IOW, is governing by emergency decree ever justified and if it is, what’s the rule that determines whether it’s justified or not?

A question rather similar to “what’s wrong with keeping a pig in the house, as long as it doesn’t shit on the carpet?”

But I agree, this is moving away from the topic, and I too am not very keen on discussing with know-it-alls.

My views are essentially very simple, though, I admit, they are not expressed, how do I put, academically? A bit of personal information. I hail from, and subscribe to, what is popularly known as a ‘tribal approach’. Something I think of as ‘societal identity’. From such a background, it is unacceptable to pinch the child and then rock the cradle. Therefore, the West being the perpetrators of untold barbarity across the world, I find it incorrect, and I dare say downright wrong, to you trying to ‘rectify’ your past errors. It tantamounts to getting treated by a doctor who poisoned you. You will have to suffer guilt and/or punishment. No exit clauses.

Darfur apart, it is the larger principle of benovelant interference that I oppose. Actually, it is not even that, it is the Western (US, UK, France, primarily. But please do add Italy, Germany, et al. where applicable) idea of promoting democracy and free market and motherhood, perhaps even apple pie, in other parts of the world.

You see, historically, the mess of what is now Africa and to a lesser extent in the Middle East are repurcussions of the colonial past in these regions. No amount of screaming ‘mea culpa’ is going to wash away those sins.

Intro being over and done with, on to answering your specific queries

>> So what are you saying? That Africa doesn’t want these things and is happy to settle with ‘dictatorship’, ‘war’, and ‘injustice’?

Not at all. Africa wants democracy, on its terms. Even otherwise, ipso facto, what’s wrong with a dictatorship as long as war and injustice do not occur?

Africa wants motherhood, polygamy be hailed. Africa does not want apple pie.

>> Would you have the “Western” world stop sending aid to Africa? If not, then how would you convince the “Western” world to continue sending aid while doing nothing to help ensure a future for Africa?

No aid. Trade, maybe. But no aid. Zero loans. The handouts 1) are not reaching, cannot reach, will not reach, those who need it, 2) encourage a vicious cylcle of keeping mass murdrers in power.

>> As a for instance, a girl in South Africa is more likely to be raped than to be educated.
I know it is diffcult to accept, but there are certain things that are none of your business. As long as you are not raping and you are not being raped, unless asked for, don’t help.

>> How do you expect ethical people to stand back and do nothing?
Without getting into semantical and etymological arguments over ‘law’ vs ‘ethics’ vs ‘morals’ vs ‘logic’ vs ‘biology’, I’ll leave that for another day,I do not know what ‘ethical’ means to you, but when in doubt, do nothing. This ridiculous notion of “we just have to something!” has screwed up many a people many a time. At least not doing anything provides people who are doing something, less of a mess to undo. As for why you cannot be the person, even if you are ethical, to be that someone, re-read para 1. The West was/is the problem in Africa and therefore, by definition, cannot be the solution.

Would you have the “Western” world stop sending aid to Africa? If not, then how would you convince the “Western” world to continue sending aid while doing nothing to help ensure a future for Africa?

As a for instance, a girl in South Africa is more likely to be raped than to be educated. How do you expect ethical people to stand back and do nothing?

On what grounds are you making that claim to ownership?

Don’t. You have done a lot. Both good and bad. On the whole, bloody disgustingly bad. Especially in Afrique. Thank you, but no thank you.

You want a baby? Excellent. You have every right to have one. Perhaps, even a duty. But, please fuck your wife. No raping mine.

So Emmanuel, how large a fraction of your investments do you have in African stocks and government bonds?…

Surprisingly close to 1/1

I don’t think I’ll be coming back.

On the other hand., perhaps it’s too clever for them – I saw this yesterday :
“the G rang asking for copy from me; I offered a cut and paste job of some previous work. I sent it in and the reply I’ll never forget was: “You’ll have to seriously dumb it down for our readers”. ”