Mbeki's African Rennaisance

I predict this will be binned never to see Thoughtleader daylight.

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/garethsetati/2012/11/16/the-decline-and-fall-of-the-african-renaissance/

G-man:


This really is quite typically African; placing the cart WELL before the tatty old nag that insist you on calling a horse. Mbeki claimed the African Rennaisance and waxed lyrical on it at his African Congress, without any actual examples, clues or hints at an ACTUAL rennaisance taking place on the continent. But this is what these folk do: call for a rennaisance at a congress, whose groundwork will be gazetted at a workshop, where these minutes will be refined at a Lekgotla, which will then further be dissected at a 'jamboree' (as once described by an M&G reporter) whose framework will be outlined at an Indaba. All populated with the usual puffed-suits with the complimentary 5-star treatment complete with buffet and blue-label.

The Romans described their period DURING their actual conversion. Africans ANNOUNCE their alleged forth-coming turn-around, then insist that we all recognise it. You see, not to accept it, or even - Shiva forbid - question it (using evidence and the continent's deplorable record on anything civil) is to be labelled an Afro-pessimist, but usually something stronger, and the race-cryptologists will be all over you.

But in this make-believe African world where phrases are more important that action, it is impossible to have an honest discussion over your values, your path to progress let alone your cultural failings which play a large part in your self inflicted misery. So until then, pretend all is well and that rhetoric will mend the day.

Feminazi

A response to an out-of-touch feminist who can't see the woods for all those pesky trees.

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/jenniferthorpe/2012/11/22/banking-on-sexism/

G-man:

I was actually agreeing with you right up until you claimed; "...economic abuse is considered a form of domestic violence."

Really?

The Feminazis always lose me and others when they start to exaggerate, go off message, or find the most tenuous of explanations to link one personal pet-peeve to a much more serious crime. Using your daft logical progression, I could very well state that children caught wearing ANC t-shirts is an advert for child-abuse. As much as I wish this was true, even I (an ardent anti-ANC promoter) would see this as ultimately diluting the serious message/s.

Finances and children are often used as tools of abuse, but they are not - in and of themselves - walking, talking, breathing 'forms of domestic violence'.

As you can see, that one exaggeration of yours has diverted attention away from the typical SAn patriarchy that you have to live with daily, and all it's associated bias and hindrances. What you REALLY need is to change the culture (admittedly FNB isn't helping) which is a massive undertaking, especially in black SA where women are still seen as nothing more than chattel, breeding machines and punchbags. There's the real misery, and where ground zero in the fight against male violence is. Reading your dishwasher gripe becomes almost laughable and frivolous when you consider how black women in SA are treated by their men. You come across as nothing more than a spoilt, white, armchair crusader by your dusky sisters (and me).

No one safe in Marikana

A response to Gillian Schutte who seems almost enamoured with these people. She obviously doesn't know them, and by the tone of her blog has nothing but sympathy for them and their alleged plight.

http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/gillianschutte/2012/11/13/no-one-is-safe-in-marikana/

Guinness Holic:

Community member, mine worker, activist? With that skill-set, it's amazing he couldn't rustle up and hang a toilet door!

You make the man sound so noble, almost regal in the face of 'white adversity'. But you fail to ask the real economic and socio-political questions of this well-etched face (as you can tell, I think very little of your choice in coffee-drinking chums): When will he and his riotous Luddites start to make their feelings shown by less destructive means? Why do you - post uhuru - still insist in making business 'ungovernable'? And how much do you think it costs in extra labour, and naturally more management to do the same amount of work it would take a handful of postpartum Tamil tea pickers to do if given the opportunity (these ladies do the same work of the annual production of your average NuSAns worker, in less than 30 days)?

I'm really sick of this hand-wringing that SAns go through in order to cleanse their little liberal souls. Make no excuses for them. These workers make their own beds, and must lay in them (with or without toilet doors it seems). I have no sympathy for them. It takes an extraordinary amount of money, resources and patience to deal with them and get a modicum of productivity with the maximum amount of hassle out of them. And until they can take some pride in themselves (and their living quarters), and take a proper, decent and more respectable approach to their grievances, I will continue to side with business.

Introduction

Hope everyone can read this. I will - over the forthcoming weeks - be responding to articles in South African newspapers and commenting on local news, the antics of the ANC and the South African's response to their politicians excesses, lack of work ethic, idiocy, stupid decisions and their own pearlers.

Please feel free to respond or comment on my opinions. No foul language, noted racism, lewd suggestions or other bad form will be tolerated however.

Many thanks.

Piet