Have you felt ashamed of your nation?

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One should never be ashamed of their home. A nation is not always a home;inflicted poverty, war, famine and destruction are only some of the factors that many people in the third world use to become better people. Never forget where you come from; a wreaking toilet can smell just as bad as a clean and austere one. How cannot one not marvel at the wifts of freshly ground ginger, curcuma, peppers and cloves. Precious jewels are profused in the minds' eye. Never be ashamed of your home, never be ashamed of your people or that nation. For there is something greater and that is grace.

Patriotic or not, exposing the bad behavior may not mean disloyal. Growing up in a rural Africa we had many occassions as kids and adults discussing about the good and the bad behaviors and their effects on everyone. All together we are talking about the individual and collective community image.
The individuals in leadership roles need to understand they form the windows for their community image in public realtions. For India, the exposure of the inefficient way the Commonwealth Games preparation has taken shape and cancellation by some athletes will leave India bleeding and crying for an image that may never be easy to recover. After all, why should one risk their health in poor hygienic conditions? How about saving the money and time for another worthwhile course?

There are so many things that have realy let me down about my country uganda and im realy realy ashamed by them. There are really so many things for me to expose but the issue is that im realy sad and'ashamed' by my country.

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I’ve never stopped being ashamed of my country Nigeria considering its underachievement in all sphere of human endeavour, except of course, crime. We are enormously blessed yet with nothing to show for it, we are the most populous black nation, with enormous natural resources like crude reserves and other numerous solid mineral yet we remain one of the poorest nations in the world, even at the sport level, our fortune has been declining. Worst still, there seem to be no light at the other side of the tunnel.

Ten years ago, my country: Cameroon was ranged one of the most corrupt countries in the world; needless to say I was deeply disappointed and ashamed to be a Cameroonian. Presently, I still experience instances of embarassment when someone asks me where I come from. Most often when I tell them, they do not even know where it is, but at times some do and usually it is associated with something negative: the chimp that carries the HIV is found in Cameroon, our government is a dictatorship, corruption is so common. When I am asked if I would return home, my answer is always negative. Why not?, they always want to know. The simple answer is: corruption.
There is a common saying in Cameroon that "L'impossible n'est pas Camerounais", loosely translated: in Cameroon, nothing is impossible. Employment is guaranteed not by one's qualifications but by whom one knows or can bribe. Nepotism is so blatant, one can think it is legal. I have never heard of someone going to jail for accepting or giving bribes. The justice system is so infested with corruption, I do not know why they still call it the justice system; justice is usually sold to the highest bidder.
I do not think people should mince words about the shortcomings of their countries, maybe when the dirty linen is aired in public, the leaders are going to start mending their ways.
The only times I hear anything positive about my country is when soccer is concerned. Then, and only then, do I willingly admit to being a Cameroonian.

There are many things I felt ashmed of my country but the most are Failure of Leadership,Corruption, Religious & ethnic bigots, Police molestion of individual human-right & insecurity of crime like armed robbery, kidnapping & Miscreants hooliganism known as "Area Boys". People of questionable character are elected into office & Most politicians & Governors are not true representatives of the improvished masses. Tested & trusted educated people are not voted into office due to electoral malpractice. Everybody now wants to be a Politician because politics has become the easiest way of been millionaire. This has become so bad that more than 70% of national income now goes into paying salaries & allowances of political office holders who form less than 1% of the Nigerian population. Sincere educated people keep away from politics & charltan hijack political power then turning governance into criminal enterprise. Nigeria is the only country where political office holders see themselves as MASTERs instead of SERVANTs. They assign police & convoys to themselfs & buy houses oversea, then send their children & family there & siphon our oil money revenue overseas for upkeep of their family. This results to capital flight, infrastructural decay & no tangible deveolopment. Unempoloyment is on the increase & youth hopelessness fuel prostitution,cultism, fraud, lawlessness, poverty & increase in crime rate.Politicians are not helping either, they expliot the economic crisis & recruit these youths for their selfish aim of remaining in power. The country is becoming unsafe due to assisins & kidnappers for ransom. Most Nigerians in diaspora refuse to come home due to these social anormaly. Leadership & Corruption is gradually choking the improvished Nigerian masses.

I think the Indian media is doing the right thing by exposing the ineptitude of their government. That is genuine patriotism in my opinion. Constructive criticisms will only make the authorities to sit up. On the other hand, i think part of the blame for India's lack of readiness for the games should be put on the commonwealth. In preparation for events like this, an inspection team is supposed to be visiting and monitoring the hosting venue regularly in order to ascertain their readiness with time. There should have been a standby host to keep the hosts on their toes. FIFA is a very good example of a body that was never found wanting on issues like this. Moreover, we all know that India, despite its large population and huge economic growth is by no means a power in sports and does not have a record of hosting big international events. Therefore, one would expect the commonwealth not to expect India to do what Australia did at Melbourne in the last edition of the games. It is shocking and unfortunate that this show of shame is being unearthed just weeks before the commencement of the games.

Indeed my Country I am always proud of,but I am disgust with the way police officers are picking up bribes openly from drivers,riders.It is now looking as if it is a natural thing.In that respect I am not proud of my country.

Being able to criticize what is wrong instead of pretending everything is okay is a sign of strength and true patriotism. We should each feel ashamed of what is wrong and try to make it better. But we should also see the positive things and feel proud of those. But the work is never completed. It is the awareness of the fine and decent aspects that motivates us to keep trying.

A nation like one's mother will always remain as a nation no matter how many times you split it up; and as person born under Omar El-Bashir regime in Sudan, I would not say that I am ashamed of my country but I would that I am ashamed to have Omar as my president. His time will come and Sudan will always be there despite the imminent possibility of South Sudan secession. I love Sudan as my country. I love Africa as my continent despite the challenges facing them.

There is no doubt, there is much to be ashamed about. The continent of Africa has too much bad news and not enough bright spots. Speaking for my home country of Ethiopia I can say there are a lot of things to be sad about like poverty, corruption, and draught. Having said this we are also deeply proud of our history, culture, and our people general goodness to help each other. so it is a give or take. we have to work hard so we can walk with our heads high in the future. This must come true at least for our children. We made too many mistakes already

It's a disgrace to know some are ashamed of their country, a real disgrace. I'm proudly Nigerian. My country has it's problems but which one doesn't? I have travelled 3 continents and I know it could be worse. For some inexplicable reason Nigeria gets a lot of stick from the western Media. Yes, there's corruption, crime, inequality, sub-optimal health care delivery system and Educational facilities leave much to be desired but where is it perfect? I"m not willing to depress myself by comparing my country to, for instance, Great Britain who have had centuries of democracy and stability; switzerland who have 500 years of peace and democracy, a population of 8 million, land mass the size of a single Nigerian state (we have 36 FYI)....I can go on forever. I ask that we put things in perspective. I consider it insulting to Africa, that because there's report of poor planning, financial indiscretion etc from India this rather patronising thread is brought up. How Is India's problem now related to Africa? I don't understand. Lest we forget, during the colonial era, the west plundered Africa for our vast resources while developing their economies and leaving our homes as their dumpsite. They made Africa a perfect recipe for perpetual ethnic violence by amalgamating obviously incompatible ethnicities for selfish reasons like was done in Nigeria leaving us with a country full of tribal bitterness and differences. I find it the joke of a lifetime that the same western world turns around and mock our backwardness forgetting who was at the fore-front of it all. The whole idea of the commonwealth is a further insult to us all; why remind us of the tragic era that was the colonial period by bringing up something as degrading as the commonwealth? I love Nigeria and I wont exchange it for any other, if you are not proud of your heritage then there's a problem. If anyone can be proud of being from Germany for example, or USA, or Great Britain or Italy Or Israel I see no reason why anyone can be ashamed of his country. Dissatisfied? Yes, ashamed? NO.

I have a mixed feeling whenever my Country is concerned. This country or space in which I was born is called Cameroon and I am quite often ashamed of her. But at the same time I think it is my obligation not to shy away from the Country. I often tell people out here in the Diaspora where I come from, what is good and what is bad about this country. There are many Cameroonians who turn to demonstrate a kind of patriotism which in my opinion is absolutely wrong. In Cameroon, a Country so called “Africa in miniature” nothing seems to work the way it should. In this country Generals never retire, corruption is very normal, there are basically no hospitals, the educational system has decayed, roads infrastructure is horrible. Cameroon is one of the most centralized states on earth. Everything, including jobs depends on the President (dictator) of the Republic In fact; people survive in this Country just by the grace of God. Despite all these setbacks, I remain optimistic about the future of this Country

It is also not helpful that everytime Africa is mentioned a litany of woe is aired, are we not tired of complaining?...I honestly think we should all shut up and get to work.

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Liberia is my country that I should be ashamed of.One thing I will let to start with is that we the citizen of Liberia are not patroitic and don't love our country. We litter our cities especially Moonrovia with garbages, plastic and make it to look like a big village. As the the oldest republic in Africa, we have nothing to be proud of after 163 years of existence. We are not able to host a tournament like the African cup of nations which country like Burkina Faso which got her independence just in the sixities hosted.Our leaders are corrupt in such that a man can eat millions of United States alone and goes free. Can you imagine Africa's oldest republic government is still renting buildings for her various ministries? Indeed Liberia is a disgrace to West Africa. Come and see our roads with all the taxes we been paying and the vast natural resources we've been boasting of since Joseph Jenkins Roberts time.Another thing that is shameful to mention here is that our education system is dying faster than before. Out of ten high school graduates here in Liberia, only three can write a good friendly letter. What a shame. Corruption is eating us up. Our Education Ministry that is renting a building on the so-called broad street receives the second highest budget with thousands of her teachers not on payroll with thousands of ghost names of people who are not in the classrooms receiving pay and names of dead people still active on their payroll. My GOD who will rescue us?

You tell me just one reason i shouldnt be ashamed of my country nigeria and i will call you a liar.

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African leadership is very wanting with exception with a few leaders. Constructive critism is always a good thing, if it will better the people or leadership then give feedback.

You don’t necessarily have to be an african to be ashamed of your country. I was born in Italy and I am ashamed of “my” country, a “civilised” european country where corruption, bribery, nepotism, mafia are our daily bread. What is worse in this situation, from my point of view, is racism.
I live in a city in Emilia region, in the north of Italy. The neighborhood I live is home to many immigrants from Africa and Middle East. For me is a blessing because what used to be a “dead” part of the city is now full of life, young people, sounds and colours. We who live here have some problems but try to live together and to find a way not to hurt each other. Is like the world came to my place and I enjoy it. In the meanwhile my home lost about half of its value. Not because of immigrants but because average italians are racist and don’t want to live in a multi ethnic neighborhood. So I am ashamed not of myself but of the people of my own nationality and I really don’t know what to do to change their minds.

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I enjoyed the topic.

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Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country's virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, "the greatest", but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is. -Sydney J. Harris, journalist and author (1917-1986)

I am never ashamed of my country, its heritage, culture and all the goods it has. I am also not ashamed of its average people.
But I am ashamed of the people in Governance, of people who have hoodwinked the the nation to deep pocket themselves.
I am ashamed of the policies and self interest of the politicians who have brought this shame to the country.
I am ashamed of the Government which has let this happen.
I am ashamed of the elders of the politics who have let this event blacken the face of India. BUT I AM NOT ASHAMED OF INDIA, JUST THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS.

In many African homes it is considered taboo to air family shortcomings in public. Does it make you any less loyal to feel shame and acknowledge it in public?

sounds like middle class England, all that tepid trauma hidden away.

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Who says there is nothing in Africa to be proud about. I grew up in Africa and now live overseas and one thing you should know people in Africa are truly patriotic and also ironically truly happy. If you grow up in a society where you expect a leader to be corrupt and You expect nothing to go right the first time you learn patience and also how to navigate the system. Unlike some western states where corruption is rampant but is blatantly denied. Not to forget to mention the strides made in technology, yes technology. cell phone use is available at a cheaper price in most countries in the East of Africa. Why is it that I can transfer money, pay bills and even distribute my unused airtime without paying a fine or an exorbitant fee changed in most industrialized nations for the same service and that is if they are available. Athletes who represent their countries win world titles sometimes even barefoot running against a person who has no other job other than train. MY country is Kenya, Corrupt yes, high poverty yes, rampant injustice yes but most importantly. Free speech- yes, Well educated (210,000 college graduates every 3 months) population . Most diverse culture yes,. Proud to be a Kenyan

The way to go: a group of West Africans (from Niger Republic) is suing the French Uranium Mining and Nuclear giant Areva in New York. A class action lawsuit that could top 20 billion euros! The Company has been polluting water, land and air in the mining area for the last 50 years. Despite producing close to 10% of the entire world uranium, Niger is one of the poorest (actually the poorest) in the world and the people living in the mining area the poorest in the country. The area is so polluted with radioactive waste that the rate of childhood leukemia is 80 times that of the population at large! Read here: https://www.environment.co.za/poisoning-carcinogens-heavy-metals-mining/uranium-contamination-in-nigeria-and-gabon-areva-under-accusation.html and here (in French): https://www.tamtaminfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4794:action-collective-de-plus-de-20-milliard-deuros-intente-contre-areva-aux-etats-unis&catid=49:societe&Itemid=96
A first coming out of Africa. Hope it won't be the last.

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OK, yes, the topic is atop for every one's contextual analysis and expression. In this view, Africa has moved from far to reach where it is tabled, from "backwardness" as some of our counterparts perceived to now a slow but steady development. The 21st century is a blessing and an opportunity to most of African countries if not all, there are many developments that have taken place, improvement is health sectors, education, infrastructure and many other development related issues. With all that achieved in the recent past, we are rather not happy for such achievements which have made the face turn to blossoming atmosphere, a place that has attracted immense tourism ranging from natural to cultural and down to the way of living. I make no mistake to say Africa is rightly placed. We keep complaining instead of realising the mistakes and take control of them, we accuse others of misconduct yet we fail to hold them accountable or if we try, the procedure results to instability, an African is an African by hook or crook and will remain so for as long as he realises his roots. Being ashamed of your country is not a solution to the ailing situation a country may be facing rather a catalyst to it. In this I mean, someone ashamed of his country will draw no solution to avert the current situation that makes him ashamed. Many become ashamed of their countries for some "petty" reasons which through collective sensitisation and patriotism the country can once again lure the love of her citizens. With that this in mind I am just dissatisfied but not ashamed of my cradle land Uganda and Africa at large. For God and my country.

I am not and will never be ashamed of Nigeria. I'm gutted with our Leaders though. They are greedy and think of themselves before thinking of the people. They are taking too much for themselves while giving so little to the people.

I have once upon a time been ashammed of my country, Liberia. This was between 1980 up to 2003. This was the period that we as Liberians decided to destroy our country by introducing violence which led to the total destruction of both our human and infrustructures. We were even referred to as a failed state where was no law and order.

Today, we are to a greater extend being accepted by the civilize community in the whole wide world. It is now a challenge for us to rebuild what we destroyed. This will happen if we put Liberia first above all other things.