ǀHawe ǁae-e ta ge mû so tama hâ. !Gâia gangans matisa
du?
Editor's note: Below contains strong opinions of a political nature and will use language which some might find offensive.
Sorry for the laziness. I know,
I know, I keep saying I'll update this and I don't. Truth is, turning this into
a "what is Jay doing now" blog just didn't seem worthwhile. That was
never the point of this blog. This blog was about my experiences during and
after my time in the Peace Corps. However, in the current political climate,
there are many times when I feel that because of my experiences, there are
things I "get" in a way many don't appreciate. One of these times was
a few days ago, when I was reading the news, and came across the president's
"shithole" comment. After days of struggling to find the right way to
express my feelings, I leave you with the following. It's a bit long-winded,
and maybe doesn't flow the best. I have tried to leave it in a way which best
reflects my own processing of things.
As disgusted as I've been by the shithole comment, there's
something else about this discussion that disgusts me far more: people
defending him by saying something along the lines of "if they weren't
shitholes, why would they be leaving to come here?"
I have spent a good portion (less than I'd like, though,
I'll admit) of my adult life living outside the US. I grew up in Maryland, in
the DC area, and haven't returned for more than a visit or a summer basically
since shortly after turning 18. This is not because my country or my hometown
are shitholes. It's because I, and millions of other Americans who choose to
live abroad at some point in our lives, some permanently ever, recognize there
are opportunities which can only be gained by leaving home.
And, yes, in some cases, these opportunities stem from your
home country being ravaged by war, by poverty, by disease, by a massive natural
disaster you have neither the money nor the infrastructure to come back from,
or the lasting legacy of abuse by colonialism. Other times, you recognize that
in your field, the opportunities lie elsewhere. Or, you have family in other
countries. Or need medical professionals who are in limited global supply (such
as the case with several refugees blocked by the travel ban). There are
millions of reasons why someone might want, or even need, to leave their home
for a better opportunity. That doesn't make that country a shithole.
And, I turn the question around, since we're apparently fine
with accepting Norwegian immigrants. Does the fact that someone from Norway
wants to move here make Norway a shithole? The president's wife is from what is
now Slovenia. Does the fact that she felt compelled to move here make that
country a shithole also? For anyone with white skin in this country, I can
almost guarantee that at some point, your ancestors chose to leave somewhere in
Europe to come here. After all, the modern America as we know it was founded by
people who immigrated from Europe and their ancestors (built on the backs of
many others and this is a bit of a simplification, I realize, but I'm trying to
make a point here). Does the fact that they came here mean your ancestors came
from shitholes? Of course not.
And, we'd never suggest that the only reason people would
choose to immigrate from a country is because that country is a shithole,
unless that country is poor.
In Namibia, many of my friends asked me to bring them to the
US with me (and if they can ever make it, my door is always open). Namibia was
no shit hole. It was a beautiful country which took me in with open arms. Same
with Israel when I lived there.
Along the same lines is the equally disgusting "get past the word, and let's talk about the point." The point IS the word. It is using language that reveals an incredibly dismissive view of countries, especially poorer ones. It shows an attitude towards the people immigrating which is, at best, incredibly disrespectful. And, no, it's not a case of "bad language, but still a valid point." The point itself only appears valid when you accept the premise which justifies the language. However, Africa is not a shithole. Haiti is not a shithole. Central America is not a shithole. And Europe is not a shithole.
In spite of our conversations about these countries being backwards, undeveloped until the white man arrived, the reality is that many of these countries had incredibly complex societies before ever encountering Europeans. They may not resemble European styles, but that does not diminish their value. And, yet, it is this very lack of Europeanism which people use to justify it ("there was not written language, no calendar, multi-story buildings, or architecture like you see in Paris in sub-Saharan Africa before white people arrived" is something I actually saw on the news in a doctor's waiting room this morning; the parts which aren't nonsense Eurocentric standards are simply factually false).
And, when people try and use descriptors of poverty, development level, etc., to show he's "right," I merely point to the fact that there are many parts of the US which are suffering from a failure to develop. In fact, we heard a lot about them a year ago. These were the so-called "forgotten people" of Trump country; the non-racist, non-bigoted supporters who were simply tired of their plight being ignored. They are largely white communities, which is why people don't bring them up as a counter-argument to Trump's description of African countries (opting instead for the Trumpist standards of "Chicago, Baltimore, New Orleans). I have traveled throughout cities and towns in the US which heavily resembled Khorixas, without the donkeys and goats wandering around (and a flipped racial demographic). I've been to cities in Africa which are on par with those in the US. And, no, I'm not simply referring to Cape Town (which is really a western city transplanted in southern Africa which racists use to "prove" that western=developed). Botswana has managed to make safe drinking water more available to its people than Michigan has. In fact, access to water in the US is a major problem which goes under the radar (because, you know, look who is suffering). If anyone wants sources on this, I have a few PDFs from classes I've taken I can send your way.
At the end of the day, the only way the language is "beside the point" is if you choose to entirely miss the point.
It's one thing to deny/refuse to believe he said it. It's
something else to defend the statement.
So, before you jump to defend
the president with an argument that someone as lacking in brainpower as Tomi
Lahren latched onto, actually put it in context. Which countries get that line
of argument? What do they have in common? Then, maybe you'll understand why
this entire attitude that such a statement can be defended is so offensive to
anyone who cares about the world.
On a lighter note, I leave you with a couple videos
from Namibia. After all, sharing Namibian culture is part of Peace Corps' Third
Goal, which was like the whole reason this blog exists (or, at least, that's
what my country director chooses to believe).
The first is Namibians cashing in on this nonsense
statement.
Just a reminder: when I lived in Namibia, someone tried to
sell me a bag with Obama's face on it in my town, because it was crazy that I,
an actual American, wouldn't have something Obama when all these other people
did. Now, they are trolling us. We are actually being mocked by a country where
I couldn't have enough American flags, maps, post cards, sunglasses, Nationals
caps, etc. shipped over to keep up with the demand, because the people there
actually, you know, liked America. A country that's such a shithole that I was
able to hitchhike without feeling worried, and (except for one day during the
World Cup when the US played Ghana and I was the most hated man in my town)
being American was basically a luxury. Yeah, that's who's mocking us now.
The real shitholes are the things he and his supporters
spout their opinions out of.
On the other hand, given the livestock roaming Khorixas, the
shit part is literally true, I guess.
However, if it was not made
clear above, while I am more offended by the defense of the statement, don't
forget that the "shithole" comment itself reflects a despicable view
of the world, white washed, Eurocentric, the "white man's burden"
(and shrugging off of said burden) in a modern form. However, at the end of the
day, these countries are amazing places, with interesting cultures and
wonderful people, and plenty of foods
worthy of trying. Never let ignorance cut you off from amazing cultures. With that in mind, as angry as I am, I hope you enjoyed this opportunity to learn a bit about Namibia. It should be noted that this is not the first time they're poked fun at this president to advertise their tourism and culture.
So, with that, I leave you. I have classes starting soon,
after a long Winter Break. However, if I have time, maybe I'll do a short
"what is Jay up to?" post. After all, we're closing in on Mardi Gras
(for the few readers around since the "Abita to Africa" days), and
because it was my experience in the Peace Corps which put me on my current
path.
Happy New Year. !gai !gaxa tsi /khaehesa /asa
kurib. Take care. !Gaise ha re.
