When I think of Africa, I think of it as a continent. I have had the privilege of working and living with a group of South African men that were much more in likeness to the Australians and British. This is explained somewhat by the large Dutch and British influence/control of the region during the 1800s. Even today, English is the predominate language in South Africa. Australia is close to South Africa and its influence is obvious. In fact, many middle and upper class families have fled to Australia in the past 10-15 years due to the extreme violence that has followed the post apartheid government.
In comparison, Egypt is to the northeast and is quite different from the 4th world countries that make up the vast of Africa; in fact there are 33 4th world countries in Africa. This is the poorest region in the world. In contrast, Egypt is fairly prosperous, with gleaming cities and large cultural centers. The government is extremely stable and peace is the norm. Egypt is considered one of the oldest of civilizations.
In summary, I consider Africa very much a continent with fascinating differences in the countries that make up that continent. The size of the continent is second only to Asia. The geography is varied, ranging from tropical to subarctic, with vast deserts in between. Its wildlife and jungles has been the backdrop for thousands of movies. As a boy, one of my favorite shows was Tarzan. Africa will always be known for its slave trading history, the television documentaries on lions, elephants, and other wild African animals, the diamond trade and for sports fans, the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
When I hear the word “Africa”, I think about the chaos, the starvation, the wars, and the corrupt government that dominates most of Africa today. Of course, the peaceful and productive countries are not news worthy by modern media standards, so it is the ugliness that we see on TV and in print. I also think about my good friends from Africa that have seen the country of South Africa tumble from one of the most productive and peaceful countries in the world to the most dangerous place to live.
Kevin
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
"Egypt is considered the oldest of civilizations."
Ummm...you knew I'd challenge that claim...what about Persia? China? India? Or were you speaking of Africa specifically? Ethiopia? Rift Valley? And what constitutes civilization? There's more we don't know about human history than we know.
Jenny:
You are right, unfortunately I was relying on my middle school history class...which was a long time ago. I should have written, "one of the oldest". So, we'll say Egypt is the cradle of civilization and not the birthing chamber.
Kevin
Post a Comment