Democracy that isn't styled in the American, British, Canadian and European image is not an ideal system of government and cannot deliver the western gold standard of living. Democracy that isn't American or European styled cannot produce the kind of political heroes in the Western image.

Either in the past or contemporary times, no one qualifies for political celebrity or heroic status if Western government or media doesn't say so. Whether we like it or not, they tell us who is bad and who is good.

The day, Western media decides to say "Hey guys, Kagame is a bad guy", and begin their coloration hacks, the same Africans who see him as a fitting and rightly deserving hero will be the one to lead the crucifixion chant. They will forget that most of the democracies in Europe allows for almost limitless term in office. They will say the kind of German and British democracy and constitution that allows the Chancellor and Prime Minister to stay on in office as long as their party wins and wants them is not applicable to an African country. Why? Just because they say so. Oh, Kagame is several thousand yard a hero. If it was an European that put an end to Genocide of such magnitude, he would have been forever canonised. But let's live that for another day.

Ideologies shaped by media machinery is like religious dogmas. Like religion, most adherents inherited their beliefs. At least, this is the case with all organized religions. Christianity, Islam, Hinduism et al. Most are practicing the religion dictated and shaped by the immediate community they were born into through indoctrination and socialisation. And everyone believes what they practice is true, right and fact without exploring other faiths.

Most people were born into a world shaped by the military and media influence of the West. They grew up to know Russia, China, Iran, Iraq, Libya et al as the bad places that produces bad guys. These countries and their villains never colonised, invaded nor sponsored regime changes in the countries of those who consider them villains ooo. They have never provided safe havens to loots of murderers, drug dealers, dictators........but everyone grew up knowing them as the bad guys. The movie industry too has helped shaped social dogmas and stereotypes. The West is always the heroes, while the East, South America and Africa always produce the villains or the model for what aren't ideal. The West is the typecast of the right things and the rest of the world the typecast of what the West needs to correct. This we have always known........and like religion, we must not question. And interestingly, the countries and the peoples that we are made to believe as backwaters of crime are safer and have fewer social deliquents to those who are the prosecutors, judge and jury.

The irony of the world is that it is those who have committed and still commit the most atrocities that sit on the throne of moral judgement to decide what is right and wrong; what is acceptable and not acceptable.

When I look at the history and contemporary State of most African, Asian and South American countries, I cannot but marvel at how those who have had the most malevolent involvements, interventions and impacts in these places still be the moral compass of the same people while they hold resentments towards and have paranoia for those who have no reputation for such.

Those who have destabilized and still destabilize countries.
Those who invaded and plundered natural resources of other countries.
Those who sponsored assassinations of presidents.
Those whose banks and countries provide safe haven for looters, terrorists.
Those who arm rebels and terrorists.
Those who effect and sponsor violent and forceful regime changes.

......are the ones who tell the world that people and countries who don't do any of the above are bad and dangerous for the world.

They also tell us those who they have funded, armed and supported are bad guys once things no longer go their way.

Ours, like obedient dogs, is just to accept wherever their compass points us

Olajide Abiola

Hakeem I know you can't see it... But your point of view on the matter is biased along religious beliefs... you are only using the ostrich approach to justify rubbish.

Why is it that the religion that claims to mean peace is the only religion who has not been peaceful ?

Most violent imagery I have seen in my life were done by people who claim to have peace as a piller. I really don't understand.

You use western products but you hate the western infidels ... Why is boko haram not riding camels and using a row and bow to fight as there were no AK47 during the time of the prophet? Why advance in some cases and remain in 16th century in some ?

I know my perspective is biased too even though I clearly have a point ...

Prejudice informs most human decisions. I conclude.