I think South Africans had a head start for a long time because the domination by anglo-europeans reduced the impact of tribal frictions. Apartheid had to end of course but, when it did, the tribalism came back in spades and that is destructive. And the colonists certainly played the tribal game to suit themselves. Perhaps the difference is that the anglo-europeans even while playing tribal games had a concept of community consciousness and what worked best for the community would generally be in the best interests of everyone. That is not an aspect of African tribalism in particular or tribalism in general.
I had more than one man say to me in Angola and then when we lived in Malawi, the same thing: You Europeans are able to work for a general community good but we Africans work for our own good, then our family, then our extended family and don't care about anything else.
India was pretty much the same because tribalism divides and is destructive not constructive. This is the corroding factor at work in Israel as well in particular and Judaism in general.
I can't buy into the generalisation of Anglo-Europeans which, for the most part, is represented by the 'liberal' DA party. For example, they fix potholes, and then advertise it well so that their failures to millions of impoverished coloured people don't count. There's more community amongst Afrikaner whites, especially in rural areas. Us English whites fell for that whole independent minded thing so we're more alone than any other tribe.
The Afrikaners were Europeans and there are cultural similarities across centuries between anglo and europeans if for no other reason than that the English were constantly invaded and colonised by the Europeans of many persuasions.
Afrikaners have community because they became a tribe in Africa. They kept themselves to themselves to a large degree, rejected the English and intermarried.
But I agree with you having spent a lot of time in South Africa I believe the worst thing the 'whites' did was fail to improve the lot and the education standards of everyone. I know they tried a bit, but not hard enough. Angry and poorly educated people are always going to be more of a problem and when people think they have no hope it gets worse.
South Africa is like other African countries - so much potential and so much corruption preventing the development of potential.
We're exceptional, and should be one of the world's wealthiest. Alas, we've been manipulated into fighting among ourselves whilst we're robbed.
I think South Africans had a head start for a long time because the domination by anglo-europeans reduced the impact of tribal frictions. Apartheid had to end of course but, when it did, the tribalism came back in spades and that is destructive. And the colonists certainly played the tribal game to suit themselves. Perhaps the difference is that the anglo-europeans even while playing tribal games had a concept of community consciousness and what worked best for the community would generally be in the best interests of everyone. That is not an aspect of African tribalism in particular or tribalism in general.
I had more than one man say to me in Angola and then when we lived in Malawi, the same thing: You Europeans are able to work for a general community good but we Africans work for our own good, then our family, then our extended family and don't care about anything else.
India was pretty much the same because tribalism divides and is destructive not constructive. This is the corroding factor at work in Israel as well in particular and Judaism in general.
I can't buy into the generalisation of Anglo-Europeans which, for the most part, is represented by the 'liberal' DA party. For example, they fix potholes, and then advertise it well so that their failures to millions of impoverished coloured people don't count. There's more community amongst Afrikaner whites, especially in rural areas. Us English whites fell for that whole independent minded thing so we're more alone than any other tribe.
The Afrikaners were Europeans and there are cultural similarities across centuries between anglo and europeans if for no other reason than that the English were constantly invaded and colonised by the Europeans of many persuasions.
Afrikaners have community because they became a tribe in Africa. They kept themselves to themselves to a large degree, rejected the English and intermarried.
But I agree with you having spent a lot of time in South Africa I believe the worst thing the 'whites' did was fail to improve the lot and the education standards of everyone. I know they tried a bit, but not hard enough. Angry and poorly educated people are always going to be more of a problem and when people think they have no hope it gets worse.
The first clue to lies and manipulation is education not being priority. Humans are our country's greatest resource, not minerals for the few.