Today, 25 September 2010, marks the day of the last murder committed in the San Angeles area for the next 22 years.
That’s according to the future envisioned by director Marco Brambilla and writers Peter M. Lenkov and Robert Reneau who were involved in making the action trivia gem, Demolition Man.
Now to see if the American franchise wars leaves Pizza Hut (or is it Taco Bell) the only restaurant left and whether Arnold Shwarzenegger will eventually become president of the US.
Equilibrium isn’t a state of harmony.
Peace and harmony is when multiple potential influences exist without coming into conflict. Everyone agrees, or agrees to disagree.
Sometimes “agreeing to disagree” simply isn’t possible. Sometimes something is too important for people to just believe as they will without being challenged. Some things are just worth fighting for.
It takes immense wisdom to know what those things are and when to debate, argue or fight, however.
When it comes to conflict resulting from a basic difference of world view some people possess the innate wisdom, even at a young age, to know when to be content in their own beliefs and let it be. Others refuse to back down or are perhaps simply afraid of not being heard or understood. Sadly, more often than not, people are just too apathetic to participate in an argument.
Sorry for the horrible attempt at a pun.
By now is old news that Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, has withdrawn from the final run-off elections in Zimbabwe which would determine the next president of the country.
This comes after at least 70 MDC supporters have been killed. Robert Mugabe‘s answer to the “imperialist West” to the allegations that opposition supporters are being killed by mandate of the government is that the media is once again misrepresenting what is happening in Zimbabwe to justify their interference in the country.
Steve Pierson at The Standard, a political blog, says:
Military action seems to be the only option left. A smart campaign could be conducted relatively bloodlessly but it would have to be led by South Africa, the only country in the region with the standing and the military might to carry out such an action. And South Africa is showing no will to act. [http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=2298]
In some respects I agree with Steve. It is obvious that non-violence seems to be a tactic only the opposition are interested in. But I disagree that any military campaign conducted by South Africa against Zimbabwe will be “relatively bloodless.” I also agree that New Zealand should offer its support – but that South Africa should decline. At least initially.
or Here’s an interesting new way to deal with the problems SA: When you’re done whining and ranting do something.
For those that don’t know, Niemand is a South African rock band whose members are all Christian. I’ve received two mails from Joe in light of the ‘Xenophobic attacks’ in Johannesburg. They are truly powerful and one of the few non-humorous mails I feel are worth forwarding.
Hi Guys
We have just returned from Jeppe Police Station in town where approx 2000 refugees are crammed into the backyard. This is just one of many stations swamped.
Thank you for the incredible response in terms of donations and volunteers.
You have once again proved that people just want to know how they can help to make a difference and get involved.
Seeing as Government has not responded on ground level with any plan to resolve this crisis, it is up to volunteers and donators to feed these people. The police who are already stretched beyond their limits are doing their utmost to care for these people in terms of toilets, food and blankets. They are overworked and with no end in sight, the situation can only worsen.
It just started raining.. That is going to be a big problem for all these people who are outside in this cold weather.
For the few of you upset by this initiative, I apologise if one of these mails slips through to you. On that point, when we arrived at the police station on Wednesday a child had just passed away. That child did not choose to be there.
There are babies, children, pregnant woman, illegal immigrants, legal immigrants and criminals all bunched together, they are all being treated the same. We are not there to pick sides or say who is who. The fact of the matter is that there are surely those who were attacked for good reason, but blind hate has been poured over many, many innocent and legal foreigners as well.
The circumstances around the xenophobic attacks are so complex, that anyone trying to pin it down to one thing is being presumptuous. The fear, frustration and hate that broke out into violence like this can be traced back to many factors. People are unsafe, unemployed and leaderless.
We are not there because we feel that illegal immigrants should be allowed in this country. We are not there because we have a political angle on this or because we don’t feel that foreign syndicates are a problem. Our reason for getting involved is purely because we came together on Monday night and as a band decided that seeing a man being burnt alive in our city is not acceptable.
No matter who he is.
We don’t have the time to discuss this with people who say that many people are murdered, why jump at helping the foreigners?
My only answer to that is that I personally have removed myself from what is going on in this country for long enough. For long enough have I avoided the news because “it’s always bad.” We have become so detached from our reality that it took the photograph of a man burning alive to make an impression on me. So if it takes the attacks on foreigners in this way to ignite us into action, so be it
On a practical note:
Feeding people is great but we feel that actually moving people out of danger and back to their countries is the only way to resolution. We can’t force people to return home and we can’t do it on our own. So because the Mozambican government has an initiative to move their people we are working with them. We are still volunteering with food and relief and the response of people that want to help has been overwhelming. We will use RAOK as a rally point for initiatives and resources. We will make and take suggestions and do what we can where we can.
We have to start somewhere. We have to start sometime.
We have to snap back to reality. Get out of our Playstation, DSTV, Facebook lives that only amount to us trying to escape boredom.
There is more to life.
We started moving the first Mozambicans last night in cooperation with the Mozambican Consulate General in Johannesburg. Please keep everyone on the ground in your thoughts and prayers.
We will send out updates on needs as they arise. Currently there is a desperate need for:
- Purity
- Water
- Toilet Paper
- Nan 3
- Blankets
- Black bags
- Cups and paper plates
Please do not call us, we don’t have the capacity to take all the calls coming in. Mail us at istell@niemand.co.za if you want to volunteer or donate.
Thank you
Joe
There’s something about travelling somewehere.
It can be in a car, airplane, train, bus. Just as long as you’re not driving. It’s probably the time I’m most creative. I sit there with my head against the window in pensive reverie, contemplating any and all things in whatever order they enter my mind. Normally I wish for at least a piece of paper and pen to write down everything that penetrates my contemplative trance but I know that trying to record anything would just interrupt it.
A favourite poem of mine comes to mind.
I heard a thousand blended notes
While in a grove a sate reclined
In that sweet mood when pleasant thoughts
Bring sad thoughts to the mind.
— William Wordsworth, Lines written in early spring
It is in these daydream states that I explore my musings and prepare them for writing here. Yet when I sit down to type the random thoughts refuse to be beaten into a structure of paragraphs and sentences. It takes ages to shape them into something I’m willing to put my name to.
So I guess, this post is an elaborate apology, and explanation, for why there is not more activity here of late. There are 5 or more incomplete posts lying in the drafts section and they simply refuse to become publish-worthy. Those that know me know that this consternation is just about par for the course anyway.
Writing about not writing. What a novel idea.
So I found myself sitting next to an American on the train the other day. Just to refresh your memories: I’m in Sweden where the use of trains is a practical thing.
Upon discovering that I’m South African the American expresses a desire to learn more of South Africa as he will be visiting the place soon on business. Unfortunately I only had about 2 minutes to this guy’s next stop. All I got to talk about was the crime and where not to go and when not to go there. I had to field questions such as “Is it really that bad?” I tried to reassure him that his contact person(s) in South Africa would know all these things, take good care of him, and that he should listen to their advice about in and around Johannesburg. And then we were at his stop.
Which brings me to our first interactive session. A challenge! You have 2 minutes to tell a foreigner travelling to South Africa about it. You know where he’s going and for the purposes of this challenge you may choose any city/province/region. Go!
This post is my tribute to those who died, may it not be in vain:
Steven Biko, Neil Aggett, Victoria Mxenge, Albert Luthuli, Chris Hani, Hector Pieterson, Nkosi Johnson.
“Asimbonang ‘umfowethu thina
Laph’ekhona
Laph’wafela khona.”
— Asimbonanga, Johnny Clegg —“(we have not seen our brother
In the place where he is
In the place where he died)”
To those who lived through pain, but got to see the fruits of their toil:
Nelson Mandela, our icon.
Oom Bey, the Afrikaner who stood against his own people. The minister that stood against his own religious order and remained faithful to Christ.
OR Tambo, Joe Slovo.“O Siyeza, o siyeza , sizofika webaba noma
O siyeza, o siyeza, siyagudle lomhlaba
Siyawela lapheshaya lulezontaba ezimnyama
Lapha sobheka phansi konke ukhulupheka.”
— The Crossing (Osiyeza) Johnny Clegg —“(we are coming, we are coming, we will arrive soon
we are coming, we are coming, we are moving across this earth
we are crossing over those dark mountains
where we will lay down our troubles)”