I heard a couple of days ago that Morgan Tsvangirai had sought refuge in the Dutch embassy in Herare. He later left the embassy to stage an international press conference in the garden of his (presumably more luxurious than your common-or-garden - excuse the pun - Zimbabwean's) home, before returning to the asylum (an appropriate term? ) of the Dutch embassy.

I saw the interview on CNN yesterday morning. In his speech he referred to Zimabwe as being an "African problem"and a problem that should be addressed and aided by "African Nations".

Perhaps Morgan Tsvangirai ought then to have found solice in the embassy of a fellow African nation in Harare than poncing off the Dutch taxpayer!

Just a thought!

Hey Wickerman, I wonder if one "broodje kaas" for lunch can be considered as "poncing off" Dutch taxpayers...?

I'm trying to work out if you're trolling for trolling's sake, or if you really are so uncharitable as to begrudge a place of saftey and some food/help to a guy who had to flee his own home as his life was in danger, while trying to instigate change.

I think it's the first, so I won't feed you (get back under your bridge ). I still have some hope left that most people would stretch out their hand to a drowning man.

Perhaps you are too busy at working things out to truly appreciate the point of my post.

Why has Morgan Tsvangirai sought solice in the luxury of the Dutch Hote ... sorry ... Embassy in Harare rather than in one of the African Embassies?

Countries that apparently are the only countries he vocally alluded to during Wednesday afternoon's speech that can offer resolution to the issues inherrent in a Mugabe-led/corrupt country like Zimbabwe.

That WAS my point.

Now as for trolling ... the only trolls I'm aware of are the little figures that appear in Nordic mythology ... but, hey!, I'm not renowned for being a spiritual, head-in-the-clouds admirer of mythical creatures so what would I know on the subject? That is, of course, unless I choose to return to semi-retirement in Scotland and buy a hotel on the banks of Loch Ness - in which case - Nessie, most certainly, DOES exist - as I'll proclaim in LARGE LETTERS in front of my hotel!) ... instead I just say it as I see it - both here and in 'real' life, whilst also regarding myself as a humanitarian in my views on prejudice and injustice.

You obviously haven't read many of my posts here ... read them before deciding to vent your misaligned spleen on me or my character. Assumption is the mother of all ...

“Why has Morgan Tsvangirai sought solice in the luxury of the Dutch Hote ... sorry ... Embassy in Harare rather than in one of the African Embassies?

Countries that apparently are the only countries he vocally alluded to during Wednesday afternoon's speech that can offer resolution to the issues inherrent in a Mugabe-led/corrupt country like Zimbabwe.”


Why do you care? What do you think the cost to the Dutch tax payer has been? They’ve put him up for a couple of nights, and may even have given him breakfast. What do you think this has incremental cost for the poor hard-done-by Dutch tax payer has been - €500? Maybe even €1000.

Who can say? I mean this is a guy who is trying to end despotism in his country. He is trying to free a nation of people from suffering and slavery. He and his MDC comrades are putting their lives on the line to free their people. He has risked his life and that of his family in the hope of securing a better future for an entire nation. That’s a kind of bravery that should leave the likes of you gasping for oxygen. He alone is worth 10,000 people like you.

Your typically mean-spirited response it to winge and whine about why he chose the Dutch embassy. Why is that a point of debate? Shouldn’t you be just proud that he chose the Dutch embassy?

Perhaps it was the nearest embassy to his home? Perhaps it was the nearest embassy to his office? Perhaps it was the nearest embassy that was big enough ? – I don’t know, and neither do you. But, typically, you have to put the spin on it that shows black people in the worse light. What a pity that he’s not a Muslim, right? Then you would have a complete set of prejudices to work with.

**

As to Shap’s point about you being a Troll, he is (as usual) spot on. You are a troll because nobody who is intelligent enough to dress themselves or use a flushing toilet without adult supervision, would be stupid enough to hold the views that you claim to hold.

I was almost tempted to rise to the bate of your ramblings ... instead I'll just establish the FACT that I have far less prejudice for ANY muslim than I hold towards you.

Africa.

Ha ha ha !

No birth control. No condoms.

We the white people of the world should not get involved into Africa. Let them fight it out themselves. The Dutch ambassy should have refused him entry. This African leader should face his fellow Africans and be a martyr for his cause. He should be proud to die due to the hands of a lynch mob. So go out of the Ambassy and face your people.

99 out of 100, that he is just from an enemy tribe trying to gain control for HIS tribe. Not for all the people of his country. That is how it always goes in Africa. I dont expect anything better from this 1. This man will collect heads in his fridge too, when given enough voodoo power and time. Exactly like Idi Amin.



I do not care about people who are not smart enough to use a condomn or make less babies when they do not have enough food to feed them.



Next !

FYI => The CV of Idi Amin: http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/amin.html

Will this man be any different ?

Dont make me laugh ! Check the part "when we find them usefull we support them".

Hi
You are not clear with your thoughts, will you give more information. So I can help you out in this matter.

Digital Video Editing

I agree with a few of your points.

Look how the Western World has stood by whilst atrocities like rape gangs, etc. have run riot through corrupt war-torn African nations or tribal segregation has basically fuelled ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Or, as I saw on CNN "Africa Special" last year, one of the UN's aid agencies gave 35 million USD to some piss-poor African nation for humanitarian need (I can't for the life of me recall which country), however within a month, the president had placed an order for a new 25 million USD private jet.

The cathoilc church itself in Africa spead the word, only 3 or 4 years back, that condoms were useless in the war against AIDS. Apparently the HIV virus could escape through the pores of a condom ... so, the Vatican says, don't bother using them. And many of the ill-educated, "White man's God-fearing" Africans duly complied.

Unfortunately, Africa, in the main was territorialised and countries established and named by the colonial governing nations; England, Holland, Belgium, France, Portugal, Italy, etc. They seem to have drawn maps up and divided out the proceeds of Africa's wealth; slavery, minerals, precious gems, etc. However, in annexing geographical land masses one thing was overlooked ... the different and opposing tribes within these 'countries'.

Now 3/400+ years on, with poverty, starvation, mass ill-education and illiteracy still present and, since WWII, many being 'granted' their independence (due, I expect, for reasons of mass depletion of their natural resources and the sheer cost of running a colonial nation that no-longer brings anything of latent value to the table), African nations are on their own. Their "own" being which tribe has the most power, which tribal leader has bowed lowest to their colonial step-fathers at the point of independence, etc.

Africa is pretty much screwed. Depleted of it's much of it's natural resources - what resources remain are brokered between multi-national mineral and oil-companies and the ruling tribal leader/president. Therefore the vicious circle continues to turn. The tribal leader.president receives the cash. The cash buys arms, tanks, money to pay the troops more than the opposing tribal members could ever expect; due to their segregation by the ruling tribe/power. And, whilst the atrocities rage, the International companies continue to lend support. They cite that the safety of their employees in that country is paramount to their decision to continue operations in these countries - fearing retaliation if the decide to 'pull-the-plug' for political issues. The reality, as anyone who doesn't have their heads zipped up the back will realise, is of course, the last-of-the-mineral wealth, dirt cheap local labour, none existant health and safety laws, no licensing/legal issues, and, who could ever forget it ... yes ... profit.

To conclude, whilst some misaligned individuals may have considered my thread to be started in a inhumanitarian/uncharitable/small Norse mythical creatures manner, blah, blah, blah, snooooooooore. Perhaps the reality of my stance is that should Morgan Tsvangirai wish to focus upon garnering support from African nations towards the obvious corruption of a one-party state he could have chosen one of those countries as his sanctuary, as opposed to chosing the embassy of the nation that was the last in the Western World to abolish slavery.

Just copying this from where I answered in another thread:

If this list is accurate, there are only four embassies of other African countries in Zimbabwe. I know that some countries have been pulling their diplomats out of Zimbabwe for some time now (Italy is leaving now), so it's entirely possible that there are now no African embassies in Zimbabwe any more.

... it may have listed the Netherlands embassy!!!

Good point
Perhaps this list is more accurate (although possibly outdated by now).

Who knows what's accurate and what's not in Zimbabwe nowadays anyways. Perhaps we should do as Tsvangirai himself has suggested and let the African's sort out their own dirty laundry.

Well here's the thing.

You can watch what is happening in Zimbabwe and say "These people are black and African and therefore nothing to do with me" (which though historically inaccurate is a standpoint of sorts) or you can say "As a human being this level of suffering of my fellow man offends my sensibilities."

It's a call we all have to make.

I completely agree with :
"As a human being this level of suffering of my fellow man offends my sensibilities."

Problem is,it doesn't stand up when you've got politicians using it and not meaning it.
Wasn't the humanitarian line taken in the lead up to the invasion of Iraq....
'let's go free the Iraqi people from that tyrant Saddam'.

... and what about our offended sensibilities as far as the fifty other African countries are concerned? IMHO it's all western hypocrisy, nothing more. One single (and simple!) agreement in the framework of GATT would bring decent living conditions to at least 200 million African farmers. But no, instead we (= First World) shower them with food surpluses which make it unattractive for them to cultivate any crop and certainly no commodities like cocoa or coffee. It is a shame, goinmg on for a century and more and we do nothing about it although it would be so easy and would cost us (= the European and American customer) only a few cents more for their products.