Live Free In Africa Or Foreign Jail?

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/opinion/rather-be-in-a-foreign_128762?profile=1096

Many Caribbean and African countries are going into agreement with developed countries to repatriate prisoners to their countries. Countries or prisoners are either given lump sums or promised new prisons in their home countries. Some countries have signed on, while others have barked at the offer.

The countries that barked at the offer see it as another form of slavery in disguise. Whatever we think is slavery, we must ponder and look at some points. Most of these criminals were youngsters, good people, and law-abiding folks before they left home. They were corrupted because they suddenly found themselves at the bottom of the ladder in the countries of their dreams. In order to survive they did all kinds of odd jobs, including some in criminal activities that landed them in jail. Some took to prostitution, drug peddling, forgery, and other activities they would never have tried within their communities back home.

African countries are not that bad, but we have to taste life outside for some of us to appreciate some opportunities we could have taken at home. By the stories we hear, one would think there are no trying and debilitating times for some of those poor struggling in rich countries. There were many examples of suffering without smiling that are hidden from us, but we say better there than here at home where everyone knows you. This writer carried phone books for delivery on his head and shoulder in a foreign country but would never have done it at home.

PhilT McNasty
"Rather be in a foreign jail than live free in Africa" REALLY?
Probably has never gone to a Turkish prison!


Avatar
Feccah • a day ago

"In order to survive they did all kinds of odd jobs, including some in criminal activities that landed them in jail. Some took to prostitution, drug peddling, forgery, and other activities they would never have tried within their communities back home." Must not have been home in a very long while.
"What they fail to tell us are the numbers of professionals that could have challenged their local oppressors but would rather waste their locally developed talents in these developed countries, stuck with odd jobs." That is the reason why many left in the first place: Not any opportunity for them to develop their talents in their home countries. Encouraged to be entrepreneurs and when they did, could not survive the various obstacles they had to overcome. The reasons are numerous.
Overall a fair assessment, with many salient points. As usual though, fails to recognize the chief problem, for not only poor countries, but also now being ever increasingly revealed the rich, the chief culprit for the failure is the economic system that has been foistered on them.

•
Avatar
Cory • a day ago

If you want to see real poverty go to the U.S. particularly Appalachia.

•

Avatar
Jonesgirl70 Cory • 18 hours ago

You can go to any city here in the US and see poverty. Particularly any homeless person living under a bridge or in the woods.
•
Reply
•
Share ›

Avatar
j lawton • a day ago

better not to say anything right now


Avatar
kimbee • 20 hours ago

I think the word the author needed to use in the third and fourth sentences was "baulked" rather than "barked"...

[url] https://videos.posttv.com/washpost-production/The_Washington_Post/20180302/5a99d119e4b087d3e29dc1b9/5a9d4bf3e4b02894be5ef735_1462301751346-fs7oqd_t_1520258047470_640_360_300.mp4 [/url]