Hi, folks. I stand in awe of your spirit of adventure, but more so, I think, of your compassion for and insight into the circumstances of the people you've encountered on your travels. I agree fully with your sentiments on the real "apartheid," wherever one might travel, and that there's little to be done about it. Sad but true.
We've just emerged almost unscathed from another typical African dip at democracy. It's at best skin deep and will never change anything, especially for the poorest. We all knew this before last week's elections, but many of us voted anyway, cutting the ruling party's majority to around 58%, but with a concerning growth in the radical populist bunch. It was inevitable.
Democracy is no more than lip service in Africa, and in particular is used in SA to keep alive the "legacy" of saint Nelson. It's all false, but there are none so blind as those who are told that the ancestral spirits are watching where they make their crosses in the polling booth. Africa dances to its own beat - it's eternal, a fact of life and of the future.
BUT. It's a grand place to be. Just my thoughts.
Thanks you again for your faithful correspondence. I always look forward to the next instalment and enjoy it when it arrives. Take much care.
Always a pleasure to receive your comments and wisdom, thank you Doug. You raise, as always, interesting points well worth thinking about and ripe for discussion. Unfortunately, your wisdom is wasted on those too foolish to realize what is good and correct for the country. What a sad situation. Take care!
Hi, folks. I stand in awe of your spirit of adventure, but more so, I think, of your compassion for and insight into the circumstances of the people you've encountered on your travels. I agree fully with your sentiments on the real "apartheid," wherever one might travel, and that there's little to be done about it. Sad but true.
ReplyDeleteWe've just emerged almost unscathed from another typical African dip at democracy. It's at best skin deep and will never change anything, especially for the poorest. We all knew this before last week's elections, but many of us voted anyway, cutting the ruling party's majority to around 58%, but with a concerning growth in the radical populist bunch. It was inevitable.
Democracy is no more than lip service in Africa, and in particular is used in SA to keep alive the "legacy" of saint Nelson. It's all false, but there are none so blind as those who are told that the ancestral spirits are watching where they make their crosses in the polling booth. Africa dances to its own beat - it's eternal, a fact of life and of the future.
BUT. It's a grand place to be. Just my thoughts.
Thanks you again for your faithful correspondence. I always look forward to the next instalment and enjoy it when it arrives. Take much care.
Doug.
Always a pleasure to receive your comments and wisdom, thank you Doug. You raise, as always, interesting points well worth thinking about and ripe for discussion. Unfortunately, your wisdom is wasted on those too foolish to realize what is good and correct for the country. What a sad situation.
ReplyDeleteTake care!