Continental Perspectives
A planet of neighborhoods

Date: February 2018

 

Today as I was researching some changes I wanted to make to these pages I was drawn to Africa. Everywhere the buzz was about AFRICA RISING. I wasn't sure what had happened. Had there been a continental shift? How much had it risen and how many people had been hurt? But I was wrong. The rising wasn't physical, for the most part I believe, it had to do with the spirit and economics of the continent as a whole.

Africa as a whole is coming into its own and many, many people are starting to feel the benefits. What is amazing is the fact that Africa is a continent comprised of 54 countries and, only the academics know, how many cultures but the spirit of youth and the leaders are starting to view themselves as one people sharing a common history and quite possibly a common future.

Africa truly is coming into its own. The dictators, army generals and criminals who once help irrevocable power are being replaced by educated, sincere politicians and bureaucrats whose understanding of economic growth is forward thinking and whose social values include the wider community rather than confined to family and cultural affiliations.

It will not be surprising if in the next few decades we begin to see a shift in migration from the north to the south. As the current chaos in some of the countries subside and industrial and social stability take root the diaspora who is now leaving will seek to return.

European and North American social stability are disintegrating. The decay of social values and the diseases of privilege are eating away at the fabric of social order and good governance. Slowly but progressively their strength and respect in the global community is diminishing. The esteem these nations once held is being undermined by political and economic self interests, fanatic nationalism, the lowering standards of social integrity and a general apathy by the bulk of their citizens. The prosperity these nations enjoy is being concentrated into the hands of smaller groups of leading families, individuals and corporation reticent to contribute to the social well being of their communities.

The fact is, the leadership of economic wealth and social well being is moving from the northern hemisphere to the south and yes Africa is rising because of it. We hope that those who are starting to take the lead and those who will lead after these trail blazers fade into history will take note of these times and recognize the dangers of setting oneself above those whom they serve as well as the paranoia of loss that is associated with the greed of having more than what you deserve.

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