President Obama and Angola President José Eduardo dos Santos:
For
Jornal de Angola columnist José Ribeiro, there is no comparing them.
U.S.-Africa Summit
No Cure for Western 'Superiority Complex' (Jornal de
Angola, Angola)
"Relations
between Western countries and Africa were marred by slavery and colonial
domination, and are still marked by Eurocentrism. At the height of their
superiority, Europe even gave itself the luxury of drawing up our continent's political
map, dividing and exterminating entire peoples. Europe continues to use its
influence to depict African leaders as Dantesque, smearing
them in their media with every form of defamation. … A wealthy African can only
be corrupt. … An African political leader only exists to pay homage to the old
colonial powers or kneel before the established order which is the cause of
global disorder."
The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington brings together
50 heads of state and government at Obama's invitation. It has been announced
that the central theme of the discussions will be on how each state invests in
future generations.
An side theme is security in Africa
- this from the perspective of Washington, which is often contrary to the
interests of African countries. The examples of Tunisia, Egypt, and above all
Libya, which in the name of democracy and security was destroyed so the West
could rest assured, will be safely away from the limelight.
Western leaders are slow to look at Africa with a modern
perspective, and without their superiority complex. Upon arrival on the
continent, they always expect to find an IdiAmin, a Jean-BédelBokassa, a Mobutu SeseSeko, or a Jonas Savimbi.
Suspicious types like this still expect to find cannibals ready to bite their
well-groomed flesh in every presidential palace, especially this time of summer
in the Northern Hemisphere. When they arrive in an African capital and verify
that they are wholly wrong, say after seeing that African leaders wear suits
and ties, and walk in shoes, their conversation hardly strays from this realization.
I continue to wait for a Western leader who, upon returning
from Africa, says he found wise, skillful, and educated African politicians. I
don't expect them to sincerely admit and publicly recognize that they felt
surpassed by the political and human quality of some African political leaders,
such as Jacob Zuma or José Eduardo
dos Santos, to name a few examples from southern Africa, among many others.
Relations between Western countries and Africa were marred
by slavery and colonial domination, and are still marked by Eurocentrism. At
the height of their superiority, Europe even gave itself the luxury of drawing up
our continent's political map, dividing and exterminating entire peoples.
Indifferent to national cultures, several colonies were settled by the same
people, who spoke the same language, and which had the same roots. In fact, the
indifference and contempt continues for human beings that inhabit a continent they
didn't know before, and still don't know, because their interests are
exclusively about the unregulated exploitation of natural resources of each
African country.
The
Berlin Conference resulted in crimes against humanity of such dimensions
that even today, they bring pain and suffering to millions of Africans. At that
ill-reputed summit of colonial powers, Africans were condemned to hunger,
illiteracy, and poverty, and dispossessed of their land, their culture, and
their thinking. Everything was done coldly and with complete disregard for the
most elementary human rights. It has already been over a century since this
ignominious moment for humanity. In the 1950s, independent African countries started
to be born from the colonies. Those disinherited of their dignity and liberty began
to assume destinies denied by colonialism.
But not even then did the record of Western politicians
change. On the contrary, Europe continues to use its influence to depict
African leaders as Dantesque, smearing them in their
media with every form of defamation. A wealthy African can only be corrupt. An
African political leader only exists to pay homage to the old colonial powers
or kneel before the established order which is the cause of global disorder.
[Angola] President José Eduardo dos Santos is a great global
leader. His reputation is the same in Angola, Portugal, France, or the United
States. My friend Father ApolónioGraciano,
said yesterday that he considered Angola "a breath of fresh, pure air,"
a place where several African countries have been inspired to renew their
nations and pledges to improve the lives of their people. I'm waiting for the
day when Western leaders say to their people that they were in Luanda with an exceptional
politician, with the commander-in-chief that shattered the apartheid regime. When
they say they heard his utter words of wisdom that conveyed bold and modern
ideas that contribute to political stability, reconciliation, and peace, and provide
an unassailable foundation, no matter how many attacks are launched against it.
I'm waiting for the day when Western leaders are capable of
looking at Angola and apologizing for what they did to Angolans and the peoples
of southern Africa. I am waiting for acknowledgment that the Angolan leader has
developed the most appropriate policies to address the destabilization of his
country, and with patience and determination, ended the bloody dictatorships in
the region and toppled apartheid, which had its end in the battles of the Tumpo
Triangle, within sight of CuitoCuanavale, and in the New York
Accords [ending the Angolan Civil War.]
Posted
By Worldmeets.US
I hope that intelligence and humility illuminate Western
leaders so they follow the path that President José Eduardo dos Santos has traced
for Angola and the region. A path of peace, reconciliation,
truth, humanism, and economic and social integration - for the benefit of the
people. Only then will the economy have an environment to grow, and
where the wealth can reach those who need it most.
Angolans have a great leader, and there will be a day in
which Luanda will host a great summit of world leaders. The solutions of
President José Eduardo dos Santos always privilege the human person and never
deify the markets. Human beings are valued for of their qualities, their
principles, and for what they do in conjunction with others. Unfortunately, we still
have among us those who feed on the secular prejudice of the African man, and
this time of year is quite favorable to the assertion of the mania of
superiority.
