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Mar. 25, 2005 If the whole world were ‘Peanuts’ I would be Linus or worse Chuck – Charlie Brown. I must admit I am a self confessed skeptic and the image of Linus standing talking to a brick wall for what seems to be ages apparently preparatory to a show down with Lucy who as you guessed it behaves exactly in the same way causing Linus to report to Chuck “you’re absolutely right!” some how I feel ill be putting my innermost thoughts to a brick wall of world intransigence. The most recent cause yet of my ear hair wrenching episode was the much glamorised, blanket covered Blair Commission for Africa; as if that was the solution to Africa’s myriad woes. I have always held a view that if the West really wanted to help Africa-stop its wars, feed the homeless and hungry, curtail the AIDS scourge etc it would happen… it is not the question of will or means. Today George Soros could, Bill Gates could (I mean what is one man doing with $46billion?), the list of individuals – not even government or institutions, who could is endless put would they? It is here I would like to draw an analogy-controversial it may seem but one anyway.. there is no denying Africa would be a force, in any sphere whatsoever, to be reckoned with and I see such a tragedy, in the ebony mass of the afro-americans, the ‘plight’ of the afro-Americans is a micro-cosm picture of black of the people are as a whole, how many years since shacking off the chains of slavery but the black man seems so nearer holding, at least for once, the helms of power in a society, institution, country he would and has shed blood, for forget the fact that the black man has excelled in almost every major field of endeavor-sports, the arts, academia, entertainment, military and very very fringe politics- anything that would give the black man power, raw power, that, power which he is allowed in sports, entertainment etc, inevitably becomes the ruin of him and his last state not much better than his first, but how about political power to be empowered to determine the destiny of not just his life but that of a nation-say United States of America. They were heady days indeed of Jesse Jackson as a first possible black president but it was to be no more than that, heady rhetoric, a gesture futile at its best but then came the 1990s and a mercurial figure arose not forcing himself through impassioned talk but hoisted up by the ‘people’ themselves. Unfortunately he came, he saw and conked out-Colin Powell could only come out again muted in a relegated role where gravely disappointed he set, his horizon never zenithed . I have always wondered the seeming impossibility of the blacks in America raising up their own plat-form independently from the two major ones. Sure the hue and cry about segregationism and race would follow but every other affirmative action only further impoverishes not empowers, and I would like to make a very very daring assertion here. Why can’t Condeeliza Rice stand as the republican candidate against Hilary Rodham Clinton come the next presidential battle. Not only would the U.S have a first woman president but Condi would trounce Hilary so bad and there would be a first black president!. Having digressed so far and so wide let me make my point.. it all started about the –a Blair Commission for Africa. The question is why does the West continue to patronize Africa like this? The issue is, it’s not about the will or ability to carry out a set of actions that will truly empowered Africa. The will is surely there, the resources as well but just as there are sworn ideologues- individuals, institutions, interests who exist solely for the purpose that no black rules America so there are similar forces that forces that do exist to make sure African remains where it is wrapped in penury, war, disease, mishap, the pits. We do not need aid. We do not need financial assistance, African needs reparations – a dip in the pocket of the west so deep that for once we might be level; something that would hurt financially not the dollops of measely placebos given her and then with crippling conditions. WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH MULES! WE NEED THE FORTY ACRES! When asked if he thought the could, rather would convince his fellow G-8 leaders about the merits of his pet project, hot air and all Tony Blair replied confidently; (as his style) but even a deaf or blind person could sense he himself was skeptical about it. I remember a Mandela concert or some ‘Help Africa’ music bash in London in the mid 80s where George Michael was caught on a stump as to his participation and what possible good would come of it (something like that), for a moment a near possible snarl “I just come here to sing- aaand promote meself”….it almost came out before Mr. George realized he was on live t.v, checked himself and gave the usual patronizing liner about helping starving babies, dying old geezers. Mr. Blair I do not have much to say to you but I will say this much; your aims, motive might be oh so well sincere teary eyed and all that, none of us knows or will judge you- you and the rest of the G-8 leaders who know they are deciding the fates of millions dark skinned people (whose lives never seems to amount for much) called Africans. All I, together with those other millions of dark skinned people called Africans, will say is I hope you all sleep well when you turn in every night either now in your strong years or later when you become old and weak and memories of those strong years (and unfulfilled promises, played-to- the-gallery promises) come upon you like a flood. WE HAVE ENOUGH MULES, GIVE US THE FORTY ACRES. ------------ Email Stephen Lonewolf Makama: lonewolfmak@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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