Other - Politics & Government - July 2006

I chose to post this question because of the responses I received from my last one. My last question went something like "Why does America rush to send food and supplies to other countries when there are people here who are in need?"

2006-07-31 09:45:21 · 2 answers · asked by ~So Divine~ 2

Does he do anything there that makes it a ranch. Isn't it really an estate?
Please be civil and don't call me names when you answer this question.

2006-07-31 09:37:32 · 8 answers · asked by Steve R 3

2006-07-31 09:35:57 · 24 answers · asked by poilkj 1

2006-07-31 09:30:58 · 62 answers · asked by poilkj 1

Economy continues to grow; unemployment is low; gas prices AREN'T an indicator of economic success;

2006-07-31 09:29:42 · 11 answers · asked by Cheesedippedincheese 3

How can we explain why we fight for democracy, when the most important entity that enforces this for us (the US military) is run like a dictatorship -- not a democracy at all...

If democracy is the best way to govern, why do we purposely have no sense of this for our soldiers?

I understand that we could not run a military if votes were taken when crucial decisions were made and each soldier had "freedom of expression" -- but isn't this a bit hypocritical of our nation? If this has been proven to be the way to accomplish goals at our most important level, why do not apply this form of law and governance to our society at large?

2006-07-31 09:28:55 · 11 answers · asked by Finnale 2

Are they afraid the white people are going to steal from them?

2006-07-31 09:28:00 · 6 answers · asked by Dave B 4

The colonised mindset: The enemy within the African communities. SendMeYourNews
Jul 23, 2006 07:12 PDT

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----- Original Message -----
From: Cheryl Sanchez mailto:sanchez-@hotmail.com
To: sendmey-@earthlink.net
Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 8:48 AM

The colonised mindset: The enemy within the African communities.


The writer is going to put forward an argument that unless the
slave/colonial mindset is recognised as the active enemy, within the African
communities world-wide, attempts to understand the social and economic
problems will be useless. This mindset has been affecting the
individual/family /organisations/community and nations alike. From an early
age, adults have been referring to people as having "being colonial or slave
minded" in a most benign way. It as if having this mindset is like having a
flue. You treat the symptoms and eventually, it should go away, if the
immune system is acute and alert. In reality, it is the most virulent
psychological condition prevalent amongst African communities. The damage is
too enormous to consider in this essay. It has and is still destroying from
individuals to revolutions to states eg Patrice Lumumba-Congo, Thomas
Sankara-Bukina Faso, Walter Rodney-Guyana, Cabral, Malcolm X and Bantu S
Biko to name a few. When foreign money, the lust for power and the colonial
mindset met-destruction is sure to follow. Mineral rich DRC remains the most
tragic example today. Also Angola before the timely death of Savimbi, "
Washington's kept man". Failure to confront and systematically deal with
this enemy is equivalent to failure to live and or thrive.

HISTORY

The disastrous effects of slavery and colonialism on the physical aspect of
the Africans in the Americas, the Caribbean and on mainland Africa have been
well documented by a host of European and African-American historians
including Basil D Davidson, Walter Rodney and Professor Jeffries. Few
writers have focused on the debilitating effects of the mindset on the
emotions and the psychology as Carter G Woodson( 1875-1950)was probably a
pioneer when he addressed this condition in his book - The Mis-Education of
the *****. Later, Dr Na'im Akbar painstakingly outlined the psychological
effects in his book- Chains and Images of psychological slavery. Professor
Joy Leary recently attempted to put the psychological trauma concept in the
public domain during a recent lecture tour in London but, few Africans
wanted to even contemplate this concept as an explanation for some of their
behaviour towards each other.
It is of paramount importance to understand the disastrous reality of the
sate accurately described by Woodson and take action to treat it.
"When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his
actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand there or go yonder. He or
she will find his "proper place" and will stay in it. You do not need to
send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there
is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education
makes it necessary". Woodson showed a lot of foresight in his early
detection of the destructive side of the slave/colonial mindset. It is a
pity that, most Pastors and self-appointed "community" leaders do not
recommend this book to the many families who come through their doors. They
do not even bothered with a plan of action to treat this mindset.

Examples

This mindset certainly has a blindfolding effect eg African girls aspiring
to be like their "blonde Barbie dolls". African men dream of marrying "a
Barbie doll" type of woman as soon as they arrive in Europe and or
UK/USA/Canada, so as not to have "too black" children. Michael Jackson's
obsession with his costly body- altering project. It also causes US
Africans/Afrikans to focus on the body, material gadgets, short cuts. The
physical environment of the homes is often out of balance with the people
who inhabit the space. Their homes always have a blonde type Jesus on the
walls but no other famous Africans like Bantu Biko, Thomas Sankara etc. The
African educationalist and parents both on the mainland, Caribbean and the
Americas have avoided including or making the early and middle years
curricula more relevant to our developmental needs. This opportunity to
change our course of history is missed again and again.

At organisational level, colonise minded but the super qualified committee
members are often afraid to put decolonisation strategy and or
Pan-Africanism into the constitution of their organisation. This also
affects the type of name or identity they take on. Eg the NAACP-The National
Association for the Advancement of "Coloured" people. One would have thought
that aparthedist South-Africa racial policies would have caused this
organisation to re-think it's chosen but, they not change from NAACP to
NAAAP. One could only guess when you start your organisation with white
liberals/ or jews in leadership roles, the de-colonisation agenda never
became a priority for this organisation. The OAS/AU is no different. It has
been in existence for over 50 years and still cannot bring itself to be
known as a Pan-Africanist organisation thus, it remains a toothless
nationalistic organisation.

Even when organisations put Pan-Africanism at the forefront eg PAC in
South-African, the de-colonisation process and project, which is necessary
for health and longevity of the organisation is not a priority either. Well
meaning or naïve activists continue to take a gamble by hoping against hope
that, a few committed and reliable people could suddenly change 400 years of
psychological damage facing the African worldwide. Things could have been
different if, the PAC was able to capture the interest and support of the
majority of the 24 million native South-Africans and their rands, to keep
the movement financially buoyant and turn it into a political powerful force
in South-African society.

The mindset nutures self-hating , self- destruction and confidence lowering
. This is evident in the practice of self- harming through bleaching the
skin, straigthening the hair and looking to Europe and European institutions
as saviours. It also makes killing each other almost acceptable. The eminent
African-American Bobby E Wright (1984) explained in his book "we have never
been trained to kill Europeans" but, we seem to be able kill each other
(black on black) violence instinctively. It also makes us have a warped and
unrealistic view of our reality. It may cause some, like Dr Kenneth B Clarke
to say," race is irrelevant". Even African-America Dr Alvin Poussant, who
used his qualification avoid addressing the current colonisation condition.
He used his stint in Ebony Magazine to deal with the a few middles class
anxieties. What a shame!

The Slave/Colonial mindset-the Trojan Horse

The Europeans understand how important the psychological warfare project is
to their continued hold on Africa, which is why they got their missionaries
to influences chiefs and other leaders in Africa, to send their young
children to their missionary schools. At these missionary/faith-based
schools, young children were indoctrinated on a grand scale. These young
children come from cultures where, almost all adults are feared and or
certainly not questioned, made the work of the European teachers easier.
This is why it should not alarm us or surprise us that, Mobutu, Savimbi and
their cronies behaved in the way they did to their own people and their own
resources. The mindset, the lust for power and foreign money-from the USA
mainly kept them destroying their respective countries, in the name of
capitalism and the other G6 powers.

The USA officials who paid Savimbi through Mobutu millions and millions of
American tax-payers money to literally destroy a revolution and 2 countries,
have never been brought to justice. If both of these colonial minded
individuals did not die, they would be still destroying the country and
squandering their resources for self-aggrandisement, with Washington's
approval. The foreign powers/handlers knew millions of people were being
tortured, kill, maimed, punished and starved of food and other life
necessities, in their interest. Whilst all this was happening in full view
of other Africans, many of them in the Caribbean and continued going to the
states" to make it". Meanwhile Africans affected by these individuals and
American money and foreign policy, eventually started heading for the UK and
the USA seeking "refuge".

It should not surprise us at the way the Europeans view certain individuals.
The American state had to get rid of Malcolm X by any means necessary. The
Belgian/USA/UK governments saw Patrice Lumumba as an uncompromising
character when it came to his understanding of independence. France could
not stomach an independent minded Thomas Sankara who wanted to transform
Bukina Faso in the interest of it's people. The apartheid South-Africa did
not dare allow Bantu Stephen Biko to live-he was too clear about his
position and his understanding of the social/economic/political situation.
He wanted all or nothing. Walter Rodney exposed the hypocrisy of Europe's
role in Africa-it became a real annoyance in European academic circles. The
under-development was the strategy and the means to achieving this outcome
was to nurture their own "loyal Africans". Off course the "loyal Africans"
are another name for the colonial minded.

Rich men and women often have their "kept women" Well, so to rich Europe has
their "kept men". France has Francoise Compoare of Bukina Faso. The USA has
theirs in the form of Paul Kagame. Spain/USA has Obiang Nguema of Equatorial
Guinea- Africa third largest producer of oil. Shell and the UK and other oil
companies operating in Nigeria have been keeping the Hausa dominated army
and government since 1970. The CIA/USA/France had army man Hissen Habre- a
man who was less than friendly to USA's imagined enemy Gadaffi. Chadian
named him, "Africa's Pinochet". USA supported the Duvalier family for 30
years and off course Savimbi in Angola. See William Blum(2001) Rogue State.
Chapter 17.
The Consequences

If African thinkers and educationalists alike continue to neglect the
content of early and middle years curricula, they would be fighting a losing
battle against the slave/colonial mindset, capitalism, fashion and
mass-media. The same way, one cannot expect to put new wine in an old
wineskin so to, one cannot expect the slave/colonial minded to suddenly
change his or her learnt behaviour. This behaviour has been around for the
last 350 years. It might have started as, a means of coping in strange and
often hostile societies in the Caribbean and America in the late 17th
century. Joy Leary would argue African communities must admit the existence
of post traumatic syndrome before, the treatment could be sought. No
admission means that, this major debilitating psychological condition would
linger and fester away.

Off course when a few like, Thiongo'o(1938-) changed his behaviour in his
adulthood, by going back to his Gikuyu name and writing in his own language
rather than English only, is inspirational to rest who remain in this
regressive state of mind. He used his book-Decolonising the mind: the
politics of language in African literature(1986) as a platform to encourage
African challenged about their attitude towards Africa and or NJAC. Ngugi wa
writers to write in their own language to make their books more meaningful
to Africans on the continent. It is not only about writing in one's own
language although, that is a positive start. It is about having a core
teaching curricula that could be used world-wide. Even if people write in
their own indigenous language but continue to see Europe as the solution to
their problems-the colonised mind remains untouched. The writer applauds the
work of Haki Madibuti and Dr Karenga and Molefi Asante. The African need
more people like the above, if we are to be taken seriously.

Why are members of NJAC( National Joint Action committee) and their 36 year
old organisation in Trinidad, still viewed as not worthy of support from the
majority of African-Trinidadians? The slave/colonial mindset, which makes
people ridicule members for re-claiming their African heritage via taking on
African names. One can often hear African-Trinidadians and other Africans
born abroad saying in a most offensive voice, "I am not African" when asked
about their identity. Thai is the colonial mindset expressing their
ignorance.

What do we begin?

The logical place for decolonisation to begin is in the home, with parents
taking the lead. The early years 0-11 is the crucial time to inculcate the
Afrocentric values. It means that, we have to be prepared to build our own
nurseries and create our own culturally inclusive and sensitive curricula.
The parents must be re-educated. It is almost pointless waiting until a
child becomes an adult, when he may or may not be exposed to Pan-Africanism.
All the research available would agree that, the pre-natal and early years
are the most important educating years. Ideally, the decolonisation ideals
should be embedded in the early years curricula, The Community leaders and
families should make attempts to discuss post trauma syndrome and it's
effects openly and proactively put into place some short term and long term
remedies.

3 African American writers who wrote the The Black Parenting Book did not
pursue the de-colonisation project in their book either. There are 17
chapters in this book yet, Pan-Africanism and or the issue of the
slave/colonial mindset were not addressed in a very active way. There
chapters on Family Traditions and Spirituality without making mention of the
importance of Kwanzaa. There was a chapter on " Black and Proud" not African
and proud. There should have a chapter on how and why Africans came to self
hate and hate all things African. Where did it all begin? The book tackled
particular parenting approach, which was used by African American parents
but, they did not attempt to give the psychological or economic reasons why
most African parents worldwide use the authoritarian model rather than the
authoritative model.

Authoritarian- powerful, assertive/aggressive (verbally or physically adult
leads or makes all the decisions, which are imposed on child. May be highly
critical. Parents may be likely to use shouting and hitting. Parents may
even talk about "I want you to fear me".
Authoritative- Parents use reciprocity and a democratic style, which allows
child to lead but establishes safe limits and boundaries. Parents are likely
to use encouragement, provide choices and highlight consequences and
positive feedback and use time-out and put penalities in place, as part of
their disciplining package.

It might have been helpful to explain why some African parents use the
former than the latter? It would have been more useful to write the book in
some African languages and use a work -book with exercises to involve all
members of the family. This book could be described as the product of a well
meaning qualified but, obviously apolitical professionals. The writers
tackled all the symptoms but never ventured near the core causes. They
missed an opportunity to focus on the link between the type of the society,
which produces such parents focusing on a post-colonial/slave/capitalist,
racist society such as the USA.

Conclusion.

The Decolonisation project and treating post trauma syndrome are as
necessary to Africans, as oxygen and water are to humankind existence.
Neither can be avoided any longer due to it being "too sensitive" an issue.
The message to all the Pan-Africanists/Humanist individuals, families and
organisations , which are always short of committed, reliable and discipline
foot soldiers is this, put some of your efforts and money into the 0-11
years olds and an African Parenting project, based on an Afrocentric model
and treatment for psychological trauma and other self-harming behaviour. If
any individual/family or organisation is interested ion the guture well
being of Africans- the aforementioned approaches are vital. Otherwise, a
plethora of colonial minded and dishonest Pastors from diverse Christian
sects, the mass-media, fashion, cars and short term attractions and whatever
other European cultural left-overs would grab the minds of the majority of
Africans.

The slave/colonial mind is dangerous to Pan-Africanist and African humanist
alike. Those African "kept men" or Europe's trojan horses will continue the
pauperization policies of a very rich continent. They will repeat policies
and slogans without even analysing them. They will like the major obstacle
to progress, changes, self-empowerment and unification of African peoples.
Instead of enabling and building capacities and re-skilling people, they
will disable, de-skill and pauperize people. The colonial minded knows
nothing else. The Europeans using their white skins as authority continue to
pamper and encourage their "kept men" to the detriment of the majority of
Africans, who continue to suffer and to be killed with the weapons made in
the USA/UK/Israel and other European countries.

References:

Akbar Na'im(1992) Chain and Images of psychological slavery- Winston-Derek,
Nashville, TN
Blumm W (2003) Rogue State: Chapter 17. Zed Books London UK
Brittain V (1998) Death and Dignity: Angola's Civil War. Chapter 2. Pluto
Books. London UK
Woodson C.G (1937) The Mis-education of the *****. Africa World Press NJ USA
Wright B.E (1984) The psychopathic racial personality and other essays.
Third World Press Chicago, Ilinois USA

2006-07-31 09:21:53 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-31 09:17:18 · 7 answers · asked by Superman 2

And Why????

2006-07-31 09:16:40 · 16 answers · asked by a_poor_misguided_soul 5

I think that War is a terrible terrible thing, but absolutely necessary... I think that it was one of the many natural ways of preventing overpopulation. I think that war along with huge epedemics and other things are horrendous but the world would be worse off without them... The rate at which humans grow is exponential and the only way to keep the world going is to get rid of them in mass quantities... I also think that there should be a limit to the amount of children a family should have... so long as this does not lead to the issue of males being better causing females to die (or perhaps the other way round) it is a very good idea. I mean having 15 children is all jolly and good, but what about the thousands that need to be adopted??? I dunno.. what do you think?

2006-07-31 09:11:43 · 4 answers · asked by mervelash 3

Why didn't they evacuate with the other civilians? Were they being kept there by the Hezbollah to win public opinion if they were killed? After all, it was Hezbollah that was firing missles from that area. I am not blaming the dead victims, I am asking if they were being held against their will.

2006-07-31 09:11:28 · 4 answers · asked by Steve R 3

Is it wishful to think that the benefits attributed to the quality of life be motivating enough.

Benefits as in promoting a better quality of life. A culture of rationality. A non aggressive society. A culture of tolerance and acceptance.

2006-07-31 09:08:59 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-31 09:08:36 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-31 09:02:37 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous

and your government to support Israel against us the Arabs killers?

2006-07-31 08:52:17 · 13 answers · asked by VivaAraba 1

2006-07-31 08:50:00 · 16 answers · asked by nate224us 2

I keep reading on here thats why were in Iraq. I just want to know when the cheap oil is going to start?

2006-07-31 08:49:42 · 5 answers · asked by Rick 7

Is it catchy? Will others use it?

2006-07-31 08:44:45 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous

Read the part entitled "A difficult lesson". If you still don't get it, you have got to be an American liberal or French.

http://bogieworks.blogs.com/treppenwitz/2006/07/thanks_i_needed.html

2006-07-31 08:40:57 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

ME GERMAN!

2006-07-31 08:37:33 · 14 answers · asked by Musulmans 1

It appears to me that Israel is going to do what they want regardless of world opinion.

Is Israel trying to destroy itself?

Is it trying to rush into some sort of biblical prophesy?

Why would they do that?

2006-07-31 08:25:38 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous

I would chip in $100.00. Promise.

2006-07-31 08:20:43 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-31 08:18:50 · 6 answers · asked by petey1jo 1

2006-07-31 08:05:50 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous

2006-07-31 08:02:44 · 23 answers · asked by jredfearn08 4

Hey, i don't pretend to be the person who knows the truth. I don't even want to be known as someone who is versed in these things at all. I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO LOOK, AND EDUCATE YOURSELVES. DO NOT RELY ON THE TELEVISION OR THE NEWSPAPER, THEY ARE THE MOST BIASED MEDIA AVAILABLE. DAMN SURE DONT RELY ON ME, JUST DO THE RESEARCH YOURSELVES. STOP DEMONIZING THOSE OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO GET AMERICANS OFF THEIR APETHETIC ASSES, HELP. IF YOU KNOW THE TRUTH, SHARE IT. IF YOU HEARD A NEWS BROADCASTER OR COLUMNIST FOR A NEWSPAPER TELL YOU SOMETHING, SCREW THEM. WE HAV ALL HEARD THE SAME DAMNED THINGS, GO WHERE BIG BUSINESS DOESN'T HAVE ITS GRUBBY HANDS, INDEPENDANT INTERNET JOURNALISM. ITS THE LAST SAFE HAVEN FOR FREE SPEECH AND UNBIASED INFORMATION!

2006-07-31 07:46:48 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

They're a hell of alot smarter than any politician out there

2006-07-31 07:20:23 · 5 answers · asked by Southpaw 7

2006-07-31 07:04:05 · 2 answers · asked by percyghost 1

This seems to be full of definitions!

Forgive me here please kind people...

But does Democracy advocate 'Peaceful Negotiation!'?

Then what the bloody hell is going on in the world?

Democracy... this word seems to be touted about like it is meaningless... well it seems like it is becoming a meaningless word!

If there is any government affiliates on maybe you could put some more spin on this word for us????!

What do You guys and gals think?

Peace Peeps!

2006-07-31 06:58:08 · 3 answers · asked by AZRAEL Ψ 5