Comments on: The death of debate in SA

By: bang can nuoc sonchongtham

bang can nuoc sonchongtham — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:38:13 +0000

Remarkable things here. I am very happy to see your article. Thank you so much and I’m looking forward to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?

By: Phetogo

Phetogo — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:09:03 +0000

@Sipho
I have to agree to some degree with Sipho,the “intelectuals have become too important”,it seems that they are the only ones who know where we should go,for me that is y Zuma is the president,the people did not have a voice,its a rebellion.some how we should try to bring everyone into debates,explain in sinple terms what nationalisation means for the man on the streets,bring the economists,labour,goverment and we all measure how our needs can be met,lets not go bak to the Mbeki era where there are few people smart enough to understand the economy,this affects us all,and it is not rocket science,explain home langusges,you’ll be suprised,

The universities should go to the people and put thier case there,large majority of south africans not educated then y should the debate be with intectuals only,but I agree the debate has been dying due to intolorence,ussually by people who do not have enough points to carry thier arguments,but change the formatt to suit everyone not just the few,this can be an oppotunity to involve rather than go bak to “elites”or”educated” era

By: Onkgopotse JJ Tabane

Onkgopotse JJ Tabane — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:34:22 +0000

@ ALL.
The responses have been largel constructive. We need to learn to disagree without being disagreeable i find that there are people who fail to look beyond the messenger and dea with the issues on the table.

@Sipho as usualy – no substance to bring to the table, its sad my brother. By the way do u have your own blog somewhere where you originate some ideas – I would like to visit it and comment on some of YOUR OWN ORIGINAL THOUGHTS…..that could reveal a thing or two maybe.

By: Sipho

Sipho — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:50:52 +0000

@ Fergie – as a rule intellectuals are supposed to search for the truth, unfortunately in practice intellectuals are up for sale.Most socalled intellectuals in our country are aligned with political parties. SAFM would use the same socalled experts time and time again and expect different insights. The same goes for 702, MetroFM, KayaFM etc. The media only invite experts whose views are aligned with their editorial policies.

By: fergie

fergie — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:41:10 +0000

@Sipho One, I think that you and I are on the same page but, most intellectuals are looking for the truth with their ideas. However, on the other hand, I see political debate as something used to gain followers and not necessary a search for the truth.

By: fergie

fergie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:30:34 +0000

@Sipho, the issues that have not been debated: 1.Decentralized services deliveries.
2.Elector reforms to allow the local government to be elected by the electors.
3.Direct election of members of parliament by districts.
4.Direct election of the president.
5.The provinces be allowed to make laws and collect their taxes.

By: Mudiwa Marange

Mudiwa Marange — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:34:41 +0000

Not only are we suffering from poverty of ideas, we are cursed by the poverty of leadership!!!

By: Sipho

Sipho — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:05:48 +0000

Fergie its regrettable that you had to rely on semantics to make your point. An intellectual is never restricted to science, an intellectual is someone who has a better grasp of any subject and formulate convincing arguments. You make it sound like a political debate has to be devoid of intellectual engagement by rule. I suspect this view is only limited to South Africa or maybe the third world. I suppose when you say most of the time, you’re creating space for people like Obama to say their political debate is intelligent. Interesting world view, I must say.

By the way there are two Siphos in this blog, I happen to be the first to post. Not that I want to deny the other Sipho, his experience and observation of white people in relation to black people.

By: brent

brent — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 13:16:21 +0000

@ Sipho you say:
“For the first time we know that whites still hate Blacks in the same intensity as in apartheid.”
perhaps you should read a bit of wise Eastern philosophy which says, “the faults you see in others are your own faults.”

I am white and on the wrong side of 60 and in general the problem of most whites in SA is not hate of blacks but fear, which is the emotion that has lead to most of histories worst deeds.

Brent

By: Student

Student — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:07:22 +0000

@Sipho, If you cared to ponder about what i said before hitting the keyboard you’d have read that in fact i’m rediculing our society. Julius, the crowds, everyone we ‘ve laid blame on for murdering debate are not islands, they are part of our society, they’re influenced by our society including intellects of such forums as this.

@fergie, point of correction; there was no debate even before the ANC came into power, SA has never been a talking society, from the saxons and dutch everyone has just fought to get what they want.

We can blame the leaders of organisations, but how do we handle difference of opinion when we’re enjoying that braai and cold ones? Politicians, leaders and public speakers are merely a mirror of the broader society.