Zimbabwe, Mugabe and the hypocrisy of the West
I have to say that it has been really bothering me this media-generated outrage over Zimbabwe's President Mugabe (president for now 28 years). Yes, 28 years is too long for one person to be in office, and i don't know if the elections are totally fair (just like i'm suspicious about US voting technology), but why are they picking on Zimbabwe?
From Western countries that actively supported the TOTALLY violent white-led regimes, it makes me very suspicious, and i know there are other factors at play, that i can't fully see. What really angers me is how quickly the liberals jump on this bandwagon. I've gotten so many e-mails from 'progressive' list-serves like Avaaz.org asking me to sign a petition demanding the world take notice of this injustice.
Just goes to show you really can't even trust these orgs that may do other work you support. I support their global e-organizing around climate change, ending the war in Iraq, etc. but how can they say that "In elections this March, the people of Zimbabwe sent a clear message: Morgan Tsvangirai, not Robert Mugabe, should lead their government."
It was such a close election, and Tsvangirai and the MDC are heavily supported by foreign finances. I'm not sure why Mugabe has become so hated by the West (i think it has something to do with the seizure of white-owned land and imperfect redistribution to black Zimbabweans).
Here are some critiques you won't read in the New York Times:
Trinicenter: "Zimbabwe: US and Europe's Disinformation Campaign
Intl Herald Tribune: Behind the Reluctance of China and Africa to Criticize Mugabe (Yes, even mainstream voices are wondering...)
www.raceandhistory.com:"Zimbabwe Watch: Giving Critical Analysis on Zimbabwe"
From Western countries that actively supported the TOTALLY violent white-led regimes, it makes me very suspicious, and i know there are other factors at play, that i can't fully see. What really angers me is how quickly the liberals jump on this bandwagon. I've gotten so many e-mails from 'progressive' list-serves like Avaaz.org asking me to sign a petition demanding the world take notice of this injustice.
Just goes to show you really can't even trust these orgs that may do other work you support. I support their global e-organizing around climate change, ending the war in Iraq, etc. but how can they say that "In elections this March, the people of Zimbabwe sent a clear message: Morgan Tsvangirai, not Robert Mugabe, should lead their government."
It was such a close election, and Tsvangirai and the MDC are heavily supported by foreign finances. I'm not sure why Mugabe has become so hated by the West (i think it has something to do with the seizure of white-owned land and imperfect redistribution to black Zimbabweans).
Here are some critiques you won't read in the New York Times:
Trinicenter: "Zimbabwe: US and Europe's Disinformation Campaign
Intl Herald Tribune: Behind the Reluctance of China and Africa to Criticize Mugabe (Yes, even mainstream voices are wondering...)
www.raceandhistory.com:"Zimbabwe Watch: Giving Critical Analysis on Zimbabwe"