randomness & life after colonization...

yesterday, I made lunch for my friend and I & took it downtown for his lunch break. He's an interesting character - and probably more of an acquaintance than a friend. Anyway. The lunch was more for me. I wanted to extend a gesture to him that I don't entirely hate him. We are worlds apart. From the same country, but he is a super religious nutcase with all these conventional idea. A few weeks ago we had a huge argument about Christianity and the existence of god and that book they call the bible. Anyway. I was very respectful, but sometimes among people from my country there is an unspoken assumption that everyone is a Christian and those who are not are stupid.

Anyway. Lunch yesterday was interesting. He was fascinated by the whole wheat bread and he'd never eaten raisins and walnuts so I had to explain to him what those were. He didn't like the vegetables on sprouted bread - I assume it was way too healthy a taste. Also traditionally, my people eat wellcooked veggies rather than delicious raw ones...

It was interesting to talk about some issues regarding life back home. I don't know too much about my own country's history and the little bits I know, I pick up from people as I go along. My school only taught me about Hitler & Mussolini while neglecting to teach me about Nehanda. I am a true child of the FUCKING british. Anyway, my friend made the point that he agrees with the whole idea that the white farm.ers were kicked out of the country. He started to tell me about how before that happened, the white people who were 3% of the country owned 95% of the resources and most of them just sat prettily, didn't work at all and yet they were millionaires, while our black parents struggled to make a living.

Now. We own our own country...but...there is so much corruption and disorganization that a goodo 3% of wealthy black people still control things and we are only surviving because of those of us that are slaving away in western lands.

Fine.

Both of those scenarios suck. I don't think it's ok that even now, sanctions are imposed upon us until we agree to share our resources with the British. That is effed up. Majorly. I also look back and see how hard my parents worked and how little of it shows, yet many of the British friends' just sat pretty. I dunno. Maybe I was too young to notice or care. I don't think it's about race though. People can't just take advantage of us Africans like that and get away with it.
The world justice system is DUMB. It doesn't protect the poor African people from the corrupt shit.

This all make sense to me.

Anyway. Fk the past. I just want my child to grow up sheltered in a lovely village in Quebec.

Phew.

I'm doing well. Off to drink some water.

random thoughts on things fall apart...

Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" is an classic novel by an African author. Before I moved to the US, I hadn't really read any books by African authors. Perhaps it's the nostalgia that has sparked my interest in Achebe. That, and the fact that I am a writer myself and I understand the importance of paying homage to those that have paved the way for us.

This book was interesting. A story about a proud man Onkwonkwo who has worked hard to obtain in social standing and wealth. He has many wives and he is a successful breeder of yams. He is proud and has worked hard to earn his success. Things fall apart for him on more than one occassion and that for me is reality. Pride before a fall. Achebe is intense in his discriptions. To be honest, sometimes I don't like the way he uses the language. However I am picky about style. The story flows well. I have a hard time reading about the patriarchy and dumb laws in a primitive African Village. I also have a hard time reading about the moment when the white missionaries came along to convert the natives from their ancestoral ways. Both systems seem very intolerant and full and rules - how can one possibly be right. My personal religion is love and I don't believe in the other stuff because it divides the world more often than not. However, that's just the way it is.

My favorite part is when Onkwonkwo kills himself because he can't bear to see his old way of life falling apart and his people compromising to christianity more and more...

In a nutshell, I'm glad I read the book, and I'm elated that I don't live in a village phew. In a week I will read his other book "Arrow of God". I am looking forward to it.

My Thoughts about "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe

coming soon in my next post...