Started reading the insanity of Africa today by David Gleneinkel. I can tell that this is going to be an interesting and eye opening book. The forward, introduction, and begining of the 1st chapter definitely have my attention. Basically, the book aims to decribe and inform how the large amounts of money pouring into Africa are helping i ways that are not lasting, for the most part. I love to underline parts in books that jump out to me so i thought i would start by sharing some of these with you.
"Being good-hearted doesnt mean you're right, and being right rarely does much good." pg. VII
"Western society- and Americans in particular- don't have the solution. The Africans do." pg. VI
"Africa is the wealthiest, most resource-laden continent on Earth, yet it also has the highest concentration of abject poverty." pg. VIII
"Western worldview (especially American) is not congruent with African worldview...To an African, life is about work, politics, family, religion, philosophy, health, food, and a cornucopia of other concepts, all of which make up the whole person and none of which are separate, unrelated, or necessarily prioritized...That speaks volumes aboout our failure to understand why imposing secular democratic processes in Africa and the Middle East have met such massive resistance and why we are seen not as liberators but as OCCUPIERS." pg VIII-IX
"The Africans know what to do; they are only waiting for us to get out of the way." pg. IX
Chapter 1: Where are we now?
"Africa is a puzzling enigma of hope and despair, exquisite beauty and incomprehensible horrors, the best and worst of all that we are." pg. 1
"one definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." pg. 1
"...she offers such breathtaking beauty that it defies the imagination. The kindness of her people and their personal wisdom and grateful spirits amidst the most difficult conditions imaginable has captured my heart again and again." pg.2
No comments:
Post a Comment