Is our loyalty (and morale) so weak and our laziness so great that the ‘solution’ is often seen in terms of escape?
Is escape-achieved so wonderful that we can throw away any ‘real’ attachment to our homes without either a second tug from our conscience or another plea for rationality from our supposedly involuntary survival mechanisms?
Are our homes so unimportant and worthless that they are only invoked by memory in order to disgust us and facilitate passive (pointless?) argumentation?
There are people who are convinced that going “underground” in the West, with no hopes of any kind of legitimate career due to lack of proper documentation, is better than returning to that distant dark Africa that raised them. Better to earn less than minimum wage, spending most your living hours doing work that Westerners themselves won’t touch… in the name of escaping… poverty?
Every person’s situation is uniquely their own and their burden is too. I’m not talking of escaping violence, war or persecution of any real kind. I’m observing those who are so adverse to returning to a situation that perhaps is not as (humanly, mentally, spiritually, physically even) degrading as the alternative they’ve decided to choose.
Is there a greater plan?
Every person’s search for autonomy is unique and valid.
Are we each so insignificant that we silence our voices, forfeiting our right to demand the accountability we deserve?
…Or are we ignorant and irresponsible?
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10 comments:
Success being defines as wealth is not a new thing.Remember even the good book says, a poor mans wisdom is despised.
Care to expound?
Great post! You've raised a lot of deep thoughts on the problem. Access to wealth determines one's position in society anywhere in the world. It dictates lifestyle, education, access to services and goods. It's tragic that family ties are severed and homes abandoned in this quest. I venture to say that many people who go underground in the West constantly question whether it's worth it. Many have hope that things will get better, others are too ashamed to lose face in front of those they left behind.
"There are people who are convinced that going “underground” in the West, with no hopes of any kind of legitimate career due to lack of proper documentation, is better than returning to that distant dark Africa that raised them. Better to earn less than minimum wage, spending most your living hours doing work that Westerners themselves won’t touch… in the name of escaping… poverty?"
And I'm afraid they are 100% right. It is much much better to be poor in the west than it is to be poor in Africa. For one, a poor man in the west is already much richer than one in Africa. We have the luxury of pontificating from afar. It's a little different for the person who has grown up in Kibera. I guess you cover that when you say your thoughts are naive...
I must make clear that when I say some thoughts, it is to ignite controversial discussion, to stir debate. These are not my thoughts, but they are common ones and they represent one side to an ongoing debate/view/perception. THe purpose of displaying them here is in the hope that it will encourage the other debates/views/perceptions to come and be read...
I hear what you are saying but find it incredibly hypocritical, as the concept of africans not returning to Africa to try and help is not just by those who don't have the right papers and are therefore 'underground', but largely also applies to many well educated africans who choose to prolong their studies and stay mainly in the US and UK....I am sure many of you are not back in Africa or don't intend to return in the near future? The other day I was reading about a group -Stand up for Africa, largely based in the UK and found it incredibly interesting to see that the whole team behind this group are based in the West!! Practice what you preach, I would advise. Return to your homelands and begin the 'stand' from there, not from your comfortable existences in the West...
@ Anon,
I just returned and read your comment concerning groups of well-educated Africans who choose to remain in the West while advocating for their countrymen. I understand your view that it's ironic for the entire group Stand Up for Africa to be based in the UK (btw, I've never heard of them before today). However, I will come to their defense in saying that due to resources, access to information and funds, it can make more sense for a group to be based abroad rather than at home. It's nearly impossible to work in a messed-up system that is corrupt and inefficient. Many of us have seen family friends or parents who studied in the West sacrifice personal gain return home with all the best intentions and still struggle within a system that resists change. And a 'comfortable' existence in the West comes at a very high price, not just financially. It does not benefit us to be so divisive (kenyans abroad vs kenyans at home, well educated vs laymen...) when we have a common cause.
Girl next door, you brought me back to this post and a somewhat mysterious progress of events! Check it out here: http://pandemoniumtoday.blogspot.com/2006/08/stand-wherever-your-feet-take-you.html
In response to the comment below from girl-next-door et al, if we see and say there is a problem back in Afrifa (corruption etc) then why not (in the first instance) encourage and preach to western educated africans that there is a problem back in the homeland and we all need to mobilise and return back to africa and work at sorting this out in the first instance. Someone has to start somewhere otherwise in generations to come the same comments will be repeated....and all this time these people 'posing' as helpers are still in the west. In this day and age, it is VERY feasible to base yourself in Africa and utilise resource from the West easily. Kishawi mentioned hoe there were non-african volunteers involved with SUFA, that gives you an example. So I strongly believe maybe this movement should relocate to the motherland and lets sing the song there!
"GIRL NEXT DOOR COMMENT....
However, I will come to their defense in saying that due to resources, access to information and funds, it can make more sense for a group to be based abroad rather than at home. It's nearly impossible to work in a messed-up system that is corrupt and inefficient. Many of us have seen family friends or parents who studied in the West sacrifice personal gain return home with all the best intentions and still struggle within a system that resists change".
"f we see and say there is a problem back in Afrifa (corruption etc) then why not (in the first instance) encourage and preach to western educated africans that there is a problem back in the homeland and we all need to mobilise and return back to africa and work at sorting this out in the first instance. "
Anonymous, unfortunately for many, it is not as easy as waking up one day, packing their bags and going. People in many instances recognize that the problems exist, and in many instances that is why they have moved away from the homeland. At the end of the day, people are going to think about their immediate family and how they are going to eat that night. ANd for many, unfortunate as it may be, it is easier to solve that dilemma in the West than at home. So these are the things I would imagine people consider when contemplating returning home. Secondly, it is not that easy to revolutionize a system that has been corrupt for over half a century and perhaps longer. Many people are intimidated by the thought of launching such a struggle, many may drop out of it after hitting the inevitably many hurdles, and many might find that it benefits them more to "get in" on the action.
That said, I think our biggest challenge is to rise up to the occasion and try. It is a task that will take a very long time and will cost much (especially in non-material terms). It will involve incredible resolve, conviction, sacrifice, suffering, resilience, strength and the adjectives are endless! Considering this, many would rather change the subject.
But the point here is that, we should be singing our song everywhere we get the chance… until and after we get there!
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