Final Thoughts for 2015 Part II: This is part two because I know that tomorrow, there will be more uncluttered ruminations.
Final Thoughts for 2015 Part II: This is part two because I know that tomorrow, there will be more uncluttered ruminations.
Contrary to the US immigration debacle, South Africa’s legislative body welcomes its immigrant population with civil rights and social services. With firm legislation in place, social and economic troubles rise to the surface. The buzzword or media go to is ‘xenophobia.’ This article cuts across most political speech and straight to the history and culture of the native vs immigrant argument in South Africa.
MULTI-ETHNIC
On a longer view, in the two decades since the end of apartheid, South Africa has absorbed, largely peacefully, migrants comprising more than 10% of its 50m population. In such a situation many other societies would have developed outright xenophobia. The liberal climate in the multi-ethnic townships and informal settlements contributed to the integration of migrants.
So why is this positive model collapsing? Observers believe disappointment at the slow progress in public wellbeing, given the overly-high expectations raised post-apartheid, has led to frustration and anger now directed against foreigners—instead of questioning the performance and quality of South Africa’s own leaders.
Talking about her feelings when she was infected, she said she felt there was no mercy in the hospital. Kamara was admitted to a ward packed with Ebola patients, where only a few people were available to help with treatment.”People died on a daily basis when I was in the ward. For days, we weren’t served food; there was no mercy. I just thank God I survived,” Kamara said.
via What It’s Like To Be An Ebola Survivor In Sierra Leone PHOTOS.
From Left of Black:
Despite many news programs featuring African-American women as on-air hosts—Joy Reid of MSNBC’s The Reid Report, Robin Roberts on ABC’s Good Morning America, Gwen Ifill anchoring PBS Newshour and Michel Martin helming NPR’s Tell Me More, to name a few—there are still far too few people of color, particularly black women, in executive, editorial and production positions who have the decision-making authority to promote stories in ways that reflect the concerns of our communities.
via Black Women Need More Outlets And Options For Their Stories To Be Told – The Root.
Families of the missing children are still hoping for the returned of their missing children while villages and cities remain under siege. Does this historical public venture mark the beginnings of true democracy in Nigeria?
Mr. Ntakai was joined by more than 100 fathers, uncles and big brothers, all seeking several hundred girls taken by force from a boarding school in the remote hamlet of Chibok. The men followed a trail of hair ties and scraps of clothing the girls dropped to lead rescuers. One found his daughter’s flip-flop; another retrieved a remnant of a school uniform.
via In Nigeria, Parents Tormented by Stumbling Search for Girls Kidnapped by Boko Haram – WSJ.com.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Terrified shoppers huddled in back hallways and prayed they would not be found by the Islamic extremist gunmen lobbing grenades and firing assault rifles inside Nairobi’s top mall Saturday. When the coast was thought to be clear, crying mothers clutching small children and blood-splattered men sprinted out of the four-story mall.
At least 39 people were killed and more than 150 wounded in the assault, Kenya’s president announced on national TV, while disclosing that his close family members were among the dead.
Foreigners were among the casualties. France’s president said that two French women were killed, and there were reports of American citizens injured, but the U.S. State Department said it had no further details.
via 39 dead in Kenya mall attack; hostages still held – Yahoo News.