Interesting comment, this. And indicative of why Africa is not
likely to go anywhere in our lifetimes. I asked Professor Isosceles
Vilikazi, the well-known academic, inventor, and political observer,
to comment. He favoured me with one of the pithy verses that he so
loved to publish before Robert Mugabe sent the war vets out to the Vilikazi
place at Nyamandhlovu.


THE HOPELESS CONTINENT

by Prof Isosceles Vilikazi, BA, CA, DA, SAA, LLB, Free Bee, CD, QED, D Litt & Fizz (Enkeldoorn)

The reason for our sorry state
Is that we always choose to hate
The people we should emulate.
Yes we are lousy choosers.

For those who we should really hate
We rather choose to elevate
To heroes, who we emulate;
That's why we're born as losers.

Professor Vilikazi also noted another idiotic observation quoted in the article:

> "I really believe that Powell will stand up to Bush and be a voice for Africa,"
> said Kitenge Masethla, an employee at an Internet cafe here.

"That is precisely the kind of attitude that keeps Africa down," said the Prof. "Here you have 
the Secretary of State of the most powerful country in the world, sent to Africa
by the most powerful president in the world, and how do you react. 
Instead of seeing this as a sign that the USA takes an interest,
you automatically assume that Secretary Powell can only do something 
if he "stands up" to his presidential boss. In other words, 
it is automatically assumed that Bush is hostile, or at least
uncaring, towards Africa.

"Is it beyond the mielie-pip sized brains of my fellow Africans to realise that the smart thing 
to do is to suck up to the Americans for all they are worth, rather than bitch about them eternally. 

"No wonder all the smart Africans are leaving."