printWrites our brilliant Afrikaner friend (and I never use the word “brilliant” in vain), Dan Roodt: “South Africa is today an insane society, modeled upon an Ayn Rand nightmare where the looters govern and the producers, entrepreneurs and taxpayers are constantly harassed for handing over more of their wealth. Out of a total population of 46 million people, 12 million South Africans now receive so-called government ‘grants.’ They and their dependents – who amount to probably more than 20 million people or half the population – survive on these government handouts. They do not work, yet receive childcare allowances, pensions, free housing, water, electricity, healthcare and schooling.” …
“South Africa is headed for another racial census, a.k.a. an ‘election’ on 22 April – with the predictable outcome of returning another ANC government to power. Given that South African blacks represent 80% of the population, there is absolutely no way in which the ANC could lose.” …
“Instead of dissipating over time amid the constant din of South African liberals who believe that the country has ‘finally transcended race’ or is on its way to doing so, race and identity remain at the core of South African politics. No less a man than Harvard political scientist Samual Huntington once observed that South Africa was one of those countries condemned to a ‘conflict of civilizations,’ with a formerly white-dominated Western country currently being Africanised by the demographically dominant black population and its Afrocentric leadership.” …
The complete column is “South Africa heads for another racial census.” Read the rest of it on PRAAG, where my column occasionally appears as well.
Anyone have a job for an experienced software developer in the first world while I can still afford a plane ticket?
Watching South Africa deteriorate to a racist society, yet again, I am not surprised by these developments. Let’s face facts; South Africa was never a civilized society to begin with. [Of course it was; it was imperfect, but it was Westernized, highly developed and civilized.] Apartheid was one of the most obscene forms of government ever. [Really? That’s a bit of hyperbole You might want to familiarize yourself with the realities of tribal South Africa before apartheid.] It’s hard to change a society philosophically when its founding ideas are rooted in racism. [Murder is worse than racism: the society now is awash with blood; it was not when I lived there.] So what you see is reverse racism. There was never any respect for individual rights, so there won’t be anytime soon. [That’s true; but there was more respect for life during apartheid. Life is the quintessential individual right.]
This is tragic because as a young teen I witnessed the release of Nelson Mandela. I had hoped things would improve for this nation. From what I’ve seen and read, it’s a beautiful country. But instead it’s crime ridden and dysfunctional. How can this change when every tribe wants a piece of the pie? There are now mini Mugabe’s running the country!
At least in the United States there was a standard, a respect for individual rights, which in the south, up to the mid-1960 wasn’t respected. Eventually it had to change. That unfortunately cannot be said for South Africa.
As an American who grew up in the U. S. and has traveled to foreign countries (although not South Africa) I think it is unwise to conflate situations past or present in the U. S. with those in that country. Unless or until one has traveled or lived there, or spoken extensively to citizens and expats of that country, one can’t really understand the depths of lawlessness to which that society has deteriorated in recent years. Individuals whose families had owned and developed property for several generations saw their entire investment taken away and given to someone else in one fell swoop; there is nothing like that here. I think we make a great mistake searching for “equality” in situations that are inherently non-equivalent.
The US could sponsor an air lift of all White South Africans as oppressed asylum seekers. But that would break our tradition of only bringing in illiterate third-worlders under the guise of humanitarian purposes.
I met some Afrikaners this summer. They are about to take the leap as soon as possible. Their stories about the crime in SA and open and callous hatred of whites would shock most Americans. It’s sad to think that so many believe that country is all daisies and rainbows after Mandela’s release. I guess the propaganda lives on well after the rock-star charity concerts have ended.
Judging by their stories, I don’t give SA another 10 years before the reversion to third-world status is complete. I do have an idea though: Perhaps we can send U2’s Bono to live out his days there in the peace and prosperity he’s brought to the region.
Dear Ilana,
You are correct, the “election” is nothing but a racial census. I have refused to take part in this sham for years, and refuse to do so now.
You are also correct in saying that Dan Roodt is brilliant, so are you.
Gods beneath us, again with this absurd term “reverse racism.” Only excuse-making left-liberals use it.
I’m glad you brought this subject up because I’ve been meaning to ask you the following: How do you reconcile your father’s anti-Apartheid activism with the current state of South Africa? It seems to me that Apartheid was the only thing preserving SA’s First World status.
I agree with Joe that all the Boers should be brought to the United States. Barring this, each man should be given a Kalashnikov and told that his choices are secession or extermination. Whites in SA are living on borrowed time.
I struggle to understand this infatuation with Nelson Mandela! He is nothing more than a retired mass-murderer. Even his wife set [black] children on fire back in the day. If you want to see something cool, google the “Mandela United Football Club”
in fact, here’s the link: http://www.google.co.za/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=M7j&q=Mandela+United+Football+Club&btnG=Search&meta=
“Why did your family leave South Africa?”
“Because they saw the handwriting on the wall.”
This from a young, white Rhodesian girl I met when I was a student at university. Her family was originally from Rhodesia. Then they moved to South Africa. Then to the States over 30 years ago.
Ditto for my nephew’s wife. Her family moved to the States about 30 years ago.
What about religious refugee status?
I live in Dallas. I met a Copt a few years ago here in the suburbs. She and her husband owned a liquor store! I knew she was a Copt when I saw the cross around her neck. I’m sure she arrived here as a religious refugee fleeing persecution.
Dallas is full of South Africans. Many of them are Jewish. Surely someone here can help those left behind?
[Our government has the habit of sending them back when they do seek refugee status. More in my upcoming book.]