Uganda

Africa and African politics are  more frequently in the news now than a few weeks ago in the UK,  partly because of a relatively quiet time for Brexit news pending the next parliamentary debates, which are not due on that topic for a week or two.

On a positive side at least for ardent coffee drinkers like yours truly, Sainsbury's have introduced a number of coffees from African countries which taste truly delicious. The  Rwanda  coffee beans mentioned in last week's blog post, are now finished and were delicious; they will be followed by Ethiopian Yahu Wild Forest coffee beans so well done to Union Coffee for forging their relationship with the African growers  which hopefully is bringing as much benefit to the locals as is it is to UK coffee lovers. 

However on a more negative note is the recent spat caused by the Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, moaning about a white woman, Stacey Dooley, who visited Uganda partly at least on a charity trip. She, a very pretty (white) lady, was photographed holding a small Ugandan (black)  child in her arms and the MP complained that "The world does not need any more white saviours."  The Sunday Times reporter Camilla Long  disagreed with him whilst commenting that she is not a massive fan of Ms Dooley.   

I have not seen Ms Dooley  before  and personally regard the picture of her to be in the soppy and sentimental category. However many people in the UK seem to be able to help fund charitable causes which are promoted in  soppy or sentimental ways as in say BBC's  "Comic Relief" programmes. This kind of TV programme seems to appeal to many and raises millions of pounds for charities.

Ms Dooley's response to the Labour MP was to ask whether his concern was simply about the fact that she is a white girl adding that if so he could always go over there himself and try to raise awareness. His reply  according to the Sunday Times, was to the effect that he would never dream of travelling  to Africa to raise money for dying children as it would be "more of the same patronising stuff."

The MP's response I interpret as signifying that the Labour MP is or at least was when he said it, more concerned about his view of political correctness than about the life of a  child dying in Africa.  If I were dying from say starvation, the idea of rejecting food or money from someone who was maybe for their own purposes and/or of a different nationality/race, seeking to secure food or money for me, would be absurd. 

Is political correctness (not limited to any particular political party or race/creed/colour) undermining many people's good intentions, bearing in mind  that  for individuals, helping others also results in  benefits for oneself?