Rhodesia becomes a distant memory

Free Britannia ^ | November 1, 2002 | Sarah Tait-Hodgson

[mgc1122]

There is indeed much truth in the comment that whereas it used to be said “Come to Rhodesia and see the ruins of Zimbabwe”, now it is said “Come to Zimbabwe and see the ruins of Rhodesia”. – Springbok Cyber Club Newsletter, October 2002.

Africa is hugely complicated and, sadly, misunderstood. It is an issue that can be argued around in circles, even by those who, like me, were born and bred there and who know Africa for what it really is: - an enigma, a continent of chaos and contradiction. In plain English, one gigantic, ungodly mess! One of the messiest parts of this chaos is the once functioning and now defunct nation of Rhodesia, renamed Zimbabwe.

Perhaps the saddest thing of all is the misguided view that Rhodesians were “white supremists”. There is no denying the fact that a small percentage were, but they were a minority. For most of us it was no more than an understanding of the fact that without the whites the country would cease to be. I don’t think I need to prove to anyone that this understanding and belief, by which we were judged so harshly, has now become an ugly and terrifying truth.

I will always stand faithfully behind former Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Douglas Smith and for what Rhodesia once was, one of the bright jewels of Africa, a functioning nation of law and commerce, a nation of great and infinite opportunity for both the blacks and whites and the breadbasket of sub-Saharan Africa. Smith was never a right wing radical, a racist, an oppressor or a tyrant. He just happened to be a man who told the truth about Africa and its people and that was the downfall of his Rhodesia and mine. The plain and simple fact: - the rest of the world, including South Africa, could not handle a man who told the truth. .....

[mgc1122]

Great article obviously written from the heart. It is a shame the breadbasket of Africa has become a basketcase, but let it never be forgotten "who" allowed this occur ... the white settlers who helped build the nation up were forced out, and all with the support of socialists everywhere.

And now look at the mess.

[ArcLight]

Next time, the white folks can stay off land that doesn't belong to 'em. Zimbabwe's a tragedy all right, but that doesn't excuse the racist imperialism that has tormented Africa.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Next time, the white folks can stay off land that doesn't belong to 'em. Zimbabwe's a tragedy all right, but that doesn't excuse the racist imperialism that has tormented Africa.

How nice that you're showing the light Arc.

I have often seen the foul stench of your anti-white rhetoric on this forum.

That you and your ilk have been given such a pass here is beyond me.

Good-bye and good riddance.

[dinodino]

I hope you're not American. If you are, and you aren't native American, then you should leave to avoid being hypocritical.

[Mat_Helm]

Next time, the white folks can stay off land that doesn't belong to 'em. Zimbabwe's a tragedy all right, but that doesn't excuse the racist imperialism that has tormented Africa.

Your statment is racist and stupid. With that logic as your basis of thought than as you would have all whites leave Rhodesia than all Blacks should leave America and Europe. Is that what your are saying?

[Free Trapper]

Ping.

[Destro]

The Brits were decent, especially compared to the Belgians. What was done to Blacks in the Belgian Congo was a stain on European civilization. Any Empire that can educate a Gandhi isn't all that bad.

[ArcLight]

Hey, my ancestors were kidnapped!

Seriously, I actually don't believe that everybody should "go back where they came from." At the very least, such a scheme would be utterly impractical. But when somebody expects me to shed tears for the fact that the black majority in Rhodesia wanted to govern themselves, they're in for a long wait.

I freely grant that they have done an absolutely horrid job of self-government. My contempt for Mugabe knows no bounds. But how does that constitute a defense for the racist government that preceded his, and created the conditions that allowed such a nasty mountebank to come to power? Nope, the Rhodesians made their beds, and now it looks like everybody in south-central Africa will have to lie in them.

[ArcLight]

Yes, there are imperialists and there are imperialists. The Belgians were among the worst in modern history. The Congo has never recovered, and when you learn of the absolutely savage conduct of the Belgians, it's easy to see why.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

A closer look at the history of the area would tell you blacks were in short supply when South Africa and Rhodesia were first settled by white farmers. Farm labor had to be imported from the north.

[backhoe]

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Rhetoric of blame is now a white lie (AFRICA, HEAL THYSELF)
The Daily Telegraph ^ | September 3, 2002 | Tim Butcher
"I remember Africa in the 1960s, everyone was filled with high expectations after independence. Forty years on, Africa is a series of kleptocracies, many worse off than they were under colonial rule. Almost all of the common people in relative worse shape to the rest of the world than they were before independence. Africans after 40 years have no one to blame but their own leadership for their problems. The leaders want to deflect blame to the West. The West's not buying it anymore..."

CIA -- The World Factbook -- Zimbabwe

First it was Rhodesia then SA now America paying the price of silence.

-A Capsule History of Southern Africa--

Parallels between Apartheid SA & USA today

South African Crime Report

ZWNEWS.com - linking the world to Zimbabwe
... Books & Videos. Degrees in Violence: Robert Mugabe and the Struggle for Power
In Zimbabwe This book tells the story of Zimbabwe from the hopeful era of ...

MPR Books - Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African ...

Title: "Cry, the Beloved Country" - Topics: World/South Africa

-South Africa - The sellout of a nation--

[Snuffington]

I had no idea there were many people who still thought Rhodesia could ever come back. I assumed modern Zimbabwe had long ago disabused anyone of such a notion.

[ArcLight]

Actually, I believe you're right about that, Eric. Though I'm not sure what that has to do with the justice of the old Rhodesian cause. By the time of the uprising, the country was majority-black, but the whites refused any fair sharing of power. They'll know better next time...

[Destructor]

"Hey, my ancestors were kidnapped!"

Yes. The chances are good that they were kidnapped by other black Africans from other tribes, and sold into slavery! The truth hurts doesn't it- black racist?

[ArcLight]

Er...yes, that's true, Destructor. And your point is...?

[archy]

I assumed modern Zimbabwe had long ago disabused anyone of such a notion.

I was not aware that there has ever been a *modern* Zimbabwe. But in any event, with 2500 dying per week, and the numbers on the increase- well, you do the math.

Rhodesian Government in Exile, list of current MPs and Ambassadors

-archy-/-

[Nuke'm Glowing]

The black African facist dictatorships have turned hope into despair and the breadbasket into the bloodbath. The continent deserves it's slow pathetic death spiral as the communists have won, and the West has become impotent to stop anything worldwide, unless it threatens their investments directly. My sympathy is with those that tried to do the right thing and are getting slaughtered. Why they do not arm themselves and fight is beyond me. But it is a strong indication of our the U.S. populus would behave if faced with similar circumstances.

[archy]

when you learn of the absolutely savage conduct of the Belgians, it's easy to see why.

In fairness, they're not all that sweet to each other, either. But the French Foreign Legion marching song Le Boudin reminds us that:

Tiens, viola du boudin, viola du boudin, viola boudin,
Pour le Alsaciens, le Suisse, et le Lorraines,
Pour les Belges, y en a plus, pour les Belges, y en a plus
Ce sont des tireurs au cul.

[Hey! Here's the sausage [it's chowtime!]
For the Alsatians, the Swiss and those from Lorraine,
but there's none for the Belgians,
'cause they're a bunch of screw-ups.]

Legio Patria Nostra,

-archy-/-

[mgc1122]

ROTFL! Funny stuff ... but you fail to comment on the sad state of affairs now that the "natives" are back in charge again, or even contrast their standards of living under the "evil white man's rule" versus their own black despots.