18th May: The Triumph of Evil. Okay, this is not my usual type of heading. Nor is it my usual sort of post.
Edmund Burke once made the classic and oft quoted remark: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
About 70 years ago, Hitler committed genecide against the Jews. The world leaders pretended they knew nothing. When he made his move against the small countries surrounding Germany, the only countries that seemed to react were those in immediate threat.
We know what happened. The entire world was affected as World War II reached a climax.
It's happening again. As your read this, in the tiny, land-locked country of Zimbabwe, people are being starved, persecuted, tortured, and murdered. This genocide is not against a race. It's against any person who dared to vote against Mugabe in the recent elections. It's against any who may vote for the opposition in the future. The Mugabe regime are doing all they can to ensure that in the so-called repeat election they will have a runaway victory. Evidence of the attrocities are undeniable.
Last night it was announced on our news bulletin 
that Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition, who almost certainly won the election, has delayed his return to Zimbabwe. He wants to contend the proposed runoff to the national vote, but he has been warned of a plot to assassinate him. We are not surprised.
Watch the news. Study Mugabe's features, his little moustache, the way he walks and the way he behaves. He's another Adolf Hitler. And what are the world leaders doing?
I would like to give you a picture of the heart of this beautiful country. I am quoting excerpts from an e-mail written by Eddie Cross, a Christian writer and dedicated campaigner for the welfare of this country. He says it so much better than I ever could.
"Those of you who have lived here know the magic spell that Africa casts. The
other night I went out into the garden, it was a brilliant night, clear sky
and the stars just blazed across the sky - a sweep of stars in the Milky
Way. In the east the moon was rising - a golden orb, bright yellow and
casting its glow over everything. We have a huge Fiscus Capensis in the
garden and under it a small Lapa under thatch.
"I sat there for a while. A Nightjar was just behind me and called, that
distinctive night call that is never to be forgotten, once heard. The air
was clean and fresh grass smells plus the other sounds that so characterize
the African evening - tree frogs, crickets, even the odd bird deceived by
the bright moonlight.
"Who can forget the vast sweep of the veld, the grandeur of the storms that bring life in summer, the
golden sea of ripe grassland and green trees in late summer and the colors
and smells of the long winters?
"The friendliness and openness of African society - a people who smile and
greet you and say sorry when you hurt. The warm hospitality that is the
hallmark of Africa - not for us the stern unsmiling masses on transit
trains. We sing and dance at the slightest provocation. But we also kill and
maim without compunction when aggrieved.
"It is a continent where the roar of a lion and the soft call of a nightjar
can be heard at the same time. More and more to me, this is my real home.
Anywhere else I am a stranger. I am white, cannot help that. I come from
tough Irish stock. I cannot help that. I was born into a society that is
very much in transition - cannot help that. What I can do is to work for
change and development in the land of my birth and that is what I am doing."
Please pray for this man, Eddie Cross. He is not well and in need of surgery.
Please pray for this country and its people, that the true leadership will emerge and put a stop to the shocking violence of today.
Please pray that the world will wake up and do something.
Do what?
I don't know. That's why I'm not a politician. But it's time for some sort of action, and no--I'm definitely not advocating more blood-shed.
One lady in Perth, Western Australia has decided to make a difference. She started to write to the UN then realised that one voice will be ineffective against an international body. So she's built a website and forum for the specific aim of mounting pressure on the UN Secretary General to take action.
Please will you visit Help Save Zimbabwe right now. Read the Message to the UN and register your support if you agree with it. (You also have the opportunity to register your disapproval if you wish.) There will be an up-to-date count and other stats on the website for you to keep track of the progress. The UN will have the opportunity to post an official response to the message. There is also a forum for you to post comments or participate in any discussions.
Time is of the essence here people, so please take action today and spread the word of this site. It is a small action that is of little effort to us as individuals, but it has the potential for a great consequence to others as we all join together.
Don't let us be part of those "good men" who do nothing. Evil must not be allowed to triumph.
19th April: Visit to South Africa's Mother City
We have just returned from another visit to our beautiful Cape Town. Rob saw the urologist for what we believed was his last consultation of a five-year trial. To our surprise, we learned that there was actually one more, a "safety check", to take place four months after the conclusion of the trial.
In some ways this is good. In others it's a hassle. We have an opportunity to visit friends in Pietermaritzberg the following week, which will entail a lot of travelling if we also go to Cape Town. We're going to look into the possibility of Rob flying for his consulation, which will mean I won't go with him.
We had our usual supper get-together with the worship team of our last congregation. What a fabulous group of friends they are. I'm sad that we are not likely to see them again as a group for a very long time.
After a few days in Grabouw, we drove over Sir Lowry's Pass towards Cape Town for what was probably the last time in many years. This pass never ceases to thrill me. The road hugs the mountain as it snakes steeply down to the valley below. It earns its nickname, "Road of Death" as a result of many ghastly accidents. Elgin, above the pass, is world-famous for its apples and grapes, and huge lorries regularly drive back and forth on this road. Oil seeps from the giant engines, and soaks into the tarmac. When the rain comes, the oil floats to the surface, making it treacherous. Nevertheless, the road is a spectacular piece of engineering and the view from the top on a clear day is amazing.
In the picture you can see the back of Table Mountain, partly hidden by a spectator who was more interested in viewing us, than looking at the mountains. The baboons (bobbejaans) were out in full force this trip. We saw them everywhere.
We also read in the newspaper of a near tragedy. A little girl was attacked by a huge adult baboon in the rest room at Cape Point. Unfortunately, although there are huge penalties if you are caught feeding these wild animals, tourists love to toss them food. By doing this, they turn them into viscious predators.
We visited some family, and spent a few more days with our friends over in Glencairn, near Simonstown. It was great relaxing in their lovely home and wandering round some factory shops. I picked up a dose of flu along the way, but fortunately I had the vaccine just the week before, so I'm getting over it quite quickly.
I returned to an e-mail from one editor requesting to see an article I had queried, and from another who is holding a manuscript for further consideration. A positive note to start my "catch-up" week.
To those of you who signed up to be notified when I add to this blog, my sincere apologies for the initial storm of notifications. Somewhere along the lines I apparently instructed it to notify you daily . . . Sorry! That has been rectified.
Last entry I mentioned the problem I had caused my eyes. They are improved, but still become tired and blurry if I spend a long time at the computer. This has been a tough lesson for me, but I am trying to remember to keep taking regular breaks from the screen.
Talking about which . . . see you in a week or so!
Remember, I love to hear from you. Drop me a line at
shirley@shirleycorder.com
Bye for now!
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