Being Ignorant

Being Ignorant

You see this one-eyed midget shouting the word "Now!"
And you say "For what reason?"
And he says "How!"
And you say "What does this mean?"
And he screams back "You're a cow! Give me some milk or else go home."

And you know something is happening, but you don't know what it is.
Do you, Mr. Jones.

Bob Dylan - Ballad of a Thin Man

15^th August 2006
I think Albert Einstein said something like: "The more I learn, the more I realise how ignorant I am".

I am experiencing something similar here in Africa. The more I learn about the plight of the refugee, the more I learn about African politics, the more I learn about the West's influence, the more ignorant I feel.

I hang out with a fairly political bunch here in Africa, as I alluded to over here. Most of them are North American students on their summer breaks. They tend to study things like Political Science, International Relations, Sociology and Anthropology. I studied Electrical Engineering.

They talk with conviction and knowledge about political situations all over the world. Most of them know a lot more than me. They talk with passion about the situation is Liberia, the Israel-Palestine situation, the problems with democracy, the problems with American foreign policy...

For the most part, I sit there with a stupid expression on my face trying to keep up with what they are saying and trying to take it all in. It makes me feel very ignorant, just like Mr. Jones.

This is how I learn though. I tend to sit back and listen, soak it all up, and then - with a bit of luck - an informed opinion pops out the other end.

This is what it was like for me when I was in the Philippines. I read a lot about the Philippines, but didn't really get the Philippines. But then I listened to people and tried to make sense of it all. Now, when people ask me about the Philippines (and sometimes when they don't) I spout off about what the Philippines' problems are and how best I can see them being solved.

I am only now just starting to start to understand Liberia's problems. I have a vague inkling of who the major players are and what their motives are. I can begin to construct a sentence about why there is a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, but no War Crimes Court. I can hazard an opinion on why the UN is not doing what it should be doing.

So while my knowledge of Liberia has increased a little bit, I still feel a little dumb. I guess now I know that I don't know, while before I didn't know that I didn't know.

I am about to leave Ghana and the Liberians stranded in Ghana. I doubt I'll learn much more about Liberia, which is a shame. Two months is just not long enough to be volunteering in my opinion. This is why I am looking forward to my six months in Uganda. Hopefully that will be plenty of time to learn about the Ugandans, what their problems are, and hopefully set up some sustainable projects.

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(c) 2005 and 2006 Malcolm Trevena.
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