I leave the United States this weekend for its prosperous neighbour, Canada. Whereas one easily finds Mexicans streaming illegally into the States, not the same with Canadians whose country shares borders with seven US states. Canada is among the top nations with the highest standard of living in the world. But Hispanics, from Mexico, will tell you that they are taking back what they say, rightfully belongs to them. And here is why.
California is the largest and most prosperous of the 50 states of the Union. A part of California known as Alta California was part of the Spanish Empire, according to Wikipedia. And in 1821, Mexico, including Alta California, became an independent republic. Hawaii with close ties with Mexico is the newest of the US states that was admitted to the Union in August 1959. How about the state of New Mexico where most of the people look as much as Mexicans even today.
But Africans will advance a somewhat similar argument that their forefathers were brought here as slaves to develop this sole global super power. They built the subways that make transportation in this country, especially in New York, such a wonder; hence “it is ours too”.
But it is also correct to say that like with the Hispanics, the African Americans surely are beneficiaries of the level of tolerance and acceptability and land of opportunity that the United States is. It embraces people of all kinds if only for its advancement. Unlike back home in Sierra Leone where citizenship is racist, here it is open to all. You can even come to America and be anything but its president. The former secretary of state Madeline Albright came here with her parents from their then Czechoslovakia home country. The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger came here as an adult from Austria. And the list goes on and on and on. Probably more familiarly, while President Obama’s father came here as a student and today he is the number one person in the country, someone who does not have a father or grandfather of negro-African descent cannot become president in Sierra Leone. And even when they are made minister, it makes it appear as if it is a favour being done them.
It is this among other things that make the United States the sole super power that it is today. A country where freedom is in no short supply and the people’s welfare is clearly at the heart of their leaders’ every action and activity. Even if its two main political parties bicker over what that should be. Forget about the fact that its political capital Washington is standing on the innumerable subways that are snaked all over the underground, of the tunnels that pass under some of its seas.
America’s governance system, peppered and salted with the extraordinary tolerance level of its current crop of leaders, has occupied me a great deal in the almost three weeks that I have been here. Freedom of expression is a right almost unlimited. Radio and TV talk shows are having a field day. The thinking apparently being that it is better to let people let off steam by saying it out rather than bottling it all inside and acting violent.
This week the country has been playing host to world leaders. It is the place where a foreigner can come and lambaste their host. Remember Chavez’s tirade against George Bush or Mugabe’s? Hear the Iranian leader giving a hell of a time and words to America’s democracy or Ghaddafi saying all he did about this country.
America’s over-commercialisation is stunning. Almost everything here is paid for. But the pay is properly accounted for. Sleaze is busted no matter how long it takes. And corrupt officials are dealt with without fear of favour. In fact, as a friend here said to be, the higher you are in status, the more the law is implemented.
And it is the money saved from all the taxes that come to give America its strength and care for its people. Food is a right. No-one must go to bed hungry. The food stamp system means the Government gives about $800 to anyone who cannot afford food. Even Barack Obama benefited from it when his mother would take food stamp to be able to save some money to send her son to school. There is low cost housing for those who cannot afford a house of their choice and utility is free for them. The rich ones essentially pay for it.
Toll road charges alone can run a whole country. Each of the thousands of cars that cross of George Washington per hour pays $ 8. There are lots of other toll roads. They monies go where they should go to make America what it is today. At regular intervals, the money is accounted for to those who paid it the people. And it is put into good use. The billions of Leones we pay per month back home as road user charge only God knows how much, and what is done with the money.
Accountability breeds prosperity. No matter how small the money collected from the people or on their behalf, accounting for it is key. And what’s more, our leaders visit America. And they know these things because they see them and bask in them. Another friend of mine, a law professor here, said if America has not achieved anything at all, it has achieved its desire of looking after its people, especially its women and children. More on that in a subsequent article.
But while I have visited this country a few times before, I have not stopped to marvel at how they do all they do for the benefit of their people. God bless America they say here. God unshackle Sierra Leone I will say, and open the eyes of its leaders to care for the ordinary man and woman. Sorry editor Samuel John is at my neck to send this off. See you next week fro
By Umaru Fofana
California is the largest and most prosperous of the 50 states of the Union. A part of California known as Alta California was part of the Spanish Empire, according to Wikipedia. And in 1821, Mexico, including Alta California, became an independent republic. Hawaii with close ties with Mexico is the newest of the US states that was admitted to the Union in August 1959. How about the state of New Mexico where most of the people look as much as Mexicans even today.
But Africans will advance a somewhat similar argument that their forefathers were brought here as slaves to develop this sole global super power. They built the subways that make transportation in this country, especially in New York, such a wonder; hence “it is ours too”.
But it is also correct to say that like with the Hispanics, the African Americans surely are beneficiaries of the level of tolerance and acceptability and land of opportunity that the United States is. It embraces people of all kinds if only for its advancement. Unlike back home in Sierra Leone where citizenship is racist, here it is open to all. You can even come to America and be anything but its president. The former secretary of state Madeline Albright came here with her parents from their then Czechoslovakia home country. The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger came here as an adult from Austria. And the list goes on and on and on. Probably more familiarly, while President Obama’s father came here as a student and today he is the number one person in the country, someone who does not have a father or grandfather of negro-African descent cannot become president in Sierra Leone. And even when they are made minister, it makes it appear as if it is a favour being done them.
It is this among other things that make the United States the sole super power that it is today. A country where freedom is in no short supply and the people’s welfare is clearly at the heart of their leaders’ every action and activity. Even if its two main political parties bicker over what that should be. Forget about the fact that its political capital Washington is standing on the innumerable subways that are snaked all over the underground, of the tunnels that pass under some of its seas.
America’s governance system, peppered and salted with the extraordinary tolerance level of its current crop of leaders, has occupied me a great deal in the almost three weeks that I have been here. Freedom of expression is a right almost unlimited. Radio and TV talk shows are having a field day. The thinking apparently being that it is better to let people let off steam by saying it out rather than bottling it all inside and acting violent.
This week the country has been playing host to world leaders. It is the place where a foreigner can come and lambaste their host. Remember Chavez’s tirade against George Bush or Mugabe’s? Hear the Iranian leader giving a hell of a time and words to America’s democracy or Ghaddafi saying all he did about this country.
America’s over-commercialisation is stunning. Almost everything here is paid for. But the pay is properly accounted for. Sleaze is busted no matter how long it takes. And corrupt officials are dealt with without fear of favour. In fact, as a friend here said to be, the higher you are in status, the more the law is implemented.
And it is the money saved from all the taxes that come to give America its strength and care for its people. Food is a right. No-one must go to bed hungry. The food stamp system means the Government gives about $800 to anyone who cannot afford food. Even Barack Obama benefited from it when his mother would take food stamp to be able to save some money to send her son to school. There is low cost housing for those who cannot afford a house of their choice and utility is free for them. The rich ones essentially pay for it.
Toll road charges alone can run a whole country. Each of the thousands of cars that cross of George Washington per hour pays $ 8. There are lots of other toll roads. They monies go where they should go to make America what it is today. At regular intervals, the money is accounted for to those who paid it the people. And it is put into good use. The billions of Leones we pay per month back home as road user charge only God knows how much, and what is done with the money.
Accountability breeds prosperity. No matter how small the money collected from the people or on their behalf, accounting for it is key. And what’s more, our leaders visit America. And they know these things because they see them and bask in them. Another friend of mine, a law professor here, said if America has not achieved anything at all, it has achieved its desire of looking after its people, especially its women and children. More on that in a subsequent article.
But while I have visited this country a few times before, I have not stopped to marvel at how they do all they do for the benefit of their people. God bless America they say here. God unshackle Sierra Leone I will say, and open the eyes of its leaders to care for the ordinary man and woman. Sorry editor Samuel John is at my neck to send this off. See you next week fro
By Umaru Fofana