From the outset let's get something straight: I despise prejudice in all the horrid forms that it takes. This includes the AWB and their desire for their own 'Volk' separate from the rest of South Africa.
However, The AWB surprised me today and I would like to doff my hat to them. Two days ago they were sprouting violence and retaliation, calling for all their members to take up arms against the 'war on whites'. This morning the leadership of the AWB came out and publicly stated that they did not want a revolution in South Africa and they recalled their statement of a call to arms. They realised that their initial reaction was one of pure emotion and was not helpful to the state of race relations in South Africa.
On the contrary the leader of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema, continues to defy court orders, and calls from the President, for people to choose their words carefully.
Where have the leaders of the ANC gone? With a legacy of leaders such as Chief Albert Luthuli, Govan Mbeki, Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, and Cyril Ramaphosa (to name a few) the ANC should be ashamed of producing the leaders that they are at the moment.
Leadership is of vital importance and people are looking for someone to follow. The fruit of the leadership becomes evident very soon. A perfect example is the stark contrast between Zimbabwe and South Africa: Nelson Mandela led in humility, forgiveness and reconciliation; the result is the South Africa that we live in today. Robert Mugabe continues with his hatred, thievery and racist nonsense; the result is every sphere of Zimbabwean life falling apart.
In stark contrast to the ANC a minority organisation -whose only known leader was a fascist and a racist- is able to show positive leadership when it is most needed. Well done AWB, may your leadership be an example that other leaders follow.
I'm not sure if backing off in the face of what would probably end up as an extermination of their little paramilitary group is good leadership or just common sense.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, it was the right thing to do - a concept that the top leaders of the ANC at the moment seem to be struggling with.
Hi Phil, you know, I thought about that, and to some degree you are right; in this country the AWB stands no chance in a gun fight. However, they are leading their people and that is what I appreciate.
ReplyDeleteMany revisionist historians say that due to the violence in SA FW de Klerk was forced to released Mandela and to call for an end to Apartheid but I couldn't disagree more. No one is forced to do anything but FW de Klerk realised that the situation was changing and led his people. Similarly, many people criticised Mandela for calling an end to the armed struggle before an election date was decided. Even though the ANC could have continued fighting and would have annihilated whites, Mandela led his people. Even though the AWB would be wiped-out that would not stop them from murdering as many as they could, many other organisations would do that just out of spite. Thanks for the comment
I agree with you Lance. I think our political environment is so charged with pride and arrogance. We see this almost weekly when prominent people are somehow caught doing something corrupt or illegal. Too often the response is one of entitlement or "I am above the law". Its in this environment, when a people just as proud are able not just to back down but to retract their words publicly.
ReplyDeleteThere is common sense in there for sure but I hope their motivation came out of looking ahead and knowing what would be best for the country.
Sounds like what I explained to my children while they were growing up:
ReplyDeleteTwo wrongs don't make a right
and we overcome evil with good
it might be in your interest to watch the clip of the AWB on tv yesterday. its on the STAR website 8th April http://www.thestar.co.za/
ReplyDeletemight change your opinion of them in a pressure situation.
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ReplyDeleteSo why is the pattern of Communism (especially tribal communism) for moderately good leaders to produce bad leaders?
ReplyDeleteNone of the ANC leaders you mention are particularly outstanding by world historical standards, not even Mandela.
Alan: I disagree! What world standards are you talking about? Albert Luthuli won the Nobel Peace prize in 1960, Mandela in 1993. If that is not international standards then I don;t know what is. Cyril Ramaphosa was the general secretary of the National Union of Mine workers (NUM) at the height of the NP struggle against communism and left wing politics. No matter how hard they tried the NP would not stop NUM from gaining registering almost 50% of black workforce as their members. He then played a key role with the NP's Roelf Meyer at the CODESA talks and then had a succesful stint in poiltics before moving onto becoming one the most influential business men in SA. Oliver Tambo virtually single-handedly led the ANC in exile with very little praise. When the ANC was unbanned he then released the reigns to another man (Mandela) because he knew Mandela could do a better job. If that is not leadership then I am missing something.....
ReplyDeleteI also disagree with you Alan. Every single African country has fallen into the socialist trap, been stuck with bad leaders, military coups, civil war and ultimately a none functioning country. South Africa had the chance to become like this the moment the ANC came into power. BUT Mandela- being the great soul that he is was full of forgiveness rather than revenge. I am sure that any other leader would have reversed Apartheid and starts kicking out and killing the whites, but not Mandela.... he considered the future of South Africa. Many did not understand his actions but his decisions have made our current lives possible. He is a world icon for a reason. He acted with mercy, love, compassion, sense and reason, and did not allow his emotions to control him but to do what was best for his people-us.
ReplyDeleteWhat I am saying is that South Africa would not be like this today if it wasn't for him. There are and have been great world leaders, and Mandela is one of them.
Honestly I can't believe you said that, that you can't see the importance of such a humble and exceptional man.
Alan, I am curious.... why do you say that "None of the ANC leaders you mention are particularly outstanding by world historical standards, not even Mandela."
ReplyDeleteall those leaders BECAME brilliant leaders, we have looked at the legacy they have left (which is positive) but lets be real there were times when they did terrible things (including mandela) people died under their leadership before they became great leaders... i personally think theyve done great things but am reminded that they were far from perfect.
ReplyDeleteOK, let's get controversial!
ReplyDeleteI think you're both looking at a narrow view, I would agree that Mandela stand out as an African leader. But the only info you have mentioned that is international was the Nobel peace prize in 1993 that Mandela and de Klerk won together. And which I think Al Gore also won for hoodwinking the world on a poor theory; and Obama won just for not being George W Bush.
So, no Lance, that is not international standards in my opinion. And if you just look at the list of people who have won that award you must agree with me. The Nobel peace prize is a hit and miss affair; mostly miss with an occasional hit.
History reveals international standards of leadership, so far non of the leaders you mention have managed anything close to the standards I'm talking about.
I am comparing, as I think we should, with the great leaders of history. I don't think that April or Lance are. Africa has yet to produce a Churchill but man are we good at making little Hitlers. Sorry if that's offensive, but it's true isn't it?
Mandela is a great man, but I don't think he stands in the same category as Lincoln or Washington or Churchill or Wilberforce or Alexander or Marcus Aurelius.
You could look at it this way if you like: Why is there no United States of Africa? Why has there never been an African Empire?
That is because Africa has not produced the leaders required for such things. And the question then is why not.
If we don't ask why not then we continue to produce Malema style leaders, it's inevitable.
I do agree with April that South Africa would not be where it is today without Mandela, but the same could be said for Louis Botha, Shaka, Paul Kruger and Jan Smuts and many others. My point is to compare our leaders with international leaders through history, and the comparison if we are honest is not very flattering.
That is why April I said "... by world historical standards."
Nothing wrong with celebrating the leaders that we do have. I'm grateful for them. But we tend to think tribally, and start congratulating them before they have done anything deserving congratulation. I think history proves me right. You may not agree, that's OK.