Comments on: Jonny Steinberg: A suspiciously speedy plunge to ignominy for Thabo Mbeki

By: Mpho

Mpho — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:31:22 +0000

This article made me uneasy in so many parts, but in a good way. In a way that means it is making me think. I think Khosi has a good take on the article, it is not really criticising Mbeki beyond those criticisms that were with him whilst he held office. The article is criticising our new denialism.

By: Anonymouse

Anonymouse — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 06:09:52 +0000

Khosi – Thanks for the link to the lyrics to Weeping.

“Time and time again I have revived the Shakespearen saying that says that when a hero falls, it is not to display the hero’s shortcomings but rather to display the shortcomings in society itself.”

Another thing from that king of irony, William Shakespear):) “I’ve come to praise Caesar, not to bury him.”

By: khosi

khosi — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 16:38:24 +0000

@Anonymouse,

Time and time again I have revived the Shakespearen saying that says that when a hero falls, it is not to display the hero’s shortcomings but rather to display the shortcomings in society itself.

To me, what Jonny is essentially saying is that just like we did with Mandela we are now sweeping serious societal issues under the carpet in the hope that they stay there. Mbeki said , here are our demons lets deal with them. Many said no, that is not what Mandela taught us and so a stalemate ensued and problems were never really attended to. We are now blaming him for the very problems and we think with him going away, the problems will follow.

I do not agree with Jonny where he says Mbeki intensified our fears. Mbeki merely told us of our fears and we rejected him for telling us the truth about our society. When Jonny speaks of a relaxed society, I can only remember the lyrics to Bright Blue’s song called weeping.

http://rock.co.za/files/weeping_lyrics.html

To me, it looks like we are back in the same trap.

By: Anonymouse

Anonymouse — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:47:03 +0000

Khosi – And, of course, yours is somewhat different from the average man on the street’s.

By: khosi

khosi — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:55:34 +0000

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion.

By: Sine

Sine — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:36:11 +0000

Nice breath of fresh air. I look forward to similar pieces. I cant stop looking for something and anything that will tell me the real story about the man. I cant stop wondering if at all we have been fair to him for blaming him for all of South Africa’s woes. I cant stop wondering if instead of judging him, history will judge us for tormenting the men; this loyal cadre until the end. I cant stop wondering if he was made a sacrificial lamb for the failures of the ruling party.

He reminds me greatly of the great German, Otto von Bismarch.