Comments on: Burkina Faso: foreign, local and international incidents http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/ The world is talking. Are you listening? Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:14:08 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: edgard http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/comment-page-1/#comment-1367738 edgard Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:30:14 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/#comment-1367738 Hey! Bravo Keith... As a Burkinabe born living now in Riverside California,i was reading this report with a broken heart...and i do believe that John probably this attitude of the kind of tourist we dont want to see around.I have meet people here in the USA that have been going in Burkina for over 8 years now and they love it. Dear john its not late to get back to the realities of the country.There is a lot of problem there for sure,but just look around where is the most peacefull country in all West Africa.I do understand the reaction of yoy are calling ``mob`` its just like jackson Brown singing in of his famous song:when people cant taking anymore,they they starting throwing bricks and stones. Hey!
Bravo Keith…
As a Burkinabe born living now in Riverside California,i was reading this report with a broken heart…and i do believe that John probably this attitude of the kind of tourist we dont want to see around.I have meet people here in the USA that have been going in Burkina for over 8 years now and they love it.
Dear john its not late to get back to the realities of the country.There is a lot of problem there for sure,but just look around where is the most peacefull country in all West Africa.I do understand the reaction of yoy are calling “mob“ its just like jackson Brown singing in of his famous song:when people cant taking anymore,they they starting throwing bricks and stones.

]]> By: Keith http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/comment-page-1/#comment-1367636 Keith Thu, 17 Jan 2008 09:15:37 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/#comment-1367636 I agree, John. I don't think the Burkinabe hate foreigners generally at all - in fact they are a very welcoming people. But there is increasingly a feeling of being "left out" of the prosperity that the rest of the world is perceived to enjoy, and this can breed resentment. This is made worse if, as a Burkinabe, the foreigners you meet coming to your country have attitudes of arrogance and assumed superiority, which sadly many do. I agree, John. I don’t think the Burkinabe hate foreigners generally at all – in fact they are a very welcoming people. But there is increasingly a feeling of being “left out” of the prosperity that the rest of the world is perceived to enjoy, and this can breed resentment.

This is made worse if, as a Burkinabe, the foreigners you meet coming to your country have attitudes of arrogance and assumed superiority, which sadly many do.

]]> By: John Liebhardt http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/comment-page-1/#comment-1367401 John Liebhardt Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:39:12 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/#comment-1367401 Excellent question. I am remiss in editing Burkina Mom's next comment, where she points out that somebody stated "Concerned Citizen" should start a blog because these observations were so spot-on. I am not so certain if "Concerned Citizen's" line of thinking appeals to an angry minority or whether it is widespread. I've lived in Burkina Faso for nearly five years and found the people to be very friendly and open to foreigners -- even though we live quite differently than the average person here. We're seen as rich -- and we are (comparatively). Other than my personal experiences, I'll admit that Burkinabe may view differently the Lebanese nationals who live here. That's because where Europeans and North Americans work mostly as missionaries and aid workers, the Lebanese are business owners; they run the largest grocery stores, auto shops and factories in town. Some people may bristle at their supposed economic power. Lebanese also hire a lot of locals, and as Burkina Mom points out, some people feel they can be hard on their employees. These issues may lie far from the surface in Burkina Faso, but in a country that has a history of vigilante justice, a crime such as this may stir up many emotions. Long story short: I think "Concerned Citizen's" criticism towards some foreigners is a minority opinion. Excellent question. I am remiss in editing Burkina Mom’s next comment, where she points out that somebody stated “Concerned Citizen” should start a blog because these observations were so spot-on. I am not so certain if “Concerned Citizen’s” line of thinking appeals to an angry minority or whether it is widespread. I’ve lived in Burkina Faso for nearly five years and found the people to be very friendly and open to foreigners — even though we live quite differently than the average person here. We’re seen as rich — and we are (comparatively). Other than my personal experiences, I’ll admit that Burkinabe may view differently the Lebanese nationals who live here. That’s because where Europeans and North Americans work mostly as missionaries and aid workers, the Lebanese are business owners; they run the largest grocery stores, auto shops and factories in town. Some people may bristle at their supposed economic power. Lebanese also hire a lot of locals, and as Burkina Mom points out, some people feel they can be hard on their employees.
These issues may lie far from the surface in Burkina Faso, but in a country that has a history of vigilante justice, a crime such as this may stir up many emotions. Long story short: I think “Concerned Citizen’s” criticism towards some foreigners is a minority opinion.

]]> By: dce http://globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/comment-page-1/#comment-1367356 dce Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:42:22 +0000 http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2008/01/16/burkina-faso-foreign-local-and-international-incidents/#comment-1367356 Why do they hate 'foreigners' so much or is the writer? Why do they hate ‘foreigners’ so much or is the writer?

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