Along the same lines as the post a couple of days ago about the woman working in Ethiopia, I offerthis (from the NYTimes website, you may have to register). Check the link on the right side that says: "Is There Any Hope For Africa?". Needless to say, I found the title pretty, well, stupid. This guy takes a trip to Chad to report on the refugees that have been pouring across the border from Sudan (which is a very serious and heartbreaking situation) and then decides that if "Africa" is this bad, hell, why should we think that it will EVER sort itself out.
Of course, not all of Africa is that bad. It would be like saying "Is there any hope for America's Youth?" because kids in schools keep shooting each other. Yes the Sudan is bad, yes there are problems of poverty and instability all over the continent and yes truck loads and truck loads of Aid money aren't going to solve those problems.
But "Is There Any Hope For Africa?" geez. a little harsh no?
I'm sure people logging on to NYTimes.com in Lagos love that. Or Dakar. Or Nairobi. Or Cape Town. Or Cairo. But at least they can all take heart in the fact that Mr. Kristof, at the very end of his exhautive report manages some "guarded optimism" that the problems of Africa can be sorted out. Thanks Mr Kristof, the continent of Africa sleeps better knowing that.