Rights

In the toilet situation, which thank God worked out fine, I learned a lot about what the African believes about their rights. They see Africa as the suffering nation, that they have the right to be helped. I can’t blame them, they do genuinely suffer much, and we blessed with wealth should be more willing to share, but gifts are never earned and sometimes there needs to be less gifts and more work. I try to help children understand this. When they say to me, you need to give me this or that. I kindly remind them that it is not their right to receive that, that they should say, if possible could please get me this, or I’d really appreciate receiving this or that. I am glad for parents that taught the difference between “I want” and “I would like”. It seems that kids that grow up demanding, become demanders of their children too. Bring this, do that, and not a word of love.
And here it seems that riches don’t help the situation. My neighbors here are a diverse bunch. One is a painter from the Gambia who has lived in 23 different African nations, the is a man from Togo, a woman from Togo and Ghana, a student from Benin (not sure which tribe), and the main family who are Muslim Dendi from Benin and me the Swiss-Canadian! The family in the large house, is well off, okay filthy rich for Africa, the husband works with surrounding villages helping them promote their local trades. With the riches kindness is not also imparted. There are now words of love. Many people in Nati have asked me why there children are so head strong and disobedient, yet they spend no time with them, never say I love you, thank them and the TV is usually the only place they “get together”. Sounds like a global issue to me! Because they are rich they also have the right to two motorcycles, many clothes, a servant (a.k.a. slave girl), and other “necessities”. The motorcycle is a real good one, the woman of the house drives her children to school everyday. She goes out on the motorcycle. She doesn’t go to the market herself, and when at home, finds time to sit in front of the TV and sleep. I can hear here arteries clogging from here. And her husband is growing a spare tire for future use if you know what I mean. They feel if they are rich, they get the right to in reality kill themselves! How sad. And despite their faults the Bible tells me to love them. That’s the tough part. They may be messed up, but God loves them!