Dean McCleland, Author at The Casual Observer

Should We Confront Taxi Drivers when they Err?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 22 December 2015 0 Comment

Anecdotal evidence suggests that most taxi drivers must commit at least a 100 traffic violations per day. It is their egregious behaviour of failing to adhere to any traffic ordinances that incenses the other road users. After a Facebook video went viral showed a motorist taking on a taxi driver in Durban, the general consensus was that the ordinary motorist should confront the errant taxi drivers more often. But is that the correct method of preventing them disobeying of the traffic regulations?

Main picture: In these scenes from a Facebook video, a motorist can be seen refusing to give way to a taxi driving on the wrong side of the road in Glenwood. In frame 1 the taxi pulls into oncoming traffic, in 2 he tries to push in but in 3 he is stopped, in 4 and 5 he reverses and in 6 he makes his escape.

What is the Status of Immorality Today?

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

Imagine an unmarried mother even half a century ago. Her lot was wretched. Judged within the narrow conservative confines of morality of that epoch, they were castigated, vilified and ostracised. According to the prevailing prudish norms they were no better than sluts or prostitutes. Since then a seminal shift in attitudes has transpired in this regard. Within the past two decades even homosexuality has been legalised. What remaining elements of immorality have yet to be challenged and vanquished?

Main picture: Martin L. Lambert married conjoined twin Violet Hilton but not her sister Daisy
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In Celebration of Dogs

By Dean McCleland in Animals, Miscellaneous Topics 21 December 2015 1 Comment

The one stern injunction that my mother made when I was a child was never to own a German Shepherd as a pet. The reason that she advanced was that ultimately their wolf like nature would be exhibited at some point in time and would attack somebody. Personally I believe that her misunderstanding arose as the next door neighbours – the Lotts’s – bred GSDs. In their tiny backyard, they kept 50 Alsatians chained up. Probably what happened was that at some point, a frustrated dog attacked Mr Lotts. For most of my life in Joburg, I have owned at least one Alsatian and never have I experienced a problem either with the children or the other animals.

Mampara of 2015: Zuma – a Man out of his Depth

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, SA Heroes and Mamparas 21 December 2015 1 Comment

Jacob Zuma’s election by the ANC as President was never going to bode well for South Africa. His rise to being the only candidate to stand against Thabo Mbeki despite two latent but revealing moral flaws – unresolved charges of rape and corruption – was extremely worrisome for clear thinking people. Zuma has revealed himself to be every bit as corrupt and venal as was expected but his seminal decision to fire yet another competent minister, Nhlanhla Nene, and replace him with an incompetent epitomised a man out of his death.

Main picture: Jacob Zuma (2ndR) poses for photographs with his three wives Sizakele Khumalo (R), Nompumelo Ntuli (L), and Thobeka Mabhija (2-L) after the State of The Union Address
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Erwin Rommel: A Man of Many Contradictions

By Dean McCleland in Military History 20 December 2015 0 Comment

From a purely military perspective – both strategic and tactical – and a personal bravery standpoint, Rommel had few peers during WW2 except perhaps for George Patton. In other aspects there were contradictions and these behaviours and actions were not so unambiguous as to be able to categorise Rommel’s viewpoint one way or the other. This blog will not focus on his military accomplishments as these have been extensively dealt with but rather these other aspects of his life.

One of the issues which has always intrigued me is at what point did Rommel decide to support the plot to assassinate Hitler. What was Rommel’s relationship with his men? Was it as Goebbels had portrayed it in his propaganda films as collegial or not? Was Rommel a committed Nazi or was he, as he claims, an apolitical military officer? Lastly when did Rommel finally become disillusioned with Hitler?

Main picture: Rommel with the 15th Panzer Division in North Africa Continue reading

When is Lying Justified?

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces 19 December 2015 1 Comment

Lying is one of the first social skills that one learns as a child. Even if the consequences are not severe but merely a mild rebuke, children will nevertheless lie egregiously to protect themselves from being scolded. Even as adults we are brazenly disingenuous or dishonest. Instinctively we will lie if one’s wife had to ask, “Do I look fat in this dress?” But where do we draw the line between deceitfulness and mere white lies? This blog will consider some of these issues.

Main picture: Lord Byron’s justification of why he would lie

The Generalship of “Uncle Bill” Slim Assessed

By Dean McCleland in History, Military History 18 December 2015 1 Comment

I have received a number of responses to my blog rating the Generals of WW2. Some of the correspondance is highly provocative but as none of these respondents used the comments facility, I will instead engage them in future blogs. Their cogent comments deserve a wider audience that my inbox. This is the first of them that I will share.

Main picture: “Uncle Bill” Slim in his classic pose.

Rating the Generals of WW2

By Dean McCleland in History, Military History 17 December 2015 13 Comments

My brother Blaine posed me a question the other day. “How do you rate the Generals of WWII and why? I’ve listed my candidates and was wondering what your opinion of them is?” To do this topic justice, I would have to do some extensive research. Due to time constraints, my opinion would not be based upon an ex libris search. Instead I would do the equivalent of an ad-lib speech and improvise.

Main picture: Erwin Rommel in North Africa during June 1942. Many, if not most pundits, would rate Rommel as the best General of WW2. His ability to smash the Allies line at its most vulnerable point on numerous occasions begrudgingly made him a hero in many Allies eyes.

The 1965 and 2015 South African Student Protests Contrasted

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Historical 14 December 2015 0 Comment

The first student protest in South Africa occurred 50 years ago on 8^th April 1965; these were not some radical English speaking students from Wits or UCT but rather conservative Afrikaans students. Their grievances related to mother-tongue education and the removal of liberal lecturers. Contrast this protest with the #FeesMustFall campaign in October 2015 when students once again held protests in Pretoria.

Main picture: The caption reads South Africa First Continue reading

Zuma’s Reckless Decision

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 14 December 2015 0 Comment

Zuma’s decision to banish Nhlanhla Nene to the South African equivalent of the Siberian salt mines is more than reckless. Like a wildly swinging wreaking ball, it destroys everything in its path. The one centre of sane thought and policies within the ANC Administration has always been Finance. It was the voice of common sense & reason in the midst of Zuma’s shambolic management of the South African economy.

Now that too has gone.

Main picture: The regard that Zuma has for South Africa, the one-fingered salute

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