When desperation and ignorance combine, everyone

loses.
By Russell Brooks

Mariam Staford Bandaba, a Tanzanian native, was brutally attacked by 
machete­wielding thugs a year ago in her home village in the north­western 
Kagera region. Bandaba lost an arm in the attack and the other was amputated 
in the hospital where she had remained for several weeks.Although senseless 
attacks occur all over Africa on a regular basis just as they do in the streets of 
any major western city, this particular attack ought to spark particular interest. 
Bandaba is one of thousands of Tanzanian albinos that live in constant fear of 
being attacked. It is believed that mutilated body parts of albinos are sold to 
synthesize potions. Bandaba’s attackers would have been paid a lot of money 
for her body parts. Fortunately Bandaba survived the assault and was brave 
enough to identify her aggressors—some of whom were arrested, and then 
sentenced to death. Nevertheless, should one examine any of the three parties—
Bandaba, her attackers, or the consumers of these so­called albino potions 
which have not been proven to work—all of their losses result from acts of 
desperation and ignorance.

According to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Tanzania is in the bottom ten
percent of the world's economies in terms of per capita income. The economy depends
heavily on agriculture, which accounts for more than 40% of GDP, provides 85% of
exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Due to its topography and climatic
condition, cultivation of crops is limited to only 4% of the land area.
(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tz.html). Although
outlawed by the government, witch-doctors still practice in this country, claiming that a
potion made of an albino's hair, blood or limbs paves the way to riches
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7524265.stm). Regrettably, enough people were
gullible to fall for this fairy tale that over 53 innocent albinos were murdered in grisly
ritualistic killings in the past two years.

On the other side of the planet, the U.S. Secret Service has been overwhelmed
in its duties in the past several months. According to a U.S. congressional
report, the Service’s activities have increased due to terrorist threats and the
expanded arsenal of weapons that terrorists could use in an assassination
attempt or attacks on facilities. According to specialists who study homegrown
radical movements, the domestic threat has risen—fueled in part by Barack
Obama being elected as the nation’s first black President. As a result, Obama
was given Secret Service protection 18 months before the election—the earliest
ever for a presidential candidate—making him the target of more threats since
his inauguration than his predecessors. (Bender,
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/10/18/secret_service_unde
r_strain_as_leaders_face_more_threats/?page=2). Based on the number of celebrations
that occurred worldwide after Obama’s victory, it would be correct to assume that the
number of radical groups pushing for his assassination is in the minority. If an assassin
were to succeed in his or her attempt, the hope that Obama was able to instil in the hearts
and minds of people worldwide would greatly be diminished. In addition, America’s
image in the eyes of the world—which has steadily increased since Obama took office—
may falter (Rainey, http://current.com/1fppi4c).

Although Bandaba’s attackers may have sold her limbs, their gains were short-lived since
most of them were sentenced to death. As for Bandaba’s father and four siblings—who
have been taking care of her since the attack—they all live in fear of reprisals. Even
though a physical threat against Obama has not made the news lately, the constant racket
perpetuated by the Teabaggers, the Birthers, and a certain Faux network has done
everything but bring a nation together. Everyone has a right to their beliefs. However if
one were so desperate as to physically or psychologically harm another person in order to
push their own belief, they ought to do themselves and their neighbours a favour: don’t
be ignorant.