Obama's Africa express

One thing that we in South Africa should learn is the usefulness of AID, and start giving aid to our own delapidated and needy population in the townships and rural areas, in the same way we expect the US to increase aid to Sub-Saharan Africa. If Obama goes to Africa for US interests, that's in order as he is the US President - and not an African President. Only have to learn the lessons from others, is all I advocate, and we will resolve our own problems, by providing African solutions to African problems. That would ensure greater profits for the companies involved in the aid projects, and more jobs for the rural and urban poor. And since we beleive in going the socialist route, then assure that those rural and urban poor have a 61% BBBEE shareholiding in all those companies, to emulate the US government's own 61% shareholding in General Motors. I am sure the good professor might agree with me on this.

"Forty-eight sub-Saharan African countries, including some of the poorest in the world, share less than $1-billion annually -- the clearest sign of the political nature of American aid"

I don't think African problems need outside solutions.Africa is one of the richest continents as far as natural resources are concerned.It is one continent,that can hold it's own in the world.But what does Africa produce,despots,coups,corruption,civil wars.All these things that I have mentioned impact seriously on Africa progress.No amount of AID will ever change Africa ever.Africa will remain a basket case and always an object of charity from the West.Democracy,good governments,tackling of corruption will get Africa out of its pathetic affairs,not Obama.He is an America and his priorities are to America.As for Israel,America has always had that special relation.You forgot to mention that there are more Jews in America than in Israel.Most donors to the either political parties are Jews who consider Israel their homeland.
No African America,be in Congress or even Oprah owes Africa anything,let alone act as a lobby.
It is in Africa's best interest to get herself out of this mess.Obama knows what's wrong with Africa,he is probably embarrassed by the rot in the continent caused by the above mentioned culture,i.e depots,civil wars,corruption,lack of political leadership.
There you have it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090711/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama

My point exactly Obama.

Dr Adebajo writes an interesting article, many points of which I'm sure are valid in the arena of NGO's, governments and world politics.
Evans Mazi's summation is, I believe, more relevant to and ultimately more powerful for change than every good political intention, and that is that the people themselves will decide how they will live and how they will be governed.
An acquiantance of mine who lived and worked in Ghana for many years once asked a local man, "Why are things in your country in such a sad state of affairs?" After a moment's pause the man thoughtfully replied, "It is because we Ghanaians are so corrupt". He did not blame the Colonials, or call on the UN or appeal to the West for more aid. It was their problem and it was he and his fellow countrymen who would do something about their "sad state of affairs".
There is a new film called "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" which chronicles the recent political chaos in Liberia and how it was the people of that country (primarily the women) who, through their own grit and determination, effected change. True, there was outside help, but had it not been for the Liberian women saying, screaming, "WE ARE TIRED OF LIVING LIKE THIS" and holding their government and rebel leaders to account there would have been no positive change. They raised their own funds, made their own way and effected their own change!