Filming democracy in Ghana - Jarreth Merz
i<00:00:15.810> was<00:00:16.810> born<00:00:17.080> in<00:00:17.340> switzerland<00:00:18.340> and<00:00:19.050> raised<00:00:20.050> in
i was born in switzerland and raised in
i was born in switzerland and raised in
Ghana<00:00:20.590> West<00:00:21.040> Africa<00:00:22.290> Ghana<00:00:23.290> felt<00:00:23.650> safe<00:00:23.890> to<00:00:24.160> me
Ghana West Africa Ghana felt safe to me
Ghana West Africa Ghana felt safe to me
as<00:00:24.400> a<00:00:24.430> child<00:00:24.760> I<00:00:25.150> I<00:00:25.630> was<00:00:25.869> free<00:00:26.140> I<00:00:26.170> was<00:00:26.500> happy<00:00:27.630> the
as a child I I was free I was happy the
as a child I I was free I was happy the
early<00:00:29.560> 70s<00:00:30.040> marked<00:00:30.369> a<00:00:30.430> time<00:00:30.669> of<00:00:30.849> musical<00:00:31.330> and
early 70s marked a time of musical and
early 70s marked a time of musical and
artistic<00:00:31.630> excellence<00:00:32.320> in<00:00:33.040> Ghana<00:00:33.250> but<00:00:34.240> then<00:00:34.390> by
artistic excellence in Ghana but then by
artistic excellence in Ghana but then by
the<00:00:34.570> end<00:00:34.690> of<00:00:34.930> the<00:00:35.079> decade<00:00:35.440> the<00:00:35.980> country<00:00:36.340> had
the end of the decade the country had
the end of the decade the country had
fallen<00:00:37.030> back<00:00:37.300> into<00:00:37.570> political<00:00:38.020> instability
fallen back into political instability
fallen back into political instability
and<00:00:39.390> mismanagement<00:00:40.390> in<00:00:42.480> 1979<00:00:43.480> I<00:00:43.510> witnessed<00:00:44.080> my
and mismanagement in 1979 I witnessed my
and mismanagement in 1979 I witnessed my
first<00:00:45.540> military<00:00:46.540> coup<00:00:47.790> we<00:00:48.790> the<00:00:48.940> children<00:00:49.210> had
first military coup we the children had
first military coup we the children had
gathered<00:00:49.900> at<00:00:50.020> a<00:00:50.050> friend's<00:00:50.440> house<00:00:50.620> and<00:00:51.030> it<00:00:52.030> was
gathered at a friend's house and it was
gathered at a friend's house and it was
a<00:00:52.210> dimly<00:00:52.630> lit<00:00:52.660> Shack<00:00:53.140> there<00:00:54.010> was<00:00:54.130> a<00:00:54.160> beaten-up
a dimly lit Shack there was a beaten-up
a dimly lit Shack there was a beaten-up
black-and-white<00:00:55.300> television<00:00:55.650> flickering<00:00:56.650> in
black-and-white television flickering in
black-and-white television flickering in
the<00:00:56.800> background<00:00:57.370> and<00:00:58.350> former<00:00:59.350> head<00:00:59.470> of<00:00:59.500> state
the background and former head of state
the background and former head of state
in<00:00:59.980> general<00:01:00.430> was<00:01:01.000> being<00:01:01.300> blindfolded<00:01:01.750> and
in general was being blindfolded and
in general was being blindfolded and
tied<00:01:03.460> to<00:01:03.700> the<00:01:03.820> pole<00:01:04.379> the<00:01:05.379> firing<00:01:05.770> squad<00:01:06.040> aimed
tied to the pole the firing squad aimed
tied to the pole the firing squad aimed
fired<00:01:06.970> the<00:01:07.900> general<00:01:08.290> was<00:01:08.470> dead<00:01:08.790> now<00:01:09.790> this<00:01:09.939> was
fired the general was dead now this was
fired the general was dead now this was
being<00:01:10.299> broadcast<00:01:10.540> live<00:01:11.140> and<00:01:12.479> shortly<00:01:13.479> after
being broadcast live and shortly after
being broadcast live and shortly after
we<00:01:14.979> left<00:01:15.189> the<00:01:15.280> country<00:01:15.549> and<00:01:15.850> we<00:01:15.939> returned<00:01:16.329> to
we left the country and we returned to
we left the country and we returned to
Switzerland<00:01:17.429> now<00:01:18.429> Europe<00:01:18.999> came<00:01:19.149> as<00:01:19.329> a<00:01:19.359> shock
Switzerland now Europe came as a shock
Switzerland now Europe came as a shock
to<00:01:19.749> me<00:01:20.109> and<00:01:20.320> I<00:01:21.130> think<00:01:21.909> I<00:01:22.179> started<00:01:22.479> feeling<00:01:22.600> the
to me and I think I started feeling the
to me and I think I started feeling the
need<00:01:23.020> to<00:01:23.079> to<00:01:23.770> shed<00:01:24.009> my<00:01:24.219> skin<00:01:24.640> in<00:01:24.700> order<00:01:25.390> to<00:01:25.659> fit
need to to shed my skin in order to fit
need to to shed my skin in order to fit
in<00:01:26.049> I<00:01:26.289> wanted<00:01:26.829> to<00:01:26.890> blend<00:01:27.130> in<00:01:27.369> like<00:01:27.670> a<00:01:27.909> chameleon
in I wanted to blend in like a chameleon
in I wanted to blend in like a chameleon
I<00:01:28.600> think<00:01:28.780> it<00:01:28.869> was<00:01:28.960> the<00:01:29.079> tactics<00:01:29.590> of<00:01:30.179> survival
I think it was the tactics of survival
I think it was the tactics of survival
and<00:01:31.329> it<00:01:31.869> worked<00:01:32.109> or<00:01:32.789> so<00:01:33.789> I<00:01:33.819> believed<00:01:34.499> so<00:01:35.499> here
and it worked or so I believed so here
and it worked or so I believed so here
was<00:01:35.950> in<00:01:36.100> 2008<00:01:38.670> wondering<00:01:39.780> where<00:01:40.780> was<00:01:41.020> in<00:01:41.170> my
was in 2008 wondering where was in my
was in 2008 wondering where was in my
life<00:01:41.530> and<00:01:41.969> I<00:01:42.969> felt<00:01:43.210> that<00:01:43.270> I<00:01:43.359> was<00:01:43.509> being
life and I felt that I was being
life and I felt that I was being
typecast<00:01:43.929> as<00:01:44.319> an<00:01:44.469> actor<00:01:44.799> I<00:01:45.039> was<00:01:45.700> always
typecast as an actor I was always
typecast as an actor I was always
playing<00:01:46.090> the<00:01:46.289> exotic<00:01:47.289> African<00:01:47.799> I<00:01:47.950> was<00:01:48.100> playing
playing the exotic African I was playing
playing the exotic African I was playing
the<00:01:48.780> violent<00:01:49.780> African<00:01:50.319> the<00:01:51.159> African
the violent African the African
the violent African the African
terrorist<00:01:52.119> and<00:01:52.649> I<00:01:53.649> was<00:01:54.009> thinking<00:01:54.280> how<00:01:54.399> many
terrorist and I was thinking how many
terrorist and I was thinking how many
terrorists<00:01:55.240> could<00:01:55.359> I<00:01:55.450> possibly<00:01:55.630> play<00:01:56.289> before
terrorists could I possibly play before
terrorists could I possibly play before
turning<00:01:57.249> into<00:01:57.459> one<00:01:57.579> myself
turning into one myself
turning into one myself
I<00:01:59.409> have<00:02:00.159> become<00:02:00.310> ashamed<00:02:00.580> of<00:02:01.210> the<00:02:01.750> other<00:02:01.900> the
I have become ashamed of the other the
I have become ashamed of the other the
the<00:02:03.250> African<00:02:03.790> in<00:02:03.909> me<00:02:04.140> and<00:02:06.270> fortunately<00:02:07.270> I
the African in me and fortunately I
the African in me and fortunately I
decided<00:02:07.810> in<00:02:08.050> 2008<00:02:08.830> to<00:02:09.069> return<00:02:09.369> to<00:02:09.550> Ghana<00:02:10.560> after
decided in 2008 to return to Ghana after
decided in 2008 to return to Ghana after
28<00:02:11.920> years<00:02:11.950> of<00:02:12.280> absence<00:02:13.150> I<00:02:13.390> wanted<00:02:14.140> to<00:02:14.290> document
28 years of absence I wanted to document
28 years of absence I wanted to document
then<00:02:15.069> film<00:02:15.489> the<00:02:15.730> 2008<00:02:16.450> presidential
then film the 2008 presidential
then film the 2008 presidential
elections<00:02:17.620> and<00:02:18.900> there<00:02:19.900> I<00:02:19.930> started<00:02:20.319> by
elections and there I started by
elections and there I started by
searching<00:02:20.800> for<00:02:21.100> the<00:02:21.250> for<00:02:21.580> the<00:02:21.610> footprints<00:02:22.090> in
searching for the for the footprints in
searching for the for the footprints in
my<00:02:22.330> childhood<00:02:22.750> and<00:02:23.640> before<00:02:24.640> I<00:02:24.880> even<00:02:25.120> knew<00:02:25.270> it<00:02:25.420> I
my childhood and before I even knew it I
my childhood and before I even knew it I
was<00:02:25.630> suddenly<00:02:25.930> on<00:02:26.140> a<00:02:26.170> stage<00:02:26.910> surrounded<00:02:27.910> by
was suddenly on a stage surrounded by
was suddenly on a stage surrounded by
thousands<00:02:28.720> of<00:02:28.840> cheering<00:02:29.020> people<00:02:29.380> during<00:02:29.709> a
thousands of cheering people during a
thousands of cheering people during a
political<00:02:30.100> rally<00:02:31.090> and<00:02:31.510> I'd<00:02:32.470> realized<00:02:32.860> that
political rally and I'd realized that
political rally and I'd realized that
when<00:02:33.489> I<00:02:33.550> left<00:02:33.760> the<00:02:33.910> country<00:02:34.120> free<00:02:34.780> and<00:02:34.989> fair
when I left the country free and fair
when I left the country free and fair
elections<00:02:35.890> in<00:02:36.100> a<00:02:36.220> democratic<00:02:36.910> environment
elections in a democratic environment
elections in a democratic environment
where<00:02:38.080> it<00:02:38.230> we're<00:02:38.709> dream<00:02:39.040> and<00:02:39.370> now<00:02:40.330> that<00:02:40.510> I
where it we're dream and now that I
where it we're dream and now that I
returned<00:02:40.959> that<00:02:41.350> dream<00:02:41.650> had<00:02:41.830> become<00:02:42.100> reality
returned that dream had become reality
returned that dream had become reality
though<00:02:43.180> a<00:02:43.209> fragile<00:02:43.830> reality<00:02:44.830> and<00:02:45.069> I<00:02:45.700> was
though a fragile reality and I was
though a fragile reality and I was
thinking<00:02:45.850> was<00:02:46.209> Ghana<00:02:46.510> searching<00:02:47.140> for<00:02:47.350> its
thinking was Ghana searching for its
thinking was Ghana searching for its
identity<00:02:48.010> like<00:02:48.940> I<00:02:49.150> was<00:02:49.330> looking<00:02:49.660> for<00:02:49.840> my
identity like I was looking for my
identity like I was looking for my
identity<00:02:50.500> was<00:02:50.739> what<00:02:51.459> was<00:02:51.580> happening<00:02:51.910> in<00:02:52.000> Ghana
identity was what was happening in Ghana
identity was what was happening in Ghana
a<00:02:52.569> metaphor<00:02:53.319> for<00:02:53.620> what<00:02:53.799> was<00:02:53.950> happening<00:02:54.459> in<00:02:54.549> me
a metaphor for what was happening in me
a metaphor for what was happening in me
and<00:02:57.420> it<00:02:58.420> was<00:02:58.660> as<00:02:58.810> if<00:02:58.959> through<00:02:59.440> the<00:02:59.620> standards
and it was as if through the standards
and it was as if through the standards
of<00:03:00.160> my<00:03:00.489> my<00:03:01.330> Western<00:03:01.870> life<00:03:02.350> I<00:03:02.709> hadn't<00:03:03.340> lived<00:03:03.489> up
of my my Western life I hadn't lived up
of my my Western life I hadn't lived up
to<00:03:03.730> my<00:03:03.880> full<00:03:04.269> potential<00:03:04.750> I<00:03:05.140> mean<00:03:05.769> nor<00:03:05.980> had
to my full potential I mean nor had
to my full potential I mean nor had
Ghana<00:03:06.930> even<00:03:07.930> though<00:03:08.019> we<00:03:08.140> had<00:03:08.230> been<00:03:08.380> trying
Ghana even though we had been trying
Ghana even though we had been trying
very<00:03:08.739> hard<00:03:09.040> now<00:03:10.030> in<00:03:10.380> 1957<00:03:11.380> Ghana<00:03:11.590> was<00:03:11.799> the
very hard now in 1957 Ghana was the
very hard now in 1957 Ghana was the
first<00:03:12.510> sub-saharan<00:03:13.510> country<00:03:13.959> to<00:03:14.110> gain<00:03:14.320> its
first sub-saharan country to gain its
first sub-saharan country to gain its
independence<00:03:14.620> in<00:03:15.420> the<00:03:16.420> late<00:03:16.570> 50s<00:03:17.079> Ghana<00:03:17.799> and
independence in the late 50s Ghana and
independence in the late 50s Ghana and
Singapore<00:03:18.700> had<00:03:19.030> the<00:03:19.209> same<00:03:19.510> GDP<00:03:20.260> I<00:03:20.500> mean<00:03:21.100> today
Singapore had the same GDP I mean today
Singapore had the same GDP I mean today
Singapore<00:03:22.000> is<00:03:22.209> a<00:03:22.239> first<00:03:22.750> world<00:03:23.019> country<00:03:23.170> and
Singapore is a first world country and
Singapore is a first world country and
Ghana<00:03:24.430> is<00:03:24.730> not<00:03:25.739> but<00:03:26.739> maybe<00:03:27.310> it<00:03:27.519> was<00:03:27.640> time<00:03:27.940> to
Ghana is not but maybe it was time to
Ghana is not but maybe it was time to
prove<00:03:29.350> to<00:03:29.500> myself<00:03:29.650> yes<00:03:30.010> it's<00:03:30.220> important<00:03:30.670> to
prove to myself yes it's important to
prove to myself yes it's important to
understand<00:03:31.180> the<00:03:31.269> past<00:03:31.570> it<00:03:31.930> is<00:03:32.730> important<00:03:33.730> to
understand the past it is important to
understand the past it is important to
look<00:03:34.840> at<00:03:34.959> it<00:03:35.109> in<00:03:35.200> a<00:03:35.290> different<00:03:35.320> light<00:03:35.829> but
look at it in a different light but
look at it in a different light but
maybe<00:03:36.760> we<00:03:36.970> should<00:03:37.120> look<00:03:37.239> at<00:03:37.359> the<00:03:37.480> strength<00:03:37.780> in
maybe we should look at the strength in
maybe we should look at the strength in
our<00:03:38.109> own<00:03:38.380> culture<00:03:38.980> and<00:03:39.130> build<00:03:40.120> on<00:03:40.239> those
our own culture and build on those
our own culture and build on those
foundations<00:03:41.290> in<00:03:42.010> the<00:03:42.250> present<00:03:42.900> so<00:03:43.900> here<00:03:44.109> I<00:03:44.140> was
foundations in the present so here I was
foundations in the present so here I was
December<00:03:45.070> 7th<00:03:45.840> 2008<00:03:47.670> the<00:03:48.670> polling<00:03:49.120> stations
December 7th 2008 the polling stations
December 7th 2008 the polling stations
opened<00:03:50.140> to<00:03:50.320> thee<00:03:50.530> to<00:03:50.980> the<00:03:51.100> voters<00:03:51.310> at<00:03:51.670> 7am<00:03:52.590> but
opened to thee to the voters at 7am but
opened to thee to the voters at 7am but
voters<00:03:53.890> eager<00:03:54.640> to<00:03:54.880> take<00:03:55.060> their<00:03:55.269> own<00:03:55.540> political
voters eager to take their own political
voters eager to take their own political
fate<00:03:56.380> into<00:03:56.709> their<00:03:56.859> hands<00:03:57.359> were<00:03:58.359> starting<00:03:58.780> to
fate into their hands were starting to
fate into their hands were starting to
line<00:03:59.109> up<00:03:59.290> at<00:03:59.440> 4am<00:03:59.739> in<00:04:00.190> the<00:04:00.280> morning<00:04:00.640> and<00:04:00.790> they
line up at 4am in the morning and they
line up at 4am in the morning and they
are<00:04:01.569> traveled<00:04:01.959> from<00:04:02.079> near<00:04:02.350> they<00:04:02.560> had<00:04:02.680> traveled
are traveled from near they had traveled
are traveled from near they had traveled
from<00:04:03.190> far<00:04:03.250> because<00:04:03.549> they<00:04:03.790> wanted<00:04:04.120> to<00:04:04.180> make
from far because they wanted to make
from far because they wanted to make
their<00:04:04.660> voices<00:04:04.900> heard<00:04:05.170> and<00:04:05.500> I<00:04:06.160> asked<00:04:06.459> one<00:04:06.609> of
their voices heard and I asked one of
their voices heard and I asked one of
the<00:04:06.760> voters<00:04:07.150> I<00:04:07.239> said<00:04:07.449> whom<00:04:07.600> are<00:04:07.720> you<00:04:07.750> going<00:04:07.840> to
the voters I said whom are you going to
the voters I said whom are you going to
vote<00:04:08.169> for<00:04:08.229> and<00:04:08.680> he<00:04:09.430> said<00:04:09.669> I'm<00:04:09.760> sorry<00:04:10.000> I<00:04:10.060> can't
vote for and he said I'm sorry I can't
vote for and he said I'm sorry I can't
tell<00:04:10.560> you<00:04:11.000> he<00:04:12.000> said<00:04:12.210> that<00:04:12.390> his<00:04:12.660> vote<00:04:12.900> was<00:04:13.170> in
tell you he said that his vote was in
tell you he said that his vote was in
his<00:04:13.470> heart<00:04:13.740> and<00:04:14.280> I<00:04:14.880> understood<00:04:15.330> this<00:04:16.019> was
his heart and I understood this was
his heart and I understood this was
their<00:04:16.440> election<00:04:17.010> and<00:04:17.360> they<00:04:18.360> weren't<00:04:18.600> going<00:04:18.720> to
their election and they weren't going to
their election and they weren't going to
let<00:04:18.930> anyone<00:04:19.470> take<00:04:19.709> it<00:04:19.890> away<00:04:20.010> from<00:04:20.160> them<00:04:20.930> now
let anyone take it away from them now
let anyone take it away from them now
the<00:04:22.320> first<00:04:22.590> round<00:04:22.800> of<00:04:22.920> the<00:04:22.980> voting<00:04:23.370> didn't
the first round of the voting didn't
the first round of the voting didn't
bring<00:04:23.880> forth<00:04:24.180> a<00:04:24.300> clear<00:04:24.540> winner<00:04:24.750> so<00:04:25.230> nobody<00:04:26.070> had
bring forth a clear winner so nobody had
bring forth a clear winner so nobody had
achieved<00:04:26.310> the<00:04:26.880> absolute<00:04:27.420> majority<00:04:27.780> so<00:04:28.620> voting
achieved the absolute majority so voting
achieved the absolute majority so voting
went<00:04:29.280> into<00:04:29.550> a<00:04:29.580> second<00:04:30.030> round<00:04:30.150> three<00:04:30.540> weeks
went into a second round three weeks
went into a second round three weeks
later<00:04:30.990> the<00:04:31.920> candidates<00:04:32.310> were<00:04:32.400> back<00:04:32.580> on<00:04:32.760> the
later the candidates were back on the
later the candidates were back on the
road<00:04:33.000> they<00:04:33.270> were<00:04:33.330> campaigning<00:04:33.810> the<00:04:34.430> rhetoric
road they were campaigning the rhetoric
road they were campaigning the rhetoric
of<00:04:35.520> the<00:04:35.700> candidates<00:04:36.210> of<00:04:36.390> course<00:04:36.810> changed<00:04:37.320> the
of the candidates of course changed the
of the candidates of course changed the
heat<00:04:37.650> was<00:04:37.800> on<00:04:37.980> and<00:04:38.280> then<00:04:40.610> the<00:04:41.610> cliche<00:04:42.030> came<00:04:42.300> to
heat was on and then the cliche came to
heat was on and then the cliche came to
haunt<00:04:42.720> us<00:04:43.310> there<00:04:44.310> was<00:04:44.430> claims<00:04:44.820> of
haunt us there was claims of
haunt us there was claims of
intimidation<00:04:45.660> at<00:04:45.930> the<00:04:46.020> polling<00:04:46.230> stations<00:04:46.800> of
intimidation at the polling stations of
intimidation at the polling stations of
ballot<00:04:48.390> boxes<00:04:48.750> being<00:04:48.990> stolen<00:04:51.140> inflated
ballot boxes being stolen inflated
ballot boxes being stolen inflated
results<00:04:52.590> started<00:04:52.950> coming<00:04:53.250> in<00:04:53.430> and<00:04:54.890> the<00:04:55.890> mob
results started coming in and the mob
results started coming in and the mob
was<00:04:56.340> starting<00:04:56.700> to<00:04:56.790> get<00:04:56.910> out<00:04:57.090> of<00:04:57.120> control<00:04:57.360> we
was starting to get out of control we
was starting to get out of control we
witnessed<00:04:58.170> the<00:04:58.890> eruption<00:04:59.850> of<00:04:59.940> violence<00:05:00.180> in
witnessed the eruption of violence in
witnessed the eruption of violence in
the<00:05:00.660> streets<00:05:01.010> people<00:05:02.010> were<00:05:02.130> being<00:05:02.340> beaten
the streets people were being beaten
the streets people were being beaten
brutally<00:05:03.590> the<00:05:04.590> army<00:05:04.860> started<00:05:05.250> firing<00:05:05.700> the
brutally the army started firing the
brutally the army started firing the
guns<00:05:06.060> people<00:05:06.990> were<00:05:07.140> scrambling<00:05:07.620> it<00:05:07.800> was
guns people were scrambling it was
guns people were scrambling it was
complete<00:05:08.460> chaos<00:05:08.700> and<00:05:09.260> my<00:05:10.260> heart<00:05:10.650> sank<00:05:10.980> because
complete chaos and my heart sank because
complete chaos and my heart sank because
I<00:05:12.000> thought<00:05:12.210> here<00:05:12.540> we<00:05:12.660> are<00:05:12.810> again<00:05:12.840> here<00:05:13.710> is
I thought here we are again here is
I thought here we are again here is
another<00:05:14.100> proof<00:05:14.520> that<00:05:15.330> the<00:05:15.480> African<00:05:15.960> is<00:05:16.110> not
another proof that the African is not
another proof that the African is not
capable<00:05:16.800> of<00:05:17.340> governing<00:05:17.700> himself<00:05:18.450> and<00:05:19.140> not
capable of governing himself and not
capable of governing himself and not
only<00:05:19.920> that<00:05:20.040> I<00:05:20.220> am<00:05:20.520> documenting<00:05:20.880> it
only that I am documenting it
only that I am documenting it
documenting<00:05:22.650> my<00:05:22.770> own<00:05:22.950> cultural<00:05:23.460> shortcomings
documenting my own cultural shortcomings
documenting my own cultural shortcomings
so<00:05:26.010> when<00:05:26.400> the<00:05:26.700> echo<00:05:27.180> of<00:05:27.210> the<00:05:27.440> gunshots<00:05:28.440> had
so when the echo of the gunshots had
so when the echo of the gunshots had
lingered<00:05:29.990> it<00:05:30.990> was<00:05:31.200> soon<00:05:31.440> drowned<00:05:31.770> by<00:05:31.950> the
lingered it was soon drowned by the
lingered it was soon drowned by the
chanting<00:05:32.580> of<00:05:32.669> the<00:05:32.730> mob<00:05:33.060> and<00:05:33.090> I<00:05:33.300> didn't<00:05:33.570> believe
chanting of the mob and I didn't believe
chanting of the mob and I didn't believe
what<00:05:33.900> I<00:05:33.960> was<00:05:34.020> hearing<00:05:34.140> they<00:05:34.530> were<00:05:34.590> chanting<00:05:35.250> we
what I was hearing they were chanting we
what I was hearing they were chanting we
want<00:05:35.790> peace<00:05:36.680> we<00:05:37.680> want<00:05:38.250> peace<00:05:38.700> and<00:05:39.440> I<00:05:40.440> realized
want peace we want peace and I realized
want peace we want peace and I realized
it<00:05:40.919> had<00:05:41.040> to<00:05:41.220> come<00:05:41.250> from<00:05:41.460> the<00:05:41.790> people<00:05:42.290> after<00:05:43.290> all
it had to come from the people after all
it had to come from the people after all
they<00:05:44.730> decide<00:05:45.180> and<00:05:45.570> they<00:05:46.320> did<00:05:46.560> so<00:05:47.250> the<00:05:47.460> sounds
they decide and they did so the sounds
they decide and they did so the sounds
that<00:05:48.360> were<00:05:49.050> before<00:05:49.700> distorted<00:05:50.700> and<00:05:50.820> loud<00:05:51.060> were
that were before distorted and loud were
that were before distorted and loud were
suddenly<00:05:52.169> a<00:05:52.410> melody<00:05:52.800> the<00:05:53.640> sounds<00:05:54.000> of<00:05:54.060> the
suddenly a melody the sounds of the
suddenly a melody the sounds of the
voices<00:05:54.440> were<00:05:55.440> harmonious<00:05:56.540> so<00:05:57.540> it<00:05:57.660> could
voices were harmonious so it could
voices were harmonious so it could
happen<00:05:57.990> a<00:05:59.390> democracy<00:06:00.390> could<00:06:00.870> be<00:06:01.050> upheld
happen a democracy could be upheld
happen a democracy could be upheld
peacefully<00:06:02.250> it<00:06:03.090> could<00:06:03.750> be<00:06:03.930> by<00:06:04.230> the<00:06:04.290> will<00:06:04.560> of
peacefully it could be by the will of
peacefully it could be by the will of
the<00:06:04.800> masses<00:06:05.280> who<00:06:05.970> were<00:06:06.090> now<00:06:06.300> urgently
the masses who were now urgently
the masses who were now urgently
pressing<00:06:07.620> with<00:06:07.890> all<00:06:08.130> their<00:06:08.460> hearts<00:06:08.850> and<00:06:09.000> all
pressing with all their hearts and all
pressing with all their hearts and all
their<00:06:09.450> will<00:06:09.660> for<00:06:09.690> peace<00:06:10.730> now<00:06:11.730> here's<00:06:11.970> an
their will for peace now here's an
their will for peace now here's an
interesting<00:06:13.100> comparison
interesting comparison
interesting comparison
we<00:06:15.910> in<00:06:16.090> the<00:06:16.210> West<00:06:16.420> we<00:06:16.990> preach<00:06:17.440> the<00:06:18.280> values<00:06:18.700> the
we in the West we preach the values the
we in the West we preach the values the
golden<00:06:19.870> light<00:06:20.110> of<00:06:20.440> democracy<00:06:21.190> that<00:06:22.060> we<00:06:22.270> are
golden light of democracy that we are
golden light of democracy that we are
the<00:06:22.510> shining<00:06:22.780> example<00:06:23.470> of<00:06:23.560> how<00:06:23.710> it's<00:06:23.920> done<00:06:24.480> but
the shining example of how it's done but
the shining example of how it's done but
when<00:06:25.660> it<00:06:25.780> comes<00:06:25.990> down<00:06:26.080> to<00:06:26.290> it<00:06:26.730> Ghana<00:06:28.020> found
when it comes down to it Ghana found
when it comes down to it Ghana found
itself<00:06:29.260> in<00:06:29.410> the<00:06:29.470> same<00:06:29.770> place<00:06:30.010> in<00:06:30.990> which<00:06:31.990> the
itself in the same place in which the
itself in the same place in which the
u.s.<00:06:32.500> election<00:06:33.040> stalled<00:06:33.460> in<00:06:33.760> the<00:06:33.820> two
u.s. election stalled in the two
u.s. election stalled in the two
thousand<00:06:34.870> presidential<00:06:35.530> elections<00:06:36.040> Bush
thousand presidential elections Bush
thousand presidential elections Bush
versus<00:06:37.060> Gore<00:06:37.590> but<00:06:38.590> instead<00:06:38.980> of<00:06:39.160> the
versus Gore but instead of the
versus Gore but instead of the
unwillingness<00:06:39.820> of<00:06:40.180> the<00:06:40.990> candidates<00:06:41.470> to<00:06:41.620> allow
unwillingness of the candidates to allow
unwillingness of the candidates to allow
the<00:06:41.830> system<00:06:42.160> to<00:06:42.400> proceed<00:06:42.940> and<00:06:43.180> the<00:06:43.450> people<00:06:43.780> to
the system to proceed and the people to
the system to proceed and the people to
decide<00:06:44.250> Ghana<00:06:45.330> honored<00:06:46.330> democracy<00:06:47.140> and<00:06:47.670> its
decide Ghana honored democracy and its
decide Ghana honored democracy and its
people<00:06:49.260> it<00:06:50.260> didn't<00:06:50.590> leave<00:06:50.710> it<00:06:50.830> up<00:06:50.950> to<00:06:51.070> the
people it didn't leave it up to the
people it didn't leave it up to the
Supreme<00:06:51.400> Court<00:06:52.090> to<00:06:52.390> decide<00:06:52.750> the<00:06:53.260> people<00:06:53.590> did
Supreme Court to decide the people did
Supreme Court to decide the people did
now<00:06:55.830> the<00:06:56.830> second<00:06:57.280> round<00:06:57.520> of<00:06:57.820> voting<00:06:58.120> did<00:06:58.660> not
now the second round of voting did not
now the second round of voting did not
bring<00:06:59.110> forth<00:06:59.440> a<00:06:59.590> clear<00:06:59.860> winner<00:07:00.070> either<00:07:00.310> I<00:07:00.640> mean
bring forth a clear winner either I mean
bring forth a clear winner either I mean
it<00:07:01.000> was<00:07:01.120> so<00:07:01.150> incredibly<00:07:01.990> close<00:07:02.320> the<00:07:03.070> electoral
it was so incredibly close the electoral
it was so incredibly close the electoral
commissioner<00:07:04.440> declared<00:07:05.440> with<00:07:05.650> the<00:07:05.800> consent
commissioner declared with the consent
commissioner declared with the consent
of<00:07:06.280> the<00:07:06.610> parties<00:07:06.850> to<00:07:07.690> run<00:07:07.870> an<00:07:08.020> unprecedented
of the parties to run an unprecedented
of the parties to run an unprecedented
second<00:07:10.420> rerun<00:07:11.280> so<00:07:12.280> the<00:07:12.430> people<00:07:12.990> went<00:07:13.990> back<00:07:14.230> to
second rerun so the people went back to
second rerun so the people went back to
the<00:07:14.590> polls<00:07:14.860> to<00:07:15.450> determine<00:07:16.450> their<00:07:16.720> own
the polls to determine their own
the polls to determine their own
president<00:07:17.590> not<00:07:18.130> the<00:07:18.340> legal<00:07:18.670> system<00:07:18.850> and<00:07:19.780> guess
president not the legal system and guess
president not the legal system and guess
what<00:07:20.950> it<00:07:21.880> worked<00:07:23.100> the<00:07:24.390> defeated<00:07:25.390> candidate
what it worked the defeated candidate
what it worked the defeated candidate
gave<00:07:26.860> up<00:07:27.010> our<00:07:27.220> and<00:07:27.580> made<00:07:28.210> way<00:07:28.450> for<00:07:28.480> Ghana<00:07:28.870> to
gave up our and made way for Ghana to
gave up our and made way for Ghana to
move<00:07:29.320> into<00:07:29.620> new<00:07:29.800> democratic<00:07:30.340> cycle<00:07:30.910> I<00:07:31.090> mean<00:07:31.660> at
move into new democratic cycle I mean at
move into new democratic cycle I mean at
the<00:07:31.870> absolute<00:07:32.290> time<00:07:32.680> for<00:07:33.280> the<00:07:33.340> absolute<00:07:33.700> need
the absolute time for the absolute need
the absolute time for the absolute need
of<00:07:34.210> democracy<00:07:35.020> they<00:07:35.380> did<00:07:35.650> not<00:07:35.860> abuse<00:07:36.370> their
of democracy they did not abuse their
of democracy they did not abuse their
power<00:07:38.580> the<00:07:39.580> belief<00:07:39.880> in<00:07:40.270> true<00:07:40.960> democracy<00:07:41.290> and
power the belief in true democracy and
power the belief in true democracy and
in<00:07:42.669> the<00:07:42.790> people<00:07:43.150> runs<00:07:43.480> deep<00:07:43.720> proving<00:07:44.230> that<00:07:44.380> the
in the people runs deep proving that the
in the people runs deep proving that the
African<00:07:45.100> is<00:07:45.280> capable<00:07:45.940> of<00:07:46.120> governing<00:07:46.330> himself
African is capable of governing himself
African is capable of governing himself
now<00:07:48.310> the<00:07:48.910> uphill<00:07:49.240> battle<00:07:49.510> for<00:07:49.690> Ghana<00:07:50.020> and<00:07:50.320> for
now the uphill battle for Ghana and for
now the uphill battle for Ghana and for
Africa<00:07:50.980> is<00:07:51.160> not<00:07:51.940> over<00:07:52.530> but<00:07:53.530> I<00:07:53.590> have<00:07:53.950> proof<00:07:54.400> that
Africa is not over but I have proof that
Africa is not over but I have proof that
the<00:07:55.120> other<00:07:55.300> side<00:07:55.630> of<00:07:55.690> democracy<00:07:56.700> exists<00:07:57.700> and
the other side of democracy exists and
the other side of democracy exists and
that<00:07:57.940> we<00:07:58.630> must<00:07:58.780> not<00:07:59.050> take<00:07:59.320> it<00:07:59.530> for<00:07:59.740> granted<00:07:59.770> now
that we must not take it for granted now
that we must not take it for granted now
I<00:08:01.810> have<00:08:02.770> learned<00:08:02.980> that<00:08:03.070> my<00:08:03.310> place<00:08:03.580> not<00:08:03.970> just<00:08:04.000> in
I have learned that my place not just in
I have learned that my place not just in
the<00:08:04.480> West<00:08:04.690> or<00:08:05.050> in<00:08:05.950> Africa<00:08:06.550> and<00:08:06.820> I'm<00:08:07.510> still
the West or in Africa and I'm still
the West or in Africa and I'm still
searching<00:08:08.050> for<00:08:08.530> my<00:08:08.650> identity<00:08:09.870> but<00:08:10.870> I<00:08:11.550> saw
searching for my identity but I saw
searching for my identity but I saw
Ghana<00:08:13.270> create<00:08:14.310> democracy<00:08:15.310> better<00:08:15.580> ghana
Ghana create democracy better ghana
Ghana create democracy better ghana
taught<00:08:16.540> me<00:08:17.040> to<00:08:18.040> look<00:08:18.220> at<00:08:18.490> people<00:08:18.880> differently
taught me to look at people differently
taught me to look at people differently
and<00:08:19.660> to<00:08:19.750> look<00:08:19.960> at<00:08:20.110> myself<00:08:20.290> differently
and to look at myself differently
and to look at myself differently
and<00:08:22.180> yes<00:08:23.440> we<00:08:24.440> Africans<00:08:25.009> can<00:08:26.110> thank<00:08:27.110> you
Jarreth Merz, Swiss, Ghana, filmmaker, democracy, TED-Ed, TED, Ed, TEDEducation
