South Africa to Maggie: Good riddance

[Martinus]

Margaret Thatcher Receives Critical Eulogy From South Africa
By Jason Cherkis
Posted: 04/08/2013 5:59 pm EDT  |  Updated: 04/08/2013 6:15 pm EDT

WASHINGTON -- Margaret Thatcher's death on Monday at 87 has brought tributes from all over the world.

All over the world, that is, except for South Africa. Going against overwhelming mainstream sentiment, Thatcher refused to impose sanctions on South Africa's apartheid regime and went so far as to describe the African National Congress in 1987 as terrorists. "Anyone who thinks it is going to run the government in South Africa is living in cloud-cuckoo land," she said of the ANC at the time.

The ANC might have ground its teeth raw producing its statement on her death. "Her passing signals the end of a generation of leaders that ruled during a very difficult period characterised by the dynamics of the Cold War," said ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu. "She was one of the strong leaders in Britain and Europe, to an extent that some of her policies dominate discourse in the public service structures of the world."

By invoking "public service structures," Mthembu is referring to Thatcher's relentless and largely successful push to privatize transportation, pensions and other government-controlled elements -- policies the ANC opposed in general.

Pallo Jordan, a once-exiled ANC leader, was more direct. He told the Guardian: "Good riddance."

"I've just sent a letter of congratulations," Jordan said. "I say good riddance. She was a staunch supporter of the apartheid regime. She was part of the right wing alliance with Ronald Reagan that led to a lot of avoidable deaths."

The last South African president under apartheid, F.W. de Klerk, praised Thatcher for siding with his regime. De Klerk's government, like Thatcher's, eventually bowed to the inevitable and backed away from South Africa's racial segregation policy. De Klerk took pains in his statement to posthumously crown Thatcher a "steadfast critic" of apartheid."

"Although she was always a steadfast critic of apartheid, she had a much better grasp of the complexities and geo-strategic realities of South Africa than many of her contemporaries," de Klerk said in a statement. "She consistently, and correctly, believed that much more could be achieved through constructive engagement with the South African government than through draconian sanctions and isolation."

He concluded his statement by saying "I am honoured to have had Margaret Thatcher as a friend."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/margaret-thatcher-south-africa-_n_3039649.html

[Neil]

Meh.  It's not like apartheid was a bad thing.  Just look at the disaster that is South Africa today.

[CountDeMoney]

and went so far as to describe the African National Congress in 1987 as terrorists.
"Anyone who thinks it is going to run the government in South Africa is living in cloud-cuckoo land," she said of the ANC at the time.

OK, so she went 1 for 2.

[Josquius]

Thatcher was a bitch, film at 11.

Meh.  It's not like apartheid was a bad thing.  Just look at the disaster that is South Africa today.

As opposed to the bigger disaster it was then?

[CountDeMoney]

As opposed to the bigger disaster it was then?

It what way was it a bigger disaster?

[Neil]

As opposed to the bigger disaster it was then?

It what way was it a bigger disaster?

My guess:  Not enough coal mines.

[Gups]

As opposed to the bigger disaster it was then?

It what way was it a bigger disaster?

They hadn't been able to play proper test cricket for decades.

[Sheilbh]

The ANC's response is very classy.

[Josquius]

As opposed to the bigger disaster it was then?

It what way was it a bigger disaster?

Shittier in practically every way for most of the population.
Even most white South Africans agree things are better now than 20-odd years ago.

[CountDeMoney]

Even most white South Africans agree things are better now than 20-odd years ago.

Really? Any of these white South Africans still there that aren't charged with murdering their model girlfriends?

20-odd years ago, I seem to recall a South Africa that was the only sub-Saharan modern state with a nuclear energy program, a robust arms export model, and the highest per capita income in sub-Saharan Africa for the black population, despite apartheid and wage controls.

Now it's the largest welfare state on the continent, has an obscene crime rate due to gun ownership bans, and elects presidents that think AIDS can be cured by fucking pre-teen girls.

Yeah.  Better now.

[Josquius]

Even most white South Africans agree things are better now than 20-odd years ago.

Really? Any of these white South Africans still there that aren't charged with murdering their model girlfriends?

20-odd years ago, I seem to recall a South Africa that was the only sub-Saharan modern state with a nuclear energy program, a robust arms export model, and the highest per capita income in sub-Saharan Africa for the black population, despite apartheid and wage controls.

Now it's the largest welfare state on the continent, has an obscene crime rate due to gun ownership bans, and elects presidents that think AIDS can be cured by fucking pre-teen girls.

Yeah.  Better now.

South Africa as a developed country was always a lie. Though is it not still the richest African country? Certainly well up there, and if not then I'd imagine that's more due to some others rising than it falling.

I didn't say South Africa is a nice country. I certainly don't want to visit and get shot. But that's not what better means.

[CountDeMoney]

South Africa as a developed country was always a lie.

It is in Africa, after all.

I didn't say South Africa is a nice country. I certainly don't want to visit and get shot. But that's not what better means.

You say it's better off now than it was.  Meh.

[Valmy]

The ANC's response is very classy.

Yeah, under the circumstances I thought they handled it well.

One dude said good riddance so Marty entitled the thread suggesting that was South Africa's official response.

[Martinus]

The ANC's response is very classy.

Yeah, under the circumstances I thought they handled it well.

One dude said good riddance so Marty entitled the thread suggesting that was South Africa's official response.

That's how you title articles on the internet. Now I have to figure out how to be paid per click on my threads.

[Agelastus]

The ANC's response is very classy.

I agree. Very well worded; just the right phrasing to get by without actually paying tribute at all.

Something some of our own countrymen could take a lesson from.