Sarkozy speechwriter 'racist' (suggested Africa may have caused some of it's own problems)

News 24 (South Africa) ^ | October 9, 2007

[Stoat]

Sarkozy speechwriter 'racist'
09/10/2007 17:26  - (SA)  

 

Paris - A star French philosopher attacked President Nicolas Sarkozy's speechwriter as a "racist" on Tuesday over an address suggesting Africans were to blame for their continent's problems.

Speaking on France Inter radio, Bernard-Henri Levy attacked presidential advisor Henri Guiano over the contents of a speech delivered by Sarkozy in the Senegalese capital Dakar in July, which sparked an uproar on the continent.

"Guaino, he's a racist.... He's the one who wrote this vile speech... saying that if Africa wasn't developed it was because Africans were not part of history," Henri-Levy charged.

The writer stressed that Sarkozy, who "himself is not a racist", must have "discovered the speech on the plane".

"To say such a thing, completely forgetting colonisation, the destruction of the country by this shameful period of colonialism, that is pure Guaino, and it is racism," he said.

In the Dakar speech, Sarkozy argued that "colonisation is not responsible for all of Africa's current troubles", saying: "The African peasant only knows the eternal renewal of time, rhythmed by the endless repetition of the same gestures and the same words.

'Cycle of repetition'

"In this imaginary world where everything starts over and over again, there is no place for human adventure or for the idea of progress."

"Never does man reach out towards the future. Never does it occur to him to end the cycle of repetition and invent a destiny for himself," he said.

The speech was attacked as "insulting" by some African media, as well as by the head of the African Union Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, who said he was "disappointed" with Sarkozy's vision of Africa.

France's right-wing government has also come under attack from African leaders over a government immigration bill that would authorise voluntary DNA testing on foreigners wishing to join their families in France.

Konare has described the proposed DNA tests as "unacceptable at an ethical, moral and cultural level", while Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade said they were "not respectful of human freedom".

On Monday, an Algerian-born French minister broke ranks with Sarkozy's government over the immigration issue, warning she was prepared to stand down in protest.

Exploiting immigration 'disgusting'

"I'm not okay with this DNA business, because I think we are touching something that is not good for our country," Urban Affairs Minister Fadela Amara, one of a handful of left-wingers in the government, told France Inter.

"Speaking as an immigrant's daughter, I've had enough of seeing immigration exploited all the time, for very clear reasons. I think it's disgusting," added the woman's rights campaigner.

"Quite frankly, the day it really becomes unbearable, the day it gets too hard, I will leave" the government, she said.

[Stoat]

Apparently, these offended simpletons believe that prior to colonialization, Africa was some sort of magnificent, golden empire where the rivers flowed with milk and honey, and the one and only thing that caused Africa's corruption and decline was the Evil White Man.

A very convenient perspective to have,considering the fact that breathtaking volumes of aid monies ebb and flow as a result of the regular maintenance of White Guilt.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. Africa won't be an investment magnet anytime soon. Corrupt governments and lawlessness have contributed to the continent's unsavory reputation. That's not racism; that's Africa. Two words come to mind in connection with black Africa: financial fraud and governmental plunder.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[bicyclerepair]

Silly, don’t you know it’s Bush’s fault?

[massgopguy]

Prior to colonization, with the exception of Egypt, Africa was the land that time forgot.

[wastedyears]

***I’m not okay with this DNA business, because I think we are touching something that is not good for our country,”***

Yeah, like STDs

[uncbob]

Well he is partially right

It is the White Liberals who are to blame with the majority rule blather and boycotts etc

[Alright_on_the_LeftCoast]

"Quite frankly, the day it really becomes unbearable, the day it gets too hard, I will leave" the government, she said.

So, STFU, and leave

[bkepley]

The African peasant only knows the eternal renewal of time, rhythmed by the endless repetition of the same gestures and the same words.

Well that is a pretty bizarre thing for a politician from one country to say about peasants in another country.

[Slapshot68]

So basically this “philosopher” joins the throng of the idiot left who thinks any speech you make where the target of the speech are people of color, that it’s automatically a racist statement.

[fishtank]

In light of yesterday’s date, it’s gotta be Christopher Columbus’s fault......

[GOP Jedi]

Traditional (i.e., Third World) rural cultures tend to view time as cyclical (seasons revolving) rather than linear (calendar moving ever-forward), a fact which anthropologists and political scientists know full well. It is an impediment to adapting to a First World business model and economy. These critics know all of this, but they are counting on their followers and audiences not knowing it. In other words, they are pandering.

[wideawake]

I agree. It’s reductive and patronizing.

[goldstategop]

Democracy is in its infancy in Nigeria. But the culture of democratic government is still weak and trust is not a commodity valued in African culture. Every African economy is cash based. You pay for goods and services upfront in full in cash. And that allows an environment for corruption, fraud and waste to flourish.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[driftdiver]

“Africa won’t be an investment magnet anytime soon. Corrupt governments and lawlessness have contributed to the continent’s unsavory reputation. That’s not racism; that’s Africa.”

Saw a show on Hero’s. It was about 3 guys in the State Dept security force that rescued scores of Americans during the civil war in Monrovia in 1987. I’ve seen other shows on this that pointed to the child soldiers and rampant violence. This one had video these guys took as they drove thru checkpoints in attempts to reach Americans.

(graphic content warning)
They saw these folks cutting the hearts out of enemy soldiers while they were alive. Cutting their private parts off and putting them in their victims mouths. Peoples heads were posted on barrels and poles. They were using some guys intestines as rope to stop traffic. They raped women to death. It went on and on and on.

These folks were decedents of American slaves that chose to go back to Africa. They had everything America could give them for more than 100 years.

Racism had nothing to do with this. The corrupt governments in place was the cause. An example - Bush gave Africa 15 billion dollars for AIDs programs. Where the heck does this kinda money go in an area where the average income is maybe $3000 per year at most.

[BenLurkin]

“colonisation is not responsible for all of Africa’s current troubles”,

What was it like before colonization?

Was it developed industrially?

Was it developed politically?

Was it developed economically?

Was it developed technologically?

[goldstategop]

The average income in West Africa is $1,000 a year. Life is hard because everything is so expensive. The irony is its a continent rich in both natural and human resources. But there's been little progress in developing Africa since the end of colonial rule.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[biscuit jane]

“Apparently, these offended simpletons believe that prior to colonialization, Africa was some sort of magnificent, golden empire where the rivers flowed with milk and honey, and the one and only thing that caused Africa’s corruption and decline was the Evil White Man.
A very convenient perspective to have,considering the fact that breathtaking volumes of aid monies ebb and flow as a result of the regular maintenance of White Guilt.”

Amen. In the African country of Nigeria the Brits were offically ousted in 1960, yet as of today they are still
wrestling with their own elected but corrupt rulers... The country has a government and judicial system based on USA and UK systems.
They have oil and foreign aid. But the country is a mess becuase
the rulers use the aid and the tax money to enrich their personal bank acounts while the trash and the sewers overflow... much the same throughout the continent.

[Travis McGee]

Atlas shrugged in the camp of saints.

[driftdiver]

“The irony is its a continent rich in both natural and human resources. But there’s been little progress in developing Africa since the end of colonial rule.”

And how is that the fault of colonization? I don’t think thats what you’re saying but this situation is insane. Africa is a continent which has sucked money and resources out of the rest of the world. It does no good. Those in power steal the food and kill anyone who argues.

Welfare doesn’t work. The UN sure doesn’t work. And while the world ignores Africa millions and millions die.

[SergeiRachmaninov]

ping