It's not about whether some idiot somewhere across the village known as the land of white supremacy said it or not. The reality is most people in the U.S., including many of the brain dirtied African people living in this country, believe that Haiti, Africa, Jamaica, etc., are countries that offer significantly less in the areas of quality of life than the U.S. Much of this is of course fueled by American Exceptionalism which is rooted in white supremacist ideology (in order to justify the devastating systems of colonialism and chattal slavery). Its the belief that there is nothing on Earth smarter, better looking, more highly favored by God, and better suited to rule the world than the flawless empires set up by the descendants of Europe on the backs of all of the rest of us. You can see instant demonstrations of this by engaging in little tests wherever you are right now. Just ask people to talk about why they think Africa is so poor and the drivel will be overwhelming. All of that and there will be a less than 0.01% chance that those opinions have a single shred of evidence, research, and analysis backing them. Its sort of like yesterday morning at the gym when the European man asked me to define the term "patriarchy" because I had a workout shirt on that read "F - - k Patriarchy." I told him its the system that oppresses and subjugates all women and non-men. To that he immediately disagreed that such a problem existed to which I responded that two seconds ago he didn't even know what patriarchy meant and now he's an expert on it before I quickly reinserted my ear plugs and proceeded to completely ignore him. Its the same thing as it relates to what people in the U.S. really know about Africa. The histories of this country and Africa are forever mingled. There are 50 million Africans living in the U.S. and whether those Africans were born here or immigrated from other countries, the reason we are all here is because of the legacies of slavery and colonialism. As a result, Africa and the U.S. are forever linked, but although people throughout Africa generally have very strong working knowledge about the U.S., 90% of the people in the U.S. couldn't tell you a single fact about Africa. They believe all of the above because this has been spoon-fed to everyone for hundreds of years through the schools, churches, popular culture, etc. This is all why you won't have any problem finding people today who are gladly and shamelessly attempting to justify the "s - - thole remarks and/or concepts. Including many foolish, shouldn't ever open their mouths, African people. I can say this about them because I know, you know, and they know, they know absolutely nothing about Africa. So I thought it would be fun to just look at a few facts to determine what actually should qualify as a s - - thole country.
First, let's look at education. In Ghana, the standard based schools there start placing children through a grueling and disciplined daily regiment that lasts hours each day. Children as young as seven or eight are fully expected to participate completely in this process. And, the results are children in Ghana are respectful, disciplined, and highly knowledgeable. My conversations with them revealed their extensive knowledge of the U.S. despite the fact they will most certainly never actually come here. Their math, science, and literature skills, despite a consistent lack of books and other academic materials, would make the average Ghanaian student embarrass the average student at the same level in this country. Meanwhile, the U.S. educational system remains mired in the lowest categories in every measurable metric as it relates to quality of education. Although most students in Ghana can tell you something about any place on Earth, the overwhelming majority of people in the U.S. couldn't even tell you that Ghana is located in Africa and that Africa is a continent, not a country. And that last statement is true whether people have graduated from college with a minimum of a four year degree, or not.
How about work ethic? People in the U.S. love to point to the extensive wealth within the U.S. as a measure of the quality of work ethics in this country. And, without question, the masses of low wage workers in the U.S. e.g. fast food workers, food servers everywhere, custodians, care givers, work extremely hard, but those people have no wealth to speak of. The people with the wealth in this country demonstrate absolutely no evidence of hard work. In fact, most of them simply own and control corporate mechanisms that permit them to profit madly from other people's hard work while most of them have never done a hard days work in their entire lives. The women of Ghana, as well as everyone in Ghana, is forced to rely on creativity, determination, and integrity, to produce remarkable methods of self reliance to earn livings. Scores of women at major intersections, toll booths, street corners, etc., sell everything from delicious plantains, to tiger nuts, to BBQ shrimp, to laundry soap, breath mints, and even floor mats for your vehicle. And, their entire inventory is located smugly on top of their heads! Despite the massive stress (and extreme heat) of standing for 12 hours per day in high volume traffic areas, these women are always diligent about making sure you get your correct change, all while dealing with three or four people at once, with that store on top of their heads. Compared to what these amazing people do, people in the U.S. have absolutely no freakin idea what work ethic actually means and there is really nothing more that needs to be said about that.
How about public safety? Besides the fact mass shootings are an unknown in Ghana and murders themselves are extremely rare (Accra, the capitol city of 4 million people has only a handful of murders per year. Los Angeles, a city of very comparable size to Accra, well, you already know what I was going to say). Compared to the U.S., there is no such thing as a public safety issue in Ghana.
What about healthcare? As we know, Ghana is a poor country, but still, their system has been very efficient at providing health needs for its people. Most medicines, instead of being monopolized and savagely overpriced and unattainable as they are in the U.S., can be purchased over the counter at any drug store. Anti-malara medicine, viagra (not that I have bought it. Its just right there on the shelf in the stores), etc., can all be purchased, and are affordable, over the counter. Extensive healthcare is affordable. Despite limitations on medical equipment, medicines, and trained professionals, people receive what they need when they need it and Ghana has even figured out how to make health care available at little to no cost to elders, disabled, and others who need help fulfilling their medical needs. Meanwhile, with equipment fully available. With medicines accessible at your fingertips. Millions of people die and are forced to file bankruptcy every year in the U.S. because of the profit first healthcare system that exists within this backward country. And, to add insult to injury, insurance companies like Aetna charge huge premiums when that country got its start from seed money produced from the transatlantic slave trade. No African should ever owe Aetna and the others one crying penny.
Finally, lets discuss the general well being of the people of these two countries. By well being we mean what type of people are these country's producing? In Ghana we know you can assume that most people you encounter are going to be honest and will want to look out for you. Most people see themselves as having responsibility to you and they will go out of their way to ensure your needs are being met. Passive aggressiveness is non-existent. If people have something to say, they say it and everyone is always willing to take time to talk through issues. Obviously that's a pretty important quality because it will serve to stave off serious conflict when it arises. Meanwhile, this country is overwhelmed with racist sentiments and practices. Anti-woman hysteria coupled with intensifying homophobia is common today. Truth and justice in this society is completely divorced from our daily material reality. Truth here is whatever you can get people to believe, despite the damage it does to people and the harm that it causes. Nobody here cares because people only have concerns about themselves. This is indicative of the most primitive of human characteristics and reflects a general lack of maturity and quality on the part of the masses of people who populate this country.
Hip/hop artist KRS-1 said something profound once. He said civilization and technology have absolutely nothing to do with one another. The U.S. has the world's most advanced technology, but it also has the world's most advanced ignorance among its population. This country and no one within it is in the position to accuse any country anywhere of being a s - - thole. Ghana doesn't have money, but the basis for an advanced society exists there as it does throughout Africa. The point there is Ghana won't be without resources forever. One day Ghana, and all of Africa will have all the resources they need. How do I know this? Because those resources are already there. Its just a question of the people of Africa gaining control of them. Do you realistically believe there will never be a day when that control changes hands? Either willfully or not, that is going to happen. On the flip side of that coin, the U.S. has a vastly under educated and woefully ignorant populace. All the wealth and technology on Earth cannot make up for that deficit. The U.S. needs an awful lot. More than it can ever generate. All Ghana needs is control of its resources. Something that will surely happen in just a matter of time. You tell me which one is really a s - - thole?
First, let's look at education. In Ghana, the standard based schools there start placing children through a grueling and disciplined daily regiment that lasts hours each day. Children as young as seven or eight are fully expected to participate completely in this process. And, the results are children in Ghana are respectful, disciplined, and highly knowledgeable. My conversations with them revealed their extensive knowledge of the U.S. despite the fact they will most certainly never actually come here. Their math, science, and literature skills, despite a consistent lack of books and other academic materials, would make the average Ghanaian student embarrass the average student at the same level in this country. Meanwhile, the U.S. educational system remains mired in the lowest categories in every measurable metric as it relates to quality of education. Although most students in Ghana can tell you something about any place on Earth, the overwhelming majority of people in the U.S. couldn't even tell you that Ghana is located in Africa and that Africa is a continent, not a country. And that last statement is true whether people have graduated from college with a minimum of a four year degree, or not.
How about work ethic? People in the U.S. love to point to the extensive wealth within the U.S. as a measure of the quality of work ethics in this country. And, without question, the masses of low wage workers in the U.S. e.g. fast food workers, food servers everywhere, custodians, care givers, work extremely hard, but those people have no wealth to speak of. The people with the wealth in this country demonstrate absolutely no evidence of hard work. In fact, most of them simply own and control corporate mechanisms that permit them to profit madly from other people's hard work while most of them have never done a hard days work in their entire lives. The women of Ghana, as well as everyone in Ghana, is forced to rely on creativity, determination, and integrity, to produce remarkable methods of self reliance to earn livings. Scores of women at major intersections, toll booths, street corners, etc., sell everything from delicious plantains, to tiger nuts, to BBQ shrimp, to laundry soap, breath mints, and even floor mats for your vehicle. And, their entire inventory is located smugly on top of their heads! Despite the massive stress (and extreme heat) of standing for 12 hours per day in high volume traffic areas, these women are always diligent about making sure you get your correct change, all while dealing with three or four people at once, with that store on top of their heads. Compared to what these amazing people do, people in the U.S. have absolutely no freakin idea what work ethic actually means and there is really nothing more that needs to be said about that.
How about public safety? Besides the fact mass shootings are an unknown in Ghana and murders themselves are extremely rare (Accra, the capitol city of 4 million people has only a handful of murders per year. Los Angeles, a city of very comparable size to Accra, well, you already know what I was going to say). Compared to the U.S., there is no such thing as a public safety issue in Ghana.
What about healthcare? As we know, Ghana is a poor country, but still, their system has been very efficient at providing health needs for its people. Most medicines, instead of being monopolized and savagely overpriced and unattainable as they are in the U.S., can be purchased over the counter at any drug store. Anti-malara medicine, viagra (not that I have bought it. Its just right there on the shelf in the stores), etc., can all be purchased, and are affordable, over the counter. Extensive healthcare is affordable. Despite limitations on medical equipment, medicines, and trained professionals, people receive what they need when they need it and Ghana has even figured out how to make health care available at little to no cost to elders, disabled, and others who need help fulfilling their medical needs. Meanwhile, with equipment fully available. With medicines accessible at your fingertips. Millions of people die and are forced to file bankruptcy every year in the U.S. because of the profit first healthcare system that exists within this backward country. And, to add insult to injury, insurance companies like Aetna charge huge premiums when that country got its start from seed money produced from the transatlantic slave trade. No African should ever owe Aetna and the others one crying penny.
Finally, lets discuss the general well being of the people of these two countries. By well being we mean what type of people are these country's producing? In Ghana we know you can assume that most people you encounter are going to be honest and will want to look out for you. Most people see themselves as having responsibility to you and they will go out of their way to ensure your needs are being met. Passive aggressiveness is non-existent. If people have something to say, they say it and everyone is always willing to take time to talk through issues. Obviously that's a pretty important quality because it will serve to stave off serious conflict when it arises. Meanwhile, this country is overwhelmed with racist sentiments and practices. Anti-woman hysteria coupled with intensifying homophobia is common today. Truth and justice in this society is completely divorced from our daily material reality. Truth here is whatever you can get people to believe, despite the damage it does to people and the harm that it causes. Nobody here cares because people only have concerns about themselves. This is indicative of the most primitive of human characteristics and reflects a general lack of maturity and quality on the part of the masses of people who populate this country.
Hip/hop artist KRS-1 said something profound once. He said civilization and technology have absolutely nothing to do with one another. The U.S. has the world's most advanced technology, but it also has the world's most advanced ignorance among its population. This country and no one within it is in the position to accuse any country anywhere of being a s - - thole. Ghana doesn't have money, but the basis for an advanced society exists there as it does throughout Africa. The point there is Ghana won't be without resources forever. One day Ghana, and all of Africa will have all the resources they need. How do I know this? Because those resources are already there. Its just a question of the people of Africa gaining control of them. Do you realistically believe there will never be a day when that control changes hands? Either willfully or not, that is going to happen. On the flip side of that coin, the U.S. has a vastly under educated and woefully ignorant populace. All the wealth and technology on Earth cannot make up for that deficit. The U.S. needs an awful lot. More than it can ever generate. All Ghana needs is control of its resources. Something that will surely happen in just a matter of time. You tell me which one is really a s - - thole?
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