On Gabonese and Manners

Thursday morning and this marks the beginning of my fifth week in this most unfriendly of African countries. The French could only aspire to such levels of arrogance and non-chalance that the Gabonese exude. If it were not done to such absolute perfection it would offend greatly, but instead just leaves me thoroughly impressed. How is it possible for an entire country to be so consistently and unequivocally aloof?

A few months ago I was lucky enough to hike the Otter Trail which competes very strongly as one of the most breath taking places I have ever been. There are no superlatives that suffice in describing the scenery and drama of the trip. However, that is just an aside and brings me to my point.

One evening, over a lip scolding cup of camp tea a heated discussion took place with Annie, my politically correct aunt. I had stated, without fear of contradiction that Nigerians are not to be trusted. Annie, was of course outraged! She was shocked that I could so casually put an entire nation in a box. Doing so, she said was not just unfair but incredibly dangerous as it painted large groups with the same brush and was the beginning of discrimination and the possible perpetuation of more sinister acts. I enjoy a good debate and argued strongly, with much flailing of arms that she was wrong, I was right, and that I am sorry but if she could not see that then she was just not giving it enough thought!

However, recently something happened that made me see how ridiculous my stance had been. An email circulated amongst friends showed a group of Muslim people parading in London waving violent and despicable slogans. The thrust of the email was that the British authorities had become weak, and a more respectable government would have dealt with these people more harshly. Sent them home.

With the wave of anti Muslim feeling circulating around the world I confess to being guilty of supporting the under dog; but there is more to my sudden anger at this insensitive email. There has been an influx of Zimbabweans to Zambia in the the past five years, many good and some very bad. On the whole they have been a positive influence and have been offended at being treated like bad school kids just because of the behaviour of a rotten few. The irony of they then being the main proponents of the anti Islam email that tarnished a whole religion based solely on the action of a handful, did not escape me.

So, Annie was right. We should not put people in boxes or even attempt to classify them. All too often it is the minority that taint the reputation of the majority, and humanity has a bad habit of revelling in the negative. From now on I will believe the best in people, chances are I will be disappointed but its a happier way to live.

Gabonese however, on the whole, remain rude!