There is something strange about the way in which the media continues to portray both the motives and reasons of the actions that are really nothing new off of the coast of Somalia and other countries on the coast of Africa. Most recently it has been the US flagged ship, Maersk Alabama, that has captured the awe and the attention of the world at large. Over the last week, I have been amazed at the coverage of liberal and conservative media outlets alike and their coverage of the over-taking of the African bound cargo ship. At no point has the media attempted to mention or even allude to the living conditions in Somalia and the status of its central government in relation to the rest of the world. They have only asserted that the cargo ship was carrying foreign aide with additional cargo.

No additional information was mentioned about the insurmountable tons of solid and liquid waste, including nuclear, that the western world has and continues to deposit on the shores of Africa and its surrounding waters. Nor was there any mention of the depleted resources that render the local economy useless, resulting in desperation. No one covering the story thought to raise the question of where they acquired their western manufactured weapons and complimenting ammunition? It is no secret that Somalia and other African countries are facing some of the most atrocious humanitarian crises known to the modern world, and the fact of the matter is that it is by design and a direct result of systemic western greed.

As aforementioned, like other items of propaganda, there continues to be a side of the story that is not being told. Pray-tell what is the difference that exist among so called pirates at sea and corporate thieves on land? We in the western world have gone to these countries, raped and robbed their land, leaving the native people with literally nothing, and expect them to be satisfied with spoon fed foreign aide. I would further submit that countries of Somalia and the like do not need foreign aide but foreign commerce that they might become self sustaining.

I cannot in all good conscience blame the African Ambassadors of the sea, that the media have named pirates, for simply trying to make ways out of no ways for the people of their land. Third world and developing countries have historically been marginalized by the western world without respect for the resources, cultures or contributions of the native inhabitants. Without a doubt, I am happy for the captain and crew of the Maersk Alabama, but they just happen to fall victims of circumstance. Much like the series of Tarzan, the Lone Ranger and numerous other vehicles of propaganda, the so called civilized western world and their warped sense of reality comes in and saves the rest of the world and everyone lives happily ever after having been set free. That is exactly how the drama and subsequent rescue of the Maersk Alabama has and continues to be reported and portrayed. As one looks into the holistic situation with some sense of depth it is as if the pirates are renacting the story of Robin Hood; they are simply robbing from the rich and giving back to the poor!

BlackCommentator.com Guest Commentator, The Reverend D. D. Prather, is a noted Civil/Social Justice Activist, and a native of Atlanta, GA. Click here to contact the Reverend Prather.

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