did you notice how I made a good attempt to keep my response in a most-positive light?
Hey Z!..I'm back girly!..I agree with Mustang all the way on this one!
And since Africa has proclaimed the African Union, with it's own; army, anthem, flag and money...it's their baby.
I shudder at the suffering and the evil being done, but everyone has a choice to make, and Africans have voted.
tmw
Until the USA rediscovers the values that made us the world's first hyper-power, I'd recommend following the Hippocratic Oath... "Do no harm".
Which since we're all still so morally confused cuts two ways and also means attempt to "Do no good". So that puts me in complete accord w/mustang, et al, in opposing the Obama "Africa tax" and just about all UN operations in the World.
Perhaps that way, when we do re-discover our values, we'll be in a better position to actually "do" some "good".
...but so long as the Left remains so completely morally decadent and cornfuzed, I can only say that "divided" we're destined to "fall."
Ah yes. The Global Poverty Act, Obama's baby. I'm sure this 845 billion dollar boondoggle will buy a lot of palaces and caviar for the tyrants like Mugabe, as they look out over the cesspools they've created.
That's alot of 'feel good' for limousine liberals in America. Not, however, a whole lot of 'feel good' for most of our citizens who work for a living.
Does America really have to pay through the nose for Barack's endless search for himself? Seems to me some visits to a psychiatrist's couch would be a hell of a lot cheaper!
There will always be Mugabes in the world. As long as there are uneducated, masses who are gullible enough to expect something for nothing. Who want to be taken care of.
There is another factor at play in Africa though. It seems the 'white' man is not acceptable even when he is growing the food, as he did in Zimbabwe. Racism is racism no matter from where it comes, and in this case has cost Zimbabwe, mightily.
Since that seems to be the case, I don't feel particularly compelled to do anything, especially since it is money down the drain. No good deed goes unpunished it seems, and I doubt this would be an exception.
When will we learn?
Pris
I agree with everything you all said. And the answer to Pris' rhetorical question is: We will never learn
This tragedy in Zimbabwe has a good side: It demonstrates very clearly what happens in this part of the world (see the article on the subject in geeeez). It also demonstrates who can think clearly and who not. To summarize that: Most people can't, including the UN, the AU, and the Democratic Party.
The Global Poverty Act is nothing else than a disguised bribery to the blacks, here and in Africa. What ever happened to one of the rare doctrines of Pres. Bush where he got it absolutely right: "Support to poor countries is only provided if (a) the can demonstrate that they can handle the administration of such aid, and (b) if they can demonstrate that the money is not held up in the network of bribery." There is this one potentate in the middle of the continent, who lives in a huge palace, has 12 Rolls Royce or so, a private plane and all the rest of it. And his subjects don't have anything to eat.
We should absolutely not send one more penny to these countries. These countries are rich in resources. If they don't want us to help them through "imperialism", we should let them go and continue to destroy themselves. They are on the best way, including South Africa. They won't get any pity from me.
Mr.Z
Great comments, all. Thanks.
Freedomnow, nobody BUT Mugabe can be blamed..Mustang....VERY 'light' !!....Angel..GLAD to see you back! TMW..you're right that Africans have voted but the unbelievable coersion sure proves no REAL democratic vote, doesn't it!
But.........how much CAN we help? Particularly when they don't WANT it!?
FJ, do you think we will rediscover our values? truly?
Mr.Z..you've been right for years! (but, only on this subject, of course!!! ha!) xx
"Anybody REALLY care about Zimbabwe?"
France?
Germany"
Russia"
The UN?
Any takers?
If only Mugabe was white. Imagine all the change that could be made. Overnight almost. Africa will always have their ignorance resulting in stifling poverty which results in suffering by their choice. African tribalism has no boundaries. Just look to our own country with an Obama as a "viable" alternative for "change". God help us all...especially if you're white.
To hell with them all.
Should we send OUR brave young men and women there?
No way, no how, not this time around!
The vote is also garnered from those who were told they could have the white farmers land...so they voted for a bribe to themselves. Then watched the farms get handed to the thug du jour's friends.
Will they learn?
tmw
When Truth is rejected, it goes downhill pretty fast.
News Flash....Mugabe has been...errr...re elected by a wide margin. That's not unexpected when you run against yourself with the opposition either dead or imprisoned.
Should I care about Zimbabwe? Not on your life. Let's see if the black rulers have the stomach to rid themselves of one of their own. I seriously doubt it.
Imp
FJ, do you think we will rediscover our values? truly?
Yes, but only after losing or 'nearly completely' losing them... which I don't think bodes well for the immediate future.
...but I'm watching Venezuela closely, to see if a "comeback" is 'truly' possible. It's not easy to "reverse" Ixion's wheel. I've heard it only spins in one direction.
I think we care, but I agree with Mustang, too.
Money is not the answer. Neither is imposing ourselves, politically, right in the middle of a hot mess that shows no signs of ending. I feel like our top obligation is to cut off any US finance to Mugabe and make it clear that he does not have our support.
As usual, Obama is an idiot.
Should we do anything about this?
The short answer:
NO!
"Where's Mandela?"
It's a good question, it seems he has forgotten that the people of Africa gave his freedom fighters safe harbor in their countries, even the people of Zimbabwe. But that's all forgotten now eh.
I've heard people say that further sanctions on Zimbabwe and isolating Mugabe will make it only worse and we need to engage instead. FFS, the guy is burning people alive, chopping their limbs off, torturing, raping, murdering at will.
Are the 'engagers' only going to stop engaging and realize, hey this ain't working guys, when everyone is dead and then turn around and say there's not point in engaging, since all are dead. Perhaps that is the plan.
Z, see my post of today
I reference yours
I think the pathology of people like Mugabe (and Mbeki as another example) is that because they were in the front of the rebellion against repression they alone deserve to rule.
Of course nobody is going to mention colonial oppression as a problem because we all know the piccaninnies were just pleased as punch under European rule.
So what can be done without setting off a civil war with massive loss of life. Should South Africa shut off electricity to Zimbabwe? Would that force Mugabes hand?
There are calls by African leaders to declare the election invalid and force new elections with foreign troops as observers. Can that be done without a civil war?
In the end it has to be Africa solving African problems. There has been hope in Africa. A growing middle class and right now Mugabe is the worst of the problems (well maybe it's still Congo where we haven't been able to take any responsibility for our disgraceful behavior during Congolese independence) and maybe that problem can be resolved. It would be a great step.
Oh I left out Sudan because they have oil and as a result they will never be called out. God have mercy on third world countries with oil. We'll screw them over every way but loose and then complain if someone suggests giving a little back to Africa.
Ducky, tell us...where is this "growing middle class".
We've covered hre the topic of how "piccaninnies" (your word, NOT mine) loved being under Imperialist rule and how very much better off most of them were. I have personal experience with friends from Nigeria who said they can't go back now, they were far better off THEN. I have S. African friends whose workers on their lands begged them to keep them there after Apartheid.
Sudan is one of the places condemning Mugabe, what do THEY have to lose?$$$ Your buddy Mandela's saying NOTHING, by the way.
"giving a little OIL back to AFRICA?" ummm.......Nigeria, Angola, Sudan, Algeria, Libya..they have plenty of oil. See them DOING something with it, DUCKY? NO! "IMPERIALIST" countries are needed to help them, RIGHT, DUCKY!? sure I'm right.
Are we supposed to do the STUPIDITY we once did in supporting the Saudis search for their own oil, training them to deal with it (have they even paid our companies?) and then having to live under their holding it OVER us for decades to come because the IDIOT LEFT has barred us from drilling so caribou would be safe, the same caribou who flock to the piped areas for warmth? WHEN the HELL are the Left going to put US first in ANY situation? Right after Ted Kennedy allows windmills in HIS ocean view?
If Africans were able to exploit their amazing riches correctly, they wouldn't need us or anyone else. STop with the 'European rule' misery crap......Africans are paid to go study abroad and never want to go back "brain drain", that's a terrible problem for AFrica and they do nothing to correct it.
But, it's OUR fault. I know, Ducky, that must make you feel SO much more comfortable.
Thanks, Ducky.
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