(From De Rebus, December 2009)

I agree that if the ANC are at all interested in “neutralising” Pierre that may well be a route that will be adopted.

However I don’t think Pierre will be that kind of target because, while he does not appear to be supportive of the ANC, he displays brinkmanship rather than partisanship and he generally relies on our constitution to make his voice of dissension heard.

I shall refrain from expressing a view of Prof Pityane.

Excerpt :

BOLSHEVISM
The Enemy of Political and Industrial Democracy
BY
JOHN SPARGO

CHAPTER VI
THE BOLSHEVIK WAR AGAINST DEMOCRACY

No sympathizer with Russia—certainly no Socialist—can fail to wish that this indulgent criticism were true. Its acceptance would lighten the darkest chapter in Russian history, and, at the same time, remove from the great international Socialist movement a shameful reproach. But the facts are incompatible with such a theory. Instead of being fanatical idealists, incapable of compromises and adjustments, the Bolsheviki have, from the very beginning, been loudly scornful of rigid and unbending idealism; have made numerous compromises, alliances, and “political deals,” and have repeatedly shifted their ground in accordance with political expediency. They have been consistently loyal to no aim save one—the control of power. They have been opportunists of the most extreme type. There is not a single Socialist or democratic principle which they have not abandoned when it served, their political ends; not a single instrument, principle, or device of autocratic despotism which they have not used when by so doing they could gain power. For the motto of Bolshevism we might well paraphrase the well-known line of Horace, and make it read, “Get power, honestly, if you can, if not—somehow or other.”

So this statement was not meant to invite scrutiny on its correctness or wrongness. I guess it is still as a result of being confused by my use of evening school English of which I offer my apology.

I understood Mayimele as suggesting that the ANC is likely to release its “dogs of war” on Pierre because Pierre’s rather strong criticism of Simelane and that the excuse to justify the attack would be to accuse Pierre of being a legal advisor to the DA.

I think Mayimele is wrong.

There may well be some who will loudly challenge Pierre’s criticisms, but a serious assault is unlikely in my view.

That’s because, again as I read it, Pierre has not used any public forum to advance the interests of any political party or grouping and he has not tied his criticisms to any particular campaign, nor has he nailed his colours to any particular mast, notwithstanding the sometimes “intemperate language”.

So far as I see it, Pierre’s challenges are referenced against the Constitution – so the labels of counterrevolutionary, reactionary, racist, right winger and and and, will reflect hollow minds rather than stick.

It’s a bit vague and clumsy quite frankly and leaves itself open to various interpretations, I’m afraid.

@ Mikhail: As for the illustrious Mikhail Dworkin Fassbinder, one can’t help but giggle. He is certainly a send-up like Evita Bezuidenhout, because his comments are even more dystopic and crazy than Artaud’s Theatre of the Absurd and Cruelty.

With a surname like Fassbinder, he should rather call himself Petra von Kant, as in The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, by Rainer Werner Maria Fassbinder. Because with his line of thinking, albeit tongue-firmly-in-cheek, there WILL be many bitter tears.

I once new a person like that in the Eighties. He lived on curried lentils and dust and never washed under his arms.

On a recent trip to Valkenberg I saw that same man, now an inmate, staring hopelessly into the distance. His name was also Mikhali.

Strange that…

Looking forward to your honest answer.

If the shoe fits, wear it.

I don’t see why we cannot call any president names. Silvio Berlusconi surely behaves like a gangster, or in his native tongue, a mafioso.

The South African president needs to be aware that people – some of whom voted him into power – are inclined to apply the appellation “gangster” when refering to him.

“If you do not quite grasp this, Maggs will explain”

Sorry Dworky,

Can’t help with that one.

More so since the architect of that strategy, is somewhere in the world, fighting back the fight back thingy.

I rather prefer “Stop Zuma” vs “mshini wam”.

On the subject of big guns, does the Taiwan consignment come pre knotted or is it specially moulded to suit you?

I’m kinda wondering how it get “deployed”, considering your experience of having been all tied up during your struggle years.

p.s. How are you?