South Africa- a note

South Africa's transition to democracy is often cited as a peaceful one, but South Africa's transition to democracy was not very peaceful.

One of the most pressing issues in post-apartheid SA is crime. The crime rates are numbing and it seems that more and more people are gun-holders. After the anti-immigrants protest a few

weeks ago, one thing was certain, South Africa is not at war, but it is also not at peace with itself.

After apartheid, there was alot of apologizing. Alot of "we are sorry for the atrocities committed during apartheid". I'm not South African and all I know about apartheid is what I read, but honestly, sorry is sometimes not good enough. Sorry doesn't put food on the table. We have the recognize that people suffered during apartheid, but we also need to remember that many people in post-apartheid South Africa are living in worse conditions. The slums keep expanding and crime and rape is rife there.

Isn't this most important than apologizing to each other?

Improving the living conditions of the majority of the citizens should be the number one priority. It would lead to racial harmony in the sense that many people feel that "white south africans" are still the richest of the rich. Many hold a grudge towards them and this is not going to go away if whites apologized.

The problem is many non-whites believed that apartheid is their only problem, after apartheid is gone, their living conditions still didn't improve. Yes, people had alot of expectations and aspirations, but the goverment should be blamed instead of blaming white south-africans for their economic power. The government has failed its people. Yes, apartheid ended only 14 years ago,but 14 years ago is not a short time. Alot of things could have been accompolished. Give your citizens the necessities before anything else. Running water, shelter ( not a shack) , free or affordable education and so on.

South Africa is not a poor country, it's one of the most visited countries in the world and they are well-endowed with natural resources.

The fact that SA is the largest economy in Africa should not make the govt of SA feel good . it should not be taken for granted. Regional powerhouses appear and disappear.

Ban Ki Mon said something interesting last month, hungry people are angry people.
A few weeks ago, the immigrants were attacked, it wasn't black on black violence, it was broke on broke violence.
Next time, another group is going to be attacked, you always need a scapegoat for your problems.

Is the SA government incompetent?

Sudan:- What's next?

This is Khartoum, the capital of Sudan and the safest place in the country. In fact, it’s known to be one of Africa’s safest capitals.

Yesterday, it was nothing short of a battlefield.

Wake up call, this is a wake up call for the Sudanese government! The message was clear and simple:- solve the crises inDarfur or you will be overthrown.

Yesterday, rebels from Darfur entered the capital of Sudan to “seize power”. Although, the capital wasn’t damaged as much as its twin sister, Omdurman, the situation remains extremely fragile.Previously, the Sudanese army has stepped up security in an attempt to secure the capital from what they believe to be an “invasion” by darfur rebels supported by their ally, Chad.
After 5 years of endless conflict, there is no peace in sight. Peace talks are scheduled to take place in London this month, but the rebels outsmarted the government known to be one of Africa’s strongest governments.

Five years on, there is still no real progress in the peace process in Darfur and the government is reluctant to implement the Abuja peace agreement. They’ve failed to bring peace to Darfur, but how could they bring peace to Darfur if they’ve orchestered crimes against humanity there?This government is not going to bring peace to Sudan.

The government is looking for a quick fix-up right now, they are taking security measures and the streets are mostly covered with soldiers. However, if they are keen on “saving Sudan” and “stopping the senseless bloodshed”, they should step down with the little dignity they have left and hand over power to a transitional government. Next year, we can have elections and elect a new president for the first time in 23 years.

If the government keeps looking for quick fixes and doesn’t take this situation seriously, the country is going to collapse into civil war. The whole country, including the “peacful” north and east.

Is there a way out of this chaos?Yes, a transitional government to faciliate an easy transition to democracy.

Currently, the situation is extremtly fragile in the whole country, but there is a way out. There is a solution.

Catch 22

The rebels are in Khartoum.
Khartoum is going to be the site of the last battle.

Things might get better, we might be heading towards a democraty or we are on the brink of disaster.

What's going to happen?

40 million Sudanese are waiting for an answer.

The Break-up.

You see, they've been dating (on and off) for over 50 years, but they are still not used to each other.

You see, it's strictly dating, they are too reluctant to take it to the other level.
She is suspicious of him, he thinks she is fine, she has alot of wealth and goodies, that's his vocab.

Ofcourse

you see, she wants to break up, but he wants her to reconsider.

He is trying to appeal to her in every single way, he is polite to her, he makes promises and he keeps some of them, he respects her sometimes, but it still doesn't feel right to her.

You see, he is reluctant to let her go, but she sees it coming.

She is worried.

I mean some couples break up czechslovakia style, peaceful and smooth.

She wonders if it is going to be Yugoslavia-style.

Is he going to stalk her all the time? mabye wage a war, kidnapp her sister and hold her hostage, throw her mother in the sea, blackmail her with old pictures or mabye he is just going to be rude to her.

She wonders

I don't know. She still wants to leave. Her bags are packed, her ticket is booked and she can't wait to get out of this abusive relationship.

She wanted her indepedence and respect. Is it too much? Men!

But, he loves her passionately. He is crazy about her.

Mabye that's why he hurts her sometimes.

It is some kind of perverted admiration, right?

Finally, she decided that she needs some time off. She needs to think straight. He agreed to give her 6 years, all the time in the world.

Take your time, dear, I will sit back and wait for you to make up your mind.

Three years on, she is still thinking.

Mabye she just wants advice.

Sister,

I understand that the r.ship wasn't exactly milk and honey, but men can always change. Sister, why don't you resocialize him and talk to him. Invite him over, make some tea and talk your heart away.
Tell him to listen to you. Talk to him. If he loves you, he is going to take your views into consideration.

You are meant to be together, sister...right?


Praying for Unity.

So what if he is not a good president, he is a great dancer!

So Basheer the butcher is a good dancer! yes, good for him!

now shake it elsewhere please!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jIBwApdJl4&feature=related

Professor Collins

I first met him last summer, the 29th of June to be exact. It was my second day in Santa Barbara, California and my first time in America.
It was about 2 o'clock and I rushed back to the hotel to meet him because I didn't want to be late.
When I emailed him a week before travelling, I didn't expect a reply. After all, he was a distinguished professor and a well-known author. To my surprise, he emailed me back and told me to write to him as soon as I arrive.
I did. He agreed to come to the Upham hotel, where I was staying at the time. He said he knows the place very well.

We talked about politics, the Sudan, the war, the referendum in 2011, the future of the country, my family, my studies, his life in the Sudan and his books.
He was my favorite author. A Sudan expert.
He was first introduced to Africa in the 50's through books. He went to Sudan a month after its independence, in 1956. For the next 52 years, Sudan became his interest. He wrote atleast 15 books on the Sudan alone, he met many intellectuals, leaders and liberation fighters and he is one of the few people in the world to have traveled in every part of the country ( including Sudanese and non-Sudanese).

He knows the country better than all of us combined.

I've emailed him a few times after I came back. A few days ago, I wanted to e-mail him about a couple of interesting articles I wanted him to read.

I forgot his e-mail so I looked at his page only to find the following announcement
"We are sad to report that Professor Robert Collins passed away suddenly on Friday, April 11, 2008. A full obituary will be available soon."

This can't be happening. We were supposed to meet again, right? I was supposed to write my phd under his supervision. He was supposed to live love enough to see Sudan at peace. He was supposed to celebrate with us.
He should've waited, 2011 is only 3 years from now. He wanted to know the future of South Sudan more than any other person.

When Judgement day comes,the Sudanese deserve to go to Heaven

Decades of war, a psychotic president and an unendurable climate , I believe that the Sudanese should go to heaven.

Everytime I lose hope, I look at the average Sudanese and I'm optimistic again.