The events of the last week in what is supposed to be the ‘greatest democracy’ on the planet have been very disturbing, to say the least – perhaps not for most people, who may not really care about the United States of America, but for me, who spent at least 6 years of my life […]
News/Politics
Posted inEquality, General, Health, Media, News/Politics
The resurgence of anti-Semitism
The spectre of anti-Semitism is once again stalking us, according to Vivienne Walt (TIME, July 1 2019, p. 33-37). Unbelievable, one might exclaim. Not really, and I’ll explain why – or rather, I’ll let Freud – one of the most original thinkers in history – explain why. But let’s look at the evidence for the […]
Posted inBusiness, General, Health, Media, News/Politics, Tech
So you think that Orwell’s ‘1984’ could only happen under a political dictatorship? Think again!
Many people — especially those who still read novels — will know George Orwell’s 1984, with its depiction of the brainwashing society of Big Brother, of Newspeak (the language designed to inhibit critical thinking), the Thought Police, and constant surveillance of every citizen, monitoring their behaviour (lest they should exhibit signs of discontent, or worse, […]
Posted inEnvironment, News/Politics
The four dimensions of liberalism
I have recently suggested that the Democratic Alliance begin using the word ‘liberal’ and the word ‘liberalism’ in their communications. That is that the Democratic Alliance should begin proudly declaring themselves to be Liberal and to adhere to Liberalism. This is because being Liberal and adhering to Liberalism is what will give the Democratic Alliance […]
Posted inEnvironment, General, News/Politics
Only 26 475 people voted ANC — that’s not even one seat
I said right at the outset, in “New political party in its first election outing“, that: And now we get to 2019, the election that will settle once and for all, whether the ANC actually has ten million votes of its own or not. I followed this up, in “It’s not all GOOD“, with: The […]
Posted inEquality, General, Media, News/Politics
A rebel without a satellite dish: Decoding the recent Steve Hofmeyr saga
Recently, a new method of braaing became fashionable in South Africa. It’s called the “MultiChoice Decoder and Satellite Dish Braai”. It’s more a roast, actually. This kind of braai did not appeal to me, to be honest. In the first place, I wasn’t sure how tasty it will be. I wouldn’t be able to chew […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, Health, Media, News/Politics
Creating space to talk about the politics of shame
By Rebecca Helman and Neziswa Titi In their interview with Elspeth Probyn, Vivienne Bozalek, Tamara Shefer and Ronelle Carolissen argue that “[s]hame has typically been understood as a negative emotion, a view which is prevalent in individualist, psychologising discourses about human experience”. Conversely Probyn argues that shame can be a generative force, one which is […]
Posted inEnvironment, Equality, General, News/Politics, Tech
A world without electricity?
The prospect of living in a ‘world without electricity’ in South Africa has become a spectre that looms ever-larger by the day, as a mismanaged, looted-to-the-bone Eskom struggles to keep the ‘lights on’ — a misleading metaphor, insofar as it stands for the entire electricity-based economy of this country. In the era of fake news […]
Posted inEnvironment, News/Politics
What does free and fair mean?
This Human Rights Day, I think it is appropriate to ask, “What is a free and fair election?”. Simply it means that each voter is freely able to choose the option of his or her own choice, and that each contestant is fairly able to compete for each voter’s consideration. So, on the surface, it […]
Posted inEnvironment, Gender violence, General, Health, News/Politics
My song for NICOC
I remember when you were born of me, Level-headed to avoid catastrophe, In service that couldn’t quite compete, Just playing the fool with possibility, Hoping now that we got some remedy, Lifting weight soar above the canopy; Made you grow made you rise above, Nobody’s fool ain’t nobody’s thug, Syndicates came left without any guns, […]
Posted inEnvironment, Lifestyle, News/Politics
Roger Collins: A Higher Education
Recently, I sat down with Roger Collins, Development Manager of NewBridge, in Durban, to find out about the challenges and opportunities that exist in the further and higher education establishment. (Q1) Roger, is the standard model of post-school education in crisis? The simple answer is No. The standard model works well for the purpose it […]
Posted inEnvironment, General, News/Politics
I hate when this happens
I’ve just finished reading the Democratic Alliance’s document, “The Manifesto For Change”. It consists of three parts. The first itemises its economic solutions, the second details its social solutions and the third highlights its political solutions. The DA has been in opposition for a long time, and you can see this in the way that […]