Saturday, December 07, 2013

NKOSI SIKELEL' iAFRIKA - GOD BLESS AFRICA. SOUTH AFRICAN ANTHEM - MANDELA R.I.P.


It is impossible to not think back over the life of Nelson Mandela on hearing of his death. My own involvement with South Africa goes back 45 years or more to the time when I was a teenager and a fledgling activist looking for good causes to support. South Africa was a place we knew very little about because it was an embarrassing secret to so called western democracies that were up to their elbows in it through investments. Slave Labour is one of the purest forms of capitalism there is and that was what provided the rich investment opportunities. It also provided a great standard of living with well paid jobs and all you had to do to get your share of this was to have a white skin. The whole stinking edifice was held together by that most inhuman brutal system called Apartheid, unparalleled in its evil and depravity.   
That so many seemingly nice decent people, (relatives anyone?) Yes it’s a horrible admission isn’t it, were able to go there and make themselves a comfortable living is a horrible reminder of how frail our human condition really is. The Jewish Americam writer  Hannah Arendt coined the phrase “The banality of evil” to describe Adolph Eichman when reporting his trial for war crimes and that sums up South Africa under white supremacist rule as they enjoyed the wages and lovely houses provided by the black population who were treated like beasts of burden. Now of course we see the disgusting spectacle of those who wanted Mandela not only to lose but to be executed declaring their admiration for him. Head of that list is the revolting and amoral Margaret Thatcher who declared him a terrorist and vehemently opposed sanctions against apartheid South Africa while conveniently forgetting to mention that her equally wretched husband Dennis had considerable sums of money invested in that corrupt and evil system, as did churches, The city and pillars of our superior society.  Cameron was also an enthusiastic opponent of Sanctions as was Tebbit and the rest of them, a more thoroughly dishonest and revolting bunch would be hard to find in history’s pages.  

To take on these circumstances and triumph was one of history’s greatest achievements and it is true in my opinion to say that without Mandela it would not have been done. His courage and dignity were quite amazing and he rightly became recognised as one of the greatest leaders in history. He was the mighty indestructible presence in the background as we marched and demonstrated and sometimes blundered our way through the Anti Apartheid struggle, I wonder how many times the South African White Supremacists must have bemoaned the fact that they did not just kill him when they had the chance. He became too big to kill and too well known to slip on the soap and fall down stairs in prison nor would the world believe a tale of suicide in prison, he became more powerful than those who jailed him. He was the inspiration for us and millions around the world. Glasgow was the first place to grant him freedom of the city, something to be proud of. I took my daughter Clare to see him in George Square as he thanked Glasgow for its unstinting support over the years, we were both young enough for me to lift her on to my shoulder to see him speak and then delight the crowd with an impromptu display of singing and dancing a precious memory for us both, as a delirious crowd embraced him while mother Glasgow poured down its relentless gentle rain, a memory she still talks about. He is quite simply irreplaceable but for South Africa there is no going back, the racist beast has been slain and so it must stay. There will be plenty of struggles ahead but they will win in the end and, as the legendary murdered American union man Joe Hill said “don’t mourn me, organize” Madiba would agree with that sentiment.      

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Before you go off on one about how evil the Tories were in opposing sanctions against South Africa's apartheid regime, let's look at what Maggie Thatcher really was involved in at that point in history....Via This genuine document

Byeck said...

'S Africa was a place we knew little about.'

Kelly, you knew nowt about the Falklands either..it occurs to me, you're knocking the Empire while knowing bugger all about it.

So, to add to your limited knowledge, as early as mid 19th Century,under British rule, everyone born in Cape Colony,, irrespective of colour,or race, was entitled to vote.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Dazed and confused, tell us about Thatcher and sanctions then. Tell us your version.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Apartheid wasn't all bad was it Byeck?. People knew their place didn't they and they didn't give cheek to their masters it were the good old days.

Byeck said...

Kelly @ 19.00
Kelly, you rascal, I don't think I said anything good about apartheid, so nice try, but no coconut.
Now, Lady Thatcher and apartheid. Mandela disagrees with your view, the ANC disagree with you, recently released documents disagree with you and, for heavens sake, even I disagree with you.
D'you think, Sage of Renfrew, you might have got it wrong...?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Anonymous Byeck said...Tuesday, December 10, 2013 4:43:00 pm.

Mrs. Thatcher was opposed to sanctions, she supported the South African Government in it's opposition to the ANC and she regarded Mandela as a terrorist.

I am not aware of anything that I have written that Mandela and the ANC would disagree with. I'm not much concerned whether you agree with me or not.

Byeck said...

Kelly @ 4.43
Kelly, you're in denial..She (Lady Thatcher) is an enemy of apartheid. We have much to thank her for,' Nelson Mandela, July 1990

'I believe releasing (Mandela) would have more impact than anything else.' Secret letter from Lady Thatcher to Botha, 1985, released by ANC.

I usually forgive your cavalier attitude to facts, laddie, but this is a fable too far. By the by, to shed a little more light on your darkness,, Botha was President of S Africa.



Anonymous said...

The Tories were against sanctions, David Cameron was involved with printing hang mandela posters, yet you with your mighty socialist mind remain in bed with them when it comes to Scottish Independence, please explain and discuss the meaning of principles you charlatan.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Byeck said...Tuesday, December 10, 2013 7:26:00 pm.

May 4 1979 On the steps of Number 10 Downing Street.
"Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope." Thatcher quoting from the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. That went well didn’t it?.

"It was you who brought democracy to Chile" Thatcher praising General Pinochet.

“To the Leader of the Great First of September Revolution” 1981. Thatcher’s Christmas greetings to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.

Saddam Hussein supported in power by financial and military help by Thatcher’s Government.

Thatcher, evil beyond belief.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Anonymous said...Wednesday, December 11, 2013 10:51:00 am.

According to deviants like you we were in bed with the Tories during World War Two as well when the snp were siding with Hitler and the nazis.

World war two was not political for the people of Britain and the independence issue is not political either it is constitutional and when it is over we will go back to opposing each other just as the snp will with their present independence allies, if they still have any by September 2014.

You are a cretin and you would be better employed polishing up your jackboots and ironing your tartan frock.



Byeck said...

Kelly @ 7.26
What exactly has this reply to do with Mandela and the ANC praising Baroness Thatcher?

Honestly, Terry lad, I despair, I really do. But I'm still fond of you...you put me in mind of my uncle, Mad Albert.....a fine man, but a carrot short of a casserole.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Anonymous Byeck said..Wednesday, December 11, 2013 2:28:00 pm.

I shouldn't have to explain this and if you genuinely don't understand it then you have clearly inherited your mad uncle Albert's genes. You might as well say Thatcher was fond of praising Arthur Scargill and Tony Benn as well so patently dishonest is the suggestion.

As to why it was said I have no idea only those who said it can explain but I am convinced it was not genuine, there must have been mileage in it for them. Just as Thatcher thought there might be mileage in quoting St. Francis of Assisi. It's called politics and your pretence at not grasping it is wearing thin.

Anonymous said...

HA HA the snp were siding with Hitler and the Nazi's what like Oswald Mosely the infamous labour politician you moron, one from the lunatic fringe doesn't constitute party policy cretin, whereas currently five councils in Scotland are run by Labour/conservative partnerships, you couldn't squeeze a rizla between the policy's of Red Ed and Call me dave, and you, a tired old 1970's socialist just keep toeing the party line anyway, you are a disgrace to socialism you half wit, cast off the yoke of the london based labour party and think for yourself (it's not as difficult as dinosaurs like you imagine)

Byeck said...

Kelly @ 3.07
Thank you, Councillor. And now, my final word on this subject, a poem (after the style of W T McGonagall)

Maggie dear,
You showed no fear,
You stood against Apartheid,
As for the Chuff,
I called his bluff,
And showed him for a S**teheid!

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Byeck said...
Kelly @ 3.07 Tuesday, December 10, 2013 4:43:00 pm

Thatcher the Devil
now with the evil.
burning below for the seeds she did sew.

Torture and hatred is her legacy.
Millions grieve that she left in misery.
Revolting tyrant mad and bad.
without her the world is a little less sad.

May the hellish fire bring eternal pain.
And may we never see her like again.




Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Anonymous said...Wednesday, December 11, 2013 3:08:00 pm.

Moseley left the Labour Party before becoming a fascist the snp were in favour of Hitler and the Nazis, can you spot the difference. The snp are still in favour of the Nazis as we seen when they welcomed the Flemish fascists to march with them in Edinburgh a couple of months ago.

"we Scots did not mind Mrs. Thatcher's economic policies so much" (alex salmond).

Anonymous said...

Just to educate you, the SNP was only founded in 1934, the leader of the SNP from 1942-1945 advised scottish people to refuse conscription and was consequently jailed for his protest, however Edward Mosely a labour member of parliament and a member of cabinet led fascist black shirts marching through the streets of london, and he fell out with the labour party over unemployment policy not because he was a fascist.
there you go free education SNP style, and by the by Tel the flemish nationalists weren't invited they just turned up and were given short shrift as one would expect, if you ever get around to organising a NO rally let me know how you will keep UKIP BNP and the orange order away you half wit.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Anonymous said...Thursday, December 12, 2013 12:57:00 pm.

The Mosley I’m referring to was Oswald not Edward? you obviously know a lot about this don’t you?

He fell out with the Labour Party because he could not get his way mainly over unemployment; he was not a fascist while in the Labour Party he formed the British Union of Fascists later.

The snp tried to get people not to oppose Hitler and they were led by Arthur Donaldson at the time who was known as a Hitler appeaser and was rightly jailed, that’s the snp. They were also marching side by side with the Flemish Fascists in Edinburgh a fact that was highlighted in newspaper pictures, you are either a liar or a fool or perhaps both.

The snp also has a squalid history of anti English and anti Irish racism as well as anti Catholic sectarianism. You are apparently proud of them; you are welcome to each other. You are Scotland’s shame, anti English attacks rising right now fuelled by the same snp racist rhetoric used throughout history by Nazis and nationalists like Hitler, Franco and Mussolini, what a lovely bunch you people are.

Anonymous said...

"Arthur Donaldson at the time who was known as a Hitler appeaser and was rightly jailed, that’s the snp."

Utter lies the ONLY MP interned during the war was Captain Archibald Henry Maule Ramsay a Scottish Unionist, the forerunners to the current Tory Party. That would be the SAME Tory party that Labour are now in bed with in the NO campaign. Let's also not forget that Oswald Mosley was a LABOUR MP at one point.

In contrast Arthur Donaldson was held for six days and then released without charge.

"The snp also has a squalid history of anti English and anti Irish racism as well as anti Catholic sectarianism."

Again sheer lies, I don't suppose you would care to cite any evidence would you? The Labour party have a long history of sectarianism in Scotland indeed just last year Gordon Matheson the Labour head of Glasgow Council gave a speech in front of a cheering crowd of Orange Order members days prior to the local elections.

According to eye witnesses, Mr Maheson claimed the 18 month old marches policy aimed at restricting the number and duration of marches was wrong and promised to review the policy should Labour win the upcoming local elections.

The Labour party also have a long history of being anti-Scottish and deliberately lying to the Scottish people. Indeed your OWN former UK Chancellor Denis Healey admitted that Labour lied over the value of North Sea Oil when he stated in an interview with Holyrood Magazine that the UK Government had "underplayed the value of the oil to the country" over fears that Scotland would decide to go independent.

He also added that Scotland would prosper under independence thanks to North Sea oil and Westminster politicians are "worried stiff" about losing revenues from offshore production.

"anti English attacks rising right now"

Again an outright LIE as analysis of the figures for racist attacks in 2012 revealed that attacks against ‘white English’ actually fell in the last year in all police force areas which were able to provide a breakdown of the statistics.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

Anonymous said...Monday, December 16, 2013 9:40:00 pm

Donaldson was jailed and the snp were handing out pro Hitler propaganda and campaigning to persuade young Scotsmen not to oppose the Nazis, that is a fact. The snp welcomed the Flemish Nazis to their march in Edinburgh and that is also a fact. Moseley left the Labour Party before he became a fascist and set up the British Union of Fascists that is another fact.

The snp are guilty of anti English racism, every time they criticise “Westminster”, or “down south” or “London” or “diktats from the home counties” they mean England and the English. They use weasel words in an attempt to hide their racism. They also have a history of anti catholic sectarianism. Their leader objected to the visit of Pope John Paul and I have personally seen propaganda from their members which was anti Catholic and they still are, that’s another fact.

I recently helped to facilitate a council civic reception to commemorate the 150th. Anniversary of a local Orange Order branch in my ward, they are not illegal and they are also ‘bona fide’ members of the Church of Scotland, which was a respectable organisation the last time I looked. It is common knowledge that they have a problem with a minority of followers whom they try to discourage from behaving badly but the snp have an even greater problem with their members and followers and I expect that fact to be writ large after they take a humiliating defeat in the forthcoming laugharendum when the streets will not be safe for anyone with an English accent.
You are a liar and an apologist for evil, that evil is nationalism in all its ugly guises, as Einstein said you are “the measles of the planet Earth”. Go off and iron your white hood and polish up your jackboots, you are a disgrace to the Scottish people.

Anonymous said...

A minority of followers? You want to try living with what we on the Gallowgate are subjected to during the marching season. The Famine Song played, spat at for being 'taigs'. It's like Northern Ireland when your respectable friends go a marching. The BNP is a legal organisation do you support that as well?

You should be ashamed supporting such bigotry on an otherwise excellent post on Mandela.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

I think you are assuming too much here. I didn't say I supported the Orange order and for the sake of clarity I do not. There are lots of organisations I do not support but as long as they are legal I am prepared to tolerate them, the incidents you describe are police matters. I am a supporter of a united Ireland and I want to be able to express that, if I wasn't able to do that I would consider that an injustice. Freedom of assembly and freedom of expression comes at a price and part of that price is that it must be available to all within the law. People who know me would consider it a collectors item for someone to accuse me of "supporting" the Orange order.