And the best country in the world is….
Yesterday, Lova Rakotomala from Madagascar sent an email to the internal Global Voices mailing list pointing out a new reader survey by The Economist to nominate the “best country in the world”. He suggested we (Global Voices bloggers and readers) should submit countries that are usually left out of this kind of ranking. While The Economist have already unilaterally decided that Somalia is “the worst country on Earth”, it seems they are still entertaining a conversation about who should be nominated as “the best”.
Then we thought: “The Economist doesn't know everything!” Few of us love countries based on stability, wealth, global fame or any of the metrics such a publication is fond of. So, dear readers: please nominate below who you think is the best country and why. Whoever offers the best reason (as unilaterally decided by our jury) will win a Putumayo CD of African Reggae. I will mail it myself!
57 comments
I’ll second Lova’s nomination for Madagascar, on the basis of that amazing silk.
And Rwanda, because it’s small, green and beautiful.
I nominate South Africa as the best country in the world. The reason being because it is so beautiful. Those who have been to Cape Town and seen its breathtaking landscapes situated between mountains and the oceans will agree that it is incredibly beautiful. Table mountain helps to create a romantic skyline, and the view of the city and the ocean is fantastic, as is the world on top of the mountain. Cape Town is the most beautiful place in SA but it is not the only beautiful place in SA, the country is generally beautiful with an excellently built road and rail infrastructure and buildings with such unique and beautiful architecture.
What sets South Africa apart from all the other Western and Asian countries you might want to nominate as the best is that amid the rubble and under development in most African countries it stands out as a shining beacon as it is as developed as the first world countries and actually surpasses some first world countries in some aspects.
UZBEKISTAN!
Because of sun, mountains and deserts, rich history and culture! And… the most hospitable people live here
The Best: India!
To quote Max Mueller, “If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India.”
India has a little bit of everything. And I think we sometimes need a little bit of everything to survive. ;)
Javits because of Bollywood and how it shows your rich culture while entertaining us with your unique music and dance as the plot of the film thickens and finally comes to a climax, I second the nomination of India but only as number two after South Africa.
Oh, I forgot to mention how beautiful and handsome most of the people of India are.
I nominate the land that sustains it’s people despite years of civil unrest-Somalia!
Incredible Somalia should be ranked the best…yes your the best(Somalia).
I’d vote for one of the several fantasy countries:
Middle Earth – home of fabulous creatures and magic
Narnia – surrogate heaven
Texas – mythical land of eternal frontier
If it was a real place, I’d vote for Middle Earth too. :D
I think the world is the best country! It’s the whole that makes the difference. I am currently in a workshop with Eddie Avila, an editor of global voices. We were just introduced to Global Voices and we are exploring your site. We are really enjoying your blog, all the way from Brockwood Park School, UK.
The best country is Canada. It is beautifull and multicultural. It is peacefull: everybody gets along. We have beautifull places to visit like the SkyDome, Niagara Falls. Everyone can even afford the latest technology.
CANADA EH!
1) Socialized Health Care (love it or hate it, at least people are being treated
2) Advertisment-free roadways (i.e. keeping the land green and not cluttered with billboards)
3) Vancouver… enough said
4) High socioeconomic status
5) Decriminalization of Marijuana… keeping non-violent people out of prison in addition to saving tax dollars by not having to feed and house said prisoners
6) The Inuit… a very culturally rich and beautiful aboriginal group of people
7) Canada is non-violent (e.g. they’ve never waged war)
8) Diversity of cultures and a strong acceptance of said cultures
9) One of the most gorgous languages is spoken there: French
10) Canada is one of the few countires where people are truely free (unlike America… where I live)
i second jennifer’s nomination for canada! don’t forget legal same-sex marriage, the city of montreal, and poutine :)