White liberals abroad kept largely quiet. It was so embarrassing: A black oppressing blacks! and, with the implied acquiescence of other black African leaders happy to cut some slack for a revered liberation hero. Until now, that is. Now, when widely acknowledged as the author of all Zimbabwe's problems -- including an inflation rate of [SET ITALS] 2 million [END ITALS] percent -- and the brazen theft of the most recent presidential election -- Mugabe seems to be wearing out his international welcome.
Kenyan President Raila Odinga calls recent developments in Zimbabwe "a shame and an embarrassment to Africa in the eyes of the international community." He calls on the African Union "to send troops to Zimbabwe" and restore order and justice.
A good idea, one would think. There's one more good idea. It's to cut the racial component out of political discourse. If we're all for freedom and justice -- we are, aren't we? -- it hardly makes sense to judge in racial terms, and racial terms alone, the bona fides of this or that government, this or that ruler. We're past that, aren't we? Or where would Barack Obama stand in the electoral pecking order?
Of course, old habits die hard. A Western liberal prone to excusing revered liberation heroes on the slightest grounds doesn't automatically abandon the habit -- the habit that goes with sliming and slandering white "imperialists." Not rational. Not useful in the full securing of human rights. But soWestern liberal, don't you know?
Bill Murchison
Bill Murchison is the former senior columns writer for
The Dallas Morning News and author of
There's More to Life Than Politics.
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©Creators Syndicate
©Creators Syndicate