Wangari Maathai on Obama , Climate Change, and War-2/2

The Challenge for Africa: Kenyan Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai on Obama, Climate Change and War

We turn now to the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Kenyan environmentalist, lawmaker and civil society activist, Wangari Maathai. Her latest book, The Challenge for Africa, tackles the broad obstacles to living in peace, justice, environmental and economic security for the one billion people across the continent of Africa. [includes rush transcript]

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[Azzaiel]

it wasn't my sole point. it was "an" example.

other than that i think you should reread our posts notice that we are saying the same thing and that you are pointing to some things i have not said but you allude to.

and that you say what i say in a different way.

[its7bounce]

Using Zimbabwe as the sole example to emphasize your point is one-sided. Zimbabwe like Botswana and Ghana also had freedom fighters. We mostly tend to focus on the dictators like Mobutu, Mugabe, Amin to show that African leaders are repressive and allergic to democracy while neglecting Jerry Rawlings or Mogae who have led their countries to stability and cleaned out corruption. It's easy for us to paint Mugabe or Charles Taylor as the face of Africa when they were being bolstered by the west.

[Azzaiel]

well said.

zimbabwe was the crowning jewel of africas ability to govern themselves, freedom fighters and liberators, it has been under 2 years to kill the country.

none have risen

[its7bounce]

Maybe my reaction is strong but when one starts a statement with Africans nations will never rise and will always be oppressed and splintered, as an African woman whose family members work in government, I take offense to that statement.

There are African nations like Botswana, Mozambigue, Liberia that have risen and are building their economies.

Maybe you should emphasize by whom are they being oppressed/splintered. Your statement could start a good debate though. O well said my peace.

[Azzaiel]

i haven't applied a standard. again that is your reaction.

i have no gone into governing structure, again that is you.

if you have view, maybe you should make a video.

i can guarantee i will watch it.

[its7bounce]

where in my comment did i note that they were attempting to rise?

I would suggest that you don't paint all African nations with the same brush and think of all African leaders as dictators. By the standards that you have applied to African nations, I think you can also apply it to nations all over the world.

[Azzaiel]

cock and show in the abyss, to the corpse of god

[Azzaiel]

my choice of words did not. your reaction to them did.

and yes american are worst off, they have no will, they cant even die honorably on the field of battle. they are just sheep,... so pathetic that even if they are told to their faces they bow in fealty crying the whole time.

but they wear their patriotism cloak of castigation proudly taking it in the ass.

their thinking is primitive at best and Betrayal has not hard work but slightest of refrains.

[Azzaiel]

attempting to rise is not the same as standing.

[its7bounce]

2)Would you call Americans weak or say they will never rise and will continue to be oppressed because they did not take to the streets while Bush and cohorts trampled all over their constitutional rights and abused habeas corpus? Evidence shows that that those who spoke up were dismissed and their views not represented in the media. This is often the case in African countries. Just wanted to point out that your choice of words paints you as a racist when I'm sure that was not your intention.