DRAGON SLAYER

      Well yes, I too fell into the trap of the blame game , finger pointing , cyber whining, via repeated complaints ,as to why the poor  seems to be getting poorer, the plight of the weak ,and disenfranchised no better,  and worst yet,the coffers  of those entrenched power brokers , and their middle class  agents , much heftier.   We all know the drill, it’s racism, colonialism, cultural defeatist  mindsets, failed governments, insularity of tribes, greedy dispositions of  corporations head gurus , and constipated global organizations, that are no longer useful , and needs to be eradicated forthwith  as a result.

   For some past 3 , and a half years , as I however, did my ever so secret, ethnographic  observations , whether up close, or  from afar , I sense that often what you see ,and hear , often ain’t what is necessarily  , and so, one needs to roll up one's  sleeves, and get down to work - if one wish to be of any use.

  Of course a few stinging , and pointed remarks by a few of my cyber friends , and foe alike ,never hurt  as far as nudging me in the right direction. 'What have you done Znend , outside of cheap talk to change anything,' they rightly enquired, with unabashed delight at my weak knee squirming at the stinging blow to my solar plexus ?   I started out to prove whether most middle class elites were  selfish , uncaring souls , only interested in self aggrandizement , and furtherance of their own interest , and that of their kind. The answer  is ,yes , and no.  Looking out for one self interest , is common, but many care . Some  are powerless to do anything, due to circumstances . Others are willing to give , and share their time and energy, to help the cause , but are caught up in their own rat race  scenarios , where  class survival  is at stake , and thus , just lack the will, or energy. Given the right encouragement, more would do for the other  when nudged , I concluded. Score one for humanity , and the positive qualities of most.  

     A look across the landscape of the North/South divide , and one would observe that there are thousands of folks, that have started projects , and organizations, that are  already making a difference , but many such bodies -whether through mismanagement , or sheer financial desperation- are  stuck , and their  well intentioned creators ,are on the brink of  giving up . I am talking about my  two Kenyan friends , who while living millions of miles away in America , is using their  hard earned salaries, to  help send girls in need  to school, back home, or working with leading doctors , and organization  to start  providing medical assistance to the needy kids , and parents in that region. How about another , who has help organize sporting , and academic scholarships , for hard working kids back home in Kenya  , at Universities and Colleges in the developed part of the globe? 

   Then there is my Ugandan cyber friend, that saw a need for the prosecuted ,Batwa tribal peoples , and so  with much personal sacrifices ,formed an organization towards that end.  He took a page out of the book of another, now famous Ugandan who likewise started a thriving organization , to build schools and community infrastructures  for orphans of Aids, that can now be a model  for others so desirous. 

I cannot forget a passionate journalist , from a tiny Caribbean ,resource laden ,Twin Island Republic-I am so well acquainted with - that tries to bring the news to the neglected people of his tiny island enclave , but due to financial constraints ,and inability  to purchase necessary equipments ,finds it difficult . The result of this ? You bet . The truth then , cannot be told as effectively to the masses, on the  blatant  injustices, they continually experience ,at the hands of self serving  politicians , and business entities , in a racially calamitous environment , and such is a tragedy. 

   I cannot forget  another friend  in the USA , whose unemployed wife got her first job , as at a recently created organization aimed at helping to empower former  sex slaves , and exploited women  from Asia, and similar regions. 

      Obviously ,it is not only in Africa, and Caribbean , but  across the much  wider global community  , where folks are trying to make a difference, but there is the biggest irony. The situation remains the same whether in the developed Industrial North , or developing global South. Desperate folks are homeless, hungry, psychologically ravaged, discriminated, exploited, hungry, abused , and uncompensated by exploiters for centuries , with little relief in sight. The few courageous ones  that dare take a stand , are in need of help, and naturally ,this remains financial.  The problems might be created in the under developed worlds , but will eventually spread via refugees , political hatred and anger ,as globalization is not only limited to business enterprises as narrowly interpreted , by naive intellectuals.  

     How therefore do I see myself in this mix , of trying to help, for each of these groups mentioned , and several more have reached out to me for financial help .  I too have contemplated the creation of a few organizations to address issues of critical importance I have observed across the social landscape. After all , the inspirational work of NBA Star Mutumbo can spur any into action, as he through grit , and efforts created a hospital in memory of his late mom in war torn Congo, most with the help of donations from global friends, who understood his vision.  What role do I see my self serving most effectively in? Rapper Wycleff Jean , before he naively dabbled in Haitian convoluted , political mumbo jumbo , was an NGO force to reckon with, and likewise inspiration.  

Znend is, and why not?