Is Africa the pit of humanity? (condo, crimes, living)

[fnord]

I know there are several threads going on about Africa, so here's another one - spawned after watching a documentary today about the turmoils of DRC (formerly Zaire) over the past century. The documentary only further discouraged me about the state of the world we live in, and I'm really having problems understanding why the "third world" mentality still perpetuates to this day with seemingly no end in sight.

I came across this article, from which I'm going to post a few quotes:

The atrocities perpetrated by these armed groups are of an unimaginable brutality that goes far beyond rape. The atrocities are structured around rape and sexual slavery and aim at the complete physical and psychological destruction of women with implications for the entire society.

I read things like this, and it sounds like an infectious mental illness affecting the general populace (but males, in this case). WHY? What is it that could make someone behave this way? I try to put myself in their world - I'm totally destitute, I'm hungry, I live in a shack, the government is completely corrupt - would I run out with my friends and start attacking random people and shoving sticks up their katoochies? Would I take the town retard hostage and force him to eat poo or dead human flesh just because he's vulnerable?

This just goes beyond desperation - it's totally sick. It's like packs of ferocious animal predators just spreading violence and destruction wherever they go. Why do people want to live this way (I'm speaking of the perpetrators). What is it going to take for these people to JUST STOP, unite, and progress? Do they like living this way? Why perpetuate it? With such deplorable conditions, why are the 60,000,000+ people of DRC not teaming up to rid their country of such filth and corruption? How could someone join a military and then turn against those who were once family, friends, and neighbors. And not just turn against, but commit despicable crimes against humanity.

Don't even get me started on the rest of the world...I'm just disheartened that even now in modern times the problems only get worse and worse.

DOOMED. All of us.

[mommytotwo]

That is unimaginable.

We had to free the Iraqis from Sadaam?

What about the people of this country? Will we save them next? Is there any oil in Zaire? Hmmmmm..............

[moving123456]

Originally Posted by mommytotwo

That is unimaginable.

We had to free the Iraqis from Sadaam?

What about the people of this country? Will we save them next? Is there any oil in Zaire? Hmmmmm..............

Yes, there is oil in Zaire. Most of the large oil companies had assets there at one point. I remember them being seized by the Zaire government back in the 90's.

[Mojo Riley]

Originally Posted by fnord

I know there are several threads going on about Africa, so here's another one - spawned after watching a documentary today about the turmoils of DRC (formerly Zaire) over the past century. The documentary only further discouraged me about the state of the world we live in, and I'm really having problems understanding why the "third world" mentality still perpetuates to this day with seemingly no end in sight.

I came across this article, from which I'm going to post a few quotes:

I read things like this, and it sounds like an infectious mental illness affecting the general populace (but males, in this case). WHY? What is it that could make someone behave this way? I try to put myself in their world - I'm totally destitute, I'm hungry, I live in a shack, the government is completely corrupt - would I run out with my friends and start attacking random people and shoving sticks up their katoochies? Would I take the town retard hostage and force him to eat poo or dead human flesh just because he's vulnerable?

This just goes beyond desperation - it's totally sick. It's like packs of ferocious animal predators just spreading violence and destruction wherever they go. Why do people want to live this way (I'm speaking of the perpetrators). What is it going to take for these people to JUST STOP, unite, and progress? Do they like living this way? Why perpetuate it? With such deplorable conditions, why are the 60,000,000+ people of DRC not teaming up to rid their country of such filth and corruption? How could someone join a military and then turn against those who were once family, friends, and neighbors. And not just turn against, but commit despicable crimes against humanity.

Don't even get me started on the rest of the world...I'm just disheartened that even now in modern times the problems only get worse and worse.

DOOMED. All of us.

I've been having a similar crisis of faith recently. It's just too much to comprehend. I really despair for us. I despair for us, and don't have the optimism I once had. We really are a despicable bunch of animals.

[Jesus of CopyMat]

Yes, it is the pit of humanity, which is sad considering it's the birthplace of humanity (and coffee!). There are people with AIDS running around thinking that having sex with a virgin will cure them. A lot of people. That there says it all. Not sure how it can get better there at this point. I really don't.

[At1WithNature]

I wonder if this behavior has crossed the Atlantic into America. there are many alarming stats given African Americans, especially in relation to African American women and how they are treated by African American men.

[Soju]

Originally Posted by At1WithNature

I wonder if this behavior has crossed the Atlantic into America. there are many alarming stats given African Americans, especially in relation to African American women and how they are treated by African American men.

CNN did a report on this about 65% of all new cases of AIDS are from black women. I'm assuming they are being infected mostly by black men.
i don't know why in 2008 people are still uneducated about AIDS in US.

[halibutt]

Yes

[john_starks]

so is anyone on this board gonna help?,

Moderator cut: Feel free to post again, but without the expletives

[sirron]

I was told a story many years ago about aid workers that went to Africa to teach them about birth control. To demonstrate the use of a condom, they put it on a stick. When they went back a year or so later to see how the natives were doing, you guessed it: they were putting condoms on sticks and then having sex.