Narrated by Yodit [JAM]
Having just had a mini-conversation with a fellow British about African politics, a subject I've yet to learn so much about, i realized that, in my encounters, most foreigners, who by far are poorly aware and not directly or actively involved in issues concerning the motherland ( a continent of immense diversity in culture and socio-economic-political climate. Thus, neither qualified nor in the position to have such a strong say), feel so justified to pass their un-well-thought-through claims with so much conviction, which to me, appears as a failed and might I add, laughable attempt to come across as “INFORMED". Of course, he went on to tell me that Africans (mind you, over a billion of us) haven't made any major contribution to the betterment of the world since we've embraced independence from foreign occupation ( a trauma most countries in Africa are still recovering from), as we are pretty much busy killing each other and rejoicing poverty as a major past time fun. Imagine the sheer ignorance in that claim, sugar-coated with the fancy posh accent and so many big words.
A simple Google search with "Africa's contribution to the world civilization”, or something similar to that, will give one, (who, unlike the vast majority, has the privilege to educate himself and go beyond borders with the wonderful invention that is, the internet), the basics of that insight. I mean, there is immense research material out there to indulge in and form a relatively balanced view on any subject, for a person with an inquisitive mind and hunger to learn. But hey, who has time for that, right? When we can all just be half-evolved fuck-wits and know-it-all's by believing in the unexamined shits we heavily consume and present them as facts. And then, he added how he finds it ridiculous that, in 2015, Africa is still very much incapacitated to eradicate poverty and its cousins, basing the fancy statistics and so called facts he read here and there from biased media garbages, strategically put out there to serve the ill agendas of the imperialistic powers. Besides his lack of understanding as to the many reasons behind the complexities of the problems faced by countries in Africa, he made "eradicating poverty” sound like a 7th grade math equation which can be solved over night. I mean, even that shit needs time, unless you’re crazy about math. I’m not. OK. I'm in no way stating that problems of such sorts do not exist in Africa. We've plenty of those and more. And we've a long way to go.
But then, is there a single country or even a person for that matter, on this planet with zero issues to deal with? Nop. Yeah, we're all fighting battles. They're just simply different. But to boldly claim that, Africans have done nothing worthy of global recognition, is not only hilarious, but reveals the person's limited ability to comprehend a holistic view on any matter. And at the risk of, I guess, passing judgment, for a person, who in a way so subtle, was declaring to be in a better position than the Africans he was criticizing, his "thinking faculty” is like the wheel that keeps moving when clearly the hamster is dead ( Excuse the graphics).
Of course, I kept it light and breezy and didn't even bother about engaging in what would have turned out to be a fruitless mission of narrating just how much Africans ( or fellow Ethiopians I personally know ) have contributed a great deal in so many arenas, not just within their country and continent but also on a global scale. Clearly, if one chooses to see others as having zero potential and competence to do anything (because he/she has been conditioned to believe so and hence, not open-minded enough to entertain new views to challenge those dearly held beliefs), how could my sharing the opposite of that flawed thinking will ever sink in the mind of the brainwashed? And especially, when the brainwashed loves to romanticize what he/she has been force-fed to accept as the general and only truth and is not really into diving in the bigger picture.
While I don’t personally blame people for being brainwashed, as I know that media plays a huge role in how we form opinions and views, it just has become so natural to me not to ever bother about making any attempt to show such people the other side , as I know for a fact that the absence of their validation and willingness to acknowledge the other side of the coin , do not at all make the other facts, (which I certainly know to be true because I have experienced and lived them as an African and most importantly, as an Ethiopian), in existent or invalid. Positive stories of historically marginalized people have always existed and are abundant, in spite of how those stories were and are still being buried from the mass. So what if this fellow believes that Africa is a continent full of only catastrophes and incapable people waiting for the rescue of mighty champions of the developed world? Does that automatically make the other half of the truth unknown to the mass to seriously poof and disappear? Not at all. Now that I think of it, I still don't understand why there is a huge need for validation from others about ourselves, our stories or anything. Are we deprived of self-acceptance that we believe that our experiences are ONLY official and valid when we have managed to convince others and have them validate everything about us for us?
Although I sincerely hope that one day such people will phase out of their brainwashed state of mind (by some evolutionary magic) so that they get to experience the other stories. Not for anyone's sake, but for their very own, so they can learn to grow out of such a limiting way of thinking and transcend to a better human existence. But until then, I won't be here to facilitate the evolution of the willfully and happily ignorant and brainwashed. There is no stake in that. I will always be open to share and welcome stories of different kinds with those willing and open enough to engage on a humane level. Stories matter and yes, there is no doubt that they've to be told. That is what makes us unique as a species. However, I don't quite see the point of consistently pushing down our stories onto others for their understanding, acceptance and acknowledgement, especially when they're so happily married to the stereotypes they have of us, when we should instead just own, validate, unapologetically celebrate our experiences in their totality, irrespective of their views on that. Beyond the other philosophical questions the saying below begs, it actually sums it all up for me: " If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it make a sound?” Yeah, we humans have always lived struggling, prospering and what not, regardless of an audience acknowledging those experiences equally. So who cares if half of the story has never been told? If you have heard it, experienced it and lived it, yes, that counts too.
Having just had a mini-conversation with a fellow British about African politics, a subject I've yet to learn so much about, i realized that, in my encounters, most foreigners, who by far are poorly aware and not directly or actively involved in issues concerning the motherland ( a continent of immense diversity in culture and socio-economic-political climate. Thus, neither qualified nor in the position to have such a strong say), feel so justified to pass their un-well-thought-through claims with so much conviction, which to me, appears as a failed and might I add, laughable attempt to come across as “INFORMED". Of course, he went on to tell me that Africans (mind you, over a billion of us) haven't made any major contribution to the betterment of the world since we've embraced independence from foreign occupation ( a trauma most countries in Africa are still recovering from), as we are pretty much busy killing each other and rejoicing poverty as a major past time fun. Imagine the sheer ignorance in that claim, sugar-coated with the fancy posh accent and so many big words.
A simple Google search with "Africa's contribution to the world civilization”, or something similar to that, will give one, (who, unlike the vast majority, has the privilege to educate himself and go beyond borders with the wonderful invention that is, the internet), the basics of that insight. I mean, there is immense research material out there to indulge in and form a relatively balanced view on any subject, for a person with an inquisitive mind and hunger to learn. But hey, who has time for that, right? When we can all just be half-evolved fuck-wits and know-it-all's by believing in the unexamined shits we heavily consume and present them as facts. And then, he added how he finds it ridiculous that, in 2015, Africa is still very much incapacitated to eradicate poverty and its cousins, basing the fancy statistics and so called facts he read here and there from biased media garbages, strategically put out there to serve the ill agendas of the imperialistic powers. Besides his lack of understanding as to the many reasons behind the complexities of the problems faced by countries in Africa, he made "eradicating poverty” sound like a 7th grade math equation which can be solved over night. I mean, even that shit needs time, unless you’re crazy about math. I’m not. OK. I'm in no way stating that problems of such sorts do not exist in Africa. We've plenty of those and more. And we've a long way to go.
But then, is there a single country or even a person for that matter, on this planet with zero issues to deal with? Nop. Yeah, we're all fighting battles. They're just simply different. But to boldly claim that, Africans have done nothing worthy of global recognition, is not only hilarious, but reveals the person's limited ability to comprehend a holistic view on any matter. And at the risk of, I guess, passing judgment, for a person, who in a way so subtle, was declaring to be in a better position than the Africans he was criticizing, his "thinking faculty” is like the wheel that keeps moving when clearly the hamster is dead ( Excuse the graphics).
Of course, I kept it light and breezy and didn't even bother about engaging in what would have turned out to be a fruitless mission of narrating just how much Africans ( or fellow Ethiopians I personally know ) have contributed a great deal in so many arenas, not just within their country and continent but also on a global scale. Clearly, if one chooses to see others as having zero potential and competence to do anything (because he/she has been conditioned to believe so and hence, not open-minded enough to entertain new views to challenge those dearly held beliefs), how could my sharing the opposite of that flawed thinking will ever sink in the mind of the brainwashed? And especially, when the brainwashed loves to romanticize what he/she has been force-fed to accept as the general and only truth and is not really into diving in the bigger picture.
While I don’t personally blame people for being brainwashed, as I know that media plays a huge role in how we form opinions and views, it just has become so natural to me not to ever bother about making any attempt to show such people the other side , as I know for a fact that the absence of their validation and willingness to acknowledge the other side of the coin , do not at all make the other facts, (which I certainly know to be true because I have experienced and lived them as an African and most importantly, as an Ethiopian), in existent or invalid. Positive stories of historically marginalized people have always existed and are abundant, in spite of how those stories were and are still being buried from the mass. So what if this fellow believes that Africa is a continent full of only catastrophes and incapable people waiting for the rescue of mighty champions of the developed world? Does that automatically make the other half of the truth unknown to the mass to seriously poof and disappear? Not at all. Now that I think of it, I still don't understand why there is a huge need for validation from others about ourselves, our stories or anything. Are we deprived of self-acceptance that we believe that our experiences are ONLY official and valid when we have managed to convince others and have them validate everything about us for us?
Although I sincerely hope that one day such people will phase out of their brainwashed state of mind (by some evolutionary magic) so that they get to experience the other stories. Not for anyone's sake, but for their very own, so they can learn to grow out of such a limiting way of thinking and transcend to a better human existence. But until then, I won't be here to facilitate the evolution of the willfully and happily ignorant and brainwashed. There is no stake in that. I will always be open to share and welcome stories of different kinds with those willing and open enough to engage on a humane level. Stories matter and yes, there is no doubt that they've to be told. That is what makes us unique as a species. However, I don't quite see the point of consistently pushing down our stories onto others for their understanding, acceptance and acknowledgement, especially when they're so happily married to the stereotypes they have of us, when we should instead just own, validate, unapologetically celebrate our experiences in their totality, irrespective of their views on that. Beyond the other philosophical questions the saying below begs, it actually sums it all up for me: " If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, did it make a sound?” Yeah, we humans have always lived struggling, prospering and what not, regardless of an audience acknowledging those experiences equally. So who cares if half of the story has never been told? If you have heard it, experienced it and lived it, yes, that counts too.
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