[internaut]

I shall answer specific questions but before I do that I want an answer on those I put to you.

> Broadly your position appears to be that Africa is not necessarily backward but that ...

> Is that an accurate summation?

> I repeat; is my summary accurate?

I was repeating in my words your arguments, and I need to know whether I have it right or we shall descend into the weeds.

[rulegoon]

I've already answered your questions, have you even read the response! Will be short and sweet this time:

> Is that an accurate summation?

No. For an accurate summation... see/read/note/understand/grok/comprendez my last response above.

[internaut]

I have read your responses. I think I understand your anger because I held similar convictions about ten years ago.

The problem I am having with this argument is that you are not actually addressing the ideas directly. To me it is all impressionistic what I'm hearing.

Accusations of ignorance/bias, semi-philosophical, perhaps conspiratorial musings and emotive language describing past horrors and diabolical events, none of this actually addresses the central question directly.

The central question is why is African so impoverished?

I ask you to summarize precisely and as concisely as you can your hypothesis.

I understand that you want Africa to be a better place than it currently is and feel passionately about that. I also want it to be a better place but for us to communicate without descending into stereotypes or hyperbole about the right or left we have to talk from first principals.

Otherwise I am forced to make assumptions about your position. Presently I assume you believe that white men came to Africa, blitzed it, and then secretly are still controlling it after independence. This is not actually a mainstream position, although it is popular among many US and British students.

This means I assume you think there exists one and only one reason why Africa is so improvised. Namely, white invaders. That Africans were, and are still, slaves.

Fortunately you are able to provide the accurate explanation that you believe to be true. Then we could build on that foundation. Then neither of us will have to attack strawmen. Or we could just call each other names. It is your call.