Today the world said goodbye to Nelson Mandela. He was as I said before a great man, the BBC and other medias coverage of him however was far from great. The great cause of the middle class liberals was apartheid in South Africa. For years a small group, larger at important times, stood outside the embassy in London demanding an end to the colour bar. Once Mandela arrived they went home. Many journalists visited the country, often being hindered by the authorities as they reported on the conditions there. To the followers of the cause Mandela was not just a politician, he was their hero, their star, their idol and they arrived in full to worship him at Christmas.
I suspect however that he never gave them the same degree of adulation they gave him, Mandela was no fool. He knew what was in a man, especially middle class Brits obsessed with their ideology, and never pandered to them. he did however respond well, and indeed played up to, the honest support many Brits did in fact offer him and his cause. Now he has gone and his nation continues, the people not much better off and the leaders happily wasting the cash.
But what about the other causes?
Not one middle class liberal ever stood outside an embassy governed by black leaders abusing or killing their own people. Does black killing black make it acceptable perhaps? Journalists may occasionally visit such places and send in clear reports of abuse and murder, but the liberals are not roused, it is after all safer to promote same sex marriage, abortion or whatever this weeks cause may be. Actually campaigning against black leaders may in fact be called 'racist!' Much of the rest of the nation fails to get excited, 'they are all the same after all' is the approach there.
'Love,' as in 'Love your neighbour,' is not the same as 'love your neghbour if it fits in with this weeks ideology,' that's just 'loving yourself'
Now I am not one to gloat! Indeed such an attitude is s far from me that I have often been referred to as 'Mr Generous Heart' himself. So when I noted the English weaving their merry way to Australia to play the colonials at the cricket I humbly let the occasion pass with no comment. That a comment regarding the loud boasting from the players of the ease with which they would dispose of the marsupial eaters was possible I let slip past. The crowing on TV and Radio from English 'experts,' as to how easy this game in the sun would be I ignored, something one often has to do regarding English attitudes.
Imagine my surprise then at the latest news from our contacts overseas! It would appear that this 'England,' are not the superior chaps they supposed themselves to be, indeed the opposite could well be true. On the off chance I have overheard some of the previously loud boasters on TV now indicate questions regarding the men out there swinging those stick things they carry. It appears from their conversations that what once were referred to as 'Ace,' or 'Superior Batsman,' and even 'World beaters,' could in fact be overpaid numpties who ought never have been allowed near a cricket field ever! Tsk! Who would have thunk it eh?
Now I must make clear my views here. People who stand around all day on a piece of grass that ought to have been developed into a football field, throwing a ball at a man armed with a thick stick, the intention being to stop said ball hitting thin sticks behind him, clearly have not yet found the meaning of life. The majority of one team hide in the dressing room playing on their iPads, tablets or other players girlfriends while two of them fight the opposition. I say two fight the opposition but in fact only one throws the ball at them, the others merely stand around ion what sun breaks through the clouds while they scratch themselves. I ask you is this any way for a grown man to pass the time of day? What is the point of this? Why do Englishmen, working men at that, get so excited over this nonsense? In Scotland we never played this game. On the odd occasion as kids it was attempted, more as an experiment to attempt understanding of the southern neighbours folly, but it never lasted. The idea of standing around while others work is not the Scots way, I found many Englishmen who in my experience considered this a good working method however.
I will not gloat that the imperialist army, known as the 'barmy army,' with good reason, have headed ten thousand miles into destruction, but I could. There will be no gloating that those who desired an open top bus trip after a lucky win against a feeble young Aussie side last year have found themselves dangling on the end of a rope. Laughter will not cross my mind when the defeated sun burnt 'sportsmen,' drag themselves back to their bank accounts. No smug smiles here, but I might just go out and buy a bottle of Australian wine for Christmas!
Before you eat, be it breakfast lunch or tea, do not click on this link. Click nothing until you are in a healthy state, far from dangerous weapons or fragile items. This may make you laugh or it may make you boak!
.
