Opinion Pieces Archives - Page 13 of 43

Marriage: Will the future be a buffet instead of a set menu

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 22 September 2016 0 Comment

The recently announced split of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt after two years of marriage raises, yet again, the question of what a couple signs up for when they tie the knot. The form & content of marriage – and relationships in general – have been in a state of flux since the 1960s. Presciently Richard Harris would sing MacArthur Park in 1968 about melting of the icing of the cake because

“Someone left the cake out in the rain….

And I’ll never have that recipe again”

(The meaning of these surreal lyrics by Jimmy Webb is available at the end of the blog)

Custom, duty or need to procreate would no longer produce the ideal ingredients for marriage ever again. However, would the idealised sugary sweet ingredient “happy-ever-after” be an adequate substitute?

If not, what would?

Main picture: Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Routine and Normal has all but disappeared

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 19 September 2016 0 Comment

South Africa is being rent asunder. The sound of previous certainties & the ANC’s moral high ground being ground underfoot, permeates discourse. Stories of malfeasance abound, with the drip becoming a torrent. Abuse by the ANC is no longer vented against the “racist unrepentant whites” & the “white opposition” but reserved for their former comrades in arms & ANC Cadres.

As a bystander in this open warfare, it would be a gripping yarn if one were lazing at the spring poolside cogitating the meaning of life, but this is our life, South Africa’s future that is being trashed.

Will this morph into the “new normal” with a dysfunctional state with all the pigs snouting at the trough?

Main picture: All of these photos illustrate irony at its best

Why Donald Trump is so wrong

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 18 September 2016 2 Comments

Egotistical, bullying and bombastic behaviour are three traits that do not endear me to a person. In an instant, my hackles rise and I am repulsed; such is my disgust. Even a profound message is muted by my intense annoyance. Nobody wants to be assailed by the arrogant, haughty & vainglorious attitude of somebody who disregards one’s opinions and is dismissive of one’s viewpoint as if they are the font of all wisdom.

Besides this, Trump lacks a basic understanding on most issues. At best, his knowledge can be categorised as superficial. One may be critical of his opponent, Hillary Clinton, but the one aspect that one cannot criticise her for, is a lack of a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

Yet, this is the man who could soon be the leader of the free world, with his finger on the nuclear trigger.

Main picture: Donald Trump at his ascerbic best

Integrating New Technologies into the Work Place and Society

By Dean McCleland in Other Opinion Pieces 29 August 2016 0 Comment

The introduction of any new technology has unintended consequences. Foremost amongst these is the status quo or the way that things are done. The prevailing consensus would long since have determined the modus operandi for an existing process whether it be social, work or political. All these processes will have their gatekeepers who will ensure conformity and uniformity.

Ordinarily the role played by such custodians of Best Practice is vital to the efficient operation of these interactions. This blog highlights what occurs when new technology disrupts or invalidates the perceived wisdom, M.O. or Standard Operating Procedure.

This blog deals with a number of contemporary examples as well as historical instances where this occurred with disastrous consequences.

Main picture: Business person holding a media image of city in the palm of the hand

Zuma’s Travails: A Cynical Viewpoint

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 29 August 2016 0 Comment

In a surprising inastute move, the ANC used Jacob Zuma as the face of its Local Government Election campaign – literally its poster boy if you will. If anything, his visage signalled a reason amongst the traditional ANC supporters why they should NOT vote ANC in the Local Government Elections. For the opposition, Zuma was and is the gift that keeps on giving.

Given this fact, should the opposition not be pleading with the ANC to retain Zuma as President, rather than lambasting them for having such a feckless, fatuous, venal leader who is clearly out of his depth?

Main picture: The frontline against corruption and “state capture” is manned by Pravin Gordhan

Minority Government: Is it a Poisoned Chalice for the DA?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 22 August 2016 0 Comment

Stating the obvious, the easy work has been done by appointing the new Mayors. Even that was not as smooth as expected especially when the EFF accused Herman Mashaba, the DA’s candidate for Mayor in Joburg, as being “anti-black.” It is a matter of record that the EFF have been a disruptive influence with incendiary speech and spectacle being their trademarks. Will the leopard change his spots in order to play the coalition politics’ game or will it continually blackmail its coalition partners?

Contrary to the news headlines, the EFF only received 8.2% of the vote nationally. The only reason why the EFF is able to punch above their weight is that they are the kingmaker in most of the “hung” councils. The only glue that binds the DA & the EFF with such divergent policies is their desire to dethrone the ANC.

Nothing more and nothing less.

Main picture: Emblematic of the new South Africa – Mmusi Maimane with his wife Natalie

Can the ANC Press the Reset Button?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 12 August 2016 0 Comment

With the Reverend Frank Chikane alluding to the reset button as being an urgent required by the ANC to rectify itself before the next General Election, is this a real possibility or will the real solutions remain elusive, cast aside in deflection and CYA activities ?

Main picture: President Jacob Zuma waves to ANC Supporters at a pre-election rally

LGE 2016: Will the Ideological Chasm Derail Stable Coalitions?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs 8 August 2016 0 Comment

The Local Government Elections 2016 – LGE2016 – have irreparably altered the South African political landscape. With three major metros requiring coalition governments, diametrically opposed opponents will be forced to compromise. This requires political maturity which heretofore the EFF has not yet displayed. Instead petulance and disparaging taunting comments, often with racist connotations, have been the order of the day.

What is the likely outcome?

Main picture: The inimitable Zapiro on the 2016 Local Government Elections in South Africa alluding to the fact that Zuma had commented that the ANC would remain in power until Jesus came again

Can Zimbabweans Finally Dare to Dream?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Rhodesia / Zimbabwe 5 August 2016 0 Comment

After countless false dawns and the violent suppression of the democratic wishes of the Zimbabwe people, can they finally dare to dream that the decade’s long evening of darkness will awaken to a fresh new dawn?

In the throes of an insurmountable economic decline with formal employment now only 10% and economic activity at 50% of that 10 years ago, the question on all Zimbabweans’ minds is whether it will be economic dislocation, revolt within the previously submissive ”war veterans” or biological inevitability in Mugabe’s death that will ultimately wrest control from the Zimbabwean president’s hands.

Which of these possibilities will eventuate and, more importantly for the average Zimbabwean, will it be peaceful or will it culminate in further unforeseen dislocation.

Whatever the outcome, Zimbabwe is clearly entering unchartered waters.

Main picture: Recent anti-Mugabe demonstrations

Maria Mouton: Defying the Laws & Customs of Society

By Dean McCleland in History 15 July 2016 8 Comments

In South African history, the illiterate Maria Mouton has earned a unique notoriety by being the only white woman to be executed in the Cape Colony during the eighteenth century. Her primary offence was to conspire with one of her husband’s slaves to murder her husband, Frans Jooste. For that she deserved the ultimate sanction at the time, the death penalty. Be that as it may but what was deeply vexing for the unctuous court was that it considered Maria’s actions of willingly consorting with her co-accused, the dark-hued slave Titus of Bengal, beyond the bounds of propriety. For Cape Society, that act was truly beyond the pale.

For no other reason, this story makes for compelling reading. As Nigel Penn eloquently states, “Her lustful and murderous conduct, her intercourse with a dark-skinned bondsman, was betrayal of both her gender and her social group. Colonial society as a whole was threatened by her actions”.

Main picture: Slaves during this era were an integral part of society as is visible in this painting

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.

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