AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

Africa is not only about wars,diseases,corruption, deaths and tooth to tooth struggles! If you happen to be an african advocate, you have probably lamented that way when you constantly see in the news what western media prefers to feed its viewers and readers.Almost nothing positive comes out of Africa.I am using a word “almost” because I do not get to see all the channels and newspapers all the time. When the recent war between Somalia and Ethiopia broke out,it made it to mainstream headlines out here in North America and surely around the globe.When Kenyans peacefully voted for their constitution reform last year it was not news.It did not worth reporting.Such examples are millions and millions.

However, an important question need to be asked. What does our African media report?Does the western media get the bumps from ourselves? Why don’t you read this website headlines and see what I am talking about.

As of today,Canadians and Americans who will be traveling by air across their borders as well as to Mexico and the Caribbean are supposed to carry their passports along with them. The move is said to be geared towards increased border security across all borders.In common terms,both Canadian and American authorities agrees that the borders needs to be more secure than ever before. As we know,the 9/11 attacks at World Trade Center in New York did drastically change the way across the borders issues are viewed and put in perspective.In fact, the whole world reviewed their policies on immigration procedures and border securities.It became a new mantra among politicians and policy makers.

However,because the “bring along your passport” idea originated in US,the whole move sounds “American” something which to many Canadians it indicates US distancing itself from Canada or slowly but smartly cutting the “friendship” that has existed for centuries apart from its ups and downs.Some have even predicted the beginning of the long walk towards redefining what Canadians and US friendship will look like in next 10-20 years.

Most of us will definitely agree that all nations in the world(including Canada and America) needs and must protect their borders. However, when it comes to way Canada and America talks and practice “border securities” subjects the sense I get is that different standards are put in place between or among the air travel from land or even sea travelers.

If you have ever traveled by land, lets say by Greyhound, Coach Canada or any other means of public transport across the borders you would have noticed that passengers are allowed on board without going through any high tech detectors like the ones you see at airports. The luggage are never screened.Literally,you are free to bring on board whatever you want to.Come with your liquids,come with your toy gun for your kids,no problem! The best the bus driver will do is to check whether you have a right ticket for the date that you want to travel.
Now let us assume that a small airplane at Pearson International Airport carries 45 passengers on the way to Detroit, Michigan. The same number of passengers boards the bus at Toronto Greyhound terminal on its way to the same destination as the small plane from Pearson.Is there any difference in the importance of life of these two groups of passengers? Many politicians,policy makers and citizens will agree with me that no,we do not have classes or rather we should not have. But is there any better way of meaning what we preach than practically doing it? Do we clearly split it out that we have classes when it comes to securities and values of lives? If not, then what criteria is used to determine the level of security that someone deserves or not deserve?

Applauding any move towards increased securities(not only at borders but also internal) should go hand in hand with treating everybody equally.What do you think?

If there is one thing that most of North Americans (and nearly all developed countries in the world), is that each one is suffering from certain types of debts.Most of those debts are financial debts although spiritual and moral debts are slowly becoming heavier and heavier. Most people,especially after holidays like Christmas, will head towards their kitchen tables, holding enough amount of bills wondering what happened,what went wrong and where the hell do I get these monies to pay back the debts? The fact is most people survives from a pay check to pay check.

Now having any type of debt is never a good feeling.No wonder some have committed suicide, some have committed murder, stole, became highly depressed, went deep with mental issue etc.The question is how do we get there? Is having debts stupidity or its the ultimate price of “development”? And are you one of those people who hates bill collectors to death?What happened?

Greetings,
Miraculously the year 2007 has already kicked in which suggests that all things that were done or undone in 2007 goes into historical archives waiting to be shared mostly among history students and their professors. They say the world is too busy to remember everything or try to keep history alive and a tool for learning. Soon we will forget about Saddam Hussein, shall we?

Whilst a new year comes along, lots of people are usually busy with resolutions. Loosing wait, eating more healthy, exercising, go back to school, get engaged, get married, fall in love for the first time or again, rob a bank (yes, there are some whacko’s out there) etc. Resolutions are both realistic and daydreams. Nonetheless, a new year means new hope. Just the fact that you heard the bells and shouts plus seeing the fireworks brings when the big clock was almost counting 12:00am brings some sense of life. You deserve to celebrate dear pal because it’s the ugly fact that lots of people were not blessed to see those digits changing.

Nevertheless, apart from all the joys that a new year brings into our hearts the challenge of setting goals and wishes is always overwhelming. It does not surprise me that I have chosen 2007 to be a year with no explicit plans. It came like a wind and would like to see it going away the same way. That means I am trying to be realistic or unrealistic, depends on how you view it. Previously, I used to look up and set goals, did I achieve all of them? Half of them? Was I swept by high tides of the world and could not even remember my goals? Let us allow heaven to judge.

In favor of 2007, I carry with me wishes and hopes instead of goals. Why wishes and hopes instead of goals Jeff? Well….let us wait and see. The following are samples of my wishes.

I wish less and less people get infected by HIV/ AIDS and almost no one dies of the disease in 2007

I hope US will come to realization that when you turn the other cheek it does not necessarily mean you are weak and get out of Iraq and all other places on earth they unlawful occupy.

I wish to see less and less people die from hunger and preventable diseases.

I wish to see no one sleeps in the corridors of cities and towns for being homeless while unnecessary wars destroys homes and lives of millions.

I wish to see tolerance of other people’s cultures, traditions and religions is highly practiced and respected fully.

I wish to see less and less destruction to the environment. We must love our environment, politicizing environmental issues is a hell of mistake we are making as human beings.

I wish equal rights will no longer be just a vocabulary word but a practical reality of humanity whereby no “double standards”

Literally my wishes list goes down to 99, long list eenh! What are your wishes? Do we share same views? Happy New Year.