The Middle East in the News
•Kaki Elgin, Nov. 12
•Title of Article: A Reward for Good Behavior
•Source of Article: Newsweek
http://www.newsweek.com/id/41725
•Article Summary
Place: Africa
Key People: African leaders, Celtel, Mo Ibrahim
Main Ideas: Essentially, Mo Ibrahim is rewarding African leaders for doing their job. He has developed the Achievement in African Leadership Prize, the winner of which will receive $5 million over ten years, followed by $200,000 per year until death. The winner of this prize is “judged by how well the’ve performed in eight categories, including offering security to their citizens, as well as promiting the rule of law, economic opportunity and political freedom.” To receive the money, the recipient has to leave office when their term ends without causing any trouble. Ibrahim hopes this will give leaders an alternative to using illegal methods to obtain power.
•Your Response to Article: I’m not even sure.
It seems to wrong to me to offer money for doing your job—something you’re already being paid for. Yes, I understand that Ibrahim hopes that they will use this money to do something good after their term as leader is done, but we still should be strong enough to not be tempted by money like this. To say, “here’s money if you’re a good leader” is ridiculous.
Saying this, however, makes me wonder about the Nobel Prize—something that I believe is essentially good. This, however, is different to me; it doesn’t seem to be awarding the winners for doing something extraordinary, but just for doing what’s right.
Post a Comment