In grade 7 I started at a new school. It was a middle school called EAST. It's literally all about social justice. Anyways, I remember the first thing I learned there was this quote about power corrupting. I had no idea what that meant or why I was to learn that.
Now that I'm reading all this news on Ivory Coast about Gbagbo, all I can think of is that all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely!
I started reading a book called Africa by Richard Dowden. It talked a lot about African leaders basically coming into power and how they often have trouble stepping down. For example, Gbagbo in Ivory Coast!
It's so hard for me to understand that someone who is (or was) in charge of a country can allow for their country to become so torn apart. I have trouble knowing that there are so many people dying in the Ivory Coast right now and others are just witnessing it, when really, it's so unnecessary! I think it's safe to say that Ouattara won the election. As Gbagbo, who ran the country for like 10 years, I would give up the thrown like a gentleman because obviously I would want the best for my country. How can a man who has been the head of a country for so long then let so many of his people die basically because he wont give up his power. It's ridiculous! But then again, it's clearly a theme in Africa.
When I was in Africa, I know I spoke to a lot of the kids there and they'd tell me what they wanted to be when they grow up. Most of them wanted to have a good job so they could make a lot of money. It seems like money is important, which is kinda understandable...to a degree. I imagine that Gbagbo (and many other African leaders) wanted that too, so when they eventually got to the point where they had money (and power) in leading their country...they got used to it.
Gbagbo finally obtained that power and I'm sure he had great plans for his country but eventually it all became corrupt and now look at where things are going.
I read a couple articles today and one of them said that even if the political and military fights were to stop, the sexual harrassments, killings and lootings would probably escalate in communities across the country. Isn't that insane.
Ouattara has said that this will be over soon, so I'm hoping he is right! Things are becoming better but I think that there's still a bit to go.
Now that I'm reading all this news on Ivory Coast about Gbagbo, all I can think of is that all power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely!
I started reading a book called Africa by Richard Dowden. It talked a lot about African leaders basically coming into power and how they often have trouble stepping down. For example, Gbagbo in Ivory Coast!
It's so hard for me to understand that someone who is (or was) in charge of a country can allow for their country to become so torn apart. I have trouble knowing that there are so many people dying in the Ivory Coast right now and others are just witnessing it, when really, it's so unnecessary! I think it's safe to say that Ouattara won the election. As Gbagbo, who ran the country for like 10 years, I would give up the thrown like a gentleman because obviously I would want the best for my country. How can a man who has been the head of a country for so long then let so many of his people die basically because he wont give up his power. It's ridiculous! But then again, it's clearly a theme in Africa.
When I was in Africa, I know I spoke to a lot of the kids there and they'd tell me what they wanted to be when they grow up. Most of them wanted to have a good job so they could make a lot of money. It seems like money is important, which is kinda understandable...to a degree. I imagine that Gbagbo (and many other African leaders) wanted that too, so when they eventually got to the point where they had money (and power) in leading their country...they got used to it.
Gbagbo finally obtained that power and I'm sure he had great plans for his country but eventually it all became corrupt and now look at where things are going.
I read a couple articles today and one of them said that even if the political and military fights were to stop, the sexual harrassments, killings and lootings would probably escalate in communities across the country. Isn't that insane.
Ouattara has said that this will be over soon, so I'm hoping he is right! Things are becoming better but I think that there's still a bit to go.
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| UN Peacekeepers in Abidjan |
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UN Contingent Secures Site for Ivorians Displaced by Post-Electoral Fighting |
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| Ivorian Refugees in Liberia |
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