E-mail uprising over Friedman follies

E-MAILS have flown thick and fast to Fox News in the US since Namibians read Roger Friedman’s article ‘Brad and Angelina’s Baby Lucky To Be Alive’, printed in The Namibian on Wednesday.

Many Namibians have copied their responses to The Namibian – others have just e-mailed to say that they have written to Fox. From north to south, east to west, Namibians’ pride in our country, its people and beauty shines through in the e-mails.A number of overriding sentiments have emerged: we’re Namibians and proud of it, disgust and surprise that someone writing in a public forum can be so ignorant, disappointment that one individual can take it on himself to insult a nation – close to 1,9 million people, and praise and support for the Jolie-Pitt family.Extracts from some of the responses: “I’m a very proud Namibian who is very disappointed, but not surprised by …Mr Friedman.I refuse to take the insult lying down …Think before you talk …Mr Friedman come and live in Namibia for a while and you will be surprised by the warmth and courtesy of our people.”- Maria Shigwedha * “The CIA files that he makes mention of – I hope they are not from the same bunch of guys who advise your President on world matters …Mr Friedman, you have proved yourself a worthy candidate for employment in the Bush administration.”- John-Paul Jones * “Yes, we have a high unemployment rate, but we are doing something about it …There is something in the African culture called sharing.If I do not have, my neighbour will share with me …We have watched Tomb Raider, Mr and Mrs Smith and many more [major feature films].[But] our lives are not about celebrities …that is why the two celebrities chose to come to our country and try and rest awhile from the paparazzi.”Please people, look at the world and help where help is needed.We would like to thank Angelina Jolie and the family for staying in Namibia …We hope that you will keep coming to Namibia because this is your second home.”- Proud Namibian (name and address provided) * “As an American living in Namibia for the last three and a half years who chose to have a child born here, I would urge you to come and see the very first world hospital where our daughter was delivered in a very modern surgical theatre …The Americans who know where Namibia is on the map and can pronounce the name correctly might imagine it as an exotic destination, but I can assure you that my day-to-day life is not much different than it would be in the States.The biggest differences may be that childcare is cheaper (and some might say better) and that I can drive for a few hours and see a multitude of African animals and some amazing landscapes.”- Paul Fairbanks * “Roger Friedman does not know what he’s talking about – why doesn’t he visit Namibia, and not just the border with Botswana, to see for himself.”- Johan Maritz * “I am writing to respond to the writing of Mr Roger Friedman about my beautiful country Namibia …In 1998, I went to visit Australia’s parliament in Canberra.A woman, who was a deputy Sergeant-At-Arms, told me that during one of her visits to the USA, one person asked her: ‘Where did you learn to speak such good English?’ The person did not know that in Australia people speak English, especially that she was white, not an Aboriginal …Martin Luther King Jr, in his book ‘Strength to Love’, taught us: ‘Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity’.”- Ambrosius N Amutenja * “There are many people who appreciate Namibia and who choose to come here because of the country’s unique and outstanding qualities and the hospitality of our people.Namibians know how lucky they are to live and give birth to life here.The Jolie-Pitt baby is blessed and has been well received.”- Retha Louise HofmeyrFrom north to south, east to west, Namibians’ pride in our country, its people and beauty shines through in the e-mails.A number of overriding sentiments have emerged: we’re Namibians and proud of it, disgust and surprise that someone writing in a public forum can be so ignorant, disappointment that one individual can take it on himself to insult a nation – close to 1,9 million people, and praise and support for the Jolie-Pitt family.Extracts from some of the responses: “I’m a very proud Namibian who is very disappointed, but not surprised by …Mr Friedman.I refuse to take the insult lying down …Think before you talk …Mr Friedman come and live in Namibia for a while and you will be surprised by the warmth and courtesy of our people.”- Maria Shigwedha * “The CIA files that he makes mention of – I hope they are not from the same bunch of guys who advise your President on world matters …Mr Friedman, you have proved yourself a worthy candidate for employment in the Bush administration.”- John-Paul Jones * “Yes, we have a high unemployment rate, but we are doing something about it …There is something in the African culture called sharing.If I do not have, my neighbour will share with me …We have watched Tomb Raider, Mr and Mrs Smith and many more [major feature films].[But] our lives are not about celebrities …that is why the two celebrities chose to come to our country and try and rest awhile from the paparazzi.”Please people, look at the world and help where help is needed.We would like to thank Angelina Jolie and the family for staying in Namibia …We hope that you will keep coming to Namibia because this is your second home.”- Proud Namibian (name and address provided) * “As an American living in Namibia for the last three and a half years who chose to have a child born here, I would urge you to come and see the very first world hospital where our daughter was delivered in a very modern surgical theatre …The Americans who know where Namibia is on the map and can pronounce the name correctly might imagine it as an exotic destination, but I can assure you that my day-to-day life is not much different than it would be in the States.The biggest differences may be that childcare is cheaper (and some might say better) and that I can drive for a few hours and see a multitude of African animals and some amazing landscapes.”- Paul Fairbanks * “Roger Friedman does not know what he’s talking about – why doesn’t he visit Namibia, and not just the border with Botswana, to see for himself.”- Johan Maritz * “I am writing to respond to the writing of Mr Roger Friedman about my beautiful country Namibia …In 1998, I went to visit Australia’s parliament in Canberra.A woman, who was a deputy Sergeant-At-Arms, told me that during one of her visits to the USA, one person asked her: ‘Where did you learn to speak such good English?’ The person did not know that in Australia people speak English, especially that she was white, not an Aboriginal …Martin Luther King Jr, in his book ‘Strength to Love’, taught us: ‘Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity’.”- Ambrosius N Amutenja * “There are many people who appreciate Namibia and who choose to come here because of the country’s unique and outstanding qualities and the hospitality of our people.Namibians know how lucky they are to live and give birth to life here.The Jolie-Pitt baby is blessed and has been well received.”- Retha Louise Hofmeyr