They Picked Up Guns & Hammers

The lovely and talented Amy asks “You have the chance to cure the world of Cancer or AIDS or stop the violence in Africa or Israel/Palestine…which would you choose, and why?”

This one is pretty easy for me. Violence in Africa is an overwhelming calamity which is achieving nothing and only getting worse. Unfortunately, it’s also largely unnoticed by the mainstream media. (Though BBC America News does a good job. I highly recommend it! Check it out to see what a balanced and unbiased picture of the world actually looks like.) Anyhow… Africa. I had the chance to spend 2 weeks in South Africa back in 2003. I was actually in a very nice resort hotel surrounded by a large wall (with “decorative” razor-wire) and well-armed security guards. But what I saw just outside those walls was complete and total abject poverty. Shanty-towns where violence, disease and starvation are quite-common. People w/ very little to live for and less to call their own. In an environment such as this violence can only reign supreme. Now this is in South Africa, one of the most stable and prosperous countries on the continent. It pains me to imagine the violence in the more war-torn areas of the continent. If given the opportunity I would certainly end the Violence in Africa.

…Of course the only way to accomplish that really is to 1) realize Africa exists and it’s issues are much more important than Brit’s latest crotch-flash. 2) Give the people hope in tomorrow. 3) Give people real solutions for supporting their families.