Discussions with Mama Aida

Bush should have minded his own business. Doesn’t think much of Arabs. They aren’t nice and everyone knows it. Not sure if Bin Laden is really dead. Likes Obama. About the Senegalese president:  it’s not his fault he is making bad decisions, that’s what happens when you get old.

In response to me not having a boyfriend at the ripe, old age of 21:  Do I ever plan to get married?

And my insanely tall "petit frere" (little brother).

Very sad to say goodbye today. Will be back in the US at noon tomorrow!

Politics - Senegal in the news

The political climate in Senegal is a bit heated right now. I've mentioned previously how the current president, Abdoulaye Wade, although 85 and having already served his 2 terms, wants to run again in the next election. Senegal currently has a president and a prime minister, but no vice-president. If the president dies or otherwise leaves his position, the head of the National Assembly briefly becomes president until new elections can be organized. Wade has introduced a new bill into the Assembly that would amend the constitution to create a vice-president position and lower the percentage of votes needed in an election to only 25% (rather than 50%). 

Since a fairly small portion of the Senegalese population is literate enough to vote, lowering the amount of votes needed to 25% would essentially allow a candidate to be elected by 5% of the Senegalese population. This would likely allow the president to win another election, even though the majority of people here do not want him to serve again.

If the president does succeed in securing another election, he will serve into his 90's, increasing the chances that he will die during his term. The creation of a vice-president position would more-or-less allow the president to name his successor, as the vice-president would now take office when the president dies. This new bill is being seen by the people as a ploy for the president to hand off power to his oldest son, Karim Wade. Abdoulaye seems desparate to maintain power and the people feel he is attempting to turn the democratic system of Senegal into a monarchy.

Since the vast majority of the National Assmebly and the Senate are in the president's party, there is no doubt that the bill will be passed. To combat this, university classes today have been canceled and the students have taken to the streets in downtown Senegal to protest this change of their constitution. So far, the president has dropped the clause which would change the percentage of votes needed, but the police have been called in to "control" the protestors. The story seems to be getting increasing coverage on the internet, and may very well be on the news tonight.

This post is mainly so no one (parents!) freaks out if it is on the news later. Downtown Senegal is quite far away from where I am, and we are all being kept very safe. I respect the people for protesting such a valid cause, and I hope the president will ultimately honor the wishes of the people he is meant to serve. More updates soon!

African Renaissance Monument

One of the sights we visited on our tour of Dakar was the African Renaissance Monument. This huge monument is very controversial because of the money spent on it. The president, without the support of the people, ordered it built at the price of about $25 million dollars (billions in CFA). In a country with so much poverty, you can understand why there are questions surrounding this use of money. To compound matters, the work of building and maintaining the monument was not given to Senegalese people. Instead of creating jobs for its own citizens, the work was hired out to the North Koreans.

Lei (our tour guide):  “Africa is not a poor continent. We just have poor leaders.”

Mama Aida:  An eye roll and “It’s for the tourists.”

The monument itself is meant to represent the African man, woman, and child. The child is pointing to the West (to America) and is said to be pointing towards the “future.” Westernization has become synonymous with progress. Yet are we really the model the world should follow? True that a democratic model allows for freedom of speech and religion, two things I value highly. True that even poor Americans have a greater quality of life than many in third world countries. But as far as developed countries go, we are far from the top. Our health care system is ranked 37^th in the world, despite being #1 in health care spending per capita. Our school system is the same way. Money doesn’t seem to be our problem. Even when we don’t have the money, we continue to dump it into programs that aren’t working. Westernization can bring with it many great things, particularly for women – the end of female genital cutting, birth control, education, business opportunity, equality, choice. This monument, however, while pointing towards the “future” of Africa, still does not put women on par with men. Not only is the man much larger than the woman, her body language suggests utter devotion and commitment to him. While the man and the boy child gaze towards the West, the woman is gazing at the man, suggesting that she does not look to the future, but will simply follow his lead. So what? She will gain opportunity as he allows her to? She will be educated as he gives his permission?

Ultimately, I find this statue a bit ridiculous. Westernization is not necessarily something to be worshiped. Letting the men lead and discounting the women won’t get a country very far. And there are (as usual) far better uses for that kind of money. Hard to argue with the view though.

Tour of Dakar

We spent our day on a bus tour of Dakar. So many great sights and a very informative tour guide made for an interesting day.

 Senegal's version of the "White House." The President has served 7 terms (starting in 2000 I believe), and although he is 85, wants to run again. Although our tour guide said he has done a lot of good, most believe it is time for him to step down.

Views of the beach, from yesterday and today. Can't wait to get in the ocean!

 The only police man we have seen in Senegal so far. He wasn't doing much of anything (it's amusing actually how little work seems to get done here).

A trip to the fish market concluded our day. Fishing is the number one industry in Senegal. The smell here was overpowering, and the people weren't too friendly (except for the ones trying to sell us stuff), but it made for some great pictures.

I would like to do a separate post on the African Renaissance Monument we also visited, but that will have to wait until I have more time. I really like my roommate Beth, and tomorrow we move in with our host family :)