I really enjoyed the discussion that we had yesterday in class. This is my first time posting to the blog, and hopefully I'll get the hang of it soon. One small thing I wanted to bring up, that we didn't really discuss in class was a comparison that Moss made within the first chapter. He brings up the old way of forcing people at gunpoint in an attempt to help them develop and how we thought we had it right, and then talks about how we think that we have it right now. It seems like a bit of a harsh comparison...maybe we don't have everything right, but at least we try to be as humane as possible...right? or am I missing some horrible, underground, bad stuff that happens within development? I don't mean this at all sarcastically, so if anybody knows...please tell me, I'm really curious.
The thing that puzzles me the most about Africa's situation is... why Africa? I know that we brought this up in class, and the answer probably has an infinite amount of factors that play into the current situation that has been ailing them for years. From their slow development to their Big Man problem. I wonder how much of it has to do with culture..and knowing that African culture is diverse and spread across many different ethnicities..what are the basic similarities among African culture? And do those play into slow development and corrupt leaders? These are just some thoughts that I had lingering after our discussion in class. If you guys have any answers or thoughts to my questions--please feel free to fill me in!
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I just want to comment on your first apoint (about Moss comparing forcing people at gun-point with today's development practices). i think this comparison is valid, although maybe Moss's comparison cannot be taken literally. In this week's reading, Reader explains Europe's view of Africa in the 15th century. He writes: "recieved wisdom suggestes that Africa was a dark sand passive continent, supine with tropical lethargy, awaiting the enlightenment that European discovery and exploration ultimately would bring" (pg 350) I think this same type of view exists today. We view Africa as this continent awaiting the enlightenment that our modern Western thinking and technology can bring. Obviously we have superior technology, but it's the idea that we have superior thought and ideas that is dangerous. Who says that we are to enlighten these people with our ways? it is the height of hubris to think that we need to show these people how WE do things in order for them to progress.
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