“Who Wants to be the Egg…?”

Who says Twitter isn’t a place for productive conversation. I recently had an interesting exchange on the micro-blogging service with Theresa, a web developer in Benin…

The conversation started when @maneno wrote: “The pitfalls of Africa’s aid addiction: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7740652.stm”

@theresac then wrote: “@maneno Read same article. Interesting, but feel it’s an oversimplification. Aid + Development + Africa = much more complicated than that”

I replied: “@theresac @maneno It’s more complicated but I do think it’s abused more than people like to admit…from both the receivers and givers.”

@maneno replied: “@theresac Agree. But as far as over-simplifications go, I didn’t find it so badly put…”

@theresac wrote: “aid’s not given w/o ulterior motive (this is normal). but where’s the responsibility to refuse? you buy crack just b/c someone offers?”

I replied: “@Beleive me you’re speaking to the choir here. http://is.gd/8LuC“

“Furthermore, it’s ultimately a failure that most abusive leaders here are never held accountable for squandering/hogging wealth.”

@theresac wrote: “@jongos Yeah, I know. Just seen the article RT’d several times already, and wanted to say something about the ‘Africans as victims’ meme.”

“@jongos Yes, but how do you hold them accountable when entire economies depend on the wealth redistribution that accompanies corruption?”

“anecdote: Benin got new anti-corruption president. Cash flows dried up and we couldn’t see websites for months b/c no trickle down.”

“Point is, as you know, nothing’s ever simple.”

My responses: “@@theresac haha, the Pablo Escabar debate. =)”

“Right, I agree but, in that case do you accept reality or work to improve society for the better. Complacency is not a solution.”

“Not saying change happens over night but it’s important to recognize when it’s necessary.”

@theresac replied “Have a saying here, ‘On ne peut pas faire les omlettes sans caisser les oeufs.’ But who wants to be the egg that gets broken?”