Commentary | Terry Bell Writes

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Home-grown SA fascism emerges

September 2, 2011

The first, loud, trumpet calls to fascism in modern South Africa have been sounded. They emanate from Julius Malema and the ANC Youth League (ANCYL). It may seem melodramatic to write this, but only because fascism is a little understood, ill-defined term that sends shivers of apprehension through most minds.

The secrets we do not need

June 7, 2011

Notes for a discussion on secrets held at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in February, 2011 in which I argued against the notion of state secrets.

U2 and THAT SA struggle song

February 15, 2011

Given the latest furore in South Africa about an ANC struggle song, triggered by comments of Bono of U2, I thought it appropriate to again publish something of the background and lyrics and the manner in which these have been distorted and abused, by racist remnants of apartheid and by modern ANC demagogues. First published […]

Tutu, Zionism and the Holocaust

January 12, 2011

THE petition by assorted Zionists to have Archbishop Tutu, Judge Richard Goldstone and Professor Kader Asmal removed as patrons of the Holocaust Centres in Johannesburg and Cape Town should be welcomed. Because it provides an object lesson to us all, being the clearest indication of the abuse, both of Judaism and the Holocaust, by more […]

Bigotry & Zapiro’s Muhammed cartoon

January 8, 2011

The intolerant reaction to the 2010 cartoon by Zapiro of the prophet Muhammed was an example of bigotry and ignorance. Zapiro did not ridicule Islam or religion. What he did was to hold up to deserved ridicule those bigots who distort the professed messages from their prophets and, indeed, from their God or gods. He should be hailed for his perception and sensitivity, not damned for doing a good job.

Xenophobia poisons the Ivoirian tangle

December 31, 2010

Most of the real lessons to be learned from the ongoing chaos in Côte d’Ivoire are being ignored, both by politicians and the popular media. Unless these are ;learned, and the background understtod, little that is happening there makes much sense.

Religion, opium and Karl Marx

December 29, 2010

“Religion is the opium of the people” is probably the most often quoted statement attributed to Karl Marx. But it distorts the views of Marx about religion because it is taken out of both literary and historic context.

Lessons to be learned from Cosatu’s 25 years

November 30, 2010

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) turns 25 in December. But the birthday celebrations around the country will be dampened by heightened tension and some mildly acrimonious outbursts resulting from the content of the government’s New Growth Path (NGP) for the economy and the manner in which it was announced. Like the 1996 […]