Sadly, Africa is ignored by the media in North America for the most part, especially in the US. The last time I remember a headline about Africa sticking around for a few days anywhere but CBC was when Zimbabwe crashed.

But then it's hard to sell bullshit wars, that supposedly bring freedom, to people that actually know the middle east isn't the real horror story of Earth. So there's little interest in educating people about Africa.

Sadly, it is mostly ignored.  I have just a vague political and economical understanding of Africa in general.  Most of the news is made by it's relation to the middle eastern conflict and some of the major news stories make it through.  

I notice a disparity between your guys news and ours... We are starting to get anticipation coverage of the US elections here already.... Overseas news, Particularly US, UK and middle eastern news get quite a lot of airplay.

I'll answer the other comments without the quote lot for now (still getting a feel for posting on this site heh heh}

Tapey: Unfortunately South Africa has made itself look like a dung factory in it's continued support of Mugabe in Zim. The only reason for this is that he was a "Struggle Brother" so all of his gross violations of just about every law are overlooked by the Gov. Crime is a massive factor here, private security companies are trusted far more than the police force, not surprising as they have corruption issues and an incredibly high illiteracy rate in the force.  As for holidays well, we do have fantastic game/nature reserves and fantastic natural beauty.

This brings us to apartheid, Yes it was a hideous thing all round I personally am disgusted when I read of some peoples attitudes during that period, however it gets used as an excuse for all sorts of incompetence, corruption etc. Hell some kids (who weren't even alive when apartheid ended) have used it in court to justify murder so yes.

Vastet: Lol Zim has never stopped crashing, It reels from crisis to crisis like a drunken sailor. You're right though that in comparison the miidle east is a nice day out for all the family compared to africa. Sudan, Rwanda, current flair ups in the congo , nigeria, and look up the LRA (Lords resistance Army) a fantastic example of atrocities and all committed in gods name. Having lived in Israel for a good couple of years I have to say the difference is staggering

Blacklight915: Invictus didn't do too badly in it's portrayel, haven't watched it in a while so can't remember the exact details but Mandela was a good pres indeed! unfortunately the same can't be said for the rest of the ANC. Mandela spent some of his time in power working against the party.  Part of SA's current problem is the try to wipe out all of the previous hisstory, forgetting that one of our presidents during and after WWII that was instrumental in setting up the UN in particular it hman rights charter. Without that the ANC wouldn't have had much to base there Freedom charter on. That being Jan Smuts (J is pronounced as a Y so Yan effectively)

Wich world cup was that by the way? Never happened for the 95 rugby one and the only thing closer was the 2011 football wrold cup but all that happened was some criminal clearing of parts of Johannesburg. ( Most of that city is unsafe to drive through at night whole gangs take over buildings, nigerian drug dealers and pimps etc etc.

Heh heh glad you liked the quote, I came up with it in a (very) rare burst of inspiration while being harangued by a bible basher quoting scripture at me in the hopes I would 'see the light'. It shut him up rather well

That does suck; I definitely think peoples' property rights should be enforced, but I imagine a lot of those squatters are just trying to find a place to live...

Huh, well, it is justifiable to force criminals out (provided that they commit non-victimless crimes). Do you know why those gangs and drug dealers are so violent? (if they are)

Actually, does anyone know why people are violent at all?  I find violence to be quite illogical: it is probably the worst way of getting what you want. Furthermore, it requires the assumption that your wants are superior to other peoples' lives. Which, again, is illogical: almost every person is important to themselves and a few others. It makes little sense to assume that your importance is somehow greater than someone else's without at least asking them first.