Mind your language

The things that brings us together are far greater than the things that separate us and i hold my breath with caution,before exhaling a prophetic assertion that will haunt the entire generation of the 21st century and beyond.My motherland - South Africa is frantically preparing for a historic general election.On the 22nd of April,innocent victims of a depleted government will be casting their votes for a new president.Now fasten your seat belts and keep still as i drive you down the boulevards of the RAINBALL nation - where a barbecue is known as a braai,a motorway is called a freeway and a traffic light is called a robot.

As much as i am excited about the prospects of a better Mzansi,i am powerless and voiceless to raise alarm on the bleaching of democracy in my motherland.An incumbent president - Thabo Mbeki was spectacularly ousted from power before his term of office ran out.The African National Congress' (ruling party)kangaroo court implored that Mbeki had failed to lead the government according to the manifesto which was initially drafted by party gurus like Nelson Rolinhlanhla Mandela.Hence,to this day we are running on a make-shift aristocratic government,elected by the ruling party.Make-shift in the sense that a lot of those who sympathised with Mbeki resigned and formed an opposition party called COPE.No referendum was held to elect the current leaders - it just happened at party level.So if the people the party represents are not consulted ,whose voice is the party representing?

Politics spares no one and it's ruthless and dangerous in fragile young democracies like South Africa.Yes we gained independence from the dreadful apartheid regime.And yes we are independent but freedom is dangerous if abused.Sometimes i wonder if we had remained a Kingdom - ZULULAND.Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe called on his opposition leader Dr Joshua Nkomo to form a government of national unity in 1987.Typical Che Guevara style,the ruling Zanu(pf) swallowed the opposition,who had disbanded their army units and intergrated into the new 'government'.That's why Zimbabwe is in this shit today - they preached a one party state and it failed.In the interim,the ANC did the same like Mugabe,they dismantled the official opposition National Party by swaying its leader Marthinus Van Schalkwyk to join them.And by being offered the Minister of Tourism post ,he agreed and the opposition varnished.

Jacob Zuma who is widely expected to win the upcoming general elections recently sued Zapiro,an award winning cartoonist for millions of pounds.The cartoon depicts the woman as the justice system;the people helping the woman to be raped are members of the ANC and the guy pulling his pants down is Jacob Zuma.In essence Zapiro was humourously saying,Jacob Zuma and his accomplices are raping the justice system.Is this defamatory?In the eyes of many Yes.But then what is freedom of press?Cartoons started in the ancient Greek empire and were used for political propaganda.Of course,they were later perfected by people like William Hogarth.With the invention of lithography in 1798 ,it became appparent that it could be printed in national newspapers to represent aspects of a society through human figures.Again South Africa's fragile democracy worries me,if Journalists can not express their opinions and comments without fear of being abducted by party hardliners then there is no democracy.

So to all my varsity colleagues,if i were to do a cartoon of the queen being raped by an unidentified government official - would that be defamatory .If yes to what extent???

continuation of testament

By the way,i couldn't edit my blog.Helium and hydrogen makes up the sun

SEEKING LOST MANUSCRIPTS OF THE DARK AGES

For all the pain and suffering that mankind has to go through,i am still at crossroads as to whether life is a Godless endeavour.For religion changed the face of us all.Born,we are one,in death we are one,but in life we are many.I might not be an exponent of empiricism but for now bear with me,as i write this testament of the hopeless, hope of a dying race who became a by-product of christianity in search of 'God' the father.Religious leaders and those who believe that there is someone super-natural,exonerate my oblique views - only for now because i am not a backsliding atheist.

Missionaries were dispensed to shores across the Atlantic to enlighten the inhabitants of the jungle of Africa about the son of Man.Jesus christ - Emmanuel(God is with us).This was followed by a pilgrimage of a host of Gold-diggers like Cecil John Rhodes and David Livingstone,to mention,but a few.The 'missionaries' were only pathfinders.And to this day,i haven't forgiven Paul Kruger and his associates.What they left,was the Soweto 1976 uprising,which claimed innocent victims like Hector Petterson:Nelson Mandela languishing in the Robben Island penitentiary for 27 years;For that reason i thought that there was no God,no religion - only chaos.Religion had screwed us all,brought one man down upon another.With this in mind my future in christianity was uncertain and the veil of temptation came forth,as i started to follow Charles Darwin's Survival of the Fittest view and read more on Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto on class struggles.I assumed that hell did not exist,never existed,and the only hell we shall ever know is the hell we lived in Soweto.

From the time we are brought into this world,our mind is affected by cosmetic and moral changes.Religion,God,beliefs,faith etc begin to play an active role in our lives.And in a diminishing majority ,we see that this very beliefs are the simple reasons why man does not want to explore possibilities of alternatives in moral or physical standards of existence.The so-called holy guardians of mankind will not accept this line of thought.It's profane and blasphemy in their eyes.

Afterall the bible was written from complied manuscripts.Of which most were from oral tradition.No one seems to know the truth.That's why Catholics,protestants and Muslims alike differ in the credibility of the bible and quran.

Thank Gooodness the world had the privilege to host critics of religion like John Lock,David Hume and Thomas Hobbes.Believe by seeing - walk by sight.Thank goodness for that Italian Francesco Petrarca to be later known as Petrarch the world over.This man single handedly tackled the secular or cultural decline that took place in the Western part of Europe between the fall of the Roman empire and eventual recovery of learning(Renaissance).

Now as i search for answers,no one seems to know what took place during the Dark ages.Was there a religion.In 1948 when Israel became a nation some manuscripts with what was widely believed to be the original handwriting of Moses were discovered by archaeologists.What puzzles me about the discovery is that no one knows if this was an original piece.And did Moses ever exist or it's just a mere fantasy?

As i further read an Essay Concerning Human Understanding by John Lock it dawned to me that there is no substitute for experience.In this remarkable work,he describes the human mind at birth as a blank slate,filled later through experience.He talks about the sense of taste in our being-that it only comes through experience.Because we are exposed to sweet and sour things from childhood,we carry the experience to adulthood,hence we are able to distinguish sweet and sour.

For religion tells us that it's good to suffer now and be happy in heaven - yet no one has ever gone and come back.

If we were to believe in religion we wouldn't have known a liger - cross between a lion and a tiger.Brave humans who defied religion tried scientifically and came up with something that God never created - liger.

Some races suffer in the name of beleives embedded in them by the pioneers of faith.
For those of us who know that the sun is made up of two gases Hylium and Hydrogen -can not be fooled that it is a heavenly body.

Testament to be continued in due course......

Barbarians - either with us or with them

The lecture by Chris Horrie last week shows how knowledgeable the fellow is, with political sciences.Of course,it was exhilarating,proverbial and most importantly relevant, for purposes of our own understanding.For we are privileged to be part of his bandwagon.For when he speaks i take notice because Paul Manning exclusively told me that they hired Chris because of the reputation that follows him across the media fraternity.It has become apparent that i renounced my ignorance and pursued discipleship with his lectures from day one.

It was quite refreshing and intriguing to note that Charles Darwin - of all people,had a racist mentality.Whilst Britons across the United Kingdom were commemorating and celebrating the legendary scientist's birthday,i was muted with sullen.The theory of evolution,a topic that was a daily bread during my history lessons at the leafy and prestigious Pretoria Boys high.They don't look and speak like us,so they are Barbarians - a theorem he adopted from the ancient greek and roman emperors.Their skin is coloured,so they are still in progressive evolution to look like us.I heave a sigh of relief on the realisation that i am not a descendant of any ape you can dream of.The most controversial issue with the revered scientist's discoveries remain that of - why have we stopped evolving since he passed away 200years ago?The origin of species through natural selection - meaning through genetic variation(phenotypically and genotipically),states that we ,of the proud human race started off as apes,of Darwin's own creation and through gradual processes of change became who we are today.Of course racism might have been made in the ancient greek empire but it was perfected by Darwin and executed by every generation thereafter.Darwin might be excused for not using the word Barbarians but his propaganda theory is too suggestive.

It was interesting to note that William Shakespeare played a pivotal role in the political dispensation of the United Kingdom,through his phantom characters.Enoch Powell is renowned for saying 'The stage used to be called the court,now they call it a cabinet,but all the characters are in Shakespear....only the costumes date'.

As the lecture continued i was left greening with adoration for John Locke who was a father of democracy and in favour of a free market system - which Britain has since inherited.He felt that the poor were offered protection but what was protected belonged to the rich.This reminds me of the paradox of value,which states that although water is more important than diamonds,its value is less than that of diamonds because of scarcity.This analogy entails that the masses who are the main focus of the elected governments have to suffer whilst the economy is controlled by the minority.That's why i hate the free market system,today and forever more.

Synonymous with many a third world country ,was Henry Miller's(1891-1980) view that,one has to be a bit of a lowbrow,a bit of a murderer,to be a politician,ready and willing to see people sacrificed,slaughtered for the sake of an idea.Robert Mugabe,and fellow leaders of failed states proved that they embraced such an a mythical ideology - indeed they have slaughtered at will - while the world watches.

Chris Horrie believes Thomas Hobbes is one of Britain's greatest thinkers of all time and unfortunately this time i don't sympathise with his views.Thomas Hobbes believed in an all powerful hereditary sovereign.Typical of England where the all powerful queen is less active in the running of the government but is said to be the head of state.To Chris and Hobbes's reprieve - Monarch only works well in England and England alone.In Swaziland King Mswati is the head of the state and no opposition parties are allowed.Each year he is mandated to marry a virgin,hence on my count,he is on 15 wives this year ,since he seized power from his father King Sobhuza who had 88 wives at the time of his death.Monarch has failed in every other state that is not England.Spain pretends to have one but i don't consider it a monarch because of the relatively less influence it has on the state.

So from Machiavelli,Aristotle to Jean Rousseau - Renaissance,Reformation and Enlightment were born.

Are we heading for Nationalisation of Banks?

As we brace ourselves for yet another financial institution bail-out,i start to ponder the prospect of a complete overhaul of all our major banks - nationalisation.
The relapse in our financial markets has left Gordon Brown desperately clinging to the hope that a precedence of Northern Rock will not haunt,Lloyds Banking group - at least for now.This follows yet another fall of shares of 32 per cent by the group after it reported losses of £10 billion in HBOS.

If i can cast my mind back to the day the government spectacularly gambled in sanctioning the merger of Lloyds and HBOS,i am left with no alternative but to blame it on those at West Minister and Whitehall alike - the torries included.

Because,we are now vulnerable to the forces of financial markets,men with balls of still should come forward and propose a provisional plan to nationalise all financial institutions that are trading and holding public finance - only in the short run though.Ideally it is the best option for now,if our poor savings are to survive.Remember the fall of the Icelandic banking institution?Billions were lost and the innocent corporate investors suffered.If the government is reluctant to pursue Arnold Muchoko's advice,then they must guarantee my £50 that i invest every month.

Nationalisation is a tried and failed system,especially in developing countries where central planning commitees often sabotage the free flow of trade.But who said it will fail in England?After all,it's a democratic state and the chances of gross manipulation of the system are next to zero.

My plea is that since all the wrong government policy choices are back-firing and impacting on taxpayers,why not nationalise for a year?Once there is enough confidence in the market place,the government can auction the financial institutions to the highest bidders - of course after a thorough due diligence.I am in favour of liberal institutions,only if they work and are profitable.

I suppose there should also be a parliamentary financial committee that oversees,the day to day running of these superbanks.Although,the banks will still return an autonomous share in operation - the parliamentary committee's main objective will be to monitor the productive capacity and regulate when ever possible.

Balls of steel will take us to the promised land - stability in our financial markets.

Capitalist Monopoly sickening

When Jumbo elephants fight,it's the grass that suffers.I have never been a cheerleader of a capitalist society and will never be one.Over £1 billion was paid to the Premier soccer league by Sky to secure its majority premium of the Barclays premier league matches.92 out of a possible of 138 games will be beamed live by sky sports.The deal was sealed after a protracted bidding process involving Setanta and ESPN.This free market system has again let us down.The reason is quite simple - elements of the market are freely allowed to determine the price.What evil?

I felt betrayed by the European Union for once.There is a provision in their regulations that allows Sky to own five out of six packages.What then happens with those of us who have been loyal to the BBC since seeing daylight?

Contrary to a general perception that ,media audiences are commodified - it's deeper and autocratic than we assume.This system encourages monopolies and audience ownership by these monster media companies.For the sake of our passion for football,even living below the poverty line,we are obligated to buy a digi-box and subscribe.Yes the government watches from the peripheries and pretends to see no evil or can we assume that they hold common interests?This phantom system is synonymous with the evil lady Macbeth - a shakespearean creation.There is no proportional distribution of wealth ,nevermind resources.

We are commodified because we are vulnerable and prone to manipulation.The X-factor is one of the many programmes used by media moguls to lure our innocent souls.This is meant to be a show that exhibits an array of talented and talent-free individuals from all corners of Britain.We are encouraged to vote in/out the contestants.This participation for the duration of the show is addictive.How much money do we spend on voting?And how much money does the media mogul make to produce the razzmatazz for ITV?In essence,the mogul secures a production contract through a projected audience.So who is to blame?Sickening though - after recking in millions, these moguls are normally seen around the Balbados resort island,with dark glasses basking in the sun,aside a half-dressed wag only covering her modesty.

It is for this reason that i hate this system.But hold on - we all have to work like slaves to live like kings.

Protectionism will lead to social unrest and Political xenophobia

British jobs for British people - by virtue and in context i agree that the custodians of this land deserve absolute preference before opportunists from shores afar can be considered.The British job market has been distorted and the government job seekers allowance policy does not help the cause of those that are lobbying against foreign immigrants.And to what extent do i vehemently agree?

The creation of the European Union and an adoptation of the free market system by the British government might have exacebated the plight of it's citizens within the job market spectrum.The European union's operational guidelines advocate that ,there is freedom of movement for all citizens of member countries - including a substantial amount of former Soviet states.The influx of desperate east,west and central european immigrants is something that the British public under-estimated and never bothered to do reservations , when their political leaders were busy signing dozens of treaties.The recent apathy and boycotting by nuclear workers and their associates will not lead to an abrupt amendment of the terms and conditions of the EU.For the concession is binding - till death do us part.

The victims of circumstances are the innocent migrant workers - who work tirelessly for the good of the British economy.They sacrifice to work for a minimum wage,and some even work in atrocious conditions(dealing with human waste).

A free market system entails that there be competition,freedom to enter and exit whenever one deems it necessary - and most of all less goverment intervention.This type of market is inevitably associated with capitalism.A capitalist only makes a profit when the sum of variable and fixed costs are less than the selling price.Hence the two main objectives will be sales and profit maximisation.And that can only be attained when operational costs are relatively lesser than the price.Holding all other things constant a capitalist will be grossly disillusioned if his business was to break-even.Hence cheap labour will be the only panacea to attaining a sustainable growth in the short and long run respectively.So don't blame the Polish for working so hard for very little in return.

The government policy on job seekers allowances,incapacity benefits and other variables does not help many a British citizen.Yes there are deserving marginalised cases that should receive prime attention - but the rest are still subject for debate in my medulla oblongata.My argument as a proponent of the-fellow-citizens-of-the-world is that these benefits should be given on merit and as a matter of a privilege than a right.Many people have manipulated the system and have lived on a monthly giro for years,without being (BUVVERED) to look for any form of work.This is a generic view even though one rotten potato may spoil the whole bag.(one groundbreaking credit card fraud or lottery scum by a Nigerian citizen-has left us with no option but to be sceptical whenever we deal with any Nigerian).

As for those from the west indies,Balbados,Jamaica etc - an exemption should be in place ,for history tells us that their ancestors were used to built some of the landmark buildings and monuments in England.In other words they reserve the right to work here.

And for those of us from Africa - where wild animals are not kept in zoos but natural environment:we claim that our heritage was depleted in the name of exploration.I once studed at Prince Edward high school for my 5th form and visited a city called Salisbury ,the later day Harare and still wondered why there was so much British influence.And on studying the history of those who convened with Otto Von Bismarck(in the scramble for Africa),i soon realised that my hereditary ancestors were slaves to the British.Now i stand with pride - as a fake but proud British.Afterall my name is English.And i reserve the rights to live and work here as a fellow citizen of the world.

So lets pick ourselves up,dust ourselves and live in harmony as one.Don't let the credit crunch expose an element of xenophobia,which will ultimately lead to social unrest.