Comments on: Rejoicing over Manto’s death is grotesque

By: Fana Marivate

Fana Marivate — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:12:05 +0000

Is that why it’s called TWITter?

By: X Cepting

X Cepting — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 09:41:10 +0000

Perhaps, we should show more respect for life in the form of the living who are still able to act and wrought change and suffer than for the dead who can no longer act, cannot change what they’ve done here and has gone on to a different existence of (insert favorite belief here).

“Respect for the Dead” is one of those loaded phrases with religious overtones that smacks of fear of the unknown. Why respect a person for dying? Any kid with AIDS can do it and usually do, there’s really nothing to it.

That does not mean I can respect the sensation-seeking moron Gareth Cliff for the macabre act of dancing on a dead body. Leave the dead alone, they neither need our respect nor our scorn. Their only value to the living is in remembering what they did right and also not to repeat their mistakes, otherwise we show disrepect for their life.

By: Pieter

Pieter — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 08:32:11 +0000

Mark Robertson I am always humbled by your comments they always cool me down when I want to fire. Enjoy your holidays great compatriot!!

By: brigs

brigs — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:39:23 +0000

I agree totally with your post, and am quite appalled at the general lack of disrespect certain people have shown at her passing. I vehemently disagreed with her actions, statements and decisions which have lead directly and indirectly to the death of those from Hiv/ Aids. However! despite her failing many and public she was still someone mother, someone friend. A human being, and we do not make light of the deaths of people no matter who they are or what they have done. It is simply a terrible reflection on the state of south africa right now, that we joke about such things.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:54:44 +0000

I have a question to those who say “We need to respect the dead, a human being has passed on”.

Did you say the same thing when PW died? Or were you with the rejoicing masses saying they can’t wait to dance on his grave and that you hope he is dining in hell? Were you part of the group that said it was your greatest day in history?

Do you respect the dead, when the dead is someone who has hurt you? Do you ignore the ills of the dead when that person is someone who helped your cause?

What’s good for one is good for the other. You either respect ALL human beings in death, or you don’t. No problem if you don;t – just don’t be a hypocrite and demand respect from others when you yourself have relished in the opposite.

Personally, I will respect the dead as much as the living. Just because she died, does not mean I instatly like her, respect her and think she did a good job. I think she did a terrible job and she will leave a reeking legacy. Being dead does not change what you did while alive.

By: Pleb

Pleb — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 04:31:19 +0000

Isn’t it all about freedom of speech and expression – people should be allowed to say and express what they feel.

By: sid

sid — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:19:51 +0000

Some really good comments that I think show a few things. It isn’t a race issue unless you choose to make it one. Many, both black and white think Clift’s comments were insensitive (reprimand, suspend for one week, don’t fire). A good comparison with Clift to malema T Watkins, maybe rather than a white malema; just another malema. But look at Traps’ summary of malema’s outbursts in his TL (http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/traps/2009/12/15/the-first-ancyl-sacp-war/). To me they are more racist, more absolute lies and no condemnation. Why not?

Then pretty much as Balt notes – why no open criticism of Mbeki, who I think gave Manto the direction and egged her on.

Lastly, it’s rich for people to now to accept/admit that many, many of her policies were wrong, misguided and resulted in unnecessary suffering, and not just of AIDS sufferers. She ran the SA Health system like her personal plaything, following petty grudges and ignoring informed advice. Why did so few people speak out at the time? Why was the DA and TAC derided by the ANC and its sycophants when these policies were killing people, most of them poor people?

It’s very like now not being able to find a Nat voter in white SA or a Nazi supporter in Germany. Let’s show a little cold rationality now and not keep making the same mistakes. Speak out against wrong without fear or favour.

By: Po

Po — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:09:40 +0000

I think you said it best of all the Thoughtleaders, detached and unemotional, and accurate.

By: Owen

Owen — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:27:57 +0000

I liked Manto – she banned smoking, she reduced the price of drugs, she stood against the drug companies who wanted to rip joe public off with high arv drug prices that history will show have limited effect on Aids related deaths. I think that her approach to the HIV problems was probably right for South Africa.

Gareth and Julius make controversial statements to satisfy their own attention seeking needs.

@Michel – I agree with you.

By: Larry Lachman

Larry Lachman — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:51:45 +0000

If Eugene Terblanche were to die tommorrow from once again falling off his horse, then black people in this country would be rejoicing to no end.

Actually, so would I for that matter.