There are probably more annoying things than being hectored about African development by a wealthy Irish rock star in a cowboy hat, but I can't think of one at the moment. If Christmas, season of sob stories, has turned me into Scrooge, I recognize the Dickensian counterpart of Paul Hewson - who calls himself "Bono" - as Mrs. Jellyby in "Bleak House." Harping incessantly on her adopted village of Borrioboola-Gha "on the left bank of the River Niger," Mrs. Jellyby tries to save the Africans by financing them in coffee growing and encouraging schemes "to turn pianoforte legs and establish an export trade," all the while badgering people for money.
It seems to have been Africa's fate to become a theater of empty talk and public gestures. But the impression that Africa is fatally troubled and can be saved only by outside help - not to mention celebrities and charity concerts - is a destructive and misleading conceit. Those of us who committed ourselves to being Peace Corps teachers in rural Malawi more than 40 years ago are dismayed by what we see on our return visits and by all the news that has been reported recently from that unlucky, drought-stricken country. But we are more appalled by most of the proposed solutions.
I am not speaking of humanitarian aid, disaster relief, AIDS education or affordable drugs. Nor am I speaking of small-scale, closely watched efforts like the Malawi Children's Village. I am speaking of the "more money" platform: the notion that what Africa needs is more prestige projects, volunteer labor and debt relief. We should know better by now. I would not send private money to a charity, or foreign aid to a government, unless every dollar was accounted for - and this never happens. Dumping more money in the same old way is not only wasteful, but stupid and harmful; it is also ignoring some obvious points.
You have to be a real Scrooge to go after a guy who's spent a considerable amount of the time he doesn't spend on stage flying around the world persuading, cajoling and begging wealthier nations to pay attention to the myriad problems of Africa. What does Theroux think Bono should be doing?
Africa has no real shortage of capable people - or even of money. The patronizing attention of donors has done violence to Africa's belief in itself, but even in the absence of responsible leadership, Africans themselves have proven how resilient they can be - something they never get credit for. Again, Ireland may be the model for an answer. After centuries of wishing themselves onto other countries, the Irish found that education, rational government, people staying put, and simple diligence could turn Ireland from an economic basket case into a prosperous nation. In a word - are you listening, Mr. Hewson? - the Irish have proved that there is something to be said for staying home.
That's it? Theroux thinks Bono should be encouraging Africans to stay home? Theroux is to be applauded for his own personal efforts in Africa. Anyone who's devoted enough to Africa to have spent time there trying to help, deserves to have their opinion listened to. But Theroux is simply being unfair here. He never says exactly what it is he thinks Bono-or anyone else-should be doing in or for Africa. The gist of his article is that we can't go personally help them or they won't help themselves, and money certainly won't fix their problems. But he doesn't say what we should be doing other then encouraging African's to fix their own problems. Clearly he can't believe that to be the only course of action, which is why his swipe at Bono is a cheap shot. If anything he appears to be more irritated by Bono's status then anything else; God forbid a rock star should want to use his considerable public influence on anyone's behalf. But as you can read for yourself in this NY Times profile, Bono is desperately sincere about helping Africa, and has traveled the world over talking to heads of state, pleading for them to offer more humanitarian aid, to offer debt relief...to simply pay attention to Africa. His devotion shouldn't be mocked or trivilized or sneered at; it should be respected even if you have a different opinion as to where he should direct his effort. Theroux should know better, and his mean-spirited op-ed won't do much to help Africa either.
1 comment:
what a fool
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