Computers and Politics

I was inspired by a co-fellow's blog today to outwardly reflect on similarities and differences between the U.S. and my new home of Malawi, and two things immediately came to mind: computers and politics. (Perhaps my laptop woes biased my thoughts on the former, while media coverage of both Malawi and the U.S. encouraged the latter). But personal biases aside, I see computers and politics as somehow related. We want both to work in an orderly fashion, to stay within the norms of a system. We want to know in advance the effects of "pushing a button," producing no surprises. And, as I discovered this past weekend when my digital heart wouldn't come to life, we are distressed - engulfed - when one stops functioning as planned because our whole lives revolve around them. Computers and politics are synonymous when they work as we desire...

The reality, of course, is not so cut and dry. Much to my chagrin, computers do not always work as desired. And neither do politics. Take Malawi, for example. My initial arrival was postponed a few days due to the deaths of 18 (or 19, depending on your source) Malawians in an unexpectedly violent protest situation. "Malawi has caught wind of the Arab uprise," analysts have been suggesting (never mind that it's a predominantly Christian country). "Failed coup attempt," one Malawian newspaper wrote. But if you dig a little deeper, talk to some of the people on the ground during the protests, these suggestions (at least at present) are absurd. It seems that no matter where you are, exaggeration is shared!

The protest, I was informed, was organized several months ago by Malawian civil society, designed to express solidarity in the people's disappointment with progress (or lack there of). It was supposed to be a peaceful undertaking, consistent with Malawi's calm history. It was not a "blitz attack" on the current administration, nor was it designed to overthrow the government, as some media sources may lead you to believe but was actually shared in advance with the government and relevant people. To summarize what I was told, problems started in the week leading up to the protest, as tensions arose between both sides. Just hours before the event, the government was approved for an injunction, causing the protest to now be illegal. When individuals wearing their protest colors appeared and were told to go home, anger erupted and physical displays of this manifested. Tires were burned and stores were looted, although interestingly, many of these robberies were targeted at establishments assumed to be related or beneficiaries of the government. The police became involved in a forceful manner, easily identifying protesters by their colors, and needless to say, the results were devastating.

From those that I have interacted with, the picture is not just of a protest but of a deeper political problem. Malawians are disappointed, frustrated, angry, and discouraged, as presidential promises are broken and national improvements are non-existent. One Malawian shared that current president Bingu wa Mutharika was of average means upon assuming the presidency seven years ago, he's now among an elite club of Africa's richest men. And although there could and should be excitement as candidates arise for the 2014 election, The Nation (Malawi's most reliable newspaper, I was told) reported yesterday that President Mutharika's party - the Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP - has endorsed Mutharika's brother to be his successor. We've seen that in history, family successors can be publicly supported, as the Bush family legacy in the U.S. illustrates. But on a continent whose legacy has all too often demonstrated otherwise, yesterday's news article worried me.

Although the sentiments that "those Africans are at it again" could easily come to mind, it was less than 24 hours ago that the U.S. averted an unprecedented crisis of its own. A country as "developed" and "advanced" as the U.S. was caught up in partisan politics to the point where the not only did the "nation" as a political and financial entity suffer, so did we the people. It's embarrassing that it took so long to come to an agreement on raising the debt ceiling, demonstrating that too many of our policymakers' commitments to improving the nation operate on a different definition if who that "nation" includes. It is difficult for me to comprehend - for example - one's professed commitment to lowering debt but not supporting tax increases, as has been successful in the history not only of the U.S. but other countries as well. And, on the other hand, a true commitment to lowering debt rapidly would have to consider cutting spending; to avoid this would be inefficient. A democracy has to be built on compromise, lest we settle for the tyranny of the majority (or at least of those in power).

Politics (and non-functioning computers) are tricky no matter where you are. And in both the U.S., as campaigning goes into full effect, and in Malawi, where it's rumored that the July 20 protests were just a warm-up, I am concerned. I am worried that both of these events signify not just one glitch, but something bigger. In the U.S., perhaps an even uglier divide in partisan politics. In Malawi, possibly more aggressive displays of dissatisfaction. And in both, a lack of progressively realizing rights which all humans are entitled to and that governments are required to protect.  Lucky for me, my computer was fixed this morning after tinkering around with a few parts. If only the political situation in my two current "homes" could be fixed as easily...