In the New York Times article, Postcard From Zimbabwe, Nicholas D. Kristof gives a brief description of the situation with the current government in Zimbabwe. He mentions that President Robert Mugabe is ruining the country and many of the natives miss the old government that used to be in place. The old government was very racist, oppressive and white. The problem with the current, new government according to Kristof, is that the money stopped coming to the people because they are unable to get jobs now. Kristof got information on the government by traveling to Zimbabwe and he found that many people did not have the money to pay for necessities like healthcare, education and food. He is convinced that pressure from South Africa will lead to change through free elections and will lead to the removal of Mugabe from power. Amy Chua in her article claims that Mugabe has taken control of massive quantities of “white-owned commercial farmland” (70). Prior to this, the Zimbabweans were angry because first they did not like the presence of foreigners in their land and second they should have had the right to their own property. Chua states that democracy can’t be the only solution because that would be too simple for Zimbabwe. Mugabe got into office by claiming that he would be able to get the land back from the white people. Chua states “95 percent of Zimbabwe’s largely white-owned commercial farms are now earmarked for confiscation without compensation and many farmers have been ordered off the land” (70). Despite the consistent campaign of Mugabe, he has still not resolved the problems and he needs to be taken out of power. A proper democracy with proper elections needs to be put into place for Zimbabwe. With that democracy, the government could be restored and hopefully the economy could be additionally. These people need to be able to stop living in fear of their government. They deserve the opportunity to make money and own land without the chance of those things being taken away. As stated in class, some countries do not have equal protection under the law as in America. They could be better protected if something is done about Mugabe.
In his article “Postcard From Zimbabwe” economist and liberalist Nicholas D. Kristof describes the tragedies he encountered in his last visit to Zimbabwe while traveling with his family. For the safety of those individuals interviewed, Kristof omitted their names and only narrates the stories describing the tragedy and suffering of the people in Zimbabwe. According to Kristof, many ordinary people reported that “life had been better under the old, racist, white regime of what was then called Rhodesia.” Many people pointed out that even though they were being constantly oppressed by a white minority, they were actually having more chances to survive under their reign, than today because the new black ruling minority is incompetent and lacks the resources to promote and provide jobs for everyone in the region. As a 58-year-old farmer called Isacc said, “it was better under Rhodesia. Then we could get jobs. Things were cheaper in stores. Now we have no money, no food.” The new small black minority who is ruling lacks the ability to stimulate the economy; therefore, they sink the nation into even more poverty. The lack of food, shelter, water and medicine has dropped “life expectancy from about 60 years in 1990 to somewhere between 36 and 44, depending on which statistics” you are considering to analyze. In some way, this new claims and evidence that Kuper provides supports his idea of the desperate need of African countries for a free-market capitalist economy. According to Kuper, this should stimulate their economy and establish sustainable development making those third world nations who benefit from them independent. An astonishing fact Kuper mentions is how a 29-year-old woman, who was seven months pregnant, who had malaria was denied an antimalaria medicine unless she paid $2. Since she had no money at all-she was in total poverty and in desperate need of help-she was denied access to medication and was left with no other choice but to walk back home. When Kuper interviewed the nurses of that clinic he asked them why they turned down on that woman. As predicted, they responded that they were “desperately short of bandages, antibiotics and beds, as well as funds and medicine.” This reminds us about the incompetence of the new black ruling minority who has failed to provide enough assistance for their people leaving thousands to die preventable of starvation and disease.
NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, author of the article "Postcard From Zimbabwe", from the New York Times, discusses some of the negative changes that a nation has undergone after residents drove the market-dominant-minority (MDM) out of their lands. Kristof came to Zimbabwe on a trip with his family, and took the time to interview residents, something that is very risky at the time because interviewers and subjects can be imprisoned. Residents of Zimbabwe reported that the economy of their land had gotten worst after the “white people” were droved off. President Mugabe is responsible for encouraging the seizure of the lands owned by the "white people", and the people of Zimbabwe now regret their actions. As a result of the seizure of lands, there has been many shortages in food, supplies, and job opportunities. Things have also gotten more expensive; therefore, people are in a worst situation than where they were before. Kristof shares a few examples of how, this has also put people in risk, as residents no longer have money to afford medicine for curable deceases. He even goes to share that life expectancy has dropped from "60 years in 1990 to somewhere between 36 and 44, depending on which statistics you believe". Not only individuals have been affected, but also whole programs and services such as schools, clinics, can no longer afford to give proper attention to individuals. Kristof believes, “the tragedy that has unfolded here can be reversed if Mr. Mugabe is obliged by international pressure, particularly from South Africa, to hold free elections”. However, Amy Chua believes that democracy (free and fair elections) is not the solution to this issue. On her article "A World on the Edge" she states that turning to democracy is “breathtakingly naïve”. She explains that this is because “Mugable himself is a product of democracy”, he was elected president after “promising to expropriate ‘stolen’ white land” (70). Through one of her sources she adds, “95 percent of Zimbabwe’s largely white-owned commercial farms are now marked for confiscation without compensation and many farmers have been ordered off the land”. This means that the situation will keep worsening. A proper solution has to be looked upon in order to help these people out of poverty.
Zimbabwe is a country that has gone through many problems. First they are colonized by foreigners and all most of the natives are ignored. Many of Zimbabwe's citizens were upset because many white people owned land that they didn't deserve. The citizens of Zimbabwe wanted their land back and they relied on their president Robert Mugabe to give them back their land. But the thing that these people didn't know was that their country's economy relied on the white people that lived there. Many say that a democracy is that right way to end the poverty in Zimbabwe but the truth is that there isn't a easy way to end it. I'm sure that people would like equal rights and voting rights but that doesn't mean that there will be less poverty. I believe that a country needs a good leader rather than just a democracy. The reason is that President Mugabe was brought into power by democracy. The citizens of Zimbabwe wanted Mugabe to become president because he promised them to give them back their land. Just like a democracy, the majority wanted Mugabe to have power so that their land will be given back. So the country did follow the principles of democracy but they were led by a bad leader who had no idea what to do. Mugabe is a corrupt leader that only wants to stay in power. I agree with Amy Chua’s argument that democracy isn’t going to take away Zimbabwe’s problems. The truth is that Mugabe was getting support from his people so that the market-dominating minority could give back their land. Mugabe and his people had no idea that their economy was going to get bad. Now that the people found out that they needed these foreigners for their country they want them back. At this time this was a problem caused by the people of Zimbabwe and the leader. Mugabe should have thought about the consequences that were going to happen if they got rid of all the market-dominating minorities. This problem should be fixed by a better leader not just a “democracy”.
Nicholas D. Kristof’s briefly discusses his audacious family adventure through perilous Zimbabwe in “Postcard from Zimbabwe.” Throughout the article, he explains President Robert Mugabe’s malicious control over the country, forcing him to tread lightly and avoid any governmental figures as journalism is illegal under Mugabe. The Rhodesian government, deposed about thirty years ago, functioned as a minority leadership that kept order largely through oppression. This group falls precisely within the region of Chua’s discussion. The Rhodesians actions received them extreme criticism from appalled nations across the globe. What these outside nations failed to consider cost people almost twenty years in average life expectancy due to the new government’s complete failure and corruption. Starvation ravages Zimbabwe, health care and education systems have fallen apart, and people desperately wish to return to Rhodesian rule. The Rhodesians provided jobs, allowing the citizens to maintain a monetary income. Although still living in impoverished conditions, the people were able to survive. Kuper forces us to ask if these changes in governmental power that first-world nations, including the U.S., adamantly advocated were completely necessary, should be implemented. Looking at the facts, the answer to this is clearly no. This article strengthens Chua’s argument that our insistence upon forcing other countries into following in our democratic footsteps can make the situation much worse. Zimbabwe now deals with a group similar to the Rhodesians that continue oppression and ineffectually rule the country. Unfortunately, we are reason that this substantially worse group holds power today. Is it now our responsibility to again intervene and possibly exacerbate the situation further? Clearly no panacea lurks within reach for Zimbabwe, yet it seems imperative that something be done to ameliorate our previous blunders. Interestingly enough, Kuper says that pressure from outside countries again seems necessary. Maybe this time a new approach with Chua’s ideas could prove slightly more successful for the suffering citizens of Zimbabwe. It seems blindly attempting to force our democratic penchants down others’ throats has only made us look more foolish. Careful consideration should be enacted when dealing with countries we cannot continue to guide through infancy and adolescence.
In the article, “Zimbabwe and the Causes of African Poverty” published in the New York Times, journalist, author, op-ed columnist, and a winner of two Pulitzer Prize winner, by Nicholas D. Kristof addresses the topic of poverty in Africa and he argues that Africa is falling into poverty because of bad governance. A good governance would a help a country develop economically. According to Krisof, he states, “What distinguishes the fastest-growing economies in African, also including Rwanda, is simple their good governance.” Rwanda is living above poverty because of their good governance. The difference between a good and bad governance is their characteristics. A good governance would try to help the people and use the economic finance to support the people live above poverty. A bad governance would try to waste the money for power and is always in conflict with the people. Kristof is not the only author that believes that good governance is needed to alleviate poverty. Andrew Kuper in his article, “More than Charity” also addresses the topic of poverty. Kuper advocates many solutions to help reduce poverty and one of them is economic development. Kuper breaks down economic development into different topics that helps decrease poverty in the world and one of them is also good governance. Kuper states, “we need good government and better markets even more. This is a direct result of our interest in sustainability: the primary agents of justice and aid must, especially in the long run, possess the ultimate power to act as such, and it must be possible to hold them properly accountable for those actions” (78). Kuper also says that the government is responsible in helping the people. In order to keep sustainability, good government is needed to help people who are suffering in poverty. In addition, Professor of Law at Yale Law School, Amy Chua in her article, “A world on the Edge” addresses the topic of globalization and she argues that free market and democracy are not solutions to poverty. Free markets and democracy can create worst problems such as ethnic hatred. Chua brings up Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, one of the leaders who have caused Zimbabwe’s economy to fall. Chua states, “Watching Zimbabwe’s economy take a free fall…Mugabe himself is a product of democracy…95 percent of Zimbabwe’s largely white-owned commercial farms are now earmarked for confiscation without compensation” (70). Mugabe is example of democracy but he was not the best choice to govern the people of Zimbabwe. After reading and comparing these articles, they all agree that good governance is needed. Chua’s idea is that free market and democracy may not serve the best for people because it can also serve negative outcomes. I agree with Chua’s argument because the majority choice can sometimes empower the minority choice. The majority may choose somebody to represent the country, then it would not be the best solution to help out the country. In addition, the majority can also mislead themselves to believe in a leader such as Mugabe, who promised to take back the land from foreigners. However he didn’t and the economy fell. This is an illustration to Chua’s argument that sometimes free market and democracy is not the best solution.
In the New York Times article, “Postcard From Zimbabwe,” Nicholas D. Kristof talks about the people of Zimbabwe and their state of living. He says that the main people in power before the native Zimbabwean’s were predominantly white. The local people did not like the way things were so they forced the white people away. This is directly related to what Amy Chua talks about in her article, “A World on the Edge.” She says that often with democracy, the minority holds the most power. And the people that are the majority get angry and backlash on the people with the power. In this situation, the white people are the minority in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe’s are the majority that is upset. Because they were upset, they drove away the white people are not they are way worse off than before. The new leader, Mr. Mugabe, has nearly made it impossible to survive and live in Zimbabwe. Kristof toured around Zimbabwe and he learned first hand how things have been negatively affected since the white leaders were drove out. He says that the people cannot get first aid and a lot of people have become really poor. One man said that at least before there was some income with the white leaders, he says now there is very little to no income. Things are looking rough. Kids cannot afford to attend school because their families cannot afford the $37 tuition. Also the schools cannot afford school supplies so the kids have to share pens and attend class outside from lack of rooms. He also said that there are no desks or chairs or even books. Since the white leaders have left, the average life expectancy has dropped about 20 years, from 60 to about 40 years. That is awful. Some women are too poor to afford a healthy birth for their children, and many die because they cannot pay the fee. This article shows the opposite side of what Amy Chua talks about. She talks about how market-dominating minorities are harmful. But because of this article, sometimes it is better for the people that know what they are doing to be in charge.
In the New York Times article, "Postcard From Zimbabwe", Nicholas D. Kristof explains how these Zimbabweans feel about how Zimbabwe is now compared to when it was run by the white minority and was called Rhodesia. The native majority explain that at least when it was run by the whites there was food and things were cheaper at the store, and money would continue to come. He even depicted a woman who was 7 months pregnant and had malaria, walked four miles to the clinic and was refused medicine because she didnt have the two dollars to pay for it. She was sent home dizzy from malaria and pregnant empty handed. This relates to Chua's article "World on Edge", because she explains how ethnic differences and markets cause violence in many countries. Zimbabwe however, represents how without the economy being run by the white minority all of Zimbabwe's economy goes downhill. The country is actually less successful without the minority that they got rid of for the reasons Chua explains. Many times the majority of a country feels resentment toward the minority that is more economically successful in the country, especially if these people are thriving off the resources of their land. Therefore if declaring economic independence isn't an option violence my strike in many forms. Chua brings up in her article the Chinese in the Philippines and how they are the minority but run the majority of the economy. She goes on to say that that causes much conflict in the country in forms of kidnappings and murders such as her aunt who was murdered by her chauffeur. But when Zimbabwe declared independence and became Zimbabwe from Rhodesia they ended up less productive. Kristof shows how the people in Zimbabwe have no money and the schools and how this could all be solved if free elections were allowed. This supports Chua's advocacy of democracy and it's aid in reducing conflict. First world wide pressure forces the whites out and now they are trying to do the same with their leader Mr. Mugabe.
Kari Mitchell (forgot to put my name on the last comment) n the New York Times article, "Postcard From Zimbabwe", Nicholas D. Kristof explains how these Zimbabweans feel about how Zimbabwe is now compared to when it was run by the white minority and was called Rhodesia. The native majority explain that at least when it was run by the whites there was food and things were cheaper at the store, and money would continue to come. He even depicted a woman who was 7 months pregnant and had malaria, walked four miles to the clinic and was refused medicine because she didnt have the two dollars to pay for it. She was sent home dizzy from malaria and pregnant empty handed. This relates to Chua's article "World on Edge", because she explains how ethnic differences and markets cause violence in many countries. Zimbabwe however, represents how without the economy being run by the white minority all of Zimbabwe's economy goes downhill. The country is actually less successful without the minority that they got rid of for the reasons Chua explains. Many times the majority of a country feels resentment toward the minority that is more economically successful in the country, especially if these people are thriving off the resources of their land. Therefore if declaring economic independence isn't an option violence my strike in many forms. Chua brings up in her article the Chinese in the Philippines and how they are the minority but run the majority of the economy. She goes on to say that that causes much conflict in the country in forms of kidnappings and murders such as her aunt who was murdered by her chauffeur. But when Zimbabwe declared independence and became Zimbabwe from Rhodesia they ended up less productive. Kristof shows how the people in Zimbabwe have no money and the schools and how this could all be solved if free elections were allowed. This supports Chua's advocacy of democracy and it's aid in reducing conflict. First world wide pressure forces the whites out and now they are trying to do the same with their leader Mr. Mugabe.
In the New York Times article “Postcard from Zimbabwe” Nicholas Kristof describes two different conditions of Zimbabwe. The old condition, one where oppression existed and provoked an animosity against that minority that reigned over the descendents of this country. The second condition, one where the individuals of this country are poorer, everything is more expensive, and less jobs remain. Already, this situation relates back to Amy Chua’s article “A World On Edge” which elaborates on the hatred towards a minority that owns a good percentage of wealth in their country. In this article, we find that people will go as far as resorting to violence in order carry out their own hatred. We become attached to these actions when Chua provides a story of her own aunt, an example of this violence that was killed by one of her own workers. The second and more current condition of Zimbabwe leaves individuals unable to pay medical fees of $2 in order to save their own lives and an annual fee of $36 to attend school. In Chua’s article reaches the consensus that democracy may not always be the best solution, therefore, when it is forced about, it causes more problems than it does good. In this situation carried about Zimbabwe, it leaves readers with one question for themselves: what is more important, freedom from oppression or room to survive? However, what if there are other factors that are coming into play that we are not being told? Maybe Zimbabwe was one of the few countries that fell apart after they weren’t reigned over and we just weren’t notified one the ones that were successful? I feel as if in today’s world it’s necessary to question everything because we can never be so sure on what we are being socialized to believe through the media in order to persuade a vote in the next election. The fact that this article is featured in the New York Times further exposes how we are always exposed into heightening our solid belief in democracy, especially since this is a commonly read newspaper in America.
Nicholas D. Kristof writes, “Postcard From Zimbabwe, “ adapted from the New York Times. In his article he discusses the problems that the people of Zimbabwe are facing with the new elected power. Their country switched from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. A village man talked about the realization he had when the got rid of there old power. He had not idea that the ones they wanted in power would oppress them. I was absolute shocked to hear that the people wished they hadn’t changed there color, but there reasons seem very logical. One neighborhood man says that if the whites would have stayed in power, the money would continue to roll in. When Rhodesia was in power people could get jobs and things where cheaper. No they have no money and no food. This article extends Chua’s argument that democracy and markets interests collide. In this case the white people are the people of the market. They are financially stable and try and help grow their economy by providing jobs. However now that the power has changed the circumstance has changed. They went from having a pretty well of economy to having a really poor economy. This all stemmed from taking the people from the market out and implementing democracy, sometimes this is why demcrocracy can be hard to input. If individuals do not have enough education needed to cast a good vote, they might vote and the wrong party can be put into power. Zimbabwe is suffering from huge problems like education and health. Kristof discuses the story of a 29 year old women who was 7 months pregnant and had malaria. Her and her husband walked more then four miles to the clinic only to find out that the clinic refused to hhelp them unless they paid $2. This is extremely sad and disheartening, but the situation in schools is now better. No parents can truly afford school fees so their children are heavily suffering from a lack of education. Even the children who receive education do not get desks, chairs, or even books. Does this seem fair?. Hardly. Kristof discuss how much he loves Zimbabwe. He even brought his family along for his trip. He believes that the only way to fix there problems is if Mr. Mugabe is obliged by international pressure, especially from South Africa, to hold free elections. In the past world wide pressure has forced people out of power. Kristof believes that if we use the similar pressure we can succeed in our goals.
Kristoff was spot on in the article Zimbabwe and The Causes of African Poverty when he said the difference between the countries that were doing good and the ones that were doing bad was that the good countries had elected good, honest, and wise rulers. Due to the wise choice of rulers there has been no conflict in these countries unlike the bad ones. He says that the bad countries have problems due to bad governing and constant conflict. If these bad countries would follow what the good ones are doing and catch on the contagious nature of having good leaders they could pull them selves out of the ruts there in and start to do good by their people. Chua states “[b] ut the idea that democracy is the answer to Zimbabwe’s problems is breathtakingly naive.” (p. 70) Chua believes that democracy could be harmful to give to Zimbabwe and that it would be worse for the people to have such a government. Mugabe was only elected due to the promises he made to his people that he would take the land away from the white people, since he is uneducated and believed that no black person from Zimbabwe could own land in England. Due to his lack of knowledge he mislead his people and himself thus causing a downfall. Kirstoff tells a story about zebras at the circus that had been trained to do amazing tricks, this is relevant because Africa did not know do to lack of education that large mammals could be trained to be domestic. While at the circus Kristoff spoke to an elephant trainer who said it was easier to train African Elephants versus Indian Elephants, thus showing that some Africans knew that mammals could be trained and the rest of the population is being withheld from information. Kristoff proposes that if Africa were to just get proper leaders that it could have an overwhelming boom and become very prosperous on its own, thus if we give the people the choice to chose their leader and they receive education about their leader they will be able to make a proper choice and hopefully better their country.
After reading his article “Postcard From Zimbabwe” economist and liberalist Nicholas D. Kristof further disscusses the tragedies he found in his last visit to Zimbabwe while traveling with his family. In this reading Kristof omtted the names for the safety of those that were being interviewed at the time. According to Kristof, many regular people stated that “life had been better under the old, racist, white regime of what was then called Rhodesia.” Many of the people of Zimbabwe pointed out that even though that they were being oppressed b y the white that they rather have that mainly because they were actually having more chances to survive under their reign. Where the blacks were incompontent to have resources and a stable economy. Isacc, a farmer in the town, stated that “it was better under Rhodesia. Then we could get jobs. Things were cheaper in stores. Now we have no money, no food.” The new small black minority who is ruling does not have the ability to stimulate the economy. Because of that they will fall the nation into a depression due to how low the poverty is already. The necisity of food, shelter, water and medicine has became a greater need now more than befor. “life expectancy from about 60 years in 1990 to somewhere between 36 and 44, depending on which statistics” According to Kuper, this should help their economy and establish sustainable development. Kuper brings up many stories that had people that were in drastic need of help do not recive it due to the lack of funds that they did not have. Sad to think that people can die simply because no money is availbele and more tragic is the fact that people find that okay and will not do anything to help stop this. My overall thought was that in this reading you find alot about tragic things are in other countries and my thoughts are that we need to help some way or fashion to stop this torture.
After reading his article “Postcard From Zimbabwe” economist and liberalist Nicholas D. Kristof further disscusses the tragedies he found in his last visit to Zimbabwe while traveling with his family. In this reading Kristof omtted the names for the safety of those that were being interviewed at the time. According to Kristof, many regular people stated that “life had been better under the old, racist, white regime of what was then called Rhodesia.” Many of the people of Zimbabwe pointed out that even though that they were being oppressed b y the white that they rather have that mainly because they were actually having more chances to survive under their reign. Where the blacks were incompontent to have resources and a stable economy. Isacc, a farmer in the town, stated that “it was better under Rhodesia. Then we could get jobs. Things were cheaper in stores. Now we have no money, no food.” The new small black minority who is ruling does not have the ability to stimulate the economy. Because of that they will fall the nation into a depression due to how low the poverty is already. The necisity of food, shelter, water and medicine has became a greater need now more than befor. “life expectancy from about 60 years in 1990 to somewhere between 36 and 44, depending on which statistics” According to Kuper, this should help their economy and establish sustainable development. Kuper brings up many stories that had people that were in drastic need of help do not recive it due to the lack of funds that they did not have. Sad to think that people can die simply because no money is availbele and more tragic is the fact that people find that okay and will not do anything to help stop this. My overall thought was that in this reading you find alot about tragic things are in other countries and my thoughts are that we need to help some way or fashion to stop this torture.
15 comments:
In the New York Times article, Postcard From Zimbabwe, Nicholas D. Kristof gives a brief description of the situation with the current government in Zimbabwe. He mentions that President Robert Mugabe is ruining the country and many of the natives miss the old government that used to be in place. The old government was very racist, oppressive and white. The problem with the current, new government according to Kristof, is that the money stopped coming to the people because they are unable to get jobs now. Kristof got information on the government by traveling to Zimbabwe and he found that many people did not have the money to pay for necessities like healthcare, education and food. He is convinced that pressure from South Africa will lead to change through free elections and will lead to the removal of Mugabe from power. Amy Chua in her article claims that Mugabe has taken control of massive quantities of “white-owned commercial farmland” (70). Prior to this, the Zimbabweans were angry because first they did not like the presence of foreigners in their land and second they should have had the right to their own property. Chua states that democracy can’t be the only solution because that would be too simple for Zimbabwe. Mugabe got into office by claiming that he would be able to get the land back from the white people. Chua states “95 percent of Zimbabwe’s largely white-owned commercial farms are now earmarked for confiscation without compensation and many farmers have been ordered off the land” (70). Despite the consistent campaign of Mugabe, he has still not resolved the problems and he needs to be taken out of power. A proper democracy with proper elections needs to be put into place for Zimbabwe. With that democracy, the government could be restored and hopefully the economy could be additionally. These people need to be able to stop living in fear of their government. They deserve the opportunity to make money and own land without the chance of those things being taken away. As stated in class, some countries do not have equal protection under the law as in America. They could be better protected if something is done about Mugabe.
In his article “Postcard From Zimbabwe” economist and liberalist Nicholas D. Kristof describes the tragedies he encountered in his last visit to Zimbabwe while traveling with his family. For the safety of those individuals interviewed, Kristof omitted their names and only narrates the stories describing the tragedy and suffering of the people in Zimbabwe. According to Kristof, many ordinary people reported that “life had been better under the old, racist, white regime of what was then called Rhodesia.” Many people pointed out that even though they were being constantly oppressed by a white minority, they were actually having more chances to survive under their reign, than today because the new black ruling minority is incompetent and lacks the resources to promote and provide jobs for everyone in the region. As a 58-year-old farmer called Isacc said, “it was better under Rhodesia. Then we could get jobs. Things were cheaper in stores. Now we have no money, no food.” The new small black minority who is ruling lacks the ability to stimulate the economy; therefore, they sink the nation into even more poverty. The lack of food, shelter, water and medicine has dropped “life expectancy from about 60 years in 1990 to somewhere between 36 and 44, depending on which statistics” you are considering to analyze. In some way, this new claims and evidence that Kuper provides supports his idea of the desperate need of African countries for a free-market capitalist economy. According to Kuper, this should stimulate their economy and establish sustainable development making those third world nations who benefit from them independent.
An astonishing fact Kuper mentions is how a 29-year-old woman, who was seven months pregnant, who had malaria was denied an antimalaria medicine unless she paid $2. Since she had no money at all-she was in total poverty and in desperate need of help-she was denied access to medication and was left with no other choice but to walk back home. When Kuper interviewed the nurses of that clinic he asked them why they turned down on that woman. As predicted, they responded that they were “desperately short of bandages, antibiotics and beds, as well as funds and medicine.” This reminds us about the incompetence of the new black ruling minority who has failed to provide enough assistance for their people leaving thousands to die preventable of starvation and disease.
NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF, author of the article "Postcard From Zimbabwe", from the New York Times, discusses some of the negative changes that a nation has undergone after residents drove the market-dominant-minority (MDM) out of their lands. Kristof came to Zimbabwe on a trip with his family, and took the time to interview residents, something that is very risky at the time because interviewers and subjects can be imprisoned. Residents of Zimbabwe reported that the economy of their land had gotten worst after the “white people” were droved off. President Mugabe is responsible for encouraging the seizure of the lands owned by the "white people", and the people of Zimbabwe now regret their actions. As a result of the seizure of lands, there has been many shortages in food, supplies, and job opportunities. Things have also gotten more expensive; therefore, people are in a worst situation than where they were before. Kristof shares a few examples of how, this has also put people in risk, as residents no longer have money to afford medicine for curable deceases. He even goes to share that life expectancy has dropped from "60 years in 1990 to somewhere between 36 and 44, depending on which statistics you believe". Not only individuals have been affected, but also whole programs and services such as schools, clinics, can no longer afford to give proper attention to individuals. Kristof believes, “the tragedy that has unfolded here can be reversed if Mr. Mugabe is obliged by international pressure, particularly from South Africa, to hold free elections”. However, Amy Chua believes that democracy (free and fair elections) is not the solution to this issue. On her article "A World on the Edge" she states that turning to democracy is “breathtakingly naïve”. She explains that this is because “Mugable himself is a product of democracy”, he was elected president after “promising to expropriate ‘stolen’ white land” (70). Through one of her sources she adds, “95 percent of Zimbabwe’s largely white-owned commercial farms are now marked for confiscation without compensation and many farmers have been ordered off the land”. This means that the situation will keep worsening. A proper solution has to be looked upon in order to help these people out of poverty.
Zimbabwe is a country that has gone through many problems. First they are colonized by foreigners and all most of the natives are ignored. Many of Zimbabwe's citizens were upset because many white people owned land that they didn't deserve. The citizens of Zimbabwe wanted their land back and they relied on their president Robert Mugabe to give them back their land. But the thing that these people didn't know was that their country's economy relied on the white people that lived there. Many say that a democracy is that right way to end the poverty in Zimbabwe but the truth is that there isn't a easy way to end it. I'm sure that people would like equal rights and voting rights but that doesn't mean that there will be less poverty. I believe that a country needs a good leader rather than just a democracy. The reason is that President Mugabe was brought into power by democracy. The citizens of Zimbabwe wanted Mugabe to become president because he promised them to give them back their land. Just like a democracy, the majority wanted Mugabe to have power so that their land will be given back. So the country did follow the principles of democracy but they were led by a bad leader who had no idea what to do. Mugabe is a corrupt leader that only wants to stay in power. I agree with Amy Chua’s argument that democracy isn’t going to take away Zimbabwe’s problems. The truth is that Mugabe was getting support from his people so that the market-dominating minority could give back their land. Mugabe and his people had no idea that their economy was going to get bad. Now that the people found out that they needed these foreigners for their country they want them back. At this time this was a problem caused by the people of Zimbabwe and the leader. Mugabe should have thought about the consequences that were going to happen if they got rid of all the market-dominating minorities. This problem should be fixed by a better leader not just a “democracy”.
Nicholas D. Kristof’s briefly discusses his audacious family adventure through perilous Zimbabwe in “Postcard from Zimbabwe.” Throughout the article, he explains President Robert Mugabe’s malicious control over the country, forcing him to tread lightly and avoid any governmental figures as journalism is illegal under Mugabe. The Rhodesian government, deposed about thirty years ago, functioned as a minority leadership that kept order largely through oppression. This group falls precisely within the region of Chua’s discussion. The Rhodesians actions received them extreme criticism from appalled nations across the globe. What these outside nations failed to consider cost people almost twenty years in average life expectancy due to the new government’s complete failure and corruption. Starvation ravages Zimbabwe, health care and education systems have fallen apart, and people desperately wish to return to Rhodesian rule. The Rhodesians provided jobs, allowing the citizens to maintain a monetary income. Although still living in impoverished conditions, the people were able to survive. Kuper forces us to ask if these changes in governmental power that first-world nations, including the U.S., adamantly advocated were completely necessary, should be implemented. Looking at the facts, the answer to this is clearly no. This article strengthens Chua’s argument that our insistence upon forcing other countries into following in our democratic footsteps can make the situation much worse. Zimbabwe now deals with a group similar to the Rhodesians that continue oppression and ineffectually rule the country. Unfortunately, we are reason that this substantially worse group holds power today. Is it now our responsibility to again intervene and possibly exacerbate the situation further? Clearly no panacea lurks within reach for Zimbabwe, yet it seems imperative that something be done to ameliorate our previous blunders. Interestingly enough, Kuper says that pressure from outside countries again seems necessary. Maybe this time a new approach with Chua’s ideas could prove slightly more successful for the suffering citizens of Zimbabwe. It seems blindly attempting to force our democratic penchants down others’ throats has only made us look more foolish. Careful consideration should be enacted when dealing with countries we cannot continue to guide through infancy and adolescence.
In the article, “Zimbabwe and the Causes of African Poverty” published in the New York Times, journalist, author, op-ed columnist, and a winner of two Pulitzer Prize winner, by Nicholas D. Kristof addresses the topic of poverty in Africa and he argues that Africa is falling into poverty because of bad governance. A good governance would a help a country develop economically. According to Krisof, he states, “What distinguishes the fastest-growing economies in African, also including Rwanda, is simple their good governance.” Rwanda is living above poverty because of their good governance. The difference between a good and bad governance is their characteristics. A good governance would try to help the people and use the economic finance to support the people live above poverty. A bad governance would try to waste the money for power and is always in conflict with the people. Kristof is not the only author that believes that good governance is needed to alleviate poverty. Andrew Kuper in his article, “More than Charity” also addresses the topic of poverty. Kuper advocates many solutions to help reduce poverty and one of them is economic development. Kuper breaks down economic development into different topics that helps decrease poverty in the world and one of them is also good governance. Kuper states, “we need good government and better markets even more. This is a direct result of our interest in sustainability: the primary agents of justice and aid must, especially in the long run, possess the ultimate power to act as such, and it must be possible to hold them properly accountable for those actions” (78). Kuper also says that the government is responsible in helping the people. In order to keep sustainability, good government is needed to help people who are suffering in poverty. In addition, Professor of Law at Yale Law School, Amy Chua in her article, “A world on the Edge” addresses the topic of globalization and she argues that free market and democracy are not solutions to poverty. Free markets and democracy can create worst problems such as ethnic hatred. Chua brings up Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, one of the leaders who have caused Zimbabwe’s economy to fall. Chua states, “Watching Zimbabwe’s economy take a free fall…Mugabe himself is a product of democracy…95 percent of Zimbabwe’s largely white-owned commercial farms are now earmarked for confiscation without compensation” (70). Mugabe is example of democracy but he was not the best choice to govern the people of Zimbabwe. After reading and comparing these articles, they all agree that good governance is needed. Chua’s idea is that free market and democracy may not serve the best for people because it can also serve negative outcomes. I agree with Chua’s argument because the majority choice can sometimes empower the minority choice. The majority may choose somebody to represent the country, then it would not be the best solution to help out the country. In addition, the majority can also mislead themselves to believe in a leader such as Mugabe, who promised to take back the land from foreigners. However he didn’t and the economy fell. This is an illustration to Chua’s argument that sometimes free market and democracy is not the best solution.
In the New York Times article, “Postcard From Zimbabwe,” Nicholas D. Kristof talks about the people of Zimbabwe and their state of living. He says that the main people in power before the native Zimbabwean’s were predominantly white. The local people did not like the way things were so they forced the white people away. This is directly related to what Amy Chua talks about in her article, “A World on the Edge.” She says that often with democracy, the minority holds the most power. And the people that are the majority get angry and backlash on the people with the power. In this situation, the white people are the minority in Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe’s are the majority that is upset. Because they were upset, they drove away the white people are not they are way worse off than before. The new leader, Mr. Mugabe, has nearly made it impossible to survive and live in Zimbabwe. Kristof toured around Zimbabwe and he learned first hand how things have been negatively affected since the white leaders were drove out. He says that the people cannot get first aid and a lot of people have become really poor. One man said that at least before there was some income with the white leaders, he says now there is very little to no income. Things are looking rough. Kids cannot afford to attend school because their families cannot afford the $37 tuition. Also the schools cannot afford school supplies so the kids have to share pens and attend class outside from lack of rooms. He also said that there are no desks or chairs or even books. Since the white leaders have left, the average life expectancy has dropped about 20 years, from 60 to about 40 years. That is awful. Some women are too poor to afford a healthy birth for their children, and many die because they cannot pay the fee. This article shows the opposite side of what Amy Chua talks about. She talks about how market-dominating minorities are harmful. But because of this article, sometimes it is better for the people that know what they are doing to be in charge.
In the New York Times article, "Postcard From Zimbabwe", Nicholas D. Kristof explains how these Zimbabweans feel about how Zimbabwe is now compared to when it was run by the white minority and was called Rhodesia. The native majority explain that at least when it was run by the whites there was food and things were cheaper at the store, and money would continue to come. He even depicted a woman who was 7 months pregnant and had malaria, walked four miles to the clinic and was refused medicine because she didnt have the two dollars to pay for it. She was sent home dizzy from malaria and pregnant empty handed. This relates to Chua's article "World on Edge", because she explains how ethnic differences and markets cause violence in many countries. Zimbabwe however, represents how without the economy being run by the white minority all of Zimbabwe's economy goes downhill. The country is actually less successful without the minority that they got rid of for the reasons Chua explains. Many times the majority of a country feels resentment toward the minority that is more economically successful in the country, especially if these people are thriving off the resources of their land. Therefore if declaring economic independence isn't an option violence my strike in many forms. Chua brings up in her article the Chinese in the Philippines and how they are the minority but run the majority of the economy. She goes on to say that that causes much conflict in the country in forms of kidnappings and murders such as her aunt who was murdered by her chauffeur. But when Zimbabwe declared independence and became Zimbabwe from Rhodesia they ended up less productive. Kristof shows how the people in Zimbabwe have no money and the schools and how this could all be solved if free elections were allowed. This supports Chua's advocacy of democracy and it's aid in reducing conflict. First world wide pressure forces the whites out and now they are trying to do the same with their leader Mr. Mugabe.
Kari Mitchell (forgot to put my name on the last comment)
n the New York Times article, "Postcard From Zimbabwe", Nicholas D. Kristof explains how these Zimbabweans feel about how Zimbabwe is now compared to when it was run by the white minority and was called Rhodesia. The native majority explain that at least when it was run by the whites there was food and things were cheaper at the store, and money would continue to come. He even depicted a woman who was 7 months pregnant and had malaria, walked four miles to the clinic and was refused medicine because she didnt have the two dollars to pay for it. She was sent home dizzy from malaria and pregnant empty handed. This relates to Chua's article "World on Edge", because she explains how ethnic differences and markets cause violence in many countries. Zimbabwe however, represents how without the economy being run by the white minority all of Zimbabwe's economy goes downhill. The country is actually less successful without the minority that they got rid of for the reasons Chua explains. Many times the majority of a country feels resentment toward the minority that is more economically successful in the country, especially if these people are thriving off the resources of their land. Therefore if declaring economic independence isn't an option violence my strike in many forms. Chua brings up in her article the Chinese in the Philippines and how they are the minority but run the majority of the economy. She goes on to say that that causes much conflict in the country in forms of kidnappings and murders such as her aunt who was murdered by her chauffeur. But when Zimbabwe declared independence and became Zimbabwe from Rhodesia they ended up less productive. Kristof shows how the people in Zimbabwe have no money and the schools and how this could all be solved if free elections were allowed. This supports Chua's advocacy of democracy and it's aid in reducing conflict. First world wide pressure forces the whites out and now they are trying to do the same with their leader Mr. Mugabe.
In the New York Times article “Postcard from Zimbabwe” Nicholas Kristof describes two different conditions of Zimbabwe. The old condition, one where oppression existed and provoked an animosity against that minority that reigned over the descendents of this country. The second condition, one where the individuals of this country are poorer, everything is more expensive, and less jobs remain. Already, this situation relates back to Amy Chua’s article “A World On Edge” which elaborates on the hatred towards a minority that owns a good percentage of wealth in their country. In this article, we find that people will go as far as resorting to violence in order carry out their own hatred. We become attached to these actions when Chua provides a story of her own aunt, an example of this violence that was killed by one of her own workers. The second and more current condition of Zimbabwe leaves individuals unable to pay medical fees of $2 in order to save their own lives and an annual fee of $36 to attend school. In Chua’s article reaches the consensus that democracy may not always be the best solution, therefore, when it is forced about, it causes more problems than it does good. In this situation carried about Zimbabwe, it leaves readers with one question for themselves: what is more important, freedom from oppression or room to survive?
However, what if there are other factors that are coming into play that we are not being told? Maybe Zimbabwe was one of the few countries that fell apart after they weren’t reigned over and we just weren’t notified one the ones that were successful? I feel as if in today’s world it’s necessary to question everything because we can never be so sure on what we are being socialized to believe through the media in order to persuade a vote in the next election. The fact that this article is featured in the New York Times further exposes how we are always exposed into heightening our solid belief in democracy, especially since this is a commonly read newspaper in America.
Nicholas D. Kristof writes, “Postcard From Zimbabwe, “ adapted from the New York Times. In his article he discusses the problems that the people of Zimbabwe are facing with the new elected power. Their country switched from Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. A village man talked about the realization he had when the got rid of there old power. He had not idea that the ones they wanted in power would oppress them. I was absolute shocked to hear that the people wished they hadn’t changed there color, but there reasons seem very logical. One neighborhood man says that if the whites would have stayed in power, the money would continue to roll in. When Rhodesia was in power people could get jobs and things where cheaper. No they have no money and no food.
This article extends Chua’s argument that democracy and markets interests collide. In this case the white people are the people of the market. They are financially stable and try and help grow their economy by providing jobs. However now that the power has changed the circumstance has changed. They went from having a pretty well of economy to having a really poor economy. This all stemmed from taking the people from the market out and implementing democracy, sometimes this is why demcrocracy can be hard to input. If individuals do not have enough education needed to cast a good vote, they might vote and the wrong party can be put into power.
Zimbabwe is suffering from huge problems like education and health. Kristof discuses the story of a 29 year old women who was 7 months pregnant and had malaria. Her and her husband walked more then four miles to the clinic only to find out that the clinic refused to hhelp them unless they paid $2. This is extremely sad and disheartening, but the situation in schools is now better. No parents can truly afford school fees so their children are heavily suffering from a lack of education. Even the children who receive education do not get desks, chairs, or even books. Does this seem fair?. Hardly.
Kristof discuss how much he loves Zimbabwe. He even brought his family along for his trip. He believes that the only way to fix there problems is if Mr. Mugabe is obliged by international pressure, especially from South Africa, to hold free elections. In the past world wide pressure has forced people out of power. Kristof believes that if we use the similar pressure we can succeed in our goals.
Kristoff was spot on in the article Zimbabwe and The Causes of African Poverty when he said the difference between the countries that were doing good and the ones that were doing bad was that the good countries had elected good, honest, and wise rulers. Due to the wise choice of rulers there has been no conflict in these countries unlike the bad ones. He says that the bad countries have problems due to bad governing and constant conflict. If these bad countries would follow what the good ones are doing and catch on the contagious nature of having good leaders they could pull them selves out of the ruts there in and start to do good by their people. Chua states “[b] ut the idea that democracy is the answer to Zimbabwe’s problems is breathtakingly naive.” (p. 70) Chua believes that democracy could be harmful to give to Zimbabwe and that it would be worse for the people to have such a government. Mugabe was only elected due to the promises he made to his people that he would take the land away from the white people, since he is uneducated and believed that no black person from Zimbabwe could own land in England. Due to his lack of knowledge he mislead his people and himself thus causing a downfall. Kirstoff tells a story about zebras at the circus that had been trained to do amazing tricks, this is relevant because Africa did not know do to lack of education that large mammals could be trained to be domestic. While at the circus Kristoff spoke to an elephant trainer who said it was easier to train African Elephants versus Indian Elephants, thus showing that some Africans knew that mammals could be trained and the rest of the population is being withheld from information. Kristoff proposes that if Africa were to just get proper leaders that it could have an overwhelming boom and become very prosperous on its own, thus if we give the people the choice to chose their leader and they receive education about their leader they will be able to make a proper choice and hopefully better their country.
After reading his article “Postcard From Zimbabwe” economist and liberalist Nicholas D. Kristof further disscusses the tragedies he found in his last visit to Zimbabwe while traveling with his family. In this reading Kristof omtted the names for the safety of those that were being interviewed at the time. According to Kristof, many regular people stated that “life had been better under the old, racist, white regime of what was then called Rhodesia.” Many of the people of Zimbabwe pointed out that even though that they were being oppressed b y the white that they rather have that mainly because they were actually having more chances to survive under their reign. Where the blacks were incompontent to have resources and a stable economy. Isacc, a farmer in the town, stated that “it was better under Rhodesia. Then we could get jobs. Things were cheaper in stores. Now we have no money, no food.” The new small black minority who is ruling does not have the ability to stimulate the economy. Because of that they will fall the nation into a depression due to how low the poverty is already. The necisity of food, shelter, water and medicine has became a greater need now more than befor. “life expectancy from about 60 years in 1990 to somewhere between 36 and 44, depending on which statistics” According to Kuper, this should help their economy and establish sustainable development. Kuper brings up many stories that had people that were in drastic need of help do not recive it due to the lack of funds that they did not have. Sad to think that people can die simply because no money is availbele and more tragic is the fact that people find that okay and will not do anything to help stop this. My overall thought was that in this reading you find alot about tragic things are in other countries and my thoughts are that we need to help some way or fashion to stop this torture.
After reading his article “Postcard From Zimbabwe” economist and liberalist Nicholas D. Kristof further disscusses the tragedies he found in his last visit to Zimbabwe while traveling with his family. In this reading Kristof omtted the names for the safety of those that were being interviewed at the time. According to Kristof, many regular people stated that “life had been better under the old, racist, white regime of what was then called Rhodesia.” Many of the people of Zimbabwe pointed out that even though that they were being oppressed b y the white that they rather have that mainly because they were actually having more chances to survive under their reign. Where the blacks were incompontent to have resources and a stable economy. Isacc, a farmer in the town, stated that “it was better under Rhodesia. Then we could get jobs. Things were cheaper in stores. Now we have no money, no food.” The new small black minority who is ruling does not have the ability to stimulate the economy. Because of that they will fall the nation into a depression due to how low the poverty is already. The necisity of food, shelter, water and medicine has became a greater need now more than befor. “life expectancy from about 60 years in 1990 to somewhere between 36 and 44, depending on which statistics” According to Kuper, this should help their economy and establish sustainable development. Kuper brings up many stories that had people that were in drastic need of help do not recive it due to the lack of funds that they did not have. Sad to think that people can die simply because no money is availbele and more tragic is the fact that people find that okay and will not do anything to help stop this. My overall thought was that in this reading you find alot about tragic things are in other countries and my thoughts are that we need to help some way or fashion to stop this torture.
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