Message-ID: <F5D3450954A2D311BDA100105AC9DE99@partners.ca> Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 12:11:00 -0500 From: Kelly Thompson <mailto:kthompson@PARTNERS.CA> Subject: Re: Road to Pan-Africanism - another development perspective To: mailto:DEVEL-L@LISTSERV.AMERICAN.EDU
I largely subscribe to the view of African "colonialism" that Nicole has presented. Northern NGOs & donors have a huge stake in maintaining the status quo. In fact I sent her recent message - minus the personal attacks - to some African friends for discussion purposes.What I have found "irritating" in her messages are the personal attacks, such as those below, which are disrespectful and inaccurate and have no place on a listserv. I am surprised that no one else on this listserv has felt the need to confront this behavior as inappropriate "netiquette". In a debate, you can attack the ideas - but not the person. Attacks stifle communication and breed resentment. Why contribute if you risk being publicly abused as I have been below?
I reiterate my former message -- What we do at a personal level starts in our own communities & in whatever areas of political influence we are able to touch. Ultimately, these personal acts are what will make the difference.
Kelly -------------------
"Wait, shhh, don't say that too loud or Kelly will be angry with you. Are you in Ca? And she is in CA? Are you sure you aren't her spy sent to destroy the vision? :-)
mailto:Kthompson@partners.ca wrote " I believe as a listserv we do need to argue and grapple with development issues, but this particular exchange really irritates me. Nicole is speaking for herself but using her righteous indignation to justify speaking on behalf of "all" Africans (I note she never answers my question about her nationality). "
I note that kelly feels it needs to be proven to HER why I can feel as I do, one needs to prove to her why such questions of autonomy are "legitimate." I note that she thinks her permission is needed. I note that she thinks my autonomy is under her influence - she has perhaps taken the idea of "development" to include people outside of her programatic range.
I note that people are committed to psychiatric institutions for a lower level of insanity than is required for her to believe that her approval is required for me to speak on this topic.
And isn't it sick that she tries to find personal security in the idea that "all" Africans aren't thinking about autonomy? ............."
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