Crying for Africa

The African Union summit ended, amid reports of violence from Kenya and now Chad.

"What can we do for Kenya, for the Comoros, for Chad? This is painful for us, as under the eyes of the whole world we kill each other," said Gaddafi.

OK, I know you have preconceived ideas about Gaddafi, and maybe you dismiss his sadness as crocodile tears. I have no way of knowing how sincerely he mourns the suffering in his continent, though I hope it is sincere, since he's someone who can do something about some of the problems. But I can assure you that I and millions of others feel what he says he feels.

Then there are those who just find it amusing. Here are some comments on an article in the Houston Chronicle. I guess there's nothing wrong with being happy to live in the US, except that to me it smacks of "Forget about all those people." Another person recommends reading Robert Ruark, otherwise you "don't have a clue" about the situation. I have read Robert Ruark, but I suggest that quite a few things have happened since he wrote his books and I'm disgusted at the commenter's thought of dealing with Africa only in relation to its commodities (wait, that's what the majority of the world already does). Someone else says that the continent has already been flushed down the toilet, giving for evidence that the gang recruiter in the news story they are all commenting on was wearing high heels and designer sunglasses. Someone else makes a mocking remark about how that's not really the de rigueur outfit for a gang recruiter.

Meanwhile, millions of people suffer. The vast majority of them are just living their lives and have nothing to do with causing the problems their continent faces. And the world looks on and says, "Just more Africans killing each other."