Dean McCleland, Author at The Casual Observer

Some Politically Incorrect Comments by World Famous People

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, History, Opinion Pieces 23 April 2015 0 Comment

Exceptions notwithstanding, probably none of the persons whom society has beatified with sainthood has an unblemished record. The lessor mortals fare less well. By now, Jacob Zuma is well known for his racist and misogynist comments. What about the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini fanning the flames of xenophobia with his ill-advised comments? Finally it was an article by Jan Vermeulen entitled “This is why Gandhi’s statue was vandalised?” which propelled me to investigate further.

A case in point is Winston Churchill who is indubitably my history hero. Like all such luminaries Churchill was human. In the heat of moment, Winston did make some crass comments. Being an old-fashioned Imperialist and Royalist at heart – the last of a dying breed in the Nineteen Thirties’ – his vitriol was often directed at the Indian people & Gandhi in particular.

Main picture: Mahatma Gandhi Continue reading

What is the origin of “Kilroy was here”?

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 23 April 2015 0 Comment

Most people are vaguely familiar with the expression “Kilroy was here” but how did it arise and what was it real significance? This story must rate as no more than a footnote to history. Nonetheless it is tales like this that comprise the rich mosaic of life and provide its human interest.

Most people have sometime in their life seen the drawing of a bald head with an overlarge nose peering over a fence as it is now an iconic picture. Like us today, the Allies during WW2 – but mainly the Americans – had seen this quirky image adorning everything from tanks, vehicles to planes sometime during their service in the American military.

The Protea Hilton Hotel: Old World Charm Personified

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces, Other Opinion Pieces 22 April 2015 0 Comment

Perhaps it is the faux Tudor architectural style which creates an aura of elegance and graciousness. But it is more than that. Being out in the country with the verdant hillocks to the north, the setting is exquisite. The immaculate gardens with its huge trees complement the decorous setting.

Having stayed there for the past nine weeks, I am still enamoured and am not ready to swop for a bland B&B.

Accidental Ironies

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 21 April 2015 0 Comment

Of the many forms of ironies, the most sophisticated is Socratic Irony which is a means by which the pretended ignorance of a skilful questioner leads the person answering to expose his own ignorance. A more common form relates to the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. An example in this guise would go as follows: “The irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.” The type employed in this series of photographs is predicated upon their incongruity, the least intellectual incarnation of its use. In this sense it bears more the qualities of paradox than that of mordancy.

All of these photographs bear the hallways of the latter variant.

Do not attempt this if you suffer from Acrophobia

By Dean McCleland in Other Galleries 21 April 2015 0 Comment

Acrophobia is the extreme or irrational fear of heights which manifests itself even when one is not particularly high up. Often mistakenly called vertigo, this condition relates to spinning sensation when one is not spinning. All of these situation would prompt an immediate and overwhelming bout of acrophobia.

Main picture: The Grand Canyon Skywalk to nowhere

Another Perspective on the Destruction of Statues and Monuments

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 20 April 2015 0 Comment

Statues and monuments are an integral part of history. It is the future generations which bemoan their destruction and the loss of history, albeit painful. The misplaced notion that their obliteration will erase the impact of their milieu is fallacious. The desecration of 1700 year old Buddha statues by the Taliban in Afghanistan is just one exemplar of this ill-conceived notion.

Main picture: The removal of Rhodes statue from its plinth at UCT

Vandalism by ISIS in Mosul

A contemporary example of this barbarism was the wrecking of 3000 year old artefacts by the Islamic group known as ISIS. Priceless antiquities fell to the blows of these thugs. In their quest for religious purity, one vandal proclaimed that the items were being destroyed as they promoted idolatry. One of the items dating back to the 9th century B.C., depicted a winged-bull Assyrian protective deity, ‘The Prophet ordered us to get rid of statues and relics, and his companions did the same when they conquered countries after him,’ the unidentified attackers proclaimed.

Helen Zille: South Africa’s very own Iron Lady

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 19 April 2015 0 Comment

No-one could call Helen Zille indecisive and not forthright in expressing her views. For this Helen Zille was christened Godzilla. Unlike Jacob Zuma who attempts to placate all factions within the party, Zille would not equivocate about her viewpoint. What will her legacy be and what is the prognosis under a new DA Leader, probably Mmusi Maimane?

A past in serving black causes

In spite of all the spurious and racist accusations against Helen Zille by the ANC and other black organisations, Helen Zille has an unsullied indisputable past in not only fighting the Nationalist Party but also assisting its victims. Zille began her career in journalism in 1974 as the political correspondent for the anti-apartheid nemesis of the Nationalist Government, The Rand Daily Mail.

Home was No. 57 Mowbray Street, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth

By Dean McCleland in McClelands, Other Personal 19 April 2015 3 Comments

Everybody has a special place; a place that one calls home. For the McCleland’s it was 57 Mowbray Street, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth. It was nothing special; just a normal middle class rectangular house without any pretensions of greatness, grandiosity or style. But what it did possess was not character but some unique features which will forever be remembered by the family and associated with our home.

Main picture: The diamond shaped window panels of the patio

What has the Post Office done with my Parcel?

By Dean McCleland in Miscellaneous Topics 18 April 2015 1 Comment

We are all aware that the South African Post Office is in disarray. Now there is photographic proof of the chaos that reigns in the sorting centres. Unlike the United Kingdom which promises delivery within 24 hours in the UK, South Africans can no longer expect a parcel within two months.

Amazon in the UK made two separate shipments on the 30th January 2015 to me. I have only now on the 11th April 2015 received one of them. What has happened to the second?

No Lights Today: A Parody of No Milk Today

By Dean McCleland in Miscellaneous Topics 16 April 2015 0 Comment

Only those born in the fifties will remember the 1967 sweet melodic song by Herman’s Hermits entitled No Milk Today. It was an Age of Innocence before the scourge of drugs brought the demise of many a pop musician. While some like Jimmy Hendrix paid the ultimate price, many like Eric Clapton battled its cloying hold for decades before either beating their demons or failing & ultimately facing their Maker long before their allotted time.This melody has inspired my brother Blaine to write the lyrics of a parody appropriately entitled No Lights Today. Its target is the hapless Eskom.

The Opinion Pieces are an eclectic bunch on current affairs & history often with a human interest aspect. The Movie/DVDs reviews are mainly on documentaries with a smattering of movie reviews.

Author: Dean McCleland