SA threatens 'war' over Semenya

[Milano]

So... we going to war yet? I need to know so I can start training!

Training? You mean striking right?

 

[I am Penguin]

?

Just fun, look at how my smile changed? LOL

 

[I am Penguin]

+1

Lancelot, I think you are trying so hard to be the voice of reason and trying to defend the other side of every argument that can be possibly construed as SA negative or afro-pessimistic that you have become what you despise - totally one-sided and blinded to the possibility that your own opinions may be wrong or open to different interpretations. I've noticed a growing trend (much like the ruling party) of attacking anyone daring to criticize the goverment, ANC or SA in general. As if apartheid will for the next 100 years exempt you from criticism - whether it be for mediocrity or just making a complete fool of yourself. Valid and justified criticism (and probably even if it is not) is a vital part of a healthy and flourishing democracy - and shouldn't always be relegated to the old "race-card" bin.

Wow Very accurate I would say.

Be cool mates. We are all here to have fun. Life is to short to be bothered by others. Now i am off to see the SHARKS thrashing the BULLS.

 

[LancelotSA]

LancelotSA, do you agree that the SA government and the ASA were correct when they turned this into a racial issue?

I have chosen to stay out of any thread that Milano and Penguin decide to continue their obvious infatuation with me hence no reply to your comment until now.

If you read my posts in this thread you will see absolutely no reference to me defending them saying the Semenya issue was all about race but rather that I felt the comments about "World war 3" were being blown out of proportion.

In another thread I did mention that they may have a point as a result of Semenya not meeting the European standard of what a woman should look like but that is another thread. Further to this, speculation states that apparently several other individuals underwent gender tests at the world champs and yet the only one that the European and Australian press has decided to focus on is Semenya. Was it purely because she was African? Who knows. Probably not. But perhaps others felt differently.


My point is that too much appears to be read into what I say based on my opinions elsewhere in this forum and not on the actual words said in the particular thread. Too many people appear to be carrying issues over from one thread to another rather than focusing purely on the topic at hand. This has happened again here. In fact many of you openly admit to it by rather referring to my general opinion and view of SA rather than the actual words I say. This makes every argument end up blending into one and makes it rather difficult to focus on the subject at hand.

To comment on the views that I have become even more rabid in my defence of everything South African, you are probably right. I suppose my desire to defend everything South African has been enhanced by the general anti-anything-South African consensus on this forum. More often than not comments are tainted with deep seated hatred, bitterness and despise for those now in power. Or that is at least how I interpret them after two years of actively posting on here. My views probably stand out more than those who have quite clearly become even more rabid in their anti-anything-SA stance because they differ from the general consensus. One opposition voice in a crowd is always going to get more attention.

I am white and used to like to think of myself as a bit of a liberal with an "understanding and acceptance" of what the "other side" has been through, perhaps as a result of wanting to be PC and not because of a genuine understanding. Chatting on this forum, however, has pushed me further and further to the "other side" and I now find myself often understanding exactly how, and why, someone like Malema, for example, feels about white people. We seem to see nothing wrong with the way things used to be and often defend it. We demand that nothing changes for us, and that our cosy little lives are not affected, in the attempts to equal the playing field for all South Africans. We do very little to build this nation but spend a lot of the time criticising everything that those who are do. And yes, I am as guilty of some of this but perhaps through this guilt I now see a need to defend those who are running our country from the constant ridicule they attract, often unfairly, from "us whites" on here.

To answer your question directly, and take this thread off topic, I do not feel anyone is justified into anything into a racial issue unless it obviously is one. I suppose in this case they may have felt it was as a result of her being the only one made a scapegoat of. And if the truth be known most comments on here about our "guvermint" etc are racially tainted themselves so I don't think too many people on here should be throwing stones from their glass houses!

 

[Sting]

So... we going to war yet? I need to know so I can start training!

Go to war??? With what army?

Namibia, Botswana or Zimbabwe or, God forbid, Lesotho could probably invade us today!

EDIT: I am a proud South African.

 

[Syndyre]

Further to this, speculation states that apparently several other individuals underwent gender tests at the world champs and yet the only one that the European and Australian press has decided to focus on is Semenya. Was it purely because she was African? Who knows. Probably not. But perhaps others felt differently.

Of course the press focus could also be a direct result of the political overreaction on SA's part which made it into a spectacle.

 

[LancelotSA]

Of course the press focus could also be a direct result of the political overreaction on SA's part which made it into a spectacle.

This did occur to me but a lot of the political "over reaction" has occurred subsequent to the story being broken by the Aussie media and then the world media.

 

[smokey]

Of course the press focus could also be a direct result of the political overreaction on SA's part which made it into a spectacle.

It's like that saying... If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. If idiots give journalists gold, they will make headline jewelry...

 

[smokey]

This did occur to me but a lot of the political "over reaction" has occurred subsequent to the story being broken by the Aussie media and then the world media.

Then you really are wearing pink goggles. The political over-rection started much earlier. Maybe you try and ignore everything bad to compensate for the hatemongers on here. Not good for you brain. It will be fried.

 

[LancelotSA]

Then you really are wearing pink goggles. The political over-rection started much earlier. Maybe you try and ignore everything bad to compensate for the hatemongers on here. Not good for you brain. It will be fried.

Smokey seriously... the story was broken by the media on the 19th August! It was stated then that she would take a gender test. At the time of the desire to test Semenya being broken no South African minister or government official had made comment!!! There is speculation that others at the championships have also been tested yet there is no media reports on them. This is what I was referring to. Read the actual words and not between the lines....

 

[Syndyre]

This did occur to me but a lot of the political "over reaction" has occurred subsequent to the story being broken by the Aussie media and then the world media.

Even if that's true if it had been handled differently it would've been a much more minor story that probably would've been given a lot less exposure.

 

[Milano]

I am white and used to like to think of myself as a bit of a liberal with an "understanding and acceptance" of what the "other side" has been through, perhaps as a result of wanting to be PC and not because of a genuine understanding. Chatting on this forum, however, has pushed me further and further to the "other side" and I now find myself often understanding exactly how, and why, someone like Malema, for example, feels about white people. We seem to see nothing wrong with the way things used to be and often defend it. We demand that nothing changes for us, and that our cosy little lives are not affected, in the attempts to equal the playing field for all South Africans. We do very little to build this nation but spend a lot of the time criticising everything that those who are do.

So, you say you have an exact understanding of how and why Malema feels the way he does about 'white people'? Why does Malema feel the way he does about 'white people'? In other words, how can he have feelings about 'white people' as a race? I have met many white people and no two were exactly the same. Same with black people, no two were exactly the same. Please explain this in detail because I am not understanding how you feel empathy for a man who has these feelings about 'white people'. If that is your explanation about us wanting to keep the same cosy lives etc etc then how do you justify generalising about an entire race in this way? How do you know every white person feels this way? Have you interviewed every white person? Would a white person be allowed to make the same generalisations about black people? Can we conclude that all black people would kill for Zuma? Or would that be as racist as saying that all whites are only interested in protecting their 'cosy lives'?

 

[I am Penguin]

I have chosen to stay out of any thread that Milano and Penguin decide to continue their obvious infatuation with me hence no reply to your comment until now.

Yet you decide to bring your anfatuation problems to this thread by virtue of mentioning my Nick, Stop your war mongering and references and stop taking all your grievances to all other threads.

 

[I am Penguin]

I agree mostly that this issue of Semenya is ripped out of proportion, Our government is just feuling the fire, they could have handled the issue more discreetly behing the scenes but no they want to show how "strong" they are. All they gain is making this issue a public ping pong ball for anyone to join in and make this case worse than it could/should be.

 

[feo]

Well the issue is in the general interest of the public but you're right, it should've been handled more discretely.

I just find it very distasteful that some people on here manage to make Semenya herself out to be the one at fault.

 

[Creag]

this whole story makes me very for Caster ... it certainly looks like she's the innocent party in this whole mess.

If she ever comes back to run the 800 I will have more respect for her than any single other person. What she has had to endure at here tender age is more than many of us will ever have to in our entire lives.

I for one salute her!

 

[Milano]

I know I won't get one.

Oh, and there you go BrendanD.....He gave you a 663 word answer but failed to directly answer your question ie. "does he agree that the SA government and the ASA were correct when they turned this into a racial issue?". Amazing, what a waste, he really should be a politician