I was so pleased to see an ANC stalwart Barbara Hogan breaking ranks and critiscising the govt for denying one of the worlds great spiritual leaders being the Dali Lama a visa to SA .. if anyone reads the papers Ms Hogan has said her truth .. indeed a courageous thing to do ,, challenge the wounded divided bleeding beast of the ANC ... we need so many more people like her ... I have sent the below letter to her personal website which I doubt will make its way through the party loyal filters but also sent it to the editor of the Argus for publication .. she deserves a big hug for speaking her truth ...
Sandy Buchanan
89 Balfour St
Woodstock
7925
Dear Barbara ,
From what I remember of my dear Mothers recollections she mentioned your name many times , whether she in fact met you personally I do not know .. My Mother was married to Eddie Daniels some years after my Father died . They met many years ago in Oranjemund my place of birth , were attracted to each other but called it off for obvious reasons being family etc .
After my father died they resumed their attraction which turned into a long term love after Eddie was released from Robben Eiland .. eventually marrying illegally in the dark 80's till her passing in 2001 . My Mom and Eddie had my full blessing as I could see that they were soulmates and yes my full support for her foray into the then struggle .
My Mom was a fierce , loyal yet pragmatic soul who when she was allowed to when released of responsibility of raising and being the mother in a family fought injustice as she saw it in those days at may I say great personal risk , and yes was not afraid to express her opinion even to people of the struggle who had lost the plot during those difficult times ..
Which brings me to the point ... I want to compliment you as you now at this moment remind me of her .. Today I read that you broke ranks with so many of those seat warming people in government and said that's its wrong to deny one of the world's great spiritual leaders in the being of the Dali Lama a visa .. and that the government owe the people of SA an apology ..
You are so right , and yes I feel for you as in the current scenario with the party you have so loyally supported , being the ANC finding itself in divided and troubled times much of it being a major hangover from Thabo Mbeki's days , speaking ones truth is not always favourably looked upon .. a sad fact that my stepfather Eddie has seen , he through the years by speaking his truth is now about as welcome in the current situation as the proverbial ham sandwich at a Jewish picnic .
I personally am angered daily at seeing the personal sacrifice of so many people coming to naught , instead seeing a moral decay and a dream crumbling ..
I do hope that your courage is not rewarded with an ungracious kneejerk reaction similar to what happened Mrs Routlege had when she defied Dr Manto ..
You have my personal salute , always be who you are and yes speak your truth no matter how uncomfortable it may be for your peers ...
Regards .... Sandy Buchanan
I read in to-days paper....She's in trouble......
As expected .. unfortunately the ANC would sooner have an evil vampire in the form of Robert Mugabe visit SA ... sooner tolerates crooks , fraudsters , tax evaders in its ranks and yes does not and cannot want to hear any truth , prefering a club of seat warming do nothing pat each other on the back lowlife .. Uggh .. Mom is most probably spinning in her memorial garden right now ...
Which brings me to the afrikaans expression " Rol jy in die semels dan vreet die varke jou op ".. maybe it will happen to them hope and hold thumbs ..
Sorry but I'm like a terrier with a bone on this one .. in this evenings paper they the dumb ANC admit that the decision has to do with relations with china ... f....g hypocrites .. initialy tried the cover up by saying they would not allow the "hallowed" world cup peace dingy to be used as a platform for the Dalai lama to do a political thing for Tibet ... well these assholes have used every moment over the years including funerals to wax political drivel .. no respect for the dead even ... so yes they remain f...g opportunistic hypocrites ... Uugh !!
Mmm talk about conspiracy theories Mike ... I sent a personal letter to Barbara Hogan .. My Mom knew her .. congratulating her on her stance .. today still unanswered .. so I sent a questioning mail .. they now come back as address unknown ... TOTAL SHUTDOWN ...