Opinion Pieces Archives - Page 38 of 43

The Platinum Industry Strike is Over: What now?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 15 June 2014 0 Comment

The Platinum Industry strike might be over but Traumatic Changes await both Parties

Normally after a strike is over, the tensions rapidly abate and the situation swiftly returns to normal. In the case of the Platinum Industry strike, the underlying causes are much more deeply rooted and entrenched. Worse still, like a spectre hanging over it, are the ghosts of the Marikana Massacre.

In no small measure, both parties in the dispute including government will find the process ahead both arduous and possibly intractable.

Michael Wittmann and the Tiger 1 Tank

A Metaphor of German Brilliance and Flawed Thinking in WW2

Wittmann and the Tiger 1 represented the very best of German manhood and Engineering. Joined together they represented an invincible combination. Both had fatal flaws.

Michael Wittmann was emblematic of WW2 German Panzer Tank Commanders. He was credited with the destruction of 138 tanks and 132 anti-tank guns, along with an unknown number of other armoured vehicles, making him one of Germany’s top scoring panzer aces, together with Johannes Bölter, Ernst Barkmann, Otto Carius and Kurt Knispel who was the top scoring ace of the war with 168 tank kills.

What type of Parachute would you like Sir?

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces, Other Opinion Pieces 13 June 2014 4 Comments

Thinking the unthinkable. Alternative solutions to life’s manifold problems.

Imagine when boarding a plane if one were asked the following question. “Would you prefer Cruciform, a Rogallo Wing or one of the luxury three seater parachutes which our airline has just proudly introduced?

Nonchalantly and laconically you retort, “My usual; the Annular.”

In future aircraft might have become much safer due to technology but due to unprecedented public pressure in 2025 after two Airbus A2000s were lost with all 2000 passengers on board, the airlines finally introduced – as an optional extra – the parachute.

South Africa’s Future: Utopia or Dystopia

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 12 June 2014 0 Comment

What does the future hold for South Africa under continued ANC Rule?

Firstly before any hand-wringing commences, let us review the economic and political situation in South Africa on the release of Nelson Mandela from incarceration after 27 years.

South Africa was increasingly assailed by many forms of sanctions. The economy was on a downward death spiral. Technically South Africa was bankrupt and could not meet its obligations. This dire position had been caused by the withdrawal of foreign lending to South Africa. It was only the introduction of the innovative Financial Rand which prevented the total withdrawal of all foreign currencies. In spite of this financial sleight-of-hand, the situation was precarious with demands on the Treasury unsustainable.

USS New York: Ship Built from the World Trade Centre

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 11 June 2014 0 Comment

Made from the Remains of World Trade Centre

The USS New York, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock, is the fifth ship of the United States Navy to be named after the state of New York. New York has a crew of 360 and can carry up to 700 Marines. It is notable for using a symbolic amount of steel salvaged from the World Trade Centre after it was destroyed in the September 11 attacks.

Fallacies of Infallible Leadership and other such Fables

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 9 June 2014 2 Comments

Mandela and the Struggle – A Contrarian View

Was Mandela a saint? “Hell no!” I would argue against that assertion but then Mandela conceded that fact on numerous occasions himself so I am in good company.

Then why was Mandela sanctified, beautified and deified all in ten days? Even the Pope cannot achieve such miracles

Or more controversially, should he have been commemorated at all?

This Day in History: 6th June 1944 – D-Day

By Dean McCleland in History, Military History 8 June 2014 0 Comment

The largest beach landing in history

The 6^th June 2014 represented the 70^th anniversary of the invasion of Nazi occupied Europe and has widely become recognised by the generic military term known as D-Day or the first day of the attack. Hence D+1 would be the second day et cetera. Due to this conflation, the term D-Day in common parlance is synonymous with the landing on the Normandy Beaches.

As a tribute to the men who fought and died there, on every tenth anniversary of the battle, paratroop veterans would parachute into Normandy. On the 60^th anniversary, ten years ago, this practice was abandoned due to the superannuation of the veterans being a minimum of 80 years of age. On this anniversary, ten years later, one brave solitary soul, a Scotsman, Jack Hutton, elected to show that he was made of sterner stuff and represented all those still alive but now too fragile to do so.

Saving a Whale at Great Personal Risk

By Dean McCleland in Opinion Pieces, Other Opinion Pieces 7 June 2014 0 Comment

Sometimes an attempt to save an animal places the rescuer in great personal risk. This is one such case.

From a personal perspective, Man has unilaterally usurped the rights to the sea and all its wealth and abundance. Through its determined and mindless efforts at overfishing, places all marine animals in jeopardy. Furthermore humankinds’ thoughtless deeds endanger species and in this case, the life of a giant of the sea.

This act of human kindness appeared on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle some time ago. It told of a female humpback whale that had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines.

Jacob Zuma: Is he sufficiently competent to appoint capable Candidates?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, Opinion Pieces 3 June 2014 0 Comment

A Personal View – 2^nd June 2014

The latest debacle swirling around a recent appointee relates to the alleged misconduct of the current Head of the NPA is proof writ large of Jacob Zuma’s inability to appoint capable candidates. Ex post facto it is uncovered as part of a Security Clearance check that Mxolisi Nxasana is guilty of various offences including assault but had been found not guilty of murder.

Surely in the year-long search for a suitable replacement of such as key appointment such as this, Mr. Nxasana would have been meticulously vetted and a thorough background check performed.

Mampara for May 2014: Julius Malema

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs, SA Heroes and Mamparas 27 May 2014 0 Comment

First we had young Julius, who had forgotten the good manners that his mother had taught him as a wee youth, profusely apologising to various people for his uncouth, slanderous & disparaging comments that he had made when he in charge of the ANCYL. He politely explained to Thabo “he with the pipe” Mbeki’s aged mother that he had been young and immature when he spoke those despicable and insensitive words.

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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