Tuesday, March 11, 2003
A friend across the way who's at the epicentre of a mini crime-quake compares the neighbourhood to a frontier zone, complete with raids, armed skirmishes and defensive barricades. One draws strength from accounts of other frontier experiences. London, for example, in the early 18th century, "was in the grip of the worst crime wave in its history, with highwaymen, burglars and pickpockets preying on the populace, even in broad daylight. The city was in an administrative mess. Roads were deep in mud and poorly lit. A rabbit warren of hastily erected buildings became instant slums . . . The city of London and Westminster had a population of 660 000, and it was estimated that within the city walls lived over 10 000 professional thieves." Its officials were rotten to the core
Friday, January 24, 2003
Thursday, January 23, 2003
Suren Pillay writes in the Mail and Guardian Online
Its not that race has become politicised. Race, after all, has always been a “political” issue — not only in South Africa. The political, economic and cultural effects of race as a classification, and their meaning in social practice, are bound to both history and location. In other words, the challenge might be to understand the particular ways in which race, both as a concept and as an experience, changes historically across time and space.
In South Africa we know that there were at least two broad responses to the state imposition of racial identity. Both responses from within the liberation movements sought to resist the imposed identities. One did it through redefining victims of apartheid as black, as a political experience, rather than a racial identity — the Fanonian inspired response of Steve Biko and others. Another response was to seek to go beyond the recognition of racial identity altogether by promoting “non-racialism”.
Its not that race has become politicised. Race, after all, has always been a “political” issue — not only in South Africa. The political, economic and cultural effects of race as a classification, and their meaning in social practice, are bound to both history and location. In other words, the challenge might be to understand the particular ways in which race, both as a concept and as an experience, changes historically across time and space.
In South Africa we know that there were at least two broad responses to the state imposition of racial identity. Both responses from within the liberation movements sought to resist the imposed identities. One did it through redefining victims of apartheid as black, as a political experience, rather than a racial identity — the Fanonian inspired response of Steve Biko and others. Another response was to seek to go beyond the recognition of racial identity altogether by promoting “non-racialism”.
THREE PIECES OF HORROR
Quiet few days of murder and mayhem! Particularly in Kwazulu Natal. I'm still trying to absorb the latest barrage of news. On top of the massage parlour slayings in Cape Town and the Zulu royal family murder earlier in the week.
In a midnight massacre possibly linked to rampant stocktheft in the Upper Tugela district seven women and children of the Xaba family of kwaMaye near Bergville were shot and burned to death on Wednesday
One may hope that one should get numbed and somehow used to the senseless murder and bloodletting. So far so I have not let the numbness develop - each death is still as horrific as the other. Some killings are admittedly more remote than the others and therefore a litlle less close to the heart and painful. They day that I accept that such death is an acceptable cost of living in this country and not an unquestionable act of barbarism is the day I cease to be human. It's difficult however when you love a country so much to have to deal so often with the dark aspects of living here. The temptation is certainly to ignore the horror as so long as it's not in your backyard.
Another horror item occurred in the backyard of my youth on Saturday. Chris Aldridge, a gentler soul I cannot think of, rest in peace. The fact that the suspects have been swiftly apprehended does not make the crimes any less horrific. The law (and the enforcement thereof) is still not providing a sufficient deterrent to criminals from these savages to those who drive recklessly on our roads. The temptation to admire Foucault's more barbaric forms of useful punishment in that such criminals should be drawn and quartered certainly arises. But that sits starkly in contradiction to the very reason that I find the bloodletting barabaric in the first place (Something on the lines of Donne's "no man is an island" type of thought). It is certainly difficult to balance the need for a strong deterring type of punishment with a sense of humanity and fairness. How does one stem the anarchy? Even our septuagenerian minister of home affairs is noting the resurgence of violence and this from a man who the TRC isolated as one of the key provocateurs of violence in Kwazulu in the 1980’s.
Nevers, you must understand, is the town in this world, and even the thing in this world that I dream most about during the night, at the same time that it is the thing I think least about during the day. “ Hiroshima, Mon Amour” by Marguerite Duras
Nightmares of War
Quiet few days of murder and mayhem! Particularly in Kwazulu Natal. I'm still trying to absorb the latest barrage of news. On top of the massage parlour slayings in Cape Town and the Zulu royal family murder earlier in the week.
In a midnight massacre possibly linked to rampant stocktheft in the Upper Tugela district seven women and children of the Xaba family of kwaMaye near Bergville were shot and burned to death on Wednesday
One may hope that one should get numbed and somehow used to the senseless murder and bloodletting. So far so I have not let the numbness develop - each death is still as horrific as the other. Some killings are admittedly more remote than the others and therefore a litlle less close to the heart and painful. They day that I accept that such death is an acceptable cost of living in this country and not an unquestionable act of barbarism is the day I cease to be human. It's difficult however when you love a country so much to have to deal so often with the dark aspects of living here. The temptation is certainly to ignore the horror as so long as it's not in your backyard.
Another horror item occurred in the backyard of my youth on Saturday. Chris Aldridge, a gentler soul I cannot think of, rest in peace. The fact that the suspects have been swiftly apprehended does not make the crimes any less horrific. The law (and the enforcement thereof) is still not providing a sufficient deterrent to criminals from these savages to those who drive recklessly on our roads. The temptation to admire Foucault's more barbaric forms of useful punishment in that such criminals should be drawn and quartered certainly arises. But that sits starkly in contradiction to the very reason that I find the bloodletting barabaric in the first place (Something on the lines of Donne's "no man is an island" type of thought). It is certainly difficult to balance the need for a strong deterring type of punishment with a sense of humanity and fairness. How does one stem the anarchy? Even our septuagenerian minister of home affairs is noting the resurgence of violence and this from a man who the TRC isolated as one of the key provocateurs of violence in Kwazulu in the 1980’s.
Nevers, you must understand, is the town in this world, and even the thing in this world that I dream most about during the night, at the same time that it is the thing I think least about during the day. “ Hiroshima, Mon Amour” by Marguerite Duras
Nightmares of War
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Matatha Tsedu's pontificating rant South Africa flunks its first black-empowerment test, big time
about the government's empowerment backdown on the Telkom share issue is unfounded and poorly researched. One would expect that the editor of the country's largest Sunday broadsheet would have at least done some research into why the government backed down on this issue on what I am sure was some sound legal advice. It seems that while our courts may have been in a position to rule in favour of the tiered classification of shareholders it was not clear that the US regulators would have been as sympathetic.
“The union had asked the American government to block the proposed secondary Telkom listing in New York, saying the planned racial discrimination of Khulisa contravened American law and policy
Tsedu's argument fails because he looks at empowerment / affirmative action (insert your buzzword of choice) as something which must reward those who have suffered past wrongs. Essentially a compensation for past suffering. This is not the aim of such a programme - the simplest manner in which any affirmative action can be morally justified is that it's implementation will result in a better (happier and more equitable) society than would exist if the policy were not implemented (utilitarianism - if you want the moral philosophy term for this justification).
The same argument can be quite simply applied to the government backdown. If the government did not back down then there was the genuine possibility the the United States regulatory body (the SEC) would have dismissed Telkom's plans for a US listing. This could well have delayed or damaged the listing process to the extent that the possible net loss to the country would have far exceeded the possible benefit that a few previously disadvantaged individuals would have gained by obtaining their shares cheaper.
The issue of who qualifies as previously disadvantaged individuals is something that can never be decided fairly but I don't think that this is the issue. The issue is simple - the Dept of Public Enterprises was faced with a tough decision between jeopardising the whole listing process by being discriminatory in the share offer process or by appearing to accede to the demands of the (white) Solidarity Union and risk annoying the likes of Tsedu. The government, rightly, chose the lesser of two evils.
On a further note one cannot fault the Solidarity Union, whatever one thinks of their organisational philosophy, for representing the interests of their constituents in a civil, legal and generally undisruptive manner. If all the unions in this country acted in this manner there would not be such a negative feeling in some circles toward organised labour. Tsedu should have at least read something like this: Govt, Solidarity reach agreement on Telkom listing
about the government's empowerment backdown on the Telkom share issue is unfounded and poorly researched. One would expect that the editor of the country's largest Sunday broadsheet would have at least done some research into why the government backed down on this issue on what I am sure was some sound legal advice. It seems that while our courts may have been in a position to rule in favour of the tiered classification of shareholders it was not clear that the US regulators would have been as sympathetic.
“The union had asked the American government to block the proposed secondary Telkom listing in New York, saying the planned racial discrimination of Khulisa contravened American law and policy
Tsedu's argument fails because he looks at empowerment / affirmative action (insert your buzzword of choice) as something which must reward those who have suffered past wrongs. Essentially a compensation for past suffering. This is not the aim of such a programme - the simplest manner in which any affirmative action can be morally justified is that it's implementation will result in a better (happier and more equitable) society than would exist if the policy were not implemented (utilitarianism - if you want the moral philosophy term for this justification).
The same argument can be quite simply applied to the government backdown. If the government did not back down then there was the genuine possibility the the United States regulatory body (the SEC) would have dismissed Telkom's plans for a US listing. This could well have delayed or damaged the listing process to the extent that the possible net loss to the country would have far exceeded the possible benefit that a few previously disadvantaged individuals would have gained by obtaining their shares cheaper.
The issue of who qualifies as previously disadvantaged individuals is something that can never be decided fairly but I don't think that this is the issue. The issue is simple - the Dept of Public Enterprises was faced with a tough decision between jeopardising the whole listing process by being discriminatory in the share offer process or by appearing to accede to the demands of the (white) Solidarity Union and risk annoying the likes of Tsedu. The government, rightly, chose the lesser of two evils.
On a further note one cannot fault the Solidarity Union, whatever one thinks of their organisational philosophy, for representing the interests of their constituents in a civil, legal and generally undisruptive manner. If all the unions in this country acted in this manner there would not be such a negative feeling in some circles toward organised labour. Tsedu should have at least read something like this: Govt, Solidarity reach agreement on Telkom listing
I am concerned about the direction in which the SABC3 newsroom is heading. Issues of timing of the broadcast and competion from etv News aside, there was last night a seeming political slant to the priority of news items that were presented. On a day when it was without doubt (even on a continent that Carl Jung characterised as "reeking of blood") that the headline news item was the savage and brutal murder of 8 people in a Cape Town massage parlour, the SABC chose to lead with a story of how the Special Investigations Unit (Scorpions) had been rapped over the knuckles by the a judge for a poorly executed and seemingly unjustified confiscation of Grootvlei prisoners "perks" such as radios and toasters. I cannot logically see how this event could be relatively even close to as newsworthy and tragic as that of the Cape Town murders. I can only, and hell I hope incorrectly, surmise that someone at the SABC has something in for the Scorpions and wished to ensure that their clearly embarrassing behaviour was seen as the most significant event in South Africa yesterday. The other issue of concern is that much emphasis was made of the fact that this was a gay massage parlour and that "bondage equipment" was found on the scene. The insinuation, too me, was that this was supposed to somehow make the murders less horrific or more acceptable.
The other clear memory I have of such political prioritising of news items was in 1989 when the SABC news revealed as their main news item on a day of some degree of political unrest and turmoil that the ANC had been included amongst a long list of world terrorist organisations in the CIA's red book. There was ten minutes spent on analysing and emphasising this point. Television is a powerful tool and I would hate to see things regress to the dark era of apartheid. I had thought things were going quite well, now I am not so sure.
On the issue of the news war between SABC and etv my greatest fear is that the SABC, and by early indications this seems to be the case, will try and clone the ideas and casual atmosphere that exists in the etv newsroom. The reason that etv has done well is that they were different and offered an alternate perspective. Two of the same will be, quite frankly, awful. The SABC would do better to sharpen up their unique style and character than to copy someone else's character.
The other clear memory I have of such political prioritising of news items was in 1989 when the SABC news revealed as their main news item on a day of some degree of political unrest and turmoil that the ANC had been included amongst a long list of world terrorist organisations in the CIA's red book. There was ten minutes spent on analysing and emphasising this point. Television is a powerful tool and I would hate to see things regress to the dark era of apartheid. I had thought things were going quite well, now I am not so sure.
On the issue of the news war between SABC and etv my greatest fear is that the SABC, and by early indications this seems to be the case, will try and clone the ideas and casual atmosphere that exists in the etv newsroom. The reason that etv has done well is that they were different and offered an alternate perspective. Two of the same will be, quite frankly, awful. The SABC would do better to sharpen up their unique style and character than to copy someone else's character.
Monday, January 20, 2003
Is AGOA (African Growth & Opportunities Act), the seemingly benevolent and well-intentioned free trade arrangement between Africa and the US, really as innocent and benevolent as it seems? I am not convinced of this and have tried to assimilate some background to ensure that it's not just my general (and often unfounded!) suspicion of things American that is giving me this uneasy feeling about this act. The reality is that, especially in the apparel industry things are certainly looking up. I would imagine that the quality suits from the likes of House of Monatic are covering many a well-girthed American right at this moment. The question of the long term sustainability of such projects remains as well as the question of how long this is going to last. Will the plug be pulled just when the capital expenditure required to get some real return out of AGOA has been laid out. The question really is whether AGOA is just too Clintonesque to be fully supported by the incumbent president Bush.
Interesting and fairly lively discussion emanating from Africaonline
in Kenya. Excerpt follows:
Press release from the State Department today:
"U.S. imports of goods from sub-Saharan Africa declined in 2001, but goods qualifying for favored treatment under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act in this first full year of the program totaled $8.2 billion, with most
of the AGOA imports accounted for by the energy sector."
Thanks Mr Bush, you're really helping us Africans buying Oil and nothing else and pretending that AGOA is really helping Africans. When you come to Mauritius (that very African country 3000 miles to our east) next month and tell the world how America is helping Africa, make sure you don't tell them the real story about how AGOA is benefitting Oil companies not Africans.
There needs to be some earnest debate on this issue. The US Senate staff (Robert Zoellick in particular) involved on AGOA appear to be genuine - well they come across that way in their interviews. I do hope that they receive genuine support to make this a real growth opportunity to clothe and feed Africa for the long term. This must not be another way to extract commodities from Africa (such as Gabon's oil) with little sustained return investment.
The acid test by which to judge the genuineness of motivation behind AGOA will be if the US Government is prepared to allow the duty free importing of African of agricultural commodities into the US and simultaneously cuts the tremendous farm subsidies that US farmers receive. This political potato is, I fear, simply too hot too handle.
Cape Talk
reports that "US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick brought a simple message to dozens of African ministers gathered in the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius: the key to development and poverty reduction is free trade and open markets." The thing about free trade is that it needs to come from both parties and tariffs are only a small portion of the bargain. The more challenging issue is a levelling of the playing field when it comes to subsidies and tax incentives applicable to the competing suppliers.
Justine Nofal writes in the Mail and Guardian Online If the history of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) is anything to go by, the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) countries are in for a torrid time if the United States succeeds in closing a similar agreement with them.
Interesting and fairly lively discussion emanating from Africaonline
in Kenya. Excerpt follows:
Press release from the State Department today:
"U.S. imports of goods from sub-Saharan Africa declined in 2001, but goods qualifying for favored treatment under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act in this first full year of the program totaled $8.2 billion, with most
of the AGOA imports accounted for by the energy sector."
Thanks Mr Bush, you're really helping us Africans buying Oil and nothing else and pretending that AGOA is really helping Africans. When you come to Mauritius (that very African country 3000 miles to our east) next month and tell the world how America is helping Africa, make sure you don't tell them the real story about how AGOA is benefitting Oil companies not Africans.
There needs to be some earnest debate on this issue. The US Senate staff (Robert Zoellick in particular) involved on AGOA appear to be genuine - well they come across that way in their interviews. I do hope that they receive genuine support to make this a real growth opportunity to clothe and feed Africa for the long term. This must not be another way to extract commodities from Africa (such as Gabon's oil) with little sustained return investment.
The acid test by which to judge the genuineness of motivation behind AGOA will be if the US Government is prepared to allow the duty free importing of African of agricultural commodities into the US and simultaneously cuts the tremendous farm subsidies that US farmers receive. This political potato is, I fear, simply too hot too handle.
Cape Talk
reports that "US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick brought a simple message to dozens of African ministers gathered in the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius: the key to development and poverty reduction is free trade and open markets." The thing about free trade is that it needs to come from both parties and tariffs are only a small portion of the bargain. The more challenging issue is a levelling of the playing field when it comes to subsidies and tax incentives applicable to the competing suppliers.
Justine Nofal writes in the Mail and Guardian Online If the history of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) is anything to go by, the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) countries are in for a torrid time if the United States succeeds in closing a similar agreement with them.
New boots for Rassie
and finally some sense in trying to regain the use of rugby's pensioners. Come on Rudolf - now you just need to convince Bleskop Andrews and Warren Britz that they need to visit Australia at the end of the year. The 'boks need the experienced core. We cannot and will not achieve anything in the World Cup later this year without a hub of experience, even if they sit on the bench. Flair, luck and youth will only take us so far. Have I said it yet ? WHAT A YEAR FOR SPORT!
and finally some sense in trying to regain the use of rugby's pensioners. Come on Rudolf - now you just need to convince Bleskop Andrews and Warren Britz that they need to visit Australia at the end of the year. The 'boks need the experienced core. We cannot and will not achieve anything in the World Cup later this year without a hub of experience, even if they sit on the bench. Flair, luck and youth will only take us so far. Have I said it yet ? WHAT A YEAR FOR SPORT!
Where are you Alex Jay?Under Construction
Tried to google for him and there is nothing since November 2002. While I class both you and SAfm's Rafe Lavine (Rafe Lavine probably knows more about rock and pop music than you've had hot dinners) as some of the finer things in life I can't bear the though that you may be lost to radio forever. Since the early days of 'varsity when you doubled as an alarm clock and accompaniment to my hangover till the more laid back mid-morning slot where with your acerbic wit and insight into the sublime and ridiculousness that makes this country so great, I miss you bugger. I mean , Anyway Alex Jay, how many DJ's have had artists of the calibre of Valiant Swart
sing songs about them.
Tried to google for him and there is nothing since November 2002. While I class both you and SAfm's Rafe Lavine (Rafe Lavine probably knows more about rock and pop music than you've had hot dinners) as some of the finer things in life I can't bear the though that you may be lost to radio forever. Since the early days of 'varsity when you doubled as an alarm clock and accompaniment to my hangover till the more laid back mid-morning slot where with your acerbic wit and insight into the sublime and ridiculousness that makes this country so great, I miss you bugger. I mean , Anyway Alex Jay, how many DJ's have had artists of the calibre of Valiant Swart
sing songs about them.
A great article on the Zimbabwe crisis from the Spectator's Peter Oborne. Link via a post from Common Sense. It's good to see some US interest in Zimbabwe. Pity that Mugabe isn't suspected of harbouring weapons of mass destruction which would certainly result in a bit more urgency in US attempts (have there been any?) to oust this tyrant. Perhaps greater note should be taken of the fact that the country has become an enclave of Libya by virtue of Mugabe having exchanged strategic Zimbabwe state assets for short term supply of oil from the Libyan Tamoil company.
Thursday, January 16, 2003
Sharks Rugby Kevin Putt has revealed his Super 12 squad of 30 to do duty in 2003. This year there is again plenty of potential running about in Durban. Just how much will the loss of Mark Andrews and Warren Britz effect the squad? But Craig Davidson is back and hopefully will show some of his great form again. Roll on Feb 21 for the opener at Newlands.
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
‘Six pints of bitter,’ said Ford Prefect to the barman of the Horse and Groom. ‘And quickly please, the world’s about to end.’The barman of the Horse and Groom didn’t deserve this sort of treatment, he was a dignified old man. He pushed his glasses up his nose and blinked at Ford Prefect. Ford ignored him and stared out of the window, so the barman looked instead at Arthur who shrugged helplessly and said nothing.
So the barman said, ‘Oh yes sir? Nice weather for it,’ and started pulling pints.
He tried again.
‘Going to watch the match this afternoon then?’
Ford glanced round at him.
‘No, no point,’ he said, and looked back out of the window.
‘What’s that, foregone conclusion then you reckon sir?’ said the barman. ‘Arsenal without a chance?’
‘No no,’ said Ford, ‘it’s just that the world’s about to end.’
‘Oh yes sir, so you said,’ said the barman, looking over his glasses this time at Arthur. ‘Lucky escape for Arsenal if it did.’
Ford looked back at him genuinely surprised.
‘No, not really,’ he said. He frowned.
The barman breathed in heavily. ‘There you are sir, six pints,’ he said.
- Douglas Adams in The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
So the barman said, ‘Oh yes sir? Nice weather for it,’ and started pulling pints.
He tried again.
‘Going to watch the match this afternoon then?’
Ford glanced round at him.
‘No, no point,’ he said, and looked back out of the window.
‘What’s that, foregone conclusion then you reckon sir?’ said the barman. ‘Arsenal without a chance?’
‘No no,’ said Ford, ‘it’s just that the world’s about to end.’
‘Oh yes sir, so you said,’ said the barman, looking over his glasses this time at Arthur. ‘Lucky escape for Arsenal if it did.’
Ford looked back at him genuinely surprised.
‘No, not really,’ he said. He frowned.
The barman breathed in heavily. ‘There you are sir, six pints,’ he said.
- Douglas Adams in The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy
And finally some conclusion on the cricket in Zimbabwe.England will play in Zim England will play in Zim. The Australians have been a bit quiet though. I received my allotment of tickets today - R4500 later - it'd better be worth it. Will trade for profit - mail me!
Talking of strange Sunday rules. We still have the bizarre legislation that precludes liquor from being sold legally on Sundays anywhere. This is such a hangover from the past that the legislation must be extinguished. This is really archaic and I can't think of any logical argument fot the fact that I can buy a bottle of wine on Saturday afternoon, put it in my fridge, and have it over Sunday lunch but if my planning is poor I cannot buy that same bottle of wine on Sunday morning when I collect my fresh bread rolls from the supermarket, rather I have to stare through the grilled off and cordonned wine section and only wish that I had better foresight. It is not the state's prerogative to protect my liver!!!
My jaundiced view of the 'States has been improved lately by the same channel's screening this weekof the first episode of HBO's Six Feet Under. What a pleasure. Great TV and a great analysis of the process of grief and death and life in general. Hey and there was even a man to man kiss, somewhat passionate, on TV. I almost didn't notice that it was across the colour bar as well. We've come a long way in the last 10 years - more than most people can fathom or are willing to believe. Just over ten years ago the most risque flesh mags were compelled to place fake stars to cover the nipples of their models. Scope Magazine - now defunct.SA sex through the decades
"On the debit side, the 60s were a decade in which granite Calvinism ruled South Africa, a time when inter-racial sex was a criminal offence, when the thought police (aka the censors) could ban pantihose packets for revealing too much thigh, when Scope magazine was banned because it featured a picture of a black man hugging a white woman on the streets of New York. As I recall, the censors' reasoning was that such a picture could lead to "racial friction" in South Africa. Just as white cops murdering unarmed blacks on the streets of Sharpeville was guaranteed to promote racial harmony . "
One could not even catch fish or swim on Sundays and our future president (Nelson Mandela) was still in jail. Today - well we blog freely - and I've seem snippets of naked breasts twice this week on the main evening news!
The blogging community has improved my impression of general America over the last few weeks. But any country that could produce the likes of Thomas Nagel & Dan Dennett can't be all bad.
"On the debit side, the 60s were a decade in which granite Calvinism ruled South Africa, a time when inter-racial sex was a criminal offence, when the thought police (aka the censors) could ban pantihose packets for revealing too much thigh, when Scope magazine was banned because it featured a picture of a black man hugging a white woman on the streets of New York. As I recall, the censors' reasoning was that such a picture could lead to "racial friction" in South Africa. Just as white cops murdering unarmed blacks on the streets of Sharpeville was guaranteed to promote racial harmony . "
One could not even catch fish or swim on Sundays and our future president (Nelson Mandela) was still in jail. Today - well we blog freely - and I've seem snippets of naked breasts twice this week on the main evening news!
The blogging community has improved my impression of general America over the last few weeks. But any country that could produce the likes of Thomas Nagel & Dan Dennett can't be all bad.
The most naked I've ever seen Oprah Winfrey! Really good interview on South African eTV (3rd Degree - with Deborah Patta)
last night where she poured her heart out regarding her gift project in South Africa over the Christmas period. She, probably for the first time, came across as being sincere - I even noticed some (could I say nervous?) body language signs - scratching her head etc. Great girl - humble soul who has done bloody well for herself and is managing to use her wealth for decent philantrophy. I must say that the publicity in SA regarding her visit has been low profile and almost ignored - which is frankly how well meaning philantrophists should act. One caveat though, I see that she hasn't left her commercial sense in the 'States and that the "exclusive interview" on South African TV, filmed, edited and produced by South African TV was licenced to, wait for it, Harpo Productions.
last night where she poured her heart out regarding her gift project in South Africa over the Christmas period. She, probably for the first time, came across as being sincere - I even noticed some (could I say nervous?) body language signs - scratching her head etc. Great girl - humble soul who has done bloody well for herself and is managing to use her wealth for decent philantrophy. I must say that the publicity in SA regarding her visit has been low profile and almost ignored - which is frankly how well meaning philantrophists should act. One caveat though, I see that she hasn't left her commercial sense in the 'States and that the "exclusive interview" on South African TV, filmed, edited and produced by South African TV was licenced to, wait for it, Harpo Productions.
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
A rather long post on my thoughts regarding external auditors and their RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC
"The (Auditors) Code of Professional Conduct recognises that the essence of professional is an attitude of mind, which cannot be pinned down and defined. The Code is designed to provide guidance to members about what peers consider being acceptable behaviour and cites integrity, objectivity and independence as fundamental principles.
Studies carried out locally have shown that users of financial reports have serious concerns regarding the independence and objectivity of auditors in South Africa. The concern is strengthened by the fact that a relatively high percentage of auditors admitted that they are aware of independence shortcomings. It seems therefore that the Code is not achieving its objectives."
The above statement by Henk Heymans appeared in editorial comment in the April 1995 issue of Accountancy SA. The same article concludes with the suggestion that to remedy the situation "the central objective of a conceptual framework of ethics should be to develop and articulate a logical and cohesive body of concepts that can serve as a guide to the resolution of practical issues that require consideration from time to time. Ideally, the body of concepts should emerge from a process that is ‘principle’ oriented rather than one oriented to compromise and consensus emerging from differing views." It is this framework, states Heymans, that must be impressed upon students to "provide them with a set of values in terms of which professional behaviour can be moulded."
Little has changed over the last 6 years. It was my contention then and remains so today that this very narrow view of ethics - reduced to a set of imperatives (i.e. Where ethical decisions are decided with reference to a ‘rule’ or ‘principle’) is partly to blame for the ethical shortcomings (or perception thereof) within the auditing profession. These ethical shortcomings are once again in focus – notably with the fallout from Enron’s collapse in the US and from the South African failures of the last year or so.
This view of ethics is echoed in a standard reference work for auditing students and practitioners by the description that ethics is "a set of ideals, which may take the form of rules of conduct that provides the distinction between right and wrong behaviour." My contention is that ethics is a far broader and less clear-cut issue than can be prescribed by a set of rules. Much of the debate about ethical issues stems from deep suspicion of principles as a touchstone of modern morality.
The need for ethical behaviour to be maintained by members of a profession is clear. Firstly to imbue, in the mind of the public, confidence in the profession. Secondly, to protect the monopoly of that profession within a particular society. Thirdly, to pre-empt unwanted regulation by the state or other legislative authority. The question that must be asked is whether this ethical conduct is best encouraged by a prescriptive code of ethics or whether a system based on an informed set of possible outcomes should be put into practice.
A recent Financial Times article by columnist Peter Martin points out that following:
“Singling out accountants in this way is not meant to imply that they are any less capable of responding to moral dilemmas than other business people. It is just that auditors…have a public role that makes these ethical issues more visible.
Indeed, more and more business areas are falling into the trap that enmeshes accountants. The more that scandals lead regulators to impose detailed prescriptive rules, the more business people will settle for fulfilling the letter of those rules, without thinking of the broader ethical purpose they serve.”3
A further problem is that the Code of Ethics is placed in an ivory tower that must be complied with at all cost. This means that people are obeying the code, not out of a desire to behave ethically, but rather to avoid the censure of noncompliance. When professional organisations adopt codes of ethics, these organisations encourage a code-implied model of ethical decision making. The auditor evaluates ethical dilemmas against the code and makes a decision based on avoiding possible violation.
Studies have shown that audit managers with high-moral-development detect material fraud at a higher rate.This suggests that compliance with a code has far less effect on how auditors behave than how they react within the constraints of the environment and the personal moral framework that they operate with. The attitude seems to exist that if an action complies with the code it is ethical. The same study also found that firms tended to retain, through advancement, staff (notably the male staff) that were less sensitive to the ethical implications of various issues. What this really means is not certain but would perhaps suggest that staff who turn a blind eye to ethical implications are more likely to succeed in the accounting profession. This seems to be in contrast to the clear economic incentive (i.e. reducing the risk of litigation and/or audit risk) of accounting firms to retain high-moral-development staff.
The problems that the profession face over issues of independence and objectivity are in part due to over-reliance on and the inflexibility of the code of ethics for all ethical decisions. The problem here is that once a person has violated the code on a trivial matter where the positive outcomes of not obeying the code far outweigh the negative issues involved in compliance, the sanctity of the code is broken and he begins to think that if it all right in one case to violate the code it may be so in other cases (which may not be so trivial - such as issues of independence).
A study of cheating amongst accounting students revealed that 38% of students would cheat (plagiarise) if there was zero risk of detection.6 This patently suggests that perhaps students (being potential members of the profession) are in need of some moral development.
Other studies cite numerous empirical tests in support of the view that professional education improves moral reasoning in accountants and that among accountants across the globe in eight countries from the USA to the Philippines and Moldova, there is not global uniformity when it comes to making ethical decisions.This makes the issue of creating a code of ethics that is fully representative of the profession (which is undeniably global) a pipe dream.
For issues of professional ethics to be resolved successfully the moral nature of the members of the profession must be developed to allow them to make ethical decisions based on reflective choice rather than in accordance with a set of rules. The code is useful here in that it can provide a quick reference or starting point in making ethical decisions of an everyday nature. But I contend that since it would be impossible for a code to encompass all possible moral viewpoints that it must not be seen to be set in stone. To make ethical decisions the profession must be allowed to refer to a higher ‘mission statement’, something that places the profession squarely as member of society.
Perhaps this is too difficult to envision, or the thought of not having a rule book to refer to is too daunting, but this should not deter us from at least exercising a modicum of self reflection (as opposed to code reflection) when confronted with ethical dilemmas. As Peter Martin suggests, the question auditors should be asking is : “What is the right thing to do?”. Not I argue : “Does this comply with the code of conduct?” And certainly not : “Would anyone ever know if we overlooked this issue?”
Auditors, are first and foremost human beings (despite numerous arguments to the contrary) and have a duty to the society they are part of. The code of conduct of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants starts by saying that: "The distinguishing mark of a profession is acceptance of its responsibility to the public." It should end there too.
"The (Auditors) Code of Professional Conduct recognises that the essence of professional is an attitude of mind, which cannot be pinned down and defined. The Code is designed to provide guidance to members about what peers consider being acceptable behaviour and cites integrity, objectivity and independence as fundamental principles.
Studies carried out locally have shown that users of financial reports have serious concerns regarding the independence and objectivity of auditors in South Africa. The concern is strengthened by the fact that a relatively high percentage of auditors admitted that they are aware of independence shortcomings. It seems therefore that the Code is not achieving its objectives."
The above statement by Henk Heymans appeared in editorial comment in the April 1995 issue of Accountancy SA. The same article concludes with the suggestion that to remedy the situation "the central objective of a conceptual framework of ethics should be to develop and articulate a logical and cohesive body of concepts that can serve as a guide to the resolution of practical issues that require consideration from time to time. Ideally, the body of concepts should emerge from a process that is ‘principle’ oriented rather than one oriented to compromise and consensus emerging from differing views." It is this framework, states Heymans, that must be impressed upon students to "provide them with a set of values in terms of which professional behaviour can be moulded."
Little has changed over the last 6 years. It was my contention then and remains so today that this very narrow view of ethics - reduced to a set of imperatives (i.e. Where ethical decisions are decided with reference to a ‘rule’ or ‘principle’) is partly to blame for the ethical shortcomings (or perception thereof) within the auditing profession. These ethical shortcomings are once again in focus – notably with the fallout from Enron’s collapse in the US and from the South African failures of the last year or so.
This view of ethics is echoed in a standard reference work for auditing students and practitioners by the description that ethics is "a set of ideals, which may take the form of rules of conduct that provides the distinction between right and wrong behaviour." My contention is that ethics is a far broader and less clear-cut issue than can be prescribed by a set of rules. Much of the debate about ethical issues stems from deep suspicion of principles as a touchstone of modern morality.
The need for ethical behaviour to be maintained by members of a profession is clear. Firstly to imbue, in the mind of the public, confidence in the profession. Secondly, to protect the monopoly of that profession within a particular society. Thirdly, to pre-empt unwanted regulation by the state or other legislative authority. The question that must be asked is whether this ethical conduct is best encouraged by a prescriptive code of ethics or whether a system based on an informed set of possible outcomes should be put into practice.
A recent Financial Times article by columnist Peter Martin points out that following:
“Singling out accountants in this way is not meant to imply that they are any less capable of responding to moral dilemmas than other business people. It is just that auditors…have a public role that makes these ethical issues more visible.
Indeed, more and more business areas are falling into the trap that enmeshes accountants. The more that scandals lead regulators to impose detailed prescriptive rules, the more business people will settle for fulfilling the letter of those rules, without thinking of the broader ethical purpose they serve.”3
A further problem is that the Code of Ethics is placed in an ivory tower that must be complied with at all cost. This means that people are obeying the code, not out of a desire to behave ethically, but rather to avoid the censure of noncompliance. When professional organisations adopt codes of ethics, these organisations encourage a code-implied model of ethical decision making. The auditor evaluates ethical dilemmas against the code and makes a decision based on avoiding possible violation.
Studies have shown that audit managers with high-moral-development detect material fraud at a higher rate.This suggests that compliance with a code has far less effect on how auditors behave than how they react within the constraints of the environment and the personal moral framework that they operate with. The attitude seems to exist that if an action complies with the code it is ethical. The same study also found that firms tended to retain, through advancement, staff (notably the male staff) that were less sensitive to the ethical implications of various issues. What this really means is not certain but would perhaps suggest that staff who turn a blind eye to ethical implications are more likely to succeed in the accounting profession. This seems to be in contrast to the clear economic incentive (i.e. reducing the risk of litigation and/or audit risk) of accounting firms to retain high-moral-development staff.
The problems that the profession face over issues of independence and objectivity are in part due to over-reliance on and the inflexibility of the code of ethics for all ethical decisions. The problem here is that once a person has violated the code on a trivial matter where the positive outcomes of not obeying the code far outweigh the negative issues involved in compliance, the sanctity of the code is broken and he begins to think that if it all right in one case to violate the code it may be so in other cases (which may not be so trivial - such as issues of independence).
A study of cheating amongst accounting students revealed that 38% of students would cheat (plagiarise) if there was zero risk of detection.6 This patently suggests that perhaps students (being potential members of the profession) are in need of some moral development.
Other studies cite numerous empirical tests in support of the view that professional education improves moral reasoning in accountants and that among accountants across the globe in eight countries from the USA to the Philippines and Moldova, there is not global uniformity when it comes to making ethical decisions.This makes the issue of creating a code of ethics that is fully representative of the profession (which is undeniably global) a pipe dream.
For issues of professional ethics to be resolved successfully the moral nature of the members of the profession must be developed to allow them to make ethical decisions based on reflective choice rather than in accordance with a set of rules. The code is useful here in that it can provide a quick reference or starting point in making ethical decisions of an everyday nature. But I contend that since it would be impossible for a code to encompass all possible moral viewpoints that it must not be seen to be set in stone. To make ethical decisions the profession must be allowed to refer to a higher ‘mission statement’, something that places the profession squarely as member of society.
Perhaps this is too difficult to envision, or the thought of not having a rule book to refer to is too daunting, but this should not deter us from at least exercising a modicum of self reflection (as opposed to code reflection) when confronted with ethical dilemmas. As Peter Martin suggests, the question auditors should be asking is : “What is the right thing to do?”. Not I argue : “Does this comply with the code of conduct?” And certainly not : “Would anyone ever know if we overlooked this issue?”
Auditors, are first and foremost human beings (despite numerous arguments to the contrary) and have a duty to the society they are part of. The code of conduct of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants starts by saying that: "The distinguishing mark of a profession is acceptance of its responsibility to the public." It should end there too.
The Cape Town film industry may be doing rather well. The surprising thing is that they obviously cannot read maps or understand directions. The roads that approach to each film shoot are littered with signs giving directions to the "rolling pictures". Why? Do my clients put up signs telling me how to get to their offices? No. Why should we put up with this? Send them on map reading courses!
So our "bull in a china shop" sports minister Ngconde Balfour says 'They're hypocritical' "It would be disrespectful for a cricketer or any athlete not to shake the hand of the president of any country for a political reason." referring to calls for England cricket captain Hussain not to shake President Mugabe's hand. Isn't that the point. If he doesn't respect him why should he have to show respect?
Thursday, January 09, 2003
The carnage continues. This may be fun? South African Roadhogs but does it help. I doubt it. Most of the culprits may not have 'net access and in any case are probably too insensitive and disrrespectful to care anyway.
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
I found this story in one of my old books. History repeating itself? Vico was right I think. James Joyce too in saying that it's a "commodious vicus of recirculation.
THE MAN WHO WENT AWAY*
He felt that he had given South Africa a fair trial; and now after prolonged discussions with his wife, he had decided to leave it, he hoped for ever.
Primarily he was a farmer; secondly he owned a store or two; and now the trend of events of the past few years had turned him pessimist. Everything had gone wrong, and it was still going wrong, with the country and with himself. So far as he could see South Africa was not worth living in any longer “ there was nothing to look forward to, no future, no hope, nothing.
When a pessimist lets himself go he must do it thoroughly, otherwise he would not be a true pessimist.
Drought had followed upon drought, the effects of which were felt by every business and nearly everybody in the country. And as though that were not enough, politics รข€“ were stirring up bad feeling everywhere and making matters worse than they ever need have been.
Then there had been the adverse report on the mines, there was little hope of the mines lasting much longer, no hope of their ever being able to pay a year or two hence, they were finished , and if they were finished so was South Africa. The newspapers, too, were full of gloomy facts, natives were getting out of hand, there were more people leaving the Union than were coming into it, South Africa was being given a wide berth, there was trouble looming ahead, he had seen it coming for some time, and now he had "got the wind up" he was for fresher, freer fields and other pastures.
Not easily nor lightly had he and she decided upon this cutting away from the land of their adoption. It had been talked over between them for a long time, and it is a little sad to think that two once confirmed optimists should allow the trend of events serious enough in their way to narrow them down to this extent. But there it is รข€“ when one or two get into such a state as that, their only hope is to give up hope. They both did this as far as South Africa was concerned.
As true pessimists they had, of course forgotten the fact that there would be bad conditions elsewhere in the world; and they had forgotten that past droughts in South Africa had broken, and that for one hundred years there had been the Native menace, and that political upheavals came and disappeared as clouds from the sun. They forgot, too, that new mines are discovered from time to time and that in this vast land there must be large tracts of untapped sources of minerals. They had, in short, forgotten that there is the swing of the pendulum in the life of a country to adjust to matters, and that the nasty bump it gets from the heavy end of the pendulum goes down completely when it swings the other way.
****
In attempting to decide where to settle, the first important fact that struck them was that this was a large world. They looked at overseas papers and magazines and several other publications in this country, and many maps: and it was rather difficult to know just where to go. He was rather inclined toward Australia. She wished to go to England: she had an aunt there. He preferred Australia as being more likely to help them. England was decided upon, and the discussions that resulted in this need not be written about now. Personally, he did not mind much where he went so long as it was away from South Africa.and there were few happier men than he was on that intermediate boat when he saw the land of plagues and problems and politics, dissensions and discord, fading away behind the horizon. Pessimists, when they left South Africa, the sea and all that in it is, must have turned them into robust optimists within three weeks, for they hired a farm in England. He could not run a store in connection with the farm, for England was so very well provided with stores; in whatever it direction they walked there seemed to be a flourishing village with flourishing stores within half an hour or so of the farm.
In good time the income tax people discovered him, and he received a shock on learning that he was mulcted to the extent of a quarter of his income; that was very nasty. There was much that he liked about the country, but there was much that he disliked; particularly the cold, and that funny looking sun like a red-hot ha'penny somewhere behind a cloud or fog or mist. And he found also much dissension and discord whether in a bus or amongst the villagers, or in Hyde Park. And, what was worse still, there were politics the very thing he wished to escape from. What a nuisance. Of course, her aunt didn't mind all of this she had been brought up to it and would go down with it, but he talked it over with his wife the result that they both went to Kingsway House in the Strand, saw some excellent films and apples of Australia, interviewed several officials, studied pamphlets very carefully, looked at many pictures of farms and land, and they booked their passage out to Australia.
Perhaps their greatest delight on arrival was in seeing the sun once more shining over earth and trees with decent regularity. Later on, after they had settled down in Burramagidgee on a small farm, and with small store as an adjunct, he was not so delighted to see so much of the sun. In fact, he found that an Australian drought was a real drought, and when coupled with rabbits, was much harder going than mere ordinary drought with wireworm and politics in South Africa.
As for labour, whatever labour he got, labour had got him. Labour was so organised and so independent that he felt he should take his hat off to it, when he approached it and asked it for a job on his farm. Sometimes at night after they had washed up รข€“ and particularly on Monday nights after she had done the week's washing they would talk about other days when all this work was done for them. It was at shearing time that the die was cast for another move. The shearers struck work because there was no cake with their tea. Hens, like hens they had known before, didn't lay when they should have laid; and although the neighbourhood had been searched for eggs, none were obtainable and no cake could be made. So he and she had struck, too, and they began to look down the shipping lists, and more maps, to try to decide where to live. New Zealand and Tasmania, with land selling at so much per square yard, and labour difficulties, were turned down.
****
He was rather taken with Vancouver, and the chicken and dairy farm he had got hold of suited him to a certain extent, although he was always a little afraid of the Chinaman who was the one and only farm hand. The 'Chink' could work all right he could work all wrong, too- and he didn't like that look in the Chink's eye or the pigtail. He could never get used to the pigtail of the farm 'Chink'. Still, he could have put up with that, for the climate was ideal, there was rain when it was needed, there were rivers and fishing within a stone's throw, and perhaps money to be made out of the farm. But it was always that 'but'. If Australia was hard for a woman, Canada was harder still. Not a house servant for love or money. A good deal of entertaining was done "it was the custom" and lady "guests" were generally asked to arrive in good time to prepare the meal whilst the men, afterwards, were expected to clear away the debris and put the plates in their proper places, having washed them not quite so well as she had washed them in Australia.
And the small size of the "farm", too, made him feel rather like one of those many hens he had, cooped up in a cage, or run. There was no real scope, and it seemed to him that as soon as he saddled his horse (he had just bought a horse at an outrageous price just for the love of riding) it went into his boundary fence before he had mounted. He had also lost several hundred chickens on season from some new disease; and there were politics ; the papers were full of politics, and, as politics always do, it, or they, affected the individual; but more on her account than anything else "for it was a tough life for a woman" a new move was decided on.
For a change, since they had started out for a change, what about Mauritius, where the sugar comes from? They had heard it was "nice place" giving one more scope than trying to grow coffee in Java or bananas in Fiji. He had had an offer to go diving for pearls off Borneo; an had also received an offer of a partnership in Saskatchewan, where the snow and ice at certain seasons were so thick that one used a handline to guide one from the house to the log hut where the wood was stored for the kitchen fire.
In Mauritius, if he found, perchance, the sweets of life were lacking in the growing of sugar, he could change over to vanilla, or tea, or aloes for fibre: it might be a pleasant novelty to grow fibre for grain bags instead of wheat to put into them.
They settled, by accident, in a place in Mauritius where the rainfall was about 100 inches a year. He thought he was just out of the rain belt, but after he arrived the belt widened. These belts were annoying things; somehow he always managed to get into them, drought belts, hail belts, frost belts; and then he got into a malaria belt; and when he left the hospital for a seaside resort to recuperate, and found the first-class saloon of the train mostly occupied by natives, and he and she cut out any more experiments and took the first boat back to South Africa. And in all their travels nothing had ever thrilled them as on that memorable morning when, leaning over the rail of the ship, they saw the golden sunshine touch the top of Table Mountain.
****
They were sitting on the stoep on the farm he had hired and hoped to purchase eventually. The western sky was a blaze of crimson and pink and gold; a long and irregular line of deep blue and purple hills stood out sharply in the far distance; an overwhelming beauty and sense of peace hovered over the scene. What a fool he had been to lose faith and hope and all those years, searching for the impossible, searching for a land without disadvantages and difficulties, land where there were no politics nor pessimists. Why had he not remembered that these things were prevalent in South Africa even one hundred years ago and yet the country had progressed and developed developed, and so ready for further development. This vast South Africa, with its enormous spaces yet to be peopled, holding out more opportunities for those who would work than any land he had been to in all these wandering years ; the youth and newness and freshness of it. What land out of all those that had seen offered so fine a future for a man and woman and their children? Compared to the rest of the world South Africa was a baby "everything lay ahead of it" it had hardly been touched ; a million and a half Europeans scattered over nearly half a million square miles ; a great future waiting for it yet ; and he had been fool enough to think that it was finished and done, for what tricks a man's mind can play with him, how wrong he had been when he decided on that long-ago day to cut away from it for ever.
Strange how anybody living in a land of great spaces, great distances, great mountains, could become so narrow minded, shutting one's eyes to the good and the best and only seeing the worst. Perhaps it was the fault of the politicians, so many of them took only the narrow outlook, saw only the worst instead of the best, that must react upon the community :it must sub-consciously affect a people.
Well, no more narrow outlook for him: he had seen the world now, had lived under other conditions in other lands; he knew that he was jolly well off where he was now and that the country would continue to develop and progress as it had from the beginning. There would, of course, be checks and setbacks and disappointments from time to time, but in the long run it would grow and expand, as all healthy babies grow and expand.
New blood would come in, there would be new towns and new mines, new farms, new industries, new railways, new water schemes, new states, and with cheap living and cheap labour, dearer than it was, but still cheap 'the healthiest climate in the world'.
The hills faded away into the night; the sky was a mass of brilliant stars; the young moon was disappearing below the horizon; a dove cooed; all around intense silence.
"It is good to be back", said the woman.
"It is, replied the man. They were happier than they had been for years; happier and (of this he felt very certain)a little wiser, too.
* Leonard Flemming, from the "The Odd Koppie of A Veld Fool", 1st edition, AC White Printing and Publishing, Bloemfontein, 1929.
THE MAN WHO WENT AWAY*
He felt that he had given South Africa a fair trial; and now after prolonged discussions with his wife, he had decided to leave it, he hoped for ever.
Primarily he was a farmer; secondly he owned a store or two; and now the trend of events of the past few years had turned him pessimist. Everything had gone wrong, and it was still going wrong, with the country and with himself. So far as he could see South Africa was not worth living in any longer “ there was nothing to look forward to, no future, no hope, nothing.
When a pessimist lets himself go he must do it thoroughly, otherwise he would not be a true pessimist.
Drought had followed upon drought, the effects of which were felt by every business and nearly everybody in the country. And as though that were not enough, politics รข€“ were stirring up bad feeling everywhere and making matters worse than they ever need have been.
Then there had been the adverse report on the mines, there was little hope of the mines lasting much longer, no hope of their ever being able to pay a year or two hence, they were finished , and if they were finished so was South Africa. The newspapers, too, were full of gloomy facts, natives were getting out of hand, there were more people leaving the Union than were coming into it, South Africa was being given a wide berth, there was trouble looming ahead, he had seen it coming for some time, and now he had "got the wind up" he was for fresher, freer fields and other pastures.
Not easily nor lightly had he and she decided upon this cutting away from the land of their adoption. It had been talked over between them for a long time, and it is a little sad to think that two once confirmed optimists should allow the trend of events serious enough in their way to narrow them down to this extent. But there it is รข€“ when one or two get into such a state as that, their only hope is to give up hope. They both did this as far as South Africa was concerned.
As true pessimists they had, of course forgotten the fact that there would be bad conditions elsewhere in the world; and they had forgotten that past droughts in South Africa had broken, and that for one hundred years there had been the Native menace, and that political upheavals came and disappeared as clouds from the sun. They forgot, too, that new mines are discovered from time to time and that in this vast land there must be large tracts of untapped sources of minerals. They had, in short, forgotten that there is the swing of the pendulum in the life of a country to adjust to matters, and that the nasty bump it gets from the heavy end of the pendulum goes down completely when it swings the other way.
****
In attempting to decide where to settle, the first important fact that struck them was that this was a large world. They looked at overseas papers and magazines and several other publications in this country, and many maps: and it was rather difficult to know just where to go. He was rather inclined toward Australia. She wished to go to England: she had an aunt there. He preferred Australia as being more likely to help them. England was decided upon, and the discussions that resulted in this need not be written about now. Personally, he did not mind much where he went so long as it was away from South Africa.and there were few happier men than he was on that intermediate boat when he saw the land of plagues and problems and politics, dissensions and discord, fading away behind the horizon. Pessimists, when they left South Africa, the sea and all that in it is, must have turned them into robust optimists within three weeks, for they hired a farm in England. He could not run a store in connection with the farm, for England was so very well provided with stores; in whatever it direction they walked there seemed to be a flourishing village with flourishing stores within half an hour or so of the farm.
In good time the income tax people discovered him, and he received a shock on learning that he was mulcted to the extent of a quarter of his income; that was very nasty. There was much that he liked about the country, but there was much that he disliked; particularly the cold, and that funny looking sun like a red-hot ha'penny somewhere behind a cloud or fog or mist. And he found also much dissension and discord whether in a bus or amongst the villagers, or in Hyde Park. And, what was worse still, there were politics the very thing he wished to escape from. What a nuisance. Of course, her aunt didn't mind all of this she had been brought up to it and would go down with it, but he talked it over with his wife the result that they both went to Kingsway House in the Strand, saw some excellent films and apples of Australia, interviewed several officials, studied pamphlets very carefully, looked at many pictures of farms and land, and they booked their passage out to Australia.
Perhaps their greatest delight on arrival was in seeing the sun once more shining over earth and trees with decent regularity. Later on, after they had settled down in Burramagidgee on a small farm, and with small store as an adjunct, he was not so delighted to see so much of the sun. In fact, he found that an Australian drought was a real drought, and when coupled with rabbits, was much harder going than mere ordinary drought with wireworm and politics in South Africa.
As for labour, whatever labour he got, labour had got him. Labour was so organised and so independent that he felt he should take his hat off to it, when he approached it and asked it for a job on his farm. Sometimes at night after they had washed up รข€“ and particularly on Monday nights after she had done the week's washing they would talk about other days when all this work was done for them. It was at shearing time that the die was cast for another move. The shearers struck work because there was no cake with their tea. Hens, like hens they had known before, didn't lay when they should have laid; and although the neighbourhood had been searched for eggs, none were obtainable and no cake could be made. So he and she had struck, too, and they began to look down the shipping lists, and more maps, to try to decide where to live. New Zealand and Tasmania, with land selling at so much per square yard, and labour difficulties, were turned down.
****
He was rather taken with Vancouver, and the chicken and dairy farm he had got hold of suited him to a certain extent, although he was always a little afraid of the Chinaman who was the one and only farm hand. The 'Chink' could work all right he could work all wrong, too- and he didn't like that look in the Chink's eye or the pigtail. He could never get used to the pigtail of the farm 'Chink'. Still, he could have put up with that, for the climate was ideal, there was rain when it was needed, there were rivers and fishing within a stone's throw, and perhaps money to be made out of the farm. But it was always that 'but'. If Australia was hard for a woman, Canada was harder still. Not a house servant for love or money. A good deal of entertaining was done "it was the custom" and lady "guests" were generally asked to arrive in good time to prepare the meal whilst the men, afterwards, were expected to clear away the debris and put the plates in their proper places, having washed them not quite so well as she had washed them in Australia.
And the small size of the "farm", too, made him feel rather like one of those many hens he had, cooped up in a cage, or run. There was no real scope, and it seemed to him that as soon as he saddled his horse (he had just bought a horse at an outrageous price just for the love of riding) it went into his boundary fence before he had mounted. He had also lost several hundred chickens on season from some new disease; and there were politics ; the papers were full of politics, and, as politics always do, it, or they, affected the individual; but more on her account than anything else "for it was a tough life for a woman" a new move was decided on.
For a change, since they had started out for a change, what about Mauritius, where the sugar comes from? They had heard it was "nice place" giving one more scope than trying to grow coffee in Java or bananas in Fiji. He had had an offer to go diving for pearls off Borneo; an had also received an offer of a partnership in Saskatchewan, where the snow and ice at certain seasons were so thick that one used a handline to guide one from the house to the log hut where the wood was stored for the kitchen fire.
In Mauritius, if he found, perchance, the sweets of life were lacking in the growing of sugar, he could change over to vanilla, or tea, or aloes for fibre: it might be a pleasant novelty to grow fibre for grain bags instead of wheat to put into them.
They settled, by accident, in a place in Mauritius where the rainfall was about 100 inches a year. He thought he was just out of the rain belt, but after he arrived the belt widened. These belts were annoying things; somehow he always managed to get into them, drought belts, hail belts, frost belts; and then he got into a malaria belt; and when he left the hospital for a seaside resort to recuperate, and found the first-class saloon of the train mostly occupied by natives, and he and she cut out any more experiments and took the first boat back to South Africa. And in all their travels nothing had ever thrilled them as on that memorable morning when, leaning over the rail of the ship, they saw the golden sunshine touch the top of Table Mountain.
****
They were sitting on the stoep on the farm he had hired and hoped to purchase eventually. The western sky was a blaze of crimson and pink and gold; a long and irregular line of deep blue and purple hills stood out sharply in the far distance; an overwhelming beauty and sense of peace hovered over the scene. What a fool he had been to lose faith and hope and all those years, searching for the impossible, searching for a land without disadvantages and difficulties, land where there were no politics nor pessimists. Why had he not remembered that these things were prevalent in South Africa even one hundred years ago and yet the country had progressed and developed developed, and so ready for further development. This vast South Africa, with its enormous spaces yet to be peopled, holding out more opportunities for those who would work than any land he had been to in all these wandering years ; the youth and newness and freshness of it. What land out of all those that had seen offered so fine a future for a man and woman and their children? Compared to the rest of the world South Africa was a baby "everything lay ahead of it" it had hardly been touched ; a million and a half Europeans scattered over nearly half a million square miles ; a great future waiting for it yet ; and he had been fool enough to think that it was finished and done, for what tricks a man's mind can play with him, how wrong he had been when he decided on that long-ago day to cut away from it for ever.
Strange how anybody living in a land of great spaces, great distances, great mountains, could become so narrow minded, shutting one's eyes to the good and the best and only seeing the worst. Perhaps it was the fault of the politicians, so many of them took only the narrow outlook, saw only the worst instead of the best, that must react upon the community :it must sub-consciously affect a people.
Well, no more narrow outlook for him: he had seen the world now, had lived under other conditions in other lands; he knew that he was jolly well off where he was now and that the country would continue to develop and progress as it had from the beginning. There would, of course, be checks and setbacks and disappointments from time to time, but in the long run it would grow and expand, as all healthy babies grow and expand.
New blood would come in, there would be new towns and new mines, new farms, new industries, new railways, new water schemes, new states, and with cheap living and cheap labour, dearer than it was, but still cheap 'the healthiest climate in the world'.
The hills faded away into the night; the sky was a mass of brilliant stars; the young moon was disappearing below the horizon; a dove cooed; all around intense silence.
"It is good to be back", said the woman.
"It is, replied the man. They were happier than they had been for years; happier and (of this he felt very certain)a little wiser, too.
* Leonard Flemming, from the "The Odd Koppie of A Veld Fool", 1st edition, AC White Printing and Publishing, Bloemfontein, 1929.
"Planets aligned for $377/oz gold "
My neighbour Gregor suggests that gold may hit $1000!!! He's been right before - but never on such bullish terms.
My neighbour Gregor suggests that gold may hit $1000!!! He's been right before - but never on such bullish terms.
"No-win situation for ECB The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is in a no-win situation when it meets with the British government on Thursday to discuss England's participation in a World Cup match in Zimbabwe.
If the ECB agrees with the government and boycotts the February 13 game in Harare England will forfeit two points and lose millions of pounds. But if it chooses to play the game it could be accused of endorsing Robert Mugabe's leadership"
If the ECB agrees with the government and boycotts the February 13 game in Harare England will forfeit two points and lose millions of pounds. But if it chooses to play the game it could be accused of endorsing Robert Mugabe's leadership"
Whether the 2003 Cricket World Cup should be played in Zimbabwe has been a subject of much debate in recent weeks. A somewhat belated debate since the situation (although ever worsening) has been pretty bad in Zimbabwe for at least the last 3 years and these games have been scheduled for nearly as long. I see now that even the Zimbabwe players are reluctant to play (morally). So should the games take place. Of course. Two arguments really. One is the simple promise keeping argument that the South African bid proposal included a commitment to "take the game to Africa" which logically included the promise that both Zimbabwe and Kenya should host matches.
Arguments contending that by playing these matches one would be endorsing the Mugabe regime do not hold water with me. A far larger statement could be made by a player emphatically refusing to shake his host's (Mugabe's) hand on the field or wearing a black armband r some other gesture that would be televised to a worldwide television audience.
The biggest (immediate) problem in Zimbabwe is lack of food and if not playing in Zimbabwe would resolve this I would consider that sport should never be played again in that country until the Zimbabwe nation is as well fed as the United States. Making a stand to boycott playing the world cup matches will not fill stomachs. One may argue that the small revenue (and retinue of tourists) that that the games will bring in may, in fact, do more to improve the lot of Zimbabwe's ordinary citizens than it would harm them. Even in the long run. In the long run, as the economists say, (and in this case this is sadly not entirely tongue-in cheek) we are all dead.
Cricket can give Mugabe a more effective and visible "two fingers" from right under his nose by playing matches in his country than by orchestrating a boycott from afar that will merely fuel his anti-colonial rhetoric and probably steel his insane resolve even further. Damn it, just play the game.
Arguments contending that by playing these matches one would be endorsing the Mugabe regime do not hold water with me. A far larger statement could be made by a player emphatically refusing to shake his host's (Mugabe's) hand on the field or wearing a black armband r some other gesture that would be televised to a worldwide television audience.
The biggest (immediate) problem in Zimbabwe is lack of food and if not playing in Zimbabwe would resolve this I would consider that sport should never be played again in that country until the Zimbabwe nation is as well fed as the United States. Making a stand to boycott playing the world cup matches will not fill stomachs. One may argue that the small revenue (and retinue of tourists) that that the games will bring in may, in fact, do more to improve the lot of Zimbabwe's ordinary citizens than it would harm them. Even in the long run. In the long run, as the economists say, (and in this case this is sadly not entirely tongue-in cheek) we are all dead.
Cricket can give Mugabe a more effective and visible "two fingers" from right under his nose by playing matches in his country than by orchestrating a boycott from afar that will merely fuel his anti-colonial rhetoric and probably steel his insane resolve even further. Damn it, just play the game.
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
The bloody idiots who think they are defined by what they eat or drink are beginning to drive me mad. It is not about what or where but it is about how. These are the people that will subtly sprout "I'm a whisky man, myself" when offered a cold beer.
Enjoy the bloody stuff. Wolf it down if you're hungry / slug it down if you're thirsty. If it tastes good, savour. But don't have it in your hand if you merely think that it make you look good, intelligent, discerning, macho or sexy.
Yes. Most of us have our quirks - the beer brand that we cling to probably has more to do with the advertising or the image rather than the taste. I used to drink Castle in summer and Lion in winter pretty much based on their linked sponsorships to cricket and rugby respectively. (Now both are sponsored by banks and mobile phone companies neither of which I have a taste for - but that is another story). But it's not quirks that I have issue with since quirks go a long way to defining the individuality of someone. It is with the bloke that drinks single malt whisky (never beer - unless the boutique type), smokes Cubans or eats raw fish with wasabi because he wants because he thinks his peers or girlfriend will appreciate the matter or wishes to give the impression that he can afford to do so.
Don't get me wrong - I adore whisky, have savoured great sushi and enjoyed the occasional cigar, but sometimes have not even shared the experience.
It is all posturing. The real folk are those who, as in a drinking song from my youth, "drink when they're thirsty, smoke to get high & if you don't like them you can f*** off & die". And by the way "I'm a beer man, myself" if you hadn't gathered & god I love the stuff. In the words of my late great uncle Beric there is no such thing as bad beer - only good beer and better beer.
Enjoy the bloody stuff. Wolf it down if you're hungry / slug it down if you're thirsty. If it tastes good, savour. But don't have it in your hand if you merely think that it make you look good, intelligent, discerning, macho or sexy.
Yes. Most of us have our quirks - the beer brand that we cling to probably has more to do with the advertising or the image rather than the taste. I used to drink Castle in summer and Lion in winter pretty much based on their linked sponsorships to cricket and rugby respectively. (Now both are sponsored by banks and mobile phone companies neither of which I have a taste for - but that is another story). But it's not quirks that I have issue with since quirks go a long way to defining the individuality of someone. It is with the bloke that drinks single malt whisky (never beer - unless the boutique type), smokes Cubans or eats raw fish with wasabi because he wants because he thinks his peers or girlfriend will appreciate the matter or wishes to give the impression that he can afford to do so.
Don't get me wrong - I adore whisky, have savoured great sushi and enjoyed the occasional cigar, but sometimes have not even shared the experience.
It is all posturing. The real folk are those who, as in a drinking song from my youth, "drink when they're thirsty, smoke to get high & if you don't like them you can f*** off & die". And by the way "I'm a beer man, myself" if you hadn't gathered & god I love the stuff. In the words of my late great uncle Beric there is no such thing as bad beer - only good beer and better beer.
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