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Fine. As long as you also agree that the people on the non-African side of the transaction do not incur some kind of collective guilt for non-Africans or The We

Fine. As long as you also agree that the people on the non-African side of the transaction do not incur some kind of collective guilt for non-Africans or The West or whatever. Because that’s very much what the OP was getting at.

journalswrit 8y ago
That's nice. The OP is right. We can also agree that your suggestion that non-Africans and The West aren't guilty as hell for raping Africa for centuries is either outright racism, or outright stupidity. Care to tell us more about which it is?
- toasterlovin 8y ago
  I’m an American. As far as I’m aware, America never had a colony in Africa. And, even if it did, it doesn’t now. And even if it did have one now, why should I, personally, be held responsible for actions that my government takes which I disagree with and vote against (to the extant that I can)?
- dang 8y ago
  You can't post this aggressively to HN, regardless of how right you are or how wrong another commenter is. I've banned this account. Please don't make accounts to break the site guidelines, or we will ban your main account as well. I personally think you have a good point. But if you can't make it in a kind spirit, a spirit of teaching others—if not the other commenter, then certainly your fellow community members—please refrain from posting until you can. Yes, atrocities have happened. And the online raging-shaming-attacking style is something we're trying not to fall into here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
smadge 8y ago
Why shouldn’t the wealthy nations feel collective guilt over being the primary beneficiaries of Africa’s vast mineral wealth?
- toasterlovin 8y ago
  Because it’s immoral to assign collective responsibility for the actions of individuals.
  - smadge 8y ago
    Maybe I am misusing the definitions of individual versus collective. I’m not saying arbitrary United States citizens should be criminally punished for indirectly benefiting from the geopolitical arrangement they were born into. Besides the average resident has very little control over these matters, despite nominally living in a democracy. On the other hand, from an ethical perspective we can’t turn a blind eye to injustice. For example I do feel personally uneasy about the fact that I’m writing this comment on a phone containing coltan and gold that drives the demand for these minerals and funds corruption and conflict in Africa.

journalswrit 8y ago

That's nice. The OP is right. We can also agree that your suggestion that non-Africans and The West aren't guilty as hell for raping Africa for centuries is either outright racism, or outright stupidity. Care to tell us more about which it is?

toasterlovin 8y ago
I’m an American. As far as I’m aware, America never had a colony in Africa. And, even if it did, it doesn’t now. And even if it did have one now, why should I, personally, be held responsible for actions that my government takes which I disagree with and vote against (to the extant that I can)?
dang 8y ago
You can't post this aggressively to HN, regardless of how right you are or how wrong another commenter is. I've banned this account. Please don't make accounts to break the site guidelines, or we will ban your main account as well. I personally think you have a good point. But if you can't make it in a kind spirit, a spirit of teaching others—if not the other commenter, then certainly your fellow community members—please refrain from posting until you can. Yes, atrocities have happened. And the online raging-shaming-attacking style is something we're trying not to fall into here. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

smadge 8y ago

Why shouldn’t the wealthy nations feel collective guilt over being the primary beneficiaries of Africa’s vast mineral wealth?

toasterlovin 8y ago
Because it’s immoral to assign collective responsibility for the actions of individuals.
- smadge 8y ago
  Maybe I am misusing the definitions of individual versus collective. I’m not saying arbitrary United States citizens should be criminally punished for indirectly benefiting from the geopolitical arrangement they were born into. Besides the average resident has very little control over these matters, despite nominally living in a democracy. On the other hand, from an ethical perspective we can’t turn a blind eye to injustice. For example I do feel personally uneasy about the fact that I’m writing this comment on a phone containing coltan and gold that drives the demand for these minerals and funds corruption and conflict in Africa.