Letters Readers’ views
God is not a Christian My vote after Nelson Mandela being the greatest man in the world is Desmond Tutu (“God is not Christian”, NA May). He should be pope, maybe he will be one day! Tere is nothing he says that is not true. If the whole world could stop and listen to the man, who not only believes in a God of love but speaks for him as well, the world would be a better place. Africa must be blessed, otherwise, how
could these men be so great? Tey make us realise, each one of us in our insignifi- cance, how important we are in some other way that we have not yet realised. Tere might not be a God, sure, but at least there is Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Alan Barnard
Dar es Saleem, Tanzania
Welcome to ‘Goddianism’ Indeed, God is not a Christian! Desmond Tutu is entirely right (NA, May). In a similar way, a father cannot possi-
bly look like his son; it’s the son that looks like his father! With the universality of God, maybe
we need a different way of referring to those who would like to establish a direct relationship with God, without intermedi- aries or a religious group: “the Goddians” (with a double “d”, mind you). Welcome to Goddianism, the inde-
pendent relationship with God! Kweku Ackom
Bletchley, Milton Keynes, UK
Cracking the code Nearly every article printed in the New African inspires passion and enthusiasm in me. Tank you for bringing valued and objective information about the life and times of the African continent to so many. Although I would like to comment
on virtually every article in the maga- zine, there is one that I feel compelled to respond to, in the April issue. Crack- ing the code: Unlocking Africa’s secret to wealth by Osei Boateng was well written and informative. He cites how England, America and other countries were able to move from poverty to wealth. However, this scarcely counts as a rev-
elation. One significant difference between Africa and the developed world is that every developed country was a custodian of their own resources. Being a custodian meant they were eventually able to over-
4 | June 2011 New African Desmond Tutu, whose views expressed in our May edition have inspired readers to write in
come under-development and economic stagnation. Conversely, in the case of Africa, the fundamental condition – own- ership of resources – is not in the hands of the African people. Let’s take the 14 “Francophone” African
countries who are, to this day, still bound by the Colonial Pact they signed with France before independence in 1960. Tis pact is no more than the legitimisation of a psychological form of foreign dominion over these sovereign countries. Tis parasitic agreement does not give
the “Francophone” countries ownership of their resources. It is a one-sided, insidious agreement whose terms and conditions would not be accepted or tolerated in any developed country. Today Africa is plagued with leaders
who are, either through ignorance or self- ishness, confused by the thought that Western countries are going to show them the way to economic independence and de- velopment. History has shown otherwise. There are no secrets in “unlock-
ing Africa’s secret to wealth”. Kwame Nkrumah, George Padmore, C.L.R James, Patrice Lumumba, Marcus Garvey, Walter Rodney, Steve Biko and an almost endless list of yesterday’s great sons of Africa had known this glaring secret. Tere are no secrets Mr Boateng, for
unlocking Africa’s secret to wealth. Tere is only the lack of will and courage to do so.
Talib Ray Vancouver, Canada
Long live New African I am neither a political animal, nor an intellectual, but a senior female - with- out what could be called an education, but blessed with curiosity and concern for
human and planetary history and circum- stances. Tis has, at this late stage, led me to wonder what (besides human folly) has brought all these upheavals everywhere these days. Which made your April cover story,
Cracking the code: Unlocking Africa’s secret to wealth, of particular interest to me. Tis issue of New African, purchased for the first time, has been truly enlightening, and confirmed my suspicions concerning the shenanigans of “the mighty and powerful”! And, of course, once all the articles have been read, it gladdens the heart to learn of the progress that is going on in so many countries today – rising above their pasts. No doubt there is presently a global
surge of awareness amongst peoples that makes them want to demand a part in their respective nations’ destinies. Tough not part of your publication’s
aim, it is just as vital to recognise the surge towards individual responsibility for increasing the awareness so necessary if cooperation and a sense of brotherhood is to flourish, and facilitate the positive developments within communities, cities and nations. This, in particular, is my passion.
My feeling, reading your magazine, is that as nations begin to thrive, perhaps there will be less conniving and self-interest amongst them! One lives in hope. Tank you for a valuable contribution
to awareness of the positive developments taking place. Tank you also for articles such as the one describing the truth about those who took part in the American Civil War, and the feelings still prevailing in the Southern States. Tis confirms my (unfor- tunate) conviction that too few humans realise their ideas and attitudes are not cast in concrete.
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