Issue 4
Across the Pond
THE AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE
by the Hummingbird
I AM AN AMERICAN! I should be proud
to write that sentence and I am proud to live
in a country where opportunity is everywhere,
freedom to be who I am is allowed, and the
ability to speak freely about my feelings is
accepted. Since I have become older and
hopefully wiser I can see the bad as well as
the good. I am aware that every country has
its own prejudices and problems.
I am too young to remember the gathering
of the Japanese-Americans after Pearl Harbor,
but I have read about the hate-crimes that took
place against these innocent people simply
because of their ethnic background. With war
comes hatred, but we do have to use our minds
when we target our feelings against people.
Since then I have seen for myself during the
civil rights/Martin Luther King era the hatred
that can be slapped against a group of people
simply because of who they are. As a young
teen I remember watching and wondering why
all the violence of the 60’s was taking place,
and now I see hatred taking place against
another culture. Arab-Americans are in the
spotlight and since 911 hundreds of hate-
crimes are taking place against guiltless
people.
We have now decided that racial profiling
at airports is a good thing and perhaps it will
deter another attack. However, I don’t see
where police harassing people on the street
because of their race or religion should be
allowed or accepted. My son has an Arab
friend and believe it or not, parents have
already taught their kids to call him a “rag
head”, it sickens me to think we have such
ignorant parents.
Hating people because of their religious
beliefs has been going on since the beginning
and will always continue. It is not our God, or
their God that is killing people, but only power
hungry people killing in the name of God that
is our problem. What ever happened to loving
in the name of God, and turning the other
cheek?
De Lille wants Eastern Cape JATT back
ID PRESIDENT PATRICIA DE LILLE wants the
Joint Anti-corruption Task Team (JATT) in the
Eastern Cape to be ‘reassembled immediately to
stop the plundering of taxpayers’ money.’
De Lille says stealing in the Eastern Cape has turned
into ‘full scale looting and the looters are getting
away with it.
‘The fact that JATT was disbanded for ques-
tionable reasons earlier this year makes one wonder
just how far up the corruption goes. JATT must be
brought back to sort out the rampant corruption
for once and for all and imprison those that have
stolen from the people.’
Ms De Lille says the fact that the Special Inves-
tigations Unit had taken half a year to recover just
R500 000 of the R38m that was ‘stolen from the
people, ‘is pathetic.
YOU ARE PROUDLY
SOUTH AFRICAN WHEN..
• You prodauce a R100 note instead of
your drivear’s licence when stopped by
a traffic officer
• You have to hire a security guard
whenever you park your car
• You can count the national soccer
team’s scores with no fingers
• To get free electricity you have to pay a
connection fee of R750
• Hijacking cars is a profession
• You can pay your tuition fees by holding
up a sign at a traffic light
Page 5
Joe Parker, seriously...
DESPITE HIS YEARS as a stand-up comedian and musician, Joe Parker is reticent
when asked about Joe, the man, his aspirations and life goals.
However, his ready smile and warmth makes him easy to talk to and he did
answer one or two questions! Apart from being a funny man in his own right Joe
has been a driving force in the South African scene by getting more talent into
the business. He maintains that those alredy established in the business
should be nurturing the next gereration of comics.
Those readers remembering queueing from Brickhill Road up West Street
into the Lonsdale Hotel’s Pool Bar to see Joe will find him mature but just as
funny when they visit Krakatoa, Sibiya Casino & Entertainment Centre on the
North Coast where he appears most Friday evenings at 8pm.
Q What event has excited you the most in www.internationalpairs.com.for
the past twelve months all the details.
A That’s easy - I saw the Eagles live in
Q What are your
Dublin
thoughts on
Q You’ve been at the top of the tree for South Africa
hosting the 2010
many years - is your career moving in a
particular direction World Cup
A No. Its an expansion of what I was doing A I think we’ll do a
before - creating work, managing good job
comedians and organising events.We
Q Is there a movie
also import UK comedians for the local
you’ve seen more
circuit every month
than once that
Q How are you involved in the Old Mutual you’d sit through
International Pairs Golf Tournament. again?
A Well we have the licence for South Africa
A Body Heat
and I have just returned from the IP
World Final which was held at Celtic Q What is your
Manor in Cardiff. It’s the largest golf favourite form of
event of its kind in the world and open relaxation
to all club golfers with an offical A Doing nothing A No contest. The Sharks and Man
handicap from an affiliated golf club.No Q Serously what does the real Joe Parker United!
invitation is required and the clubs
think is important in life Q So what’s your answer to all the conflict
simply provide qualifying pair/pairs from A Peace is very important in my life and both international and local
their club. And having Old Mutual as the expansion of that peace in A I say if you can’t do anyhting about a
sponsors has made the entrance fee everything I say and do situation do somethng good. A random
very affordable to all aspiring golfers. act of kindness does more and has more
Take a look at the website Q Sport? impact on both the doer and the done to!
‘As the poorest province in the country, the East-
ern Cape can ill afford to let people get away with
this. And it is those departments which need the
money most that have been defrauded – the Educa-
tion and Health departments,’ De Lille says.
‘The estimated 3 000 employees responsible for
social grant fraud must be locked up, tried and sen-
tenced.’
‘Instead of the SIU getting these criminals to
agree to repay the money they stole, they should
be forcing them. As for those that have promised
‘to repay small amounts over long periods’, they
must come under the full might of the law,’ says De
Lille.
‘It appears as if the authorities don’t seem to
know the difference between stealing and loaning,’
she says.
• The petrol in your tank may be worth
more than your car
• More people vote in a local reality TV Two Comedy Legends in one unique show!
show than in a local election
Plus Plus Plus
• People have the most wonderful names:
Christmas, Goodwill, Pretty, Wednesday, Legend Under Construction as M.C. !
Blessing, Brilliant, Gift, Precious,
Innocence and Given Live music by
• “Now now” can mean anything from a
minute to a month Slap-Up four course meal !
• You continue to wait after a traffic light Wine & Champagne on table !
has turned to green to make way for
taxis travelling in the opposite direction Good idea to reward top clients, staff and suppliers? - We think so !
• Travelling at 120 km/h you’re the slowest
All this for only R9 500-00 for a table of ten !
vehicle on the highway
• You’re genuinely and pleasantly ! Emperor’s Palace Phone your Department on
surprised whenever you find your car
! 20 November 2006 011 803 6963 / Carrie 083 251 7759
parked where you left it
• A bullet train is being introduced, but ! 7 for 7.30pm or Ann 074 102 4272
we can’t fix potholes
• The last time you visited the coast you
We do the work - and you have the fun !
paid more in speeding fines and toll fees
than you did for the entire holiday
• You have to prove that you don’t need a
loan to get one
• Prisoners go on strike
• You consider it a good month if you only
Snail Mail 09/06 ERH
get mugged once
• Rwandan refugees start leaving the
country because the crime rate is too
high