Togo Tragedy & Recidivist Discourse of Fear

The Togo tragedy was just that – a tragedy. That it preceded a moment of optimism, the coming World Cup in South Africa, merely augmented the emotional impact of such a disastrous set of circumstances. While mainstream media batted its eyelids, the soccer blogosphere did it’s job – highlighting all angles of the awful situation for interested readers.

At times such as these, we get sucked out of our magical computer box and the land of soccer and placed on a level plane. The ball, the blog, these daily staples disintegrate as human solidarity in the face of suffering grabs our hearts. But in the face of such strong emotions, individuals with agendas latch onto our emotional frailty. Some persons cannot see an angry mob, torches alit, without resisting the urge to point a finger and burn an effigy. Experience shatters reason, and assumptions of basic human dignity get swept under the rug in the rush of expedient, hollow, and unfulfillable catharsis attempts.

In the 21st century, with a particular branch of scientific reasoning as our God, we reach for reasons but settle for blame. We impose a black/white moral compass on complex situations. Worse yet, those looking to lead the mob cry that calls for calm and patience and evaluation are accomplices, that any complexity is Lucifer speaking in the ear, that any shades of gray must be illuminated by white light or covered under the shadow of darkness.

For example, everyone wants to know whose fault it was that the Togo team took a bus instead of plane. Rather than acknowledging fault by both parties and a major communication breakdown, the fingers get pointed, the egos get bruised, and the victims? The citizens of Africa? They may be able to vote out some local politician who doesn’t have the connections to win the game of hot-potato-blame, but will that improve communication? Collaboration? Responsibility?

The temptation is for me to list a couple of well known authors and bloggers who have fallen prey to the discourse of fear. But I’ve always believed ignorance springs from ignorance, and only knowledge shared in a positive setting and tone can cast away shadows of darkness. I want institutions and individuals to be held accountable in proportion to their role, but the rush to string up the effigy should not blind us to mid-term or long-term considerations.

I hope that from the ashes of this tragedy springs forth a discourse which does not trip at the first step, getting muddled in shortsighted blame games. I hope that the leaders responsible look forward to collaboration and prevention. Africa deserves better. And the world deserves better.