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Jul. 3rd, 2005 02:56 pm"'There were people in other countries who thought that this place was important. They believed that it could show that dry places like this could be changed. They wanted us to show that people could live together in a place like this and share everything.'
Mma Ramotswe nodded. She was familiar with people who liked to test out all sorts of theories about how people might live. There was something about the country that attracted them, as if in that vast, dry country there was enough air for people to breathe. Such people had been excited when the Brigade movement had been set up. They had thought it a very good idea that young people should be asked to spend time working for others and helping to build their country; but what was so exceptional about that? Did young people not work in rich countries? Perhaps they did not, and that is why these people, who came from such countries, should have found the whole idea so exciting. There was nothing wrong with these people - they were kind people usually, and treated the Batswana with respect. Yet somehow it could be tiring to be given advice. There was always some eager foreign organisation ready to say to Africans: this is what you do, this is how you should do things. The advice may be good, and it may work elsewhere, but Africa needed its own solutions.'
(A McCall Smith - Tears of the Giraffe - Abacus - 2000)
I think the bits of the concert I saw were fantastic, The Who and Pink Floyd in particular. But I'd like to reserve judgement on whether or not things will change until they actually do. Johnny Borrell out of Razorlight said 'We have to make them listen to us,' and I think he missed the point. In Blair and Brown we already have people who are listening, and in the rush to condemn our governments I think we forget that. Labour has an excellent record, as I pointed out before the election.
Of course, I want the debt written off, and of course I don't want five, six, seven children to die since I started typing this sentence: it's all so wretchedly horrible and unfair.
But I can't help thinking there's something fundamentally wrong with it coming from us. It needs to come from Africa. They need to help us help them in the best way. It is not our place to dictate what's best, because even though our system by and large works, it is not perfect. Debt relief is surely a good start, and will be A Good Thing when it happens, but why aren't we stopping arms sales? Should we be thinking about reparations?
Who really knows?
Mma Ramotswe nodded. She was familiar with people who liked to test out all sorts of theories about how people might live. There was something about the country that attracted them, as if in that vast, dry country there was enough air for people to breathe. Such people had been excited when the Brigade movement had been set up. They had thought it a very good idea that young people should be asked to spend time working for others and helping to build their country; but what was so exceptional about that? Did young people not work in rich countries? Perhaps they did not, and that is why these people, who came from such countries, should have found the whole idea so exciting. There was nothing wrong with these people - they were kind people usually, and treated the Batswana with respect. Yet somehow it could be tiring to be given advice. There was always some eager foreign organisation ready to say to Africans: this is what you do, this is how you should do things. The advice may be good, and it may work elsewhere, but Africa needed its own solutions.'
(A McCall Smith - Tears of the Giraffe - Abacus - 2000)
I think the bits of the concert I saw were fantastic, The Who and Pink Floyd in particular. But I'd like to reserve judgement on whether or not things will change until they actually do. Johnny Borrell out of Razorlight said 'We have to make them listen to us,' and I think he missed the point. In Blair and Brown we already have people who are listening, and in the rush to condemn our governments I think we forget that. Labour has an excellent record, as I pointed out before the election.
Of course, I want the debt written off, and of course I don't want five, six, seven children to die since I started typing this sentence: it's all so wretchedly horrible and unfair.
But I can't help thinking there's something fundamentally wrong with it coming from us. It needs to come from Africa. They need to help us help them in the best way. It is not our place to dictate what's best, because even though our system by and large works, it is not perfect. Debt relief is surely a good start, and will be A Good Thing when it happens, but why aren't we stopping arms sales? Should we be thinking about reparations?
Who really knows?