Nelson Mandela

Today is officially Nelson Mandela's birthday. The world has been celebrating his 90th birthday. From what the BBC is now reporting (available at http://news.bbc.co.uk, retrieved July 17, 2008), today the village of his birth will also see a huge celebration as well. There has been more than enough written and spoken about him. As of one the many ordinary faces who has been awe-struck by this man's dignity and forgiveness despite all that he endured, all I can hope for is that we have thousands like him. He is not a Saint. He is a man. Yet, by his actions and moral tone, he has given us reason for hope. It is that enduring hope that I believe will be his lasting legacy. I pray that his successors and especially Jacob Zuma will not endanger that legacy.

Zimbabwe.....Cont'd......

Zimbabwe's misery continues. Mugabe just made a vow never to allow the opposition to run Zimbabwe, calling them traitors. Mugabe is the traitor, along with all the cronies who have gotten fat and rich around him by abusing that country. I tried contacting the South African Embassy in Washington via their website and got an errro message. I drafted an e-mail which I have noted here:

Greettings,

I just read the harrasement that the Zimbabwean Opposition has been subjected to. I also read Mugabe's pronoucement that he will not allow the opposition to run Zimbabwe. I hope that someone will tell your President that he ought to be ashamed and tell Mugabe to respect the will of the people. What is your President afraid of? Respect for elders is one thing....but when elders stop acting like elders and start acting like children--then the adults have to step in. How can South Africa even allow this to go on? If the justification is to help the people of Zimbabwe, then help them by insuring that the true will of the people is reflected. The people of Zimbabwe are hungry...the so-called government is using food as a weapon...the army commander has said that the army has to vote for Zanu-PF. I thought an Army had to serve the nation, not one man. And, South Africa is guilty--and your President is responsible.

I will conclude by reminding you that the so-called policy of "quiet diplomacy" of the Reagan years here in the United States prolonged the misery of the South African People. South Africa has been a model of racial tolerance and about truly what is possible. Although the gap between the rich and poor is a wide as ever and the crime rate is simply unacceptable, there are still possiblities. But, if the ANC is not wise enough, South Africa may well become another Zimbabwe and another African failure. For the sake of Africa, I pray that South Africa underscores it. Botswana was brave enough to do it. Why is South Africa asleep? Wasn't the riots a warning sign?


I am sure that I will get a standard thank you response back with no action. But at least someone had to speak up for the poor and the forgotten. Someone had to speak up for Biti of the MDC who has been agitating for change and has ended up paying a terrible price for it. When the misery ends is anyone's guess....

A Sad State of Affairs

China and Burma have suffered immensely. Nature has shown its' fury. It shows the fragile state of life on our little planet. We can't do much about that. But, we can do something about the increasingly divide between rich and poor. What has just happened in South Africa (ref: http://news.bbc.co.uk retrieved May 19 2008) is just one example. It is simply heartbreaking.

Gangs of youths have been attacking immigrants. The "rainbow nation" has been losing its' luster. It is the crime capital of the world. And it has a do-nothing President who has done nothing about Zimbabwe. There are an estimated three million refugees from Zimbabwe who simply wanted to have a bit of a better life, while a bitter old man clings on to power. South Africa is the success story of Africa. It risks losing that hard-won success. I pray that I am wrong for the sake of Africa.

The Mugabe Cat and Mouse Show....Cont'd......

President Mbeki of South Africa apparently is apparently blind. I had hoped that he would be able to persuade the monster Mugabe to back down and retire. But that has not happened. He has said that "there is no crisis". How can he say there is no crisis where almost a third of the country has fled, inflation is at almost 100,000, and conditions continue to deteriorate daily in Zimbabwe. President Mbeki has asked for patience. How long shall the people of Zimbabwe and the world be patient with a man who is just worried about his future? I also agree with some of the analysts who say that the cronies who got rich on the back of the people of Zimbabwe are the only ones who seem to be worried. There is also word that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is ordering a recount in 23 constituencies.

The drama continues....

What a Day...yet again!!!

Well, Mugabe continued his fight to retain his title. He does not seem to get it...he wants to stay in office. The world (especially Africa) stays silent. Why is Africa suffering so much? Why can Africa be blessed with leaders who have the wisdom and the foresight? Africa needs Nelson Mandela to be replicated throughout that continent.
I truly don't want to condemn the entire African leadership. I think President Mbeki had the foresight to maintain sensible economic policies. I regard him as a failure because of Zimbabwe. I view President Mbeki as a bit of a tragic figure. The President of Liberia also appears to be another leader who is truly trying to overcome the legacy of war. As I think about Africa and the leaders, I also am scared to death about a basic human need: the need to eat. People are going hungry. I can sense prices going up. Riots are happening in the developing world. Food Banks in the United States seem to running low on food. I can't verify it right now. But, the thought of not being able to eat scares me to death.
We are also busy with the election here in the United States. I caught an unfortunate glimpse of Hannity and Colmes. They had Dick Morris on. Dick Morris has made a career out of bashing the Clintons. I read recently that he served as an advisor to Raul Odigna of Kenya. Why Dick Morris is even listened to is another one of the big mysteries that I just won't be able to figure it out.
The struggle does indeed continue.....

Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma wants to be the next President of South Africa. He's been accused of corruption, but the state case dropped against him. He was accused of rape, but was acquitted. For the life of me, I don't understand why such a man enjoys the support that he does. To lead such a country, you have to have some sort of moral authority. Does he have it? Just because you have a common touch does not mean that you're fit to govern. When Desmond Tutu says that South Africa has lost its' way, I can see why.