Click to ENLARGE. Base news stories from ‘Google News‘.
Donald Trump’s claim, this morning, that he was a ‘Modern Day Nelson Mandela‘ infuriated me. That is no surprise. Dear Nelson is in the TOP TIER of my Pantheon of Heroes. And NO, Trump will never make it to that hallowed pantheon to join two other U.S. presidents.
I tried Googling to see IF Trump ever met with Nelson. I couldn’t find anything. It is possible. Trump did get around.
Nelson, of course, is used to dealing with white nationalists — most of white South Africa was that during apartheid. I tried to work out if he would have thought Trump similar to ‘F.W. de Klerk‘. De Klerk was fairly smart — much, much smarter than Trump (but that is not hard to be). I think Nelson had some respect for de Klerk. Yes, there was mutual respect.
Not sure whether Nelson would have found anything to respect in Trump.
Fascinating.
I am sure of one thing though. Trump is NO Mandela. That has to be clear to most.
It was “Donald Trump’s” claim this morning that he was a modern day ‘Nelson Mandela‘ that got me thinking about MY PANTHEON — where dear Mandela has always been in the top tier. [I will do a post on the Trump claim later.]
If you follow this blog you must have heard me mention that ‘Winston‘ was always my TOP DOG. Smile.
So this pantheon should explain why it is not easy being I. SMILE.
Do you KNOW the one female in this pantheon — & she was not a TOKEN entry. She actually is the ONLY ONE I have met. Great lady. Deserved to be in this pantheon. Yes, I called her ‘Aunty’ though, alas, we were not related by blood. But, a close, a very close, family friend.
Three (of my many) Goldens have been: ‘Winston’, ‘Monty’ & ‘Ulysses’. That is the ultimate honor I can bestow. Alas we have had a series of female dogs and I haven’t been given a chance to name a dog in decades. SMILE.
Yes, I know that Winston was a racist & maybe even a poofter. But, most men of that era were that. SMILE.
Anywho …
The next tier down includes another lady. British, BUT notTHE QUEEN! Not sure whether the Queen makes my list.
As an unashamed ‘Nelson Mandela‘ devotee I probably know a bit more, & have a more nuanced appreciation, about Frederik Willem de Klerk than most. That he is credited with freeing Nelson is over-blown. Nelson had the option of leaving prison ahead of de Klerk. In January 1985, de Klerk’s predecessor, P.W. Botha, offered Nelson a conditional release — the condition being that he renounce violence. But, historically it is true that Nelson opted to leave prison, & again become a free man, during de Klerk’s tenure as South Africa’s premier. But, de Klerk really didn’t have much of a choice in the matter. It had come to: “WHEN rather than if“. South Africa was floundering, financially under the apartheid boycotts. Nelson had to be freed, or S.A. would have gone into a economic tailspin.
I do not believe that he is as good & saintly as some claim he was. Neither do I think that he was mainly evil. There definitely was SOME GOOD in him. Some innate human decency. That Nelson ‘forgave’ him & chose to collaborate with him is a big plus for his legacy. He, alas, continued to make some ‘harsh’ remarks. Well, all of that is now ‘water under the bridge’. With his passing we again have another end of an era.
He will, quite rightly, always be considered quite an important historic figure of the 20th century.
But, there is still so much healing required in (poor) South Africa.
I, coincidently (& ironically) happened to be watching this movie, ‘The Forgiven‘, on Netflix, when I heard of de Klerk’s passing. Suffice to say de Klerk was mentioned a few times in the movie — not always in a flattering light. Decent movie.
Click to ENLARGE. Just a SAMPLING from ‘Google News‘.
As an ardent follower of the ‘South African’ cricket team I was aware of Quinton de Kock’s earlier refusals (during the ‘West Indies‘ tour) to ‘take the knee’. I was surprised & disappointed. But, if I am not mistaken, I recall reading that he claimed that he had cleared it with ‘Kagiso Rabada‘ — who was supposedly coordinating the team’s solidarity gesture to ‘BLM’. I was way cool with that. If it was OK with Rabada who was I to complain — Rabada being another cricketer I like & admire (though I wish he would learn how to bowl a vicious bouncer).
Now, things have gone too far.
I am as passionate as Quinton could ever be that we each have our values, beliefs, opinions, preferences & that we each have the ABSOLUTE RIGHT to stick to them. No problem there.
I just wish Quinton would offer us all a hint of an explanation.
Is it religious? Does he only bow to God? IF so, I would like to know a bit about if this is indeed true. Is ‘Quinny’ really religious? If so, I am FINE. I respect him.
ONE of the reasons why I so like the South African team is that they appear to TRULY reflect (my hero) “Nelson Mandela’s” dream of a true ‘Rainbow Nation‘. When I watch them play, & I rarely miss a SA game (on TV), they all seem SO UNITED irrespective of color or religion. I loved that.
I can’t believe that Quinny is a racist. I have seen him embrace & be embraced by his non-white mates. But, is he? I also know, that he, per his own admission is not an intellectual. OK. But, can he be that bigoted. I hope not.
The above said, I also feel passionately, as a non-white, that the cricketing world must stand united for BLM. Cricket is played by players of ALL COLORS & religions. We need to stand united on this.
WE BOYCOTTED apartheid South Africa!
We will stand united about taking the knee.
The SA cricket board should have the right to demand it. If that is a problem for Quinny, & it breaks my heart to say this, then he should not be selected.
