azanian

"Black Stars" Shine On

2006-06-23T00:34:00.000+08:00

It is with pride and jubilation that I report Ghana's 2-1 victory against the world's number 5 soccer team, the USA, ensuring them passage into the 2006 Soccer World Cup last 16. As dramatic as the match was, It was clear from the get-go that Ghana was not letting up, with the US having very little ball possession in the first half. Ghana stuck close to the ball, giving African supporters reprieve from the disappointment caused by the lazy Angolan team against Iran.

At the twenty-second minute Ghana had scored the first goal of the match, while the US had hardly any attempts in Kingson's side of the turf. That sweetness soon wore off when the US scored just before half-time, but the Ghanaians got theirs back thanks to the referee's penalty award to Ghana shortly thereafter.

When the second-half came around it seems the Ghanaians slowed down a little, and the US' ball possession picked up, followed by many more attempts at the poles- however, all that exertion did nothing for them in the end.

All props must go to the following Ghanaian players:
Stephen Appiah (Man of the match; Mid-field)
Richard Kingson (Goalie)
and Haminu Draman (Mid-field)

America's Oguchi Onyewu (right) and the man who provided the US' only goal, Dempsey, mourning.

With all that it must be acknowledged that Dempsey's goal was spectacular, luckily it wasn't enough to secure a victory for the star-spangled players.

National Youth Commission White Elephant

2006-06-20T02:09:00.000+08:00

The National Youth Commission would be effective if it wasn't lead by an ANCYLese-speaking, incompetent, blithering idiot like Jabu Mbalula. The Sunday Times spurred debate this week about this ivory tower of an institution.

On MetroFM's only current affairs talk show, the fool who claims to be speaking and working on behalf of South African youth couldn't even quote unemployment statistics of South African youth; when asked to recap the success of some recent long-named initiative of theirs, he had the audacity to reveal that the 100 young people benefited from the programme- one hundred!?!

One man called into the show to point out that South African youth know nothing about the Youth Commission or the Umsobomvu youth fund as organs that can help them, according to a survey he did. The man went on to reveal that only one of the young people he had surveyed knew of the commission, and that the rest of them knew that kwaito star Zola is the only person who could help them in terms of getting a stab at employment and so on.

The point being made by the caller was that the Youth Commission was not visible to the youth and that their publicity channels are out-moded. The idiot Mbalula rebutts the caller by saying that the Commission uses community radio stations as a tool for publicity. Community radio stations? How out-of-touch can you choose to be? All those people who desparately need the help of such organizations are watching SABC1, not listening to struggling radio stations.

Shucks!

My question is how much is this young man being paid for sitting on his laurels, twiddling his thumbs, and dribbling saliva while South African youth who should be benefiting from the treasure he's being paid rot in the townships and rural areas.

June 16 'an excuse to go drinking'

2006-06-14T00:05:00.001+08:00

"An excuse to go drinking," or so charges Abhik Kumar Chanda. As sound the argument may be, I beg to differ only slightly by saying that in my opinion June 16 is not the only excuse to go drinking on the calender of South African youth. Fitting snuggly into this category myself, I must say that instead we try to squeeze in drinking (and smoking weed, etc., etc) whenever we can, be it June, January or December.

I remember that back in the day June 16 was a big deal, and if you didn't "stay away", you were only asking for it. As the years of the transition drew, my parents became more lax, allowing me to go to school on Stay-Aways, but still there was a brooding ominous feeling I'm sure.

Today, in an interesting twist of fate, the 16/06 is Youth Day- a legitimate public holiday. However, today's youth seem to be on a totally different wavelength, and the sanctity of the Day seems to have disappeared.

It all really boils down to an overrarching zeitgeist- we seem to be in a cathartic mood- and what better way to do so than with drinking, partying and the likes. At least that's what I've told myself in my quest for answers.

The sad thing about this explanation, be it indeed accurate, is that if the general mood is defined by catharsis, we as South African youth are terribly misled. We have so much that we have to tackle, much of it related to our cathartic behaviour: rising levels of drug use, crime, AIDS etc.

We should concertedly try to move away from political rhetoric (ala ANCYL), and apathy (general youth population) and do something about something. Each one choose one problem they wish to tackle and go for it.

If only ideals weren't ideals.

My Thoughts, Exactly

2006-05-13T12:05:00.000+08:00

Source

Tony Moron

2006-05-05T21:55:00.000+08:00

Who on earth said anything about race, and why is Tony Leon making it an issue? I've heard of Brain Farts, but this is extraordinary. I think we can put it down to writer's block- having to churn out some sort of material every week can be quite a feat, and this is the best Tony Leon could do this week?

Only god knows what he's going off about. While the rest of us are waiting with bated breath, our only interest being whether or not the judge will award Zuma with a mandatory sentence, guess what Tony Leon take out of the whole thing? Race.

I was about to wonder aloud why on earth The Mail & Guardian would even report on these silly remarks, but then I guess we can put it down to the "novelty" factor of news values. Please don't tell me that Leon's article is insightful based on the mere fact that no one else pulled the race card on this one- the only insight it gives me is that he has an unenviable knack for finding race issues in the oddest places.

Ven vil Sven venture viss way?

2006-04-20T22:54:00.000+08:00

Talk to any Seffiken about Bafana Bafana in the present tense, and be prepared to contend with a can of angry, disappointed worms. Honestly, nothing makes us happier than just reminiscing about the Glory Days. Remember when we won the African Cup of Nations? 1996 seems so long ago. And remember when we actually made it into the World Cup?

Corny as the way I've put this question is, it is one that needs to be asked. Will he indeed come around our neighbourhood to help out our Boys?Eriksson is among 13 coaches that SAFA has put on its 2010 wishlist, four of whom are Seffikens, Jomo Sono, Gordon Igesund, Pitso Mosimane and Steve Khompela.

But the question still remains, is our problem the lack of a good coach or is it something else? In a rather outdated (apologies) article this columnist offers his half-a-cent, which I naturally do not remotely agree with.

Whatever it is, we obviously need to get to the bottom of it very soon, 2010 is just around the corner.

Related Article

Arrive Alive futile?

2006-04-18T01:50:00.000+08:00

Despite the millions spent on the Arrive Alive campaign, many are still falling victim to deplorable car-accidents on South Africa's roads.

American R'nB diva, Ashanti got more than she bargained for on her trip to South Africa when her 20-year old cousin, Quinshae Snead, was killed in a road accident hours before the artist was scheduled to perform.

Every holiday season we witness the death toll on South Africa's roads sky-rocket due to the likes of the 17 year-old drunk driver who had stolen his mother's car only to rear-end the car Ashanti's cousin was driving in, resulting in her flinging to on-coming traffic.

What beats me is people know the dangers of drinking and driving, but they still do it.

This horrible incident comes at a time when South Africa has been getting an enviable list of American performers every year. The likes of hip hop star Ludacris and Alicia Keys have not only gone back to the United States to raise awareness about the plight of poverty and Aids in South Africa, but they've also played an important role in educating Americans about the positive side of things, with Ludacris particularly passionate about spreading the message that there's more to South Africa than what people see on the Discovery Channel. However, this incident is disheartening, and can only take us two steps back.

The sad thing though, is that I found myself sighing with relief that at least Ashanti's cousin wasn't murdered.

Crazy Monkey actor, Brett Holdin, wasn't as lucky, he was found dead and naked with his friend, with bullet wounds at the back of their heads in Cape Town over the weekend.

Halos and warheads

2006-04-16T04:23:00.000+08:00

The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards has brazenly summoned the United States to make good on its promise of action against his country, vowing that the America would not succeed.

General Yahya Rahim Safavi, the Guards' chief commander, has been reported as saying that Iran has been keeping a close eye on American troops and their operations in the Gulf for the past 2 years, and as such that country was ready for anything ranging from sanctions to military action.

"You can start a war but it won't be you who finishes it," said Safavi to the US, adding that they should "first get out of their quagmire in Iraq before getting into an even bigger one." These statements come amidst a flurry of speculations on what the United States will do about Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The president of Iran does not seem fazed either; in his usual line of anti-Semitic platitudes, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been cited outlining an 'inevitable' end to the state of Israel.

"The Zionist regime is a rotten, dried tree that will be eliminated by one storm," said the Islamist President on Friday, at a conference held in Tehran to lobby financial support for the Palestinian Authority whose administration has been in dire need since the US, EU and Israel halted funding the Hamas-led government of the occupied territory of Palestine.

Karl Rove, US president George W Bush's political adviser, says a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear stand may not be feasable as Ahmadinejad is "not a rational human being."

Ahmedinejad has reportedly said he felt he had a halo around him that transfixed UN delegates as he made a speech at the General Assembly last year.

Zuma's Brain, Gatta Luv It

2006-04-15T05:37:00.000+08:00

Source

The World According to Zac

2006-04-14T22:36:00.000+08:00

Jurors would be creating a grave mistake if they give Moussaoui the death penalty.

As much as it is seen as the fair punishement for the sole person on trial in connection with the 911 attacks on the United States, the death penalty for this defendant, may just exacerbate the situation of US national security, while strengthening the resolve of Al Qaeda militants and extremists to fight the "infidels".

Under normal circumstances, in the US justice system at least, the death penalty would be a fitting punishment, but this situation can hardly be considered customary. The death penalty in this situation could be viewed by such groups as a mandate for reprisal, as in this case Moussaoui would become an unquestionable martyr of sorts- having been killed by the 'unholy' Americans.

In light of the recent developments regarding the cessation of funding to Palestine, a video from Al Qaeda threatening more attacks in the US and Australia, and Islamist groups' ideologies about the West and dying for their cause, perhaps the jury overseeing this trial should be a little cautious when it comes to the death penalty.
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I recall an initial sense of awe when CNN announced that Zacarias Moussaoui (aka "Zac", and the only suspect being prosecuted in relation to the 911 bombings in New york) had admitted to being part of the plot to hijack planes during 911, along with Richard Reid (the Shoe Bomber).

My awe turned to suspicion and disbelief a few minutes into my absorption of the story, but I clearly wasn't alone. I formulated a thesis, that Moussaoui had nothing to do with the initial planning of the September 11 attacks, but he instead wants the death penalty in order to fulfill his role as an Al Qaeda martyr.

Sure enough, the news today have strengthened my suspicions. The latest reports out of the courtroom quote Moussaoui as resisting efforts by his lawyers to portray him as insane.

The prosecution this week has elicited powerful, wrenching testimony from witnesses to the attacks, and survivors and family members of victims. Prosecutors also played tapes of 911 messages from victims in the World Trade Center. On Wednesday, the jury heard the cockpit voice recorder from United Flight 93 as terrorists seized control of the plane and slashed the pilots' throats.

Moussaoui was uncooperative with his defense lawyer, Gerald Zerkin, presenting Zerkin with handwritten questions he wanted him to ask. But he seemed happy to cooperate when cross-examined by the government.

"Are you crazy?" asked lead prosecutor Robert Spencer.

"I am not," Moussaoui said.

"Are you delusional?"

"I am not."

Spencer asked him if a suicide attack was an act of madness.

"It is not crazy," he said.

Was he ashamed of his role in the Sept. 11 conspiracy? "There is no remorse for justice," Moussaoui said. "... No regret. No remorse."

Would he do it again tomorrow? Would he take flying lessons again tomorrow and pilot a hijacked plane into the White House, as he testified last month he was preparing to do.

"Today," Moussaoui said.

Source

Talks

2006-04-12T00:42:00.000+08:00

While trying to make sense of South Africa's engagement of Hamas, I came across an interesting article by Tim Hughes- a member of South Africa's Institute of Internatinoal Affairs. He takes a shallow, yet scathing look at SA's would be role in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The article hasn't given me any sufficient answers, but I do feel he gives a somewhat balanced analysis of the proposed talks.

What's missing from the commentary that I've seen regarding this issue is word from the President's office. People are speculating, with many really just choosing to ignore the proclamation and the visit by Abu Mazen a few weeks ago. There was a haunting silence, for example on the part of CNN regarding the visit, BBC had a short little article, and If my memory serves me correctly, The NYT didn't run anything either.

Hughes raises some interesting points, and seems to view SA as being delusional if it thinks it can teach Israel and Palestine a thing or two when we couldn't even effect the situation in Zim. He does, though, redeem our efforts right at the end of his article.

Downfall

2006-04-11T01:59:00.000+08:00

Our down fall is indeed his incomprehensible tolerance for hardship. Like the African Americans tolerating human suffering in the diaspora, our down fall has definitely been this ideal that we prize called Ubuntu.

Why else would it be that while Africanist voices within the ANC were vehemently against the Freedom Charter, which called for the equality of all people living in South Africa, despite of colour or ideology, the Charter and its proponents still triumphed?

It is this very same charter that has thrown bigoted (note: not all) white South Africans and their offspring blindly into oblivion of their ancestors' (and their own) wrong-doing against the black people and everyone 'less' than white in that country.

While surfing the net sometime a few weeks ago, I came across a blog linking to a very interesting exercise to measure one's personal biases. I forgot to bookmark the site, so I went back to look for it, and I did find it sure enough.

What I saw today was rather disturbing, and it brought back to mind the things that I dread about South Africa. I came across the blogger (who's black) in a cringe-worthy dialogue with a typical white South African racist bigot.

Birth of a blog

2006-04-02T00:32:00.000+08:00

Hmm. Aaah. The smell of the bloggoshphere. I sure am glad to be here.