Monday 30 July 2007

Away for a few days...

Hello all,

Sadly my mother-in-law passed away during the early hours of Sunday morning. Will be back online in a few days.

Saturday 28 July 2007

A few meanderings on Africa

Hello all,

Today I added a new link to my blog – the Affirmheid blog. This blog is set up to highlight the various activities of blatant ethnic and racial discrimination being perpetrated in various Southern African countries in the name of “affirmative action.” Its worth a read just to see what is going on in Zimbabwe, Namibia, and South Africa.

Why do I care what is going on down there? Well, for those of you who did not know, I was born in Rhodesia. Although I have lived in England longer than in any other country, and for over half my life in total, I spent a good number of my formative years in Zimbabwe, the country that Rhodesia became after a rather nasty combination of communist backed insurgency and international political back stabbing.

I have been pondering lately on why nothing ever gets done about the mad bastards who are running Africa into the ground. Sure, even a madly pro-colonial like myself has to recognise that European Imperial policy is somewhat responsible, but many of these countries have been independent since the 1960s, surely that is enough time to find their own feet and start on a path to stability and (relative) prosperity?

Yes, we all know about fair trade thanks to the chattering classes, and there may even be some truth in the claim that its Western business practices that are keeping the “3rd world” down. But this is far from the whole story. I recently watched, for a second time, the excellent film “Blood Diamond” which, along with Leonardo DiCaprio actually doing a pretty fair Rhodesian/South African accent for an American, brought to attention an acronym that is chilling in its simplicity and applicability.

Both DiCaprio and various others say, at various points in the movie, “TIA” – “This is Africa”. Three simple letters that do so much to portray the shocking state of Africa and the cynical jaded acceptance of the status quo by the people who live and work on that continent.

What does TIA really mean though? In general, it stands for corruption, for politicians doing nothing more than pillaging their countries and sending the loot to Swiss banks. It stands for deep seated ethnic hatreds, most of which pre-date European colonisation, that transcend what the Western chattering classes would term simple prejudice or racism.

It stands for a generally low estimation of the value of human life, of human dignity, of human rights. A willingness to perpetrate horrendous crimes on anyone and everyone who stands in the way of whoever is in a position of power, no matter their gender or age.

It stands for "democratically elected" governments for acting in the pseudo-feudal manner of paramount chieftains of centuries past, massacreing their opponents, albeit in socio-economic terms rather than literal in some of the more stable countries.

Sadly, this is not hyperbole and nonsense. One only has to listen to the news to see how bad things in Africa are (Zimbabwe, Darfur, what used to be Zaire), and one only has to do a small amount of research to see how bad they can get (Rwanda).

Sure, there are isolated success stories. Botswana, for example, has managed to avoid the worst excesses of African politics and social unrest. Zambia and Mozambique are clawing their way to modest prosperity after many years of economic meltdown and/or civil war. It should bear notice that the latter two countries owe a large portion of their recovery to cooperation between their indigenous black population and white Africans displaced from Zimbabwe and South Africa, who have settled in new lands.

But why should we have so few countries to point to as success stories? Why does the west allow people like Robert Mugabe to do what he has done to wreck Zimbabwe and reduce its economic and industrial development to the same place it was in the 1950s? Why do they say nothing while Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia begin to march their own countries down the same path?

Tony Blair, for all of his problems, espoused a doctrine that I heartedly agree with – Humanitarian Intervention. The debacle of Iraq (which I mostly blame the Americans for – but that is another post) aside, Western intervention, largely inspired by Tony, in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, and Afghanistan had immediate and positive results. But why has the West not acted in Darfur? In Zimbabwe? Why will it not act when Namibia and South Africa go the same way as Zimbabwe?

The answer is simple. Guilt. Thanks to the dominance of left-wing apologists, shaped in the “feel-good” nonsense of the 1960s and 1970s, in the media and political spheres of the West, they are paralyzed by a misplaced sense of guilt over our colonial past, and an almost pathological fear of being seen as neo-colonialists should they answer the moral necessity and bring the excesses of Africa to heel.

The very same people who sponsor heart wrenching infomercials of starving African children, who throw lavish concerts to increase awareness, who use every iota of political and social influence that they can bring to bear on shaping policy to reduce poverty in the 3rd world, it is their fault, and the fault of those who agree with them, that Africa is in the state that it is in.

Giving aid to countries where democracy is non-existent and ethnic and racial oppression exists is wrong. Supporting businesses in countries where the government exists to shaft their own people and get rich doing it is wrong.

Yet the aid continues and the sympathy and racial-cultural guilt endemic in Western countries rages unabated by reality and expediency. Until people get over the ridiculous idea that all of the worlds problems are because on white Westerners, the situation in Africa will never improve. What is past is past. African countries need to get responsible and ethical leaders in place. They need to stamp out corruption and archaic and destructive urges to massacre each other indiscriminately. Once they have, everyone concerned can get on with peaceful and profitable development.

This will need a period of “tough love” from the West, but at the end of it we might see stable, sane, sensible African countries that can take advantage of the huge natural resources, natural entrepreneurial spirit and intelligence of the indigenous African people, and the good will of the West to build better countries and a better continent.

But this will not happen, because cry-baby idiots wracked by irrational feelings of responsibility for the acts of past generations are the ones who have the say on out TVs, in our schools, in our governmental legislatures, and on the pages of our newspapers and magazines.

Given this state of affairs, I am confident that my 5 month old daughter will one day hear the acronym TIA and know exactly what it means, because things have, at best, stayed the same in Africa, but more than likely have become far far worse.

Tuesday 24 July 2007

Meanderings on a John Stuart Mill Quote

Hello all,

I recently joined another major internet fad – Facebook. I dabbled in MySpace, but found it incomprehensible. Facebook is far easier for semi-tehcnoliterates like myself.

While fleshing out my profile, I came across a “favourite quotes” section. This intrigued me. Whilst the vast majority of Facebook denizens would doubtless post song lyrics, or snippets of pop-culture, I though that this would be a fantastic opportunity to let those who ended up on friends list get a glimpse at the real me by posting quotes that strike a cord with what I belive.

Needless to say, not one single comment has been made about my quotes list – which is kind of what I expected. However, I thought I would take this opportunity to wax a bit more lyrical on one particular quote.

The quote in question is from a seemingly unlikely source - a 19th century liberal philosopher, economist and MP named John Stuart Mill. Wiki him yourself – I don’t possess the skill of lazy linking yet (see plea for aid below).

The quote is as follows…

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

To me this quote is extremely pertinent to today’s Britain. Can anyone argue that we do not live in a society of “decayed and degraded moral and patriotic feeling?” Where the concepts of national pride and patriotism are equated with the goose stepping fanaticism of the 1930s and 1940s? Where British, and especially English, pride is reduced to tattoos of flag wearing bulldogs on the beer bellies of football fans?

It sometimes seems as if the Britain of today is a dichotomy. There are people willing to fight for what is morally right, and indeed to fight to keep others in their society free to spout their own nihilistic liberal drivel. Yet the most vocal segments of this society prefer to play the appeaser, the apologist, the placater, the “enlightened citizen of the world” convinced that everything will be ok if we just stop criticizing other cultures/religions and sit down and talk it all over.

I cannot bring myself to think that the majority of the British people fall into the latter camp. At worst the misguided children of the flawed philosophies of peace and love inherited from the 1960s and 1970s are a plurality, and even that thought turns my stomach.

We all know that war is an ugly thing, but I am sure that you will agree that the reluctance to wage a necessary war (specifically the War on Terror, which is in reality a war to preserve Western Civilization) to the full extent that it demands is short sighted foolishness of the first order.

I would like to think that this country possesses the spiritual, moral and patriotic strength that will be necessary to win the war of civilisations and cultures that will be waged for the foreseeable future – certainly for the rest of our lives and more than likely for those of our children and our grand children as well. I would like to think that a kernel of what made this small island great in the first place remains, but faced with the constant media bombardment of negativity and airtime for a vocal appeaser minority it is sometimes hard to believe that enough of the “blitz spirit” remains.

I hope it does.

Technical Help!

Hello all,

As I plan on getting more into this "blogging" phenomenon, I think that it would be a good skill to learn how to "lazy link". By that I mean, inserting a link into text subsituting my words for the url. Any help on this would bne most appreciated.

Thanks.

Monday 23 July 2007

A "Manifesto"

Hello all,

About a year ago, in the midst of a significant period of cynicism and disillusionment with all UK political parties, I wrote a manifesto up. Its pretty authoritarian - I am not a libertarian by any stretch of the imagination and so if will grate the nerves of most "right" wing bloggers and readers, as well as of course cause cries of outrage amongst any "left" and "liberal" readers.

I did, however, find it very cathartic and satisying to tabulate what I would, if I could, like to see done. Its fantasy, some of its just not practical, and some is wishful thinking, but those of you who read this, if any, might find it interesting.

http://www.mediafire.com/?7n1gykpwe22

I hosted it online in word format - probably a big no-no due to copyright, but to be honest I don't care all that much - if people want to copy it, then so be it - some of the ideas may do some good to somebody. Its still in pretty rough format, so expect typos, syntax, and mauled grammar. Much like all the rest of my writings :)

Again, I dont expect much agreement, and certainly no universal agreement with the sentiments the manifesto contains, but it may provide food for thought.

Boris for Mayor

Hello all,

I know its been a few days already, but I would just like to take the opportunity to enthuse about Boris Johnson, Conservative MP for Henley, deciding to run for the post of London mayor.

Boris is probably best known for his social gaffs, his disheveled appearance, and his repeated appearances on the TV show “Have I Got News for You”. Yet his apparent buffoonery hides a keen intellect and, I think, potentially, a great leader for what is arguably the greatest city in Europe, if not the world.

The left have predictably started taking swipes at Boris, and the chattering “champagne socialists” that make up a truly distressing proportion of the UK media and intelligentsia classes are talking about what a disaster Boris would be for London.

This is deeply unfair, given that their champion is the reprehensible Ken Livingston, who takes credit for the financial and social growth that London has experienced over his two terms as mayor, even those this growth has happened despite the best efforts of “Red Ken” to turn this town into the “People’s Republic of Londonistan.”

The congestion charge has done precious little to lower traffic levels in the city – all it has done is swell the London Assembly’s coffers at the expense of a lot of business. Many smaller businesses have had to massively increase their advertising budgets in order to become “destination stores” as opposed to relying on passing trade – my family’s business being a case in point.

There has been none of the corresponding improvement in public transport that was promised as a side effect of the congestion charge as far as I can see – just more money for Ken to do things like throw a “Cuban Cultural Festival” or subsidize St. Patrick’s day celebrations. No sign of a St. George’s day celebration of course – that might offend some minority group or other.

He also takes his time to invite controversial and dangerous Moslem clerics who champion suicide bombings and global jihad to the capital. Why, I have no idea. I am actually surprised that Ken has not just thrown in with the revolting George Galloway and joined the “Respect” party.

Then there is his banner-holding for the newest and most disturbing manifestation of left-wing insanity – anti-Semitism originating in the “liberal” segments of society. Ken should never have kept his job after making a Nazi jibe aimed at a Jewish reporter – if a similar comment had been made to an Afro-Caribbean or Moslem individual the outcry from the left would have been deafening.

So, bring Boris on I say. His father, I believe, said that “it was far better for an intelligent man to pretend to be a buffoon than for a buffoon pretend to be an intelligent man”. Will Boris solve all of the problems existing in London, many created by Red Ken? No. For one, Boris is a cyclist, which is a segment of society that I despise, but mainly it will be the total in-ability of any subsequent mayor to repeal the congestion charge – its been around too long now and the money is too imbedded in the LA’s income.

One thing is certain at least – Boris is a personality and a character, and hopefully next year’s campaign will be entertaining watching at the very least.

Welcome to my meanderings...

My first blog post ever! I have resisted this particular craze for some time now, although I have enjoyed reading the blogs of several friends.

Why do I succumb to the craze now? Well, partly it is due to an increasing level of irritation with British society and a desire to rant and rave about it. That someone out there might actually be interested will be interesting to see as well. Also spurring my writing this blog is another factor – my newly arrived daughter.

At the moment she is less than six months old, yet I find myself seriously wondering what sort of world she will grow up in. I also find myself becoming increasingly dogmatic in defining what world I want her to grow up in. Frustratingly, those two paradigms are far far apart from one another.

As the weeks go by, more and more elements of my thought processes will doubtless be posted, and hopefully a cathartic experience will be obtained by posting them. I seriously doubt that all my posts will be of a uniform type – I can see general rantings about all sorts of things in the future of this blog, and possibly even the odd positive post, especially about my daughter.

So, welcome to the meanderings of a non-PC man, the meanderings of a young middle class white man living, working and raising a family in 21st century Britain. I hope the journey will be a long one.