Comments on: Saffron robes and sackcloth

By: jay

jay — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:16:05 +0000

Dave Harris on March 24th, 2009 at 7:10 pm

Isn’t it amazing how nobody from the ANC has the guts to protest against this? Why? I’m sure there are still some freedom fighters left who can speak out?
Stand up be counted!

ANC with courage – JUST who are you trying to fool – all their bravery lies with the McBride method of bravery – or necklacing.

Freedom fighters – Haa! Who are you trying to fool?

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:29:07 +0000

Andile, what context do you need to make a judgement?
South Africa could welcome the Dalai Lama, but also politely censure China about Tibet. As the Rudd government in Australia has done (Kevin Rudd ticking the Chinese off in mandarin!).
The world is not about either spiritual/moral values or economic/political realities: its about both.

By: Lyndall Beddy

Lyndall Beddy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:44:29 +0000

My mind has just connected the dots – that is why Barbara Hogan has spoken out. She knows we can’t afford health care without help!

By: Lyndall Beddy

Lyndall Beddy — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:36:07 +0000

You are all totally out of the loop. China’s trade with us is peanuts compared to the rest of the world. And we are the ONLY country(other than China) EVER to refuse the Dalai Lama a visa.

Our image – the Mandela Miracle – is shot to ribbons and we have become a pariah state.

This does not only affect trade, it also affects aid and charity – and most of our projects in Aids clinics and NGO work in the townships and rural projects is Western Charity.

The potential cost is horrendous. Just if the support for ARVs subsidised purchases is withdrawn – we won’t be able to afford healthcare.

By: Al

Al — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:34:10 +0000

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

By: anton kleinschmidt

anton kleinschmidt — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:40:57 +0000

There was a time in our history when an act of such stupidity would have provoked a global boycott of the Soccer World Cup. Today nobody cares.

Great news that certain key figures have withdrawn leading to the effective cancellation of the conference.

Hats of to Barbara Hogan for her bravery in critcising her own party. Our female politicians seem to be the ones with all the courage

By: Martin

Martin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:12:28 +0000

Short term decisions like this have long term consequences. The “right thing to do” is now the “right thing for me, me, me”. The world is counting up our selfish and often bizarre decisions. The day of reckoning will come when a disaster will strike SA and the world will turn its back on us, like we have turned our back on our brothers (e.g. Zimbabwe).

By: Michael Liermann

Michael Liermann — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:06:58 +0000

Andile – I recall the NP’s mouthpieces also using that sort of “we are protecting our interests, finish and klaar” rhetoric when faced with criticism of apartheid.

So – progress, I guess. At least now it’s a black majority government turning its back on the idea of human rights, as opposed to a white minority one.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:51:40 +0000

Andile, its true; we shouldn’t judge when we don’t know the context that the decision was made in. However, I don’t feel there was any transparency regarding why the decision was made the way it was and had this been made available, we could probably all be having a much more constructive and effective debate over this matter. With that in mind the outrage is completely understandable and I too feel ashamed of my country today.

If you feel as strongly as you say, don’t be shy to sign up for the petition at the link Paddy II put up. I do and I did…

By: Alan

Alan — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:30:57 +0000

Barbra Hogan has asked Mothlante to apologise for the insult to the Dalai Llama. This should assure her of a new position outside the government. She is the only member of cabinet with the balls to speak out against this idiotic episode. FIFA must be wondering about the implications of giving the world cup to a country controlled by China. Who will SA ban next, The Taiwanese football team, the head of the UN………..