Surviving the Death Row

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Book Title: In a Different Time
Author: Peter Harris
Publisher: Umuzi Publishers

In a Different Time is a story of four South African men who were part of a specialised unit of the African National Congress (ANC) military wing uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK). During their trial, these men became known as the Delmas Four named after the small town where their trial was held.

In a Different Time is a true story of the Delmas Four - Jabu Masina, Ting Ting Masango, Neo Potsane and Joseph Makhura who were sent to South Africa by the ANC in exile to carry out acts of war in the country of their birth. The book is fast-paced, absorbing and beautiful written. Sometimes it reads like a crime novel except that it's all true.

The story takes place during the dying days of the Nationalist Party's rule (late 1980's). The Delmas Four had skipped South Africa while there were learners after the riots of 16 June 1976 popularly known as the Soweto Uprisings. History records that about 10 000 learners were peacefully protesting against the imminent use of Afrikaans language as a mode of instruction in all black schools. Police opened fire on learners sparking a national rebellion and an international outcry. The 1976 learners' riots resulted in about 576 civilians being killed by the apartheid security forces within a mere 10 months and 10 000 activists were detained in the aftermaths. It was the most significant international event in South Africa since the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre where police killed 69 peaceful protesters. It has been estimated that some 4000 young black South Africans went into exile in the 18 months following the Soweto Uprisings.

The Delmas Four were a direct product of the Soweto Uprisings. They left their country of birth as young, angry black males - with only one mission - to return and restage something akin to the French Revolution on home soil.

In a Different Time is the journey of these four men driven to extremes for an ideal of freedom. It paints a picture - at times poignant, at times devastating - of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events. It's about bloodshed, bombs, gunfire and the butchery of the innocent. The Delmas Four is an epic story of a country at war with itself. The end of apartheid is intertwined with the fortunes and setbacks of the men of war on both sides of the conflict.

Narrated by their lawyer, Peter Harris, In a Different Time is a compelling account of the futility of war and the necessity of peace and democracy. The book begins with the capture of the Delmas Four in 1987. Harris receives a call from the ANC headquarters in Lusaka (Zambia) to go to the Pretoria Maximum prison and help four ANC cadres. He has never heard or met them. The enforced encounter takes Harris into the dark secrets of the ANC military wing, the determination of its cadres and the brutality of the apartheid security forces.

In a strange twist, the Demas Four tell their lawyer, Harris that they intend pleading guilty to the acts of sabotage, multiple counts of murder, and possession of illegal weapons. Despite his best attempts, the Four refused to budge. They told him that - in was all in the name of freedom and there were prepared to die for their cause. Indeed, they pleaded guilty and summarily sentenced to the death penalty.

The political events of the time (1990 Mandela's release) and the legal dismantling of apartheid offered the four men reprieve. As part of preparing for negotiations, all political prisoners were pardoned and released from prison. The death penalty was suspended, and it was subsequently outlawed in the new South Africa (after 1994).

Today, the Delmas Four have been fully integrated into society and play prominent roles in the media, government and security forces respectively. Their lawyer, Harris now heads a large management consultancy in Johannesburg.

Bhekisisa Mncube is a qualified journalist and member of the Book Review Panel at the New Agenda academic journal in South Africa. Mncube is the former senior reporter (politics) at the Witness newspaper. He is also a columnist (Witness/Echo), his column 'On the High Road' appears on Thursdays

What is Libertarianism? A Book Review

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

All of us in the United States have friends that are libertarians. After all, it appears that nearly 10 to 20% of our population during any given election call themselves libertarians. And this group of individuals often is the deciding factor in elections because they become the swing voters. But, if you are wondering what it is to be a libertarian, then I have a very good book that I like to recommend to you. The name of the book is;

"Libertarianism in One Lesson" by David Berglund, 1977

There was a book on Libertarianism which was translated in Polish and it caused a revolution in 1988 and 1989. 1990 communism was ousted in socialist nations collapsed due to the thought that "you own yourself." Libertarians believe; "No one has the right to force you to do what is not in your best interests," each person owns themselves - you cannot force others to do what is against their best interests. However, you must take responsibility for yourself.

There is a chapter on cooperation versus force in the book that is quite good. The book made me think about the possibility that perhaps, government could work as conglomerate franchised module in the service business for things like trash, power, enforcement, military, and dog catchers. I definitely enjoyed this quote; "If people are inherently good, you don't need a government and if the people are evil you don't dare have one," and "Government is us and they are no more noble than the bureaucrats in it," and since everyone in government comes from the population, if there are any problems, it's already our fault.

In fact, the book was full of great quotes, here's another one; "A government agency which falsely justifies actions against a citizen is not an acceptable government" in some ways one could say that Government is not real, it's a lie we all agree to live by, a fictitious entity, worth nothing without our consent. How can you have a social contract when government legislators and regulators make onerous and restricting laws against freedom and liberty? We must respect the rights of all; there is no superior human being in our government. Anyway, I think you would enjoy the discussion that went on throughout this book, it will really make you think.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes in fairness.

Media Wars Continue Along Political Party Lines

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

What you can and cannot say is constantly changing, and I am not referring to the laws, although they too are changing due to the introduction of "hate speech" rules. When we talk about what you can and cannot say, we generally mean political correctness, and with a constantly changing society it is amazing how far things can swing. Currently, you do not dare criticize President Obama, but just a year ago it was in Vogue to call President Bush just about anything under the son, with bloggers carrying on for 1,000 word posts.

Well, now things are drastically lopsided or so, conservative talk show hosts say, as they find their dialogue, sponsorship, advertisers, and FCC looking over their shoulder constantly. Perhaps, rather than explain all this to you, it might be better to recommend a very good book that gives credible evidence to this reality, the book is:

"Censorship: The Threat to Silence Conservative Talk Radio; The Fairness Doctrine Exposed" by Brian Jennings; 2009.

The book discusses how Senator Jeff Bingaman wanted all talk radio to be balanced, of course, what he was really saying is that it is not right to allow a conservative talk show host to spout off without an equally powerful advocate of the liberal agenda to counter each and every topic. President Obama said he wants more diverse viewpoints on the radio, and now that he is President, he says that would only be fair.

The directive, FCC regulation, or Congressional Bill might end having the FCC sets up permanent advisory boards to insure that fairness is complied with, or so is one of the plans being floated. The author contends this is a Trojan Horse because, once they start scrutinizing it will ultimately have a chilling effect on free speech.

Further, it is asserted that Liberal Radio has failed in the past and cannot seem to compete with the audiences of conservative radio. And since there are few liberal radio personalities the politics are trying to level the playing field with regulation, something many who think about cringe. I think you might very much like this book.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is also Founder of the Car Wash Guys, a cool little Franchise Company; http://www.carwashguys.com/history/founder.html.

Yale Professor on Politics in Defense of Government - Book Review

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Ever wonder why folks do not trust our government, politicians, or politics in general in the US? If so, I'd really like to recommend a very good book to you. I think you will find the arguments interesting, and it will make you think about why things are the way they are;

"In Defense of Government; The Rise and Fall of Public Trust" by Jacob Weisberg (very well-educated and studied Political Theory at Yale); Scribner Publishers; 1ST Edition, (1996); ISBN-13: 978-0684816043.

This is a book packed with figures, facts, past period politics, and information. You have to read it slow as there are so many interesting things discussed. This book comes from a very liberal skew, but the author attempts to back up his points of contention and does a decent job arguing his belief system. Mr. Weisberg, although had never run a business, or run for public office himself, has a tremendous amount of opinions on the politics of the 1990's and how we got to that place in time.

Many of his arguments may disgust those with opposing views, but no one can deny these arguments, or their place in our nation's political discussion. The author is "heavy handed" with his critique of Ronald Reagan Republicans, and calls the freshmen Congressmen, and Senators that rode in on Reagan's Wave as Radicals. The author's views are what a hardliner republican might call; "bleeding heart liberal" and the book, even offers a relatively short introduction which is a story of such hardship.

This is a wonderful book that I'd recommend to my ultra-liberal family members, and the far left socialists in our society, they will just love it and be shaking their heads "yes, yes" the entire way. This book is a one-night read, but should be read slow to soak in all the information. The author appears to be a great conversationalist, and I'd like to buy him a cup of coffee sometime and set him straight on many of his views. Please buy this book and you will learn a lot.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio. Lance Winslow is also Founder of the Car Wash Guys, a cool little Franchise Company; http://www.carwashguys.com/history/founder.html.

On Liberty - A Book Review and Summary

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

On Liberty is often said to be one of, if not the most significant influences on the individualistic, tolerant culture of today. Its author, John Stuart Mill, was inspired to write this work after having his own liberty restricted all throughout his childhood by his demanding father. His father imposed a strict educational regime upon his son: Mill had read all the major Ancient Greek philosophical works by age 9 - in Ancient Greek! So he was groomed by his father, molded into a figure not of his own choosing, and he realized this at age 20, when he thought that everything about him was not a result of his own freedom, but he was almost a creation of someone else; this caused him to have a serious mental breakdown, and it took him a few years to recover from this catastrophic realization, now knowing the importance of individual liberty for our happiness.

"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant"

The fundamental underlying principle of Mill's whole philosophy is described as thus: 'Over one's mind and over one's body, the individual is sovereign', and that the only instance that this can be broken is if the sovereign will of an individual leads to the harm of another. So, for example, it has been used to try and legitimize all drugs, as an individual should be able to choose what they do to themselves, arguing it only affects themselves; but there are problems when others rely on you: a mother for instance, would not be justified in claiming her drug-use was only affecting herself, as the effects of the drugs would impair her ability to take care of her children; so there are great difficulties in defining exactly what constitutes sovereignty.

"The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it"

This really only constitutes physical/material harm however; Mill was also gravely concerned about social stagnation, brought about by widespread and sheep like adherence to societal norms and beliefs, that created a world of uniformity. So he felt that invasion of personal sovereignty extended to a cultural level, where people were made to feel alienated and ridiculous for holding unorthodox beliefs, and that this certain societal coercion and pressure restricted the spiritual freedom of all of society. This concept has been reproduced in pretty much every century ever since in one form or another, most recently the 'Beat Generation' of the 1950's and 60's. On Liberty is a book outlining the benefits of being highly tolerant of differences in society, and as such is a great read when keeping in mind the tolerance of many societies today.

"No one can be a great thinker who does not recognize that as a thinker it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead"

Luke Bodell is a university student and freelance author living in Bath, England. He runs a book review website that provides brief, concise reviews on books in Top 10 Lists, to help people decide new books to read.

Read many more at http://www.top10books.org/

Think Tank in America - The Beginning of US Superiority and Dominance - Book Review

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Over the years I've been quite fascinated by the RAND Think Tank, and always wondered what RAND stood for. I come to find that it stood for R and D - and later folks called said it stood for R-A-N-D = Research And No Development, in other words, just thinking, not a lot of doing - the brain behind the US industrial base's brawn if you will. Later, after retirement I formed a Think Tank which operates online and today, I completely understand what it is all about.

Now then, along the way in my observational and educational fact finding and gathering, I've come across a number of books on the topic. One of the books which sits on the top book shelf in front of my desk describes the rise of US dominance and the brains behind much of strategy - it was not by accident as you may have been led to believe. It was deliberate and there was a plan. This book I'd like to recommend to you if indeed, you are interested. The name of the book is: "Soldiers of Reason - The RAND Corporation and the Rise of the American Empire," (uncorrected version) by Alex Abello, published by Harcourt, New York, NY, (2008), 362 pages, ISBN: 978-15-10181-3.

The entire history of RAND is here in this work, and if you want to know about the Cold War, International Relations, Military Strength, Gulf War I or II, Vietnam Era, Global Trade, or any of the other strategies the US has employed over the years, you will find the hand of RAND involved. Are these Whiz Kids perfect, oh for Heaven's Sake no, but often their ideas became created realities and thus became the new norm, and the game changers, that historians later report on.

If you are wondering how it all came to be, or how these strategies shaped the way things are in the USA, then you'd be wise to read this book and then think on it. Please consider all this.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes writing 21,600 articles was a lot of work - because all the letters on his keyboard are now worn off..

'Twilight of the Elites' is As Disturbing As it is Important

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Twilight of the Elites: an important new offering by Professor David Flint, chair of the Australian Broadcasting Authority and Convener of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM), is sure to be one of the more influential texts of 2003. What the book lacks in terms of the breadth of its readership base, it makes up for in that base's strategic value: the conservative intellectual elite which has captured the Liberal Party, and now determines the nation's policy agenda. Twilight of the Elites is worth reading if only to gain a glimpse of the kind of thinking that is going on in government circles today.

The canvass employed by Flint is wide-ranging. From Indigenous affairs to foreign policy, from education to health and welfare, from republicanism to judicial activism: Flint's prognoses cut against the grain of what he identifies as "elite" opinion. This "elite", comprised of the "socially liberal left", we are told, count for only 10 per cent of the Australian population, as evidenced by the 2001 election showing of the progressive minor parties. (ie: Democrats/Greens) This being the case, the inclusion of that stalwart socialist, Paul Keating, within the ranks of this group, seems to defy belief.

According to Flint, this socially liberal "elite", entrenched within the media and within academia, has commanded power well beyond its numbers. Alleging that the "opinion-makers" of this "elite layer" have fostered a culture of intolerance and "political correctness", Flint draws upon the writings of 19th century French thinker Alexis de Tocqueville, to suggest a veritable spiral of silence: "[The] majority, feeling isolated, begin to retreat into silence rather than speak out for what it mistakenly thinks is a minority view."

Unfortunately, Flint fails to recognise that the "spiral of silence" induced by "political correctness" is mirrored, in turn, by the populist opportunism of the major parties in regard to concerns such as refugee policy. While praising the United States for its tradition of "self-criticism", and alleging no link between media proprietorship and editorial policy, the author also ignores the tide of fear, aggressive nationalism and media conformity that overcame that nation in the period leading up to and including the recent Gulf War.

Having abandoned past claims to universalism, much of today's "liberal left" has substituted traditional socialist aims for an arbitrary hierarchy of identity - based movements and struggles. The new "postmodern intellectual hegemony" is commonly characterised as much by its abandonment of universalism as it is by its cultural relativism and its rejection of Reason.

In regard to this, Flint makes some telling points. Rejecting relativism, Flint asserts the primacy of Western traditions, including the foundational role of "Judaeo-Christian ethics". In doing so, Flint only recognises what the Left itself ought have recognised long ago: belief systems, and systems of government, are not only "different" but they adhere to certain social and ethical objectives that, ultimately, we must judge as either right or wrong. Those liberal political traditions inherited from Britain (Flint would probably contest this description), by this reckoning, have played no small role in preventing such extremes of violence as have been known elsewhere in the world.

Flint does appear to forget, however, that the legacy of the Enlightenment is also part of Australia's inheritance from the storehouse of Western tradition. And as Immanuel Kant, the great German philosopher, would have reminded us: secularism and Reason need not be perceived as being in opposition to faith.

Flint's defence of the "Judaeo-Christian tradition" also raises disturbing questions regarding the double standards exhibited by some proponents of cultural relativism. For Flint, it is astonishing to find that Christianity is "fair game" for an often degrading ridicule and caricature, while other religions and cultures are considered "above criticism" in the name of pluralism and relativism.

Determined to break decisively with that "black armband" view of history identified by conservatives with the "left-liberal elite", Flint unsparingly celebrates Australia's traditions and legacy. While his identification of the brutally Imperialist First World War as a "struggle for freedom and democracy" (!) is astonishing, his solemn recognition of Australia's role in defeating fascism in World War Two is cause for praise. (and also for reflection for those who see "nothing to be proud of" in Australia's past) For Flint, "practical reconciliation" between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia, via the provision of education, health care and housing, is the alternative to a Treaty or an apology. But as survivors of Japanese atrocities during World War II could well testify, the recognition and dignity afforded by an apology is infinitely more valuable than material compensation.

Many of Flint's remaining prescriptions will be sure to raise concern. Despite the inequity and inefficiency of America's overwhelmingly private health care system (by Flint's figures, 12.9 per cent of US GDP compared of 8.6 per cent for Australia), the author makes plain his preference for this model as opposed to Medicare's universalism. While showing no concern for the impact of rising university fees on access and equity, Flint does flag his concern with the expense of welfare, singling out single parents for special attention. Determined to slash levels of progressive taxation and social expenditure (already well below the OECD average), Flint seems oblivious to the impact of "welfare reform" and spending cuts upon a layer of Australians who already barely subsist - often below the poverty line. Slashing government expenditure is thus raised abstractly to the status of "an end in itself", divorced from any social consequences.

Flint's avowed philosophical universalism is undermined by his stated belief that United Nations treaties (eg: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), were only meant to apply to "less democratic regimes". Meanwhile his emphasis upon Australia's interests with regard carbon emissions negotiations shows little concern for Australia's responsibilities. Finally, Flint's insistence upon personal responsibility is incongruous in light of the apologies he makes for a Prime Minister who seems to know only what he wants to know (whether we refer here to "children overboard", or overblown assessments regarding the "threat" posed by Iraq).

Twilight of the Elites is nothing if not controversial. Its condemnation of figures for whom a shallow republicanism had become a surrogate for traditional social democratic values is stinging. Furthermore, its appraisal of media ethics raises serious questions about the blurring of the lines between report and commentary. While Flint's uncompromising conservatism will disturb many, there is no doubting that this volume is an important contribution to public debate in this country, comprising an open statement of much that government figures dare not argue publicly.

Tristan Ewins is an experienced freelance writer and blogger based in Melbourne, Australia. He specialises in PC Gaming, as well as political and social commentary. He writes for 'On Line Opinion' and blogs at the 'Blogger' blogs: 'PC Gaming Forum' and 'Left Focus'.

see:
http://pcgamingforum.blogspot.com/
http://leftfocus.blogspot.com/