riddle@im4u.UUCP (08/21/85)
What if Jerry Falwell is right when he says that Desmond Tutu is a "phony"
and doesn't represent South Africa's blacks?
Well, Desmond Tutu is one of the most prominent voices in the segment of the
anti-apartheid struggle (in and out of the ANC) that seeks peaceful
solutions through non-violent means. If Tutu is a phony, then so must be
the others who preach the same message he does. If the proponents of
non-violence don't speak for the townships, then who does? You guessed it:
the proponents of violence.
Although Falwell doesn't realize it, when he seeks to discredit Desmond Tutu
and others like him, he is actually supporting those who are most feared by
white South Africa: the most extreme proponents of armed revolution, of
spilling as much blood as it takes to end white rule, of burning down the
white state and building a black (not a multi-racial) state in its ashes.
Who knows? Maybe Falwell is righter than he thinks. Maybe it's too late
for any moderation in South Africa and people like Desmond Tutu are just
play-acting for the benefit of a misinformed international audience. In
that case, what you can expect to see in South Africa is a bloody civil war
that dwarfs the current crisis in its viciousness, with no quarter given by
either side and the only limits set by the number of people available to
slaughter. Regardless of the outcome, the value of our beloved investments
in South Africa will dwindle to nothing as the nation's economy is destroyed
by war. The victors, if there are any, will set about systematically
oppressing the vanquished with a brutality exceeding anything they've done
so far.
As I say, maybe Jerry Falwell is right to dismiss Desmond Tutu. But we all
sure as hell better hope not.
--- Prentiss Riddle ("Aprendiz de todo, maestro de nada.")
--- {ihnp4,harvard,seismo,gatech}!ut-sally!riddle riddle@ut-sally.UUCP
--- riddle@ut-sally.ARPA, riddle%zotz@ut-sally, riddle%im4u@ut-sallymangoe@umcp-cs.UUCP (Charley Wingate) (08/22/85)
The _Washington Post_ had a very good editorial on Mr. Falwell's statements.
I'll probably post it tomorrow.
Mr. Falwell has been working up to this for a while. Friends of mine who
occaisionally watch the OTGH ("knowing the enemy" is how they put it) report
that back in the spring he had some SA blacks on to say how great things
were and how wonderful Mr. F. was.
As a side note, my friends also report that on the Old Time Gospel Hour, they
have never hear Mr. Falwell cite the Gospels. I find it rather telling that
a supposedly Christian minister avoids quoting Christ.
Charley Wingate umcp-cs!mangoe
The wind blows where it pleasescab@druca.UUCP (BergerCA) (08/26/85)
> What if Jerry Falwell is right when he says that Desmond Tutu is a > "phony" and doesn't represent South Africa's blacks? ... > Although Falwell doesn't realize it, when he seeks to discredit > Desmond Tutu and others like him, he is actually supporting those > who are most feared by white South Africa: the most extreme > proponents of armed revolution, of spilling as much blood as it > takes to end white rule, of burning down the white state and > building a black (not a multi-racial) state in its ashes. ... So, send this to Mr. Falwell!! charlie berger ihnp4!drutx!druca!cab