Africa! What is wrong with Africa? (country, life, quality, people)

[arimor]

Originally Posted by Prince of Lombards

Well, there are some towns that consist of grass huts, and according to National Geographic there are some areas where the locals don't have any written language.

a language doesnt have to be written to be considered language i take it thats a western thing

[RangerDuke08]

Originally Posted by Senator Palpatein

One third of Germans or so died in the BLACK PLAGUE. Germany was plundered by the Roman empire. It was invaded by Muslim forces. It fought against Napolean. Germany got the snot beat out of them in WW I. The people there were starving. Then WW II happened and millions more Germans died. Communism divided Germany and impoverished millions of Germans. I promise you, micro chips don't grow on trees in Germany. So ANSWER THE QUESTION -- WHY IS GERMANY THE 3RD GREATEST ECONOMIC POWER IN THE WORLD? Answer this.

A lot of what you are comparing is over CENTURIES ago Black Plague? Roman Empire? Germany's modern-day infrastructure did not start until the modern industrial revolution. Civil Strife does take into account because it inhibits many African countries from developing a "stable" economy and even though Germany was destroyed during WWII, allied nations were able to rebuild it, talking about Germany is more in comparison with one nation of Africa such as South Africa which does have a more stable political environment and a high GDP #30 and not a whole region. The whole of Europe can fit into that Sundan/Tanzania/Somalia disputed region of Africa.

Although Africa has a lot of mineral resources, it takes a lot of infrastructure to mine those resources and then in comparison raw resources only lasts so long, eventually countries like Saudi will run out of oil, places like Europe, United States, Japan also have technology, which in comparion by smaller manufacturing plants and less man power can create items like computers which only gets better instead of exhausting over time like gold. But first they do need a stable environment where a government governing different tribes can work together to build the infrastructure for economy, agriculture for it's people and education for it's youth, which your lookin at not a one day spell but a good 60 years of effort or so.

[RangerDuke08]

Originally Posted by LegacyofAgesGone

One of the major myths is that Africans didnt have any written languages. It is proven that several west african groups had scripts and some have direct connections to Egyptian scripts. Another is the mud huts there were whole towns with distinct architecture.

Whenever you get the chance you should check this series out its a hell of alot better than watching american idol

What? I thought Africans all spoke English like we do!

[Shizzles]

Africa's problems stemm from the basic issue of morality. It's not that they don't have the mental knowhow to build a great nation, but it's the nature of African social life in general:


If I walk down the road to the market with a basket of eggs in Germany, I know that there is a salient social construct (Read: Christainity)that says it would be wrong for someone to come steal those eggs from me. To enforce that construct, Germany has poilce and civil courts to ensure my saftey.

That same man with a basket of eggs in Africa never makes it to the market, becuase a "Soldier" sticks an M4 in his face and takes the eggs. After a while, no one produces eggs, becuase what's the point if they're only going to be stolen?

Africa never produces anything becuase there is no rule of law to protect that investment. There is no rule of law to protect that investment becuase there is no moral conscensoius(sp?) that says stealing/murdering/plundering is wrong in the first place.

Centuries of Christian/Renessance social conditioning brought European society to where it is today. Before the Romans, The whole world was like Africa. China also developed religon to maintain social order. This is why Atheism and Socialism is extremely dangerous, becuase it teaches there is no right and wrong, sending us striaght back on the path to the dark ages......

[LegacyofAgesGone]

I dont blame anyone for being ignorant I blame the intellectuals of our soceity for imbeddeing racist and sceured veiws into the learning material.

When Africa was experienceing its age of advancement Europe was in the "dark ages" It took the Moors to bring civilization to Europe in places like Spain where their presence is evident in the architecture. When Europe came out of its dark age thats when they dropped the bomb on Africa.

Whats wrong with Africa is that we're looking at the Post Apocalyptic(sp?) Africa. we're looking at whole continent that had a bomb dropped on it and the ash is still on the faces of the victims. We look down on the people who had their legs cut off and ask them why they cant walk.

People here talk about Africa but everything you've learned and think you know about the continent has been twisted by the very people who wrote the text on it. The only writings you can truly trust is stuff that was written before the 1700's.

[graceC]

Originally Posted by sevenofsix

I don't think that's a fair comparison considering Indonesia is mostly fertile land

Are you saying that the whole Africa continent is infertile? Goodness..! They have rich mining, beautiful coasts, valleys and rivers, rich wildlife, unbuild land. Africa is not just sahara desert, you know.

[graceC]

Originally Posted by Shizzles

Centuries of Christian/Renessance social conditioning brought European society to where it is today. Before the Romans, The whole world was like Africa. China also developed religon to maintain social order. This is why Atheism and Socialism is extremely dangerous, becuase it teaches there is no right and wrong, sending us striaght back on the path to the dark ages......

China developed religion? Surely you jest? If anything, Chinese are the most non religious and atheist people I've encountered so far. Even chinese immigrants who live in the western world will tell you that, although they'll put up a christmas tree during christmas just for festivity's sake. I traveled and lived in China for 1 year during a break from college, and I remember staying with one family in Guang Xi who've been registered members of the communist party for 3 generations. I asked if they believe in God and they flat out told me no, they believe in themselves instead, and that they're the ones who can make their lives and country better or worse. This teaching is called nationalism and it's a huge thing in China.

In any case, religious has nothing to do with a country's success. It's the PEOPLE who can make or break a country.

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by Shizzles

If I walk down the road to the market with a basket of eggs in Germany, I know that there is a salient social construct (Read: Christainity)that says it would be wrong for someone to come steal those eggs from me.

This is why Atheism and Socialism is extremely dangerous, becuase it teaches there is no right and wrong, sending us striaght back on the path to the dark ages......

Christianity does not equal morals. Being an Atheist doesn't make me think it is just fine to go steal from somebody walking down the street.

Norway and Sweden are both very Atheist and Socialist, yet they continue to top world quality of life lists every year recently.

We should probably not turn this thread into a religious debate though.

[El Rhino]

I don't agree with Shizzles 100% on every statement made in that thread, but there's definitely some validity in that statement. Christianity is what influences most of us, even if you do not believe in it. Odds are you were taught the concept of right and wrong by a parent or someone who did believe in that doctrine...and if they didn't follow Christianity, they might've still been taught right and wrong by someone who did if that and on down the line if that makes sense. Sweden and Norway have only recently become atheist countries.

Before Christianity, we had European folk religions that taught some of the same things, so I wouldn't limit it exclusively to Christianity.

I don't know what Africa has historically had for religion, although Northern Muslim Africa seems to be a bit more stable than their counterparts in Sub-Sahara Africa.

[Prince of Lombards]

Originally Posted by Shizzles

Africa's problems stemm from the basic issue of morality. It's not that they don't have the mental knowhow to build a great nation, but it's the nature of African social life in general:


If I walk down the road to the market with a basket of eggs in Germany, I know that there is a salient social construct (Read: Christainity)that says it would be wrong for someone to come steal those eggs from me. To enforce that construct, Germany has poilce and civil courts to ensure my saftey.

That same man with a basket of eggs in Africa never makes it to the market, becuase a "Soldier" sticks an M4 in his face and takes the eggs. After a while, no one produces eggs, becuase what's the point if they're only going to be stolen?

Africa never produces anything becuase there is no rule of law to protect that investment. There is no rule of law to protect that investment becuase there is no moral conscensoius(sp?) that says stealing/murdering/plundering is wrong in the first place.

Centuries of Christian/Renessance social conditioning brought European society to where it is today. Before the Romans, The whole world was like Africa. China also developed religon to maintain social order. This is why Atheism and Socialism is extremely dangerous, becuase it teaches there is no right and wrong, sending us striaght back on the path to the dark ages......

I think a great number of atheists would find it offensive that you regard them as dangerous. Do you really believe people are so frail that they need mysticism to keep them behaving ethically? BTW, the Greeks and Romans worshipped some gods that endorsed violence (e.g. Mars), yet they built a very remarkable civilization -- no Jesus required.