Disturbing Campaign Trends

During the last few weeks I've noticed two very disturbing and recurring trends in this US presidential election, that few people seem to have picked up on.

The first must be the best example of political "flip-flopping" ever. When asked to talk about his views on stem cell research, in the second presidential debate Friday night, President Bush said that he could not support the notion that to "destroy life to save a life" was acceptable. He has repeated this statement on numerous times in the past, such as on the interview with Larry King.

Now it's interesting to note that in the same breath he will tell the world, that in order to save the Iraqis from the tyranny of Saddam and preserve life in that country, Americans solders unfortunately had to die. In this intense he sees nothing wrong with the destroying a life, to save lives concept. Now isn't that flip flopping on the major issues?

My next point is something both candidates are guilty of saying. Have you noticed how Kerry and Bush will happily say that they'll find the terrorist and then kill the terrorist? Is it just me or are they leaving out like a central part of the law system in their country? From what I know, American law states that you cannot just kill a person, one must first ascertain whether that person is guilty or not in a court of law. I'm shocked that no one has warned them about the implications of what they are saying. One can't go around saying what ever pleases the voters just to be elected.

I'm be waiting to see if any of the news media pick up on the two above mentioned trends in this campaign.

An Expensive Popularity Contest

After seeing the list of the 100 greatest South Africans, I'm more convinced then ever, that there are those of us living in this country, with severe judgment problems.

That Hendrik Verwoerd, the mastermind behind the concept of modern apartheid, could be number 19 just shows us that this pole didn't really set out to determine the greatness of individuals, but rather their popularity, cause in my book Hendrik Verwoerd does not qualify as being eligible for greatest South African in any way or form.

Some other suspect names were sighted on the list. Those of Brenda Fassie and Hansie Cronje come to mind, both who died in a state of ignored disgrace. I think 94.7 Highveld DJ, Jeremy Mansfield said it best when asked about, drug addict and self proclaimed diva, Brenda Fassie's name appearing at 17, "Would she still have been on the list if she didn’t die?" he asked the viewers at home to consider. I think the same can be said about fallen idol Hansie Cronje who dragged the image of sportsmen and women in this country through the mud and back again.

Celebrities seemed to fill up most of the spots on this list. Has everyone forgotten that there is a difference between celebrity and greatness? Charlize Thoren was number 12, and although I'm as proud of her as any other South African is, I still think so far she has done little to warrant her place on the list.

And what of those pretend South Africans? Those famous people that on closer inspection were never really South Africans, like J.R.R Tolkien who although born here,left the country at age 4, and from then on was raised as an British scholar and never again set his foot in this country.

Any scientist would frown upon the way this poll was conducted. There is not way in hell that this so-called national poll really reached everyone. Just because it was announced on TV, radio and written about in newspapers does not mean that everyone got the message or even bothered to phone in to have vote counted. I sure as hell didn’t, as a student I can't afford the cost of a phone call or sms, and I'm sure many others can't either. And was it even aired in all of our eleven official languages? No, cause frankly, that would be a marketing nightmare for the SABC.

I hate to burst the SABC's bubble but they just aired the most expensive popularity contest in history, not a poll on the true measure of greatness.

The term greatness, much like the term beauty, at the end of the day is nearly impossible to truly define, therefore isn't it logical to say that it would be nearly impossible to define a person as great?

Holy Irony

I thought I'd provide some sweet irony for today's topic.

When I decided that I'd try my hand at freelancing, I knew it would not be an easy gig. I'd had been warned that I'd have doors slammed in my face all the time, I just never imagined, that the ones doing the slamming, would be a pair of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Yes, it's true, I can't get a Jehovah's Witness to talk to me! I think I'll just dig my own journalist grave now.

You see they came knocking on my door one day, leaflets in hand, eager to talk and I decided, after seeing how sad and tried they looked, that it was time that someone told their side of the story, like how does it feel to have to walk door to door for miles, and then still deal with nasty insensitive people? The life behind the stereotype. They told me they'd be delighted to do it!

So Saturday roles around and I walk all the way up to their house and no ones home. The place is deserted, except for one very mean looking long haired terrier thing locked away behind the gate. I felt just a tad bit upset, but nothing too serious, anyone can forget an appointment or be held up somewhere else. I didn't make much of it and walk back home, waiting for them to call me.

I didn't hear from them until Monday morning, when they were back ringing my door bell. Of course they were so sorry they missed me on Saturday, they had things to do, but we could reschedule for that same afternoon.

Do we even need to go over what happened that afternoon at two? No Witnesses. No interview, and this time they didn't even get back to me.

I mean I work really, hard preparing for interviews, I do my homework. I work out all the questions, do the research and then this happens! But what makes it even worse. I thought they would understand how it would feel to be rejected when you only have good intentions.

So what have we learnt? That Jehovah's Witnesses aren't half as eager to express themselfs as they might seem!