Creating a virtuous circle

So if bad pay is not the issue, then what is the cause? Why are people resistant to taking orders? If you supervise anyone in this country, that’s something that will jump out at you instantly. It begins with your housekeeper. You ask them to do something over and over and over, they’ll say eshi, but they REFUSE to do it. They won't refuse verbally - no, never would an Ethiopian do that. It’s passive aggressive resistance. The work either doesn't get done, or gets very shabbily completed, with massive delays at that.

Why do they do that? There’s absolutely no answer they give you because they don’t know why themselves. It’s almost like they resist just to resist, because that’s all they know.

I’m not talking complex orders that they misunderstand. It can be as simple as ‘always close the kitchen door so a sudden draft doesn’t slam it shut,’ for instance. This is not fiction, by the way, since this is an exact instruction I’ve been repeating to my housekeeper at least 3 TIMES a DAY for 10 MONTHS. Yes, that’s how frequently I repeat it, and she still does not do it until I yell at her! Then 10 minutes later, it restarts. I kid you not!! Now imagine running a company with an office full of people like that??

So what is the issue? One bewildered friend suggested it may be a vitamin deficiency. After all, who can use their brain at full capacity on just shiro, she reasoned. ‘Kursim shiro, misam shiro, ratim shiro’ were her exact words. She proceeded to make an extra glass of her daily ‘green’ juice every morning, and ordered her maid to drink come hell or high water. The serategna chokes it down. Some significant improvements were observed, apparently. ‘She’s become a rocket scientist!’ she reported back a few weeks later. Who knows, maybe nutrient-deficiency is one answer? After all, Ethiopia is one of the most nutritionally-deficient countries in the world, if not the worst.

But then how to explain it when it comes to proper educated professionals? I was working with people who earned enough to afford smartphones and laptops, ate out lunch daily – only occasionally shiro - and some even owned cars.

Even self-employed people, which I earlier said work hard, still show carelessness. You only need to look at pictures of construction sites, or worse, visit some of them. Shoddy workmanship abounds. You have to nag, beg and at times yell for them to redo and redo again, You’ll eventually be too exhausted to fight and will just give in to whatever they give you. It’s not unusual to hear in Addis that someone died right after completing the construction of their home or building. That's what apparently happened to the man who built that blue glass building next to CBE's new tower at Megenagna.

These workers do not seem to care that their reputation will suffer if they put out bad work. Not only that, you’ll make them redo it, so they’re actually losing income since they can’t move on to the next job. They’re actually shooting themselves in the foot. It's self-defeatist.

What I find extraordinary is that if you give any of these people a green card and send them off to the US, a miraculous transformation occurs en route. Is it the recycled air of Ethiopian Airlines? The shiny Dulles Airport after leaving the dingy Bole??? I don’t know. All I know is that there’s a 180 degree metamorphosis that occurs during the 17hr flight. Maybe it’s the Ethiopian version of going from Clark Kent to Superman.

Whatever the reason, Bekelech who was the laziest, most resistant worker in Addis Abeba, morphs into Becky, 3-time Employee of the Month at Starbucks/Dunkin Donuts/whatever.

So perhaps it’s a version of self-hate that we’re witnessing? People do not wish to work hard for fellow Ethiopians or fellow Africans (in the case of international organizations), even though that’s what would be in their actual interests? Is it masochism?

What I find interesting, is that we all think of Ethiopia as a communal society. People look out for others, care about being shamed, etc, etc. Well, that is true. But ONLY when it comes to social activities, not economic ones.

What is the difference? In my opinion, it comes down to power dynamics.
Ethiopians resist receiving instructions or doing good work because they believe the other person – Ethiopian also, usually - is gaining something from the exchange, which by default MUST mean they are losing. When it comes to work, we are very individualistic people. The idea of win-win is totally absent from our culture. So in a way, this is a perverted competitiveness that we are seeing.

Now, this may be something you guys knew forever and ever, but this is really a massive awakening to me. Sure, I’ve always heard the mikegninet of habesha people mentioned in passing, or that proverb about asking God to take out one of our eyes so our friend ends up with both eyes blinded, etc. But this is really the first time I’ve seen it up close and personal.

So how and why did we become this way?

During feudal times, which is 99.9% of Ethiopian history, people worked for the benefit of the feudal lord, so obviously, their hard work benefited someone else at their expense, what with starvation and near slavery-like conditions being a fact of life after all that neverending labor.

Then communism came and supposedly took out feudalism in the name of bringing justice. But then people became the serfs of the government – the master changed, but the reality didn’t. You still work, for the benefit of your oppressor. The same oppressor that was killing your children, starving you and forbidding you from leaving the country to cement your slave-like existence.

But now both those systems are gone, or so most of us belief, yet the mentality has remained.

Perhaps it’s some type of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for those acronym-challenged).

Are Ethiopians suffering a collective PTSD? Generational trauma that they are passing on to their children unwittingly?

In my opinion, yes.

Work ethic – and the seeming lack thereof - is one manner in which it manifests itself. PTSD would explain why Ethiopians are suspicious of working hard for fellow Ethiopians, OR in Ethiopia but for non-Ethiopians, but don’t seem to have such issues when outside the country. This would explain why Becky is excelling in her new employment in her adopted country since she’s not carrying an inherited prejudice for Americans and America.

Another way this PTSD is evident is in how we are building our residences in urban areas. I can refer to my own family here. My grandparents’ home was built during the feudal times, with a large yard and no fence, as was the case for most homes at that time. Over time, a short fence was built – more for decorative purposes than anything else – again, following similar trends in the city. My grandparents were raised as part of the elite of the country, fyi.

Cue the Derg, with its savagery. Night-time unannounced raids on unsuspecting families were a matter of routine. Suddenly, the security people felt in their homes was shattered.

Years down the road, people are building homes like fortresses. In my parents' case, my mother is a clear example of someone with unresolved trauma. Over the years, she’s had the fence extended twice and had barbed wire added. Then the wire was changed to an electrified one. The windows of our home now have metal bars on the outside in case someone manages to get past our Fort Knox-style wall. The kitchen door and front door have had metal doors also added (in addition to the existing regular doors).

This insane security is what you see in countries with sky-high violent armed robberies like South Africa. Yet, this is now the norm in Addis with its pitiful violent crime rate. We've never ever been victims of burglaries, like 99.9% of Addis Abebans. My mother used to tell me that during Derg times, she would sleep in regular clothes in case soldiers came to take her in the night. So it’s clear to see where this fear comes from.

So of course, now the question is, what do we do to solve this? How do we heal as a country? PTSD is hard enough to treat in individuals, so how can it be handled at a national level?

Do we even need to address it or is this something we can ignore with no consequence? I obviously believe it needs to be confronted. After all, like I said earlier – people not only do not realize they are carrying these issues, but they are hurting themselves without caring that they are doing so.

As a society, we have lost that which is fundamental: one can succeed by working hard, being ethical and making a positive contribution to one’s country. We are stuck in a vicious circle that we need to change into a virtuous one.

Perhaps you guys may even believe that PTSD is not the cause. But then, what is it then?

I look forward to your comments if you haven’t died of boredom reading these 2,000 words. :lol:

^^ I dont know if I have an adequate response for a well written observation. I was in Ethiopia for 5 weeks and the "snail pace" work ethics was clearly apparent. Most places you go almost make it a necessity to go slow- It could be pretentiousness(curat).
Ethiopian Americans are a hard working group. Most everyones very ambitious with kids going to university and parents buying a house in the suburbs. I just assumed that Ethiopians in Ethiopia were lazy because of the lack of opportunities and the resentment of using ones work to enrich others. The other idea is that many people are "obsessed with politics" and think that EPRDF is will keep them from success when in reality the work necessary is not even there.

Maybe its a worldwide "African" thing. From AAs to Africans- people are not serious about success and prefer to "have a good time". That Protestant, German, or Japanese work ethic and obsession with success does not reside in certain cultures. A cultural change and transformation will have to take place so the word "work" is not a four letter word.

Ethiopia is also a fatalistic society and most of Ethiopia's history had little progress from decade to decade. There is an hyper-obsession with religion and religious ceremonies that to a western person would be better served working hard on the job. Ethiopians have prayed enough-god helps those who help themselves. Get off that ass and make it happen.

I actually meant to mention that I think other Africans and AA also have societal PTSD. Africans due to colonization, and AA due to slavery. Ethiopians, however, did it to ourselves.

I agree about the fatalistic culture. Perhaps the rise of Protestant churches in Ethiopia - which are growing at phenomenal pace - will bring similar changes as in Protestant Europe and the US?

I would like to share my own and personal experience :

i m not an expert and i don't have enough experience dealing with Ethiopian people since i grew up overseas (Europe). I cannot even speak amharic. my values are definitely western: 100% educated in Europe and Canada. actually i don't really know the Ethiopian way of life, standard etc... i have been in Ethiopia once, 5 years ago (!!) since i left the country as a child.

Being in Ethiopia in 2009, I visited addis, the countryside, bahir dar, debremarkos, etc...
how do i know Ethiopia? from books, tv reports, radio, etc...like any european guy !

sadly most of young Ethiopian abroad see Ethiopia like me : we don't know our country.
So, that s why i came to this community, try to understand and figure it out the ''Ethiopianism''

we are definitely a third world country like all Africa. i think what we see in Ethiopia is not isolated. just be patient and optimistic ! transformation is on the way, really. repeal your negative attitude toward progress. i used to be awful toward my country, i were also ashamed for being Ethiopian (sorry!!) as a child. whatever i heard from Ethiopia was a disaster and failure (famine, poverty, wars..) for european people, Ethiopia is symbol of failed collasped country, where folks are dying in disproportionate scale.
sadly some Ethiopian still have this attitude !

and Africa lion, u r right, Ethiopian are an hyper-obsession with religion and religious ceremonies. i have witnessed this all the time ! because we have a lot of uneducated people ! so religion is the last thing which feed them )-: and fill up their ignorance ?
i don't want be harsh toward religious people within this community...so don't be shocked !

just my opinion.

Yes, Capitalism and protestantism is a good fresh of air to the stagnant culture. Ethiopia is changing though with even rural folk having cellphones/smartphones. Our country will awaken from the feudal dream. We are a conservative honor/shame culture similar to Japan so perhaps we should follow that model instead of the material west.

^^Solomon, You ever thought about moving to DC, Toronto etc. a place with a good ethio population. I recommend it to help change your perspective and have greater knowledge of self. Movies, books, internet can only go so far. You must jump into the pool- go to DC and youll be in Ethio heaven. Sounds like you grew up quite isolated and its good to have knowledge of self. I hate our countrys poverty but I love our people and culture(most of it).

I'm optimistic about Ethiopia and its future. I see a great transformation from an agriculture to industrial giant. It will take time though and the workrate has to improve. You cant grow gdp on laziness or "Ergophobia". I dont think we are being negative, just noticing something that needs to change.

i know Toronto ( i will be there next month)
I m planning to visit DC too.
right I grew up quite isolated hno:
in France, the ethio community is tiny.
since i've moved to Canada, i 've opened my eyes :nuts:
i feel like a tree whose deep roots have been cut off...
so i need heavy fertilizer to fix them :lol:

anyway, I'm optimistic for the future.:banana:

ahbecede said:

I actually meant to mention that I think other Africans and AA also have societal PTSD. Africans due to colonization, and AA due to slavery. Ethiopians, however, did it to ourselves.

I agree about the fatalistic culture. Perhaps the rise of Protestant churches in Ethiopia - which are growing at phenomenal pace - will bring similar changes as in Protestant Europe and the US?

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I don't know, from my observations here and in Ghana the Evangelical Protestantism you find there only serves to engender such behavior. I even wrote an article about it:

West Africa’s Prophet Problem
http://cpreview.org/2014/03/west-africas-prophet-problem/

March 7′s Wall Street Journal included a rather unusual headline – “Heavenly Currency Intervention Is Sought“. If one were to read the article, it would reveal that some in Ghana have taken to the equally unusual measure of praying for the country’s currency, the Cedi, to stop falling in value. “I command the resurrection of the cedi – in the name of Jesus!” shouts one pastor, “Archbishop” Nicholas Duncan-Williams.

Of course, the cedi’s value is not a function of prayer- rather, it’s fall is the result of a rising US Dollar and an economy that has to export even the most basic goods (amongst them, toothpicks and fruit juice), thus consuming valuable foreign exchange reserves; the cedi was redenominated in 2007, loping off four zeros and turning it into one of the world’s highest-valued currencies. Since then, however, the cedi has lost more than 60% of its value, sliding from $1.08 to 1GHC down to $0.38 to 1GHC.

But this hasn’t stopped the government from joining in the prayer frenzy, indeed it has embraced it (for obvious reasons); one spokeswoman attributed the currency’s slide to “dwarfs, the black magic is what has made the cedi lose value.” (Such explanations do not suffice for Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party, however, who said “ten of Duncan-Williams cannot help [President] John Mahama”.)

In Ghana, there are perhaps over three hundred so-called “churches” operating today. The saying goes there is on every street corner either a drinking place or a church. The vast majority of these churches are led by pastors claiming they have powers of prophecy, of working miracles and healing sicknesses- all, of course, untrue.

In Nigeria, the same thing exists, but has been taken to extreme levels by the so-called “prophet” T.B. Joshua, who consorts with presidents and was a public friend of the late President of Ghana, John Atta-Mills, and Joyce Banda, President of Malawi. Duped followers of his “Synagogue, Church Of All Nations” travel from all corners of Africa seeking his help, where they are put up, at their own expense at one of his dozens of lodging houses in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city and home to his headquarters.

One of the pieces of evidence are his famed “prophecies”, consisting of after-the-fact videos on Youtube showing blatantly edited and re-cut quotes of a vague nature and overlaid sound tracks:





The sad thing about these fraudsters is the millions upon millions of money the extract from these poor countries’ pockets. David Oyedepo, with a reported net worth of $150 million, is said to have a fleet of private jets and Rolls Royces. Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the aforementioned “Apostle of Strategic Prayer”, drives around Accra in a gaggle of Maybachs (he is reported as saying that he said if jesus was around today, “He would be in a Mercedes”). Overall, the total value of the evangelical churches in Nigeria is said to be around $60 billion dollars. In Ghana, a country perhaps an eighth of the size of Nigeria, that sector is said to rake in a billion dollars annually, perhaps two, no one knows for sure.

This great fleecing of these countries requires action from the people and governments to stop this fraud. These phonies should be publicly tried, exposed, and sent to jail, to their last, and their assets seized and used for national development.

But that is not to say that religion has altogether been a losing deal for the people of the region In contrast, 95% of the top performing secondary schools, in Ghana, are Catholic schools. In several regions in Ghana a majority of health services are provided by Catholic hospitals. The Catholic Church and other positive institutions have a massive potential to promote economic reform and development in these countries.

With the rise of Nigerian Cardinals Francis Arinze and John Onaiyekan, and the Ghanaian Peter Turkson, and Pope Francis’ message of social equity and progress, it is clear other institutions offer a message of self-empowerment and advancement that presents a far superior alternative to the chicanery of the present posse of pastors. If they seek to lead, the leaders in these nations should declare a war against these abusers of the name of God, for the well being and sake of their people, instead of consorting with them.

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http://cpreview.org/2014/03/west-africas-prophet-problem/

@abesha, Very good analysis about PTSD, I didnt even think of that...but I have always had a suspicion about the passive aggressive competition, which is what you also described in your third post. People dont like the confrontation that comes with saying "NO" outright but they will say yes or okay and then never do it if they think it will benefit someone else.

Ones hard work being used by another to advance is a primary concern Ive see on my part.

FYI, PM Hailemariam desalegn is already protestant

Ahbecede,,, very good insight into the work ethics that persists in Ethiopia today,,, to your question on why Ethiopians are less likely to obey their fellow Ethiopian superiors, and why they are more likely to obey superiors if they are Ferenj,, is because most Ethiopians have very low national self esteem and have very low regard to any thing that originates in Ethiopia,,, you see that in the economy, in the language, in the politics, almost in every thing ,, for example an Ethiopian would pay more money for a lesser quality foreign made good, just because it is foreign, than buy something that is of superior quality but domestically produced ,,, it is also the same in language most Ethiopian elites would like for their children to speak entirely in English,, I have seen kids in Addis who never been outside of the borders of Ethiopia, speaking Amharic in Ferenj accent,, there are many private schools now in Ethio that ban kids from using Amharic or any other local language in their premises,,,if you look at our politics too,, our politicians try very hard to impress and to be patronized by Ferenj NGO mentors and politicians,,than they ever try to put a collective effort to build a strong state,, In general the standard we give ourselves is very low while we give very high standards to any thing that is Fereng,,,Now coming back to our work ethics and why our people perform differently in Europe and the US than they do in Ethio,,, it is because most Ethiopians have this lack of faith in their Ethiopian superior that most would feel that their Ethiopian boss is ordering them around just to show off his superiority over them,,, where as if a Ferenj boss is giving orders he or she is doing it because it is necessary and knows what he or she is doing ,,,basically most Ethiopians have this idea in the back of their mind that their own kind is a cruel, abusive, show off type of person,,,while a Ferenj is caring, polite and reasonable person,,,

^^ "... is because most Ethiopians have very low national self esteem..."


የጉድለቶች ሁሉ ምንጭ ነው። ከዚህ መላቀቅ፣ ኢትዮጵያዊነትንና ኢትዮጵያውያንን በገዛ ልቦና ውስጥ ልዕልና በመስጠት ይጀምራል።

የህ ትውልድ የማንነቱ ግንዛቤ ተዘባርቆበታል፣ የኣውሮጳውያን ህላዌያዊ የጥቃት ዘመቻ ምስጋና ይግባውና። ከ ፻ ኣመታት ጀምሮ የደረሰብን ራስነትን የማጥፋት ውርጅብኝ ዛሬም እነሆ በሰፊው ቀጥሏል።

እኔ ግን የተሸፈነብኝን ዐይነ-እርግብ በመግለጥ ላይ ነኝ። ራሴን ኣውቄ ብሞት ኣይቆጨኝም። የኣበው ህላዌያዊ ጣዕም በውስጤ ኣለ። የነርሱ ስብዕናዊ ሰበዝ የእኔም ነው። በዚህች ምድር ከህይወት እስከሞት ያለፉበት የኑሮ ፈለግ ይታየኛል። በልቤ ውስጥ እርካታ ኣለ። ኢትዮጵያዊነትን ኣከብራለሁ። ኢትዮጵያውያንን ከፍ ኣድርጌ ኣያለሁ።

begtera said:

የህ ትውልድ የማንነቱ ግንዛቤ ተዘባርቆበታል፣ የኣውሮጳውያን ህላዌያዊ የጥቃት ዘመቻ ምስጋና ይግባውና። ከ ፻ ኣመታት ጀምሮ የደረሰብን ራስነትን የማጥፋት ውርጅብኝ ዛሬም እነሆ በሰፊው ቀጥሏል።

እኔ ግን የተሸፈነብኝን ዐይነ-እርግብ በመግለጥ ላይ ነኝ። ራሴን ኣውቄ ብሞት ኣይቆጨኝም። የኣበው ህላዌያዊ ጣዕም በውስጤ ኣለ። የነርሱ ስብዕናዊ ሰበዝ የእኔም ነው። በዚህች ምድር ከህይወት እስከሞት ያለፉበት የኑሮ ፈለግ ይታየኛል። በልቤ ውስጥ እርካታ ኣለ። ኢትዮጵያዊነትን ኣከብራለሁ። ኢትዮጵያውያንን ከፍ ኣድርጌ ኣያለሁ።

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በግ ተራ ባልከው ሙሉ በሙሉ ባይሆንም በከፊል እስማማለሁ፣ ኢትዮጵያ እንደ ሃገር ፎርማል በሆነ መልኩ ከተመሰረተችበት ጊዜ አንስቶ አስከ አሁን ድረስ ኢትጵያዊ የሆነ የነጠረ ባህል ለማፍራት አልቻልንም፣ አበሻዊ የሆነውን ና ያልነጠረውን የሰሜኑን ዘልማዳዊ እሴት እንደ ዲ ፋክቶ ኢትዮጵያዊ ባህል ተቆጥሮ የቆየበት ጊዜ ቢኖርም ያንን ማንነት የማይጋሩ የደቡብና የምስራቅ ብሄሮች ላይ የተገዢነት ስሜት የፈጠረና የሃገሪቱን አንድነት አደጋ ላይ የጣለ አዝማሚያ ነው የፈጠረው። የነጠረ ኢትዮጵያዊ የሆነ ባህልን ለመፍጠር ደግሞ ኪነ ጥበብ ወሳኝ የሆነ አካል ነው። ኪነ ጥበብ በየትኝውም ዛሬ ጠንካራ በሚባል አገር ያለውን አገራዊ ማንነትን በመፍጠር ውህደትን በማጠናክር የአገር ፍቅርን በማጠናከር የተጫወተውን ሚና ለመመልከት ደግሞ በ አውሮፓ ከ ሬኔሳንስ በሁዋላ የተነሱት ፈላስፋወች ደራሲዎች ሰአሊዎች አክተሮች የሙዚቃ አቀናባሪዎች በስራዎቻቸው ምን ያህል አገራዊ ማንነትን እንዳጎለበቱበት ማየት ይቻላል። ይህንን ደግሞ ለማድረግ የቻሉት ዘልማዳዊ የሆነውን(ፎልክ ትራዲሸን)ከየ አውራጃዎቹ በመውሰድ አቅልጠው የነጠረ ባህልን(ሪፋይንድ ካልቸርን) በመፍጠር ነው። ነገር ግን በኛ አገር ኪነ ጥበብ የሚሰጠው ግምት እጅግ ያነሰ እና እንዲያውም የንቀት ሊባል የሚችል ነው። ስለዚህ ይህ ትውልድም የራሱን የተዝረከረከ የውጭውን ደግሞ የሰለጠነ አድርጎ ቢያይ ሊፈረድበት አይችልም።

FKebede said:

Ahbecede,,, very good insight into the work ethics that persists in Ethiopia today,,, to your question on why Ethiopians are less likely to obey their fellow Ethiopian superiors, and why they are more likely to obey superiors if they are Ferenj,, is because most Ethiopians have very low national self esteem and have very low regard to any thing that originates in Ethiopia,,, you see that in the economy, in the language, in the politics, almost in every thing ,, for example an Ethiopian would pay more money for a lesser quality foreign made good, just because it is foreign, than buy something that is of superior quality but domestically produced ,,, it is also the same in language most Ethiopian elites would like for their children to speak entirely in English,, I have seen kids in Addis who never been outside of the borders of Ethiopia, speaking Amharic in Ferenj accent,, there are many private schools now in Ethio that ban kids from using Amharic or any other local language in their premises,,,if you look at our politics too,, our politicians try very hard to impress and to be patronized by Ferenj NGO mentors and politicians,,than they ever try to put a collective effort to build a strong state,, In general the standard we give ourselves is very low while we give very high standards to any thing that is Fereng,,,Now coming back to our work ethics and why our people perform differently in Europe and the US than they do in Ethio,,, it is because most Ethiopians have this lack of faith in their Ethiopian superior that most would feel that their Ethiopian boss is ordering them around just to show off his superiority over them,,, where as if a Ferenj boss is giving orders he or she is doing it because it is necessary and knows what he or she is doing ,,,basically most Ethiopians have this idea in the back of their mind that their own kind is a cruel, abusive, show off type of person,,,while a Ferenj is caring, polite and reasonable person,,,

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I completely agree with you that national self-esteem is low. It used to be sky high a few decades ago, but it's been eroded enormously. The problem is that we seem to get our sense of self-worth in our past (Axum blah blah), but we are realizing that means nothing in 2014. What matters now is what you're accomplishing currently, not what happened 2000 years ago. And with that realization comes depression, since there's really nothing of note that our people have accomplished in recent times.

So the question is, will growth lead to a resurgence of high self-esteem, or do you need high self-esteem to begin with in order to grow? Chicken or the egg?

I dont think that it has anything to do with PTSD or low self esteem. People are just lazy- I dont think there is much to rationalize.

ahbecede said:

I completely agree with you that national self-esteem is low. It used to be sky high a few decades ago, but it's been eroded enormously. The problem is that we seem to get our sense of self-worth in our past (Axum blah blah), but we are realizing that means nothing in 2014. What matters now is what you're accomplishing currently, not what happened 2000 years ago. And with that realization comes depression, since there's really nothing of note that our people have accomplished in recent times.

So the question is, will growth lead to a resurgence of high self-esteem, or do you need high self-esteem to begin with in order to grow? Chicken or the egg?

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In my opinion to raise the level of our national self esteem we need to start the work with our education system, by completely altering how education is provided at all levels , we need to establish Amharic as the language of learning along with other Ethiopian languages and foreign languages should be thought just only as a language in our educational establishments, unless someone is doing a PHD or Masters on them in the university,,,and we need to invest in developing our art, music, literature, cinema, theaters and science , we have to invest in those fields so we can develop a real national self awareness and and a sense of national purpose and most of all a sense of national achievement ,, and only that will really make us believe in our nation's noble destiny, and our self esteem will be raised as a reasult,,, so in my view economic growth without cultural, intellectual and moral growth or in general without enlightenment ,, will only be a bubble that will burst one day.

i don't thing it is going to happen...since the current gov is surviving through division...

African Lion said:

I dont think that it has anything to do with PTSD or low self esteem. People are just lazy- I dont think there is much to rationalize.

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I really don't think it's that simple African Lion. How can 90 million + ALL be lazy? That's impossible. There's something else that's feeding it.

Low self-esteem seems a good reason to me. When you think little of yourself, or you have no sense of purpose, what's the motivation to do better?