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I've never been to Africa, so my perspective has likely been tainted by media and entertainment programs like the ones you describe. How often did you travel t

I've never been to Africa, so my perspective has likely been tainted by media and entertainment programs like the ones you describe. How often did you travel to rural parts of Mali? Is it as safe as Bamako? > ... I met hundreds and hundreds of the kindest, friendliest and happiest people... Over the years, I've learned that most people from most places are sane, regular people just trying to make their way in the world. People from Iran, North Korea, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Tibet, Venezuela -- they're just regular folks like you and me. They get up in the morning, go to work, try to have a good time with friends/family in the evenings. If we were to hold up a mirror and try to judge ourselves based on the outlandish things people do and say that end up being worth news coverage, I think we'd feel some dread about where we live too.

grecy 10y ago
> How often did you travel to rural parts of Mali? Is it as safe as Bamako? No, it's not as safe. Certainly not for a white guy. I didn't go North, but a few friends did around the time I was there and had no problems. Regular ordinary people on the streets are very friendly, but there are bad dudes around up there for sure. Though my point is they were depicting Mali (and Bamako) as a hell on earth, and it's nothing, nothing like the show portrays. I drove through many military stops in the country, and they are basically the opposite of what the show portrayed.
ptaipale 10y ago
> People from Iran, North Korea, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Tibet, Venezuela -- they're just regular folks like you and me Of course. However, the environment where they live may not be so regular. Of course it often surprises you when your expectations and prejudices aren't based on real experience, but crazy regimes make people also behave in crazy ways. Remember the idolatry around Pavel Morozov, for instance.

grecy 10y ago

> How often did you travel to rural parts of Mali? Is it as safe as Bamako? No, it's not as safe. Certainly not for a white guy. I didn't go North, but a few friends did around the time I was there and had no problems. Regular ordinary people on the streets are very friendly, but there are bad dudes around up there for sure. Though my point is they were depicting Mali (and Bamako) as a hell on earth, and it's nothing, nothing like the show portrays. I drove through many military stops in the country, and they are basically the opposite of what the show portrayed.

ptaipale 10y ago

> People from Iran, North Korea, Russia, China, Afghanistan, Tibet, Venezuela -- they're just regular folks like you and me Of course. However, the environment where they live may not be so regular. Of course it often surprises you when your expectations and prejudices aren't based on real experience, but crazy regimes make people also behave in crazy ways. Remember the idolatry around Pavel Morozov, for instance.