Playing In The Desert!

[georg ruf jr.]

That was a lot of money for a kid in those days. And now it's sworth nothing. Do you still use 5c pieces?

[SandyB]

watched the  entire movie of  the  pianist the  other  night .. was  just  settling  in  for the  night  about 11pm , flicked  the  Tv on  and  here  was  the start of  the  movie , had  seen  snatches of  it  before ( dont  do  a  lot  of  TV )  ended up watching the  entire  thing , got  to  sleep  about 01:30 if  i remeber .. yes a  very  sad movie about  the mistakes of  humanity , cruelty  to  to  each  other , hope , the  will  to  survive , in   his  worst  moments he  would  imagine  he  was  playing  the  piano , that  kept him  going .. the humanity in  the  german officer  who was  obviously tired of  being  in  a  war  he did  not  really  want  to  be  in , the common  bond of  music ... his  words  of  " dont  thank  me , thank  god , he wants  us  all  to  live "

[Michael Alexander]

... and funny enough, last night while channel surfing, I paused and watched the Odessa Files... also WWII movie..... fascinating stuff...

[Melanie Jonker]

Hi Delia, I know what you mean about the desert being your playground. We lived in Oranjemund from 1958 - 1968 (with a one year stint in the UK during that time). I was ten when we left Oranjemund but my memories of playing in the desert are still with me today. We took it for granted at the time but when I think about what a special childhood we had in those days. When I tell people I was born in Namibia most of them look at me blankly 'cause they've never heard of it. When I mention further that I was born in a small diamond mining town that was not accessible by everyone they find it hard to believe. When I first moved to Australia the kids at school thought my Dad was a Zulu when they found out I was from SWA (as it was called in those days). Ah the fun I had telling them I had a lion as a pet and the small scar on my hand was in fact a monkey bite. Those were the days :) Cheers, Melanie Jonker

[bobbysmith]

just for your info mike,ran polanski was a peadophile,left the usa before trail for rape of a 12yr old girl,

[georg ruf jr.]

Wasn't she 17?

[SandyB]

 12  .. 17   ???  whats  the  diffs ... dont  even know  why it was bothered to bring it  up , its common knowledge and was touched on   earlier in this topic , what was  supposed to  be  under  discussion was the movie  ..

[georg ruf jr.]

I'm sure it makes a difference Sandy. Rumors can ruin people. Think of Woody Allen.
But then you're right. You were on about the movie itself. What I keep wondering, is how much mviesare still sencored nowadays in SA. Especially movies with a political backround like the Pianist or Schindlers List. I believe these stories get us to a poibt, where I have to ask myself how much of a fashist I am myself. Or how tolerent or human is my belief. ect. Sandy, that question goes toward you. I'm sure you have an opinion on that.

[SandyB]

@ Georg Jnr We all  have the  potential to be  fascist , me top of the list  , once again its to  be able  to remember to  always stop and  ask the  questions  , is what I am doing or participating in  right , good or fair ?  to  be  able to  have an  opinion  without  being  overly opiniated  to  be  able  to  have  belief  without  wanting to  force it  upon  other  people ? to  be able  to  recognise evil .. there is  a  saying .. have not  got  the exact  words but here goes ...
Evil does not  present  itself to you  with teeth and claws bared .. instead  it is  insidious it  creeps  in  slowly without one  even  realising  it , we  all have  to  remember  that  at  each  step of  the  way  we  as individuals  have choice .... I need  say no more ..  see my  posting on gangs and names ... I  think it  says a lot if one  bothers to  read into  it ...............

[SandyB]

I will add to  that .. you are one of the few that questions .... I find at times a posting  remains unanswered ,its almost as though people shy away from ahving  a reasonable opinion .. I  have  seen  this  happen to  quite a few   of  Mikes postings as welll when he expresses an opinion without going  into  race religion issues etc , more of a critical  social comment  begging  for  well  thought out  answers  irrespective of grammar or  context mistakes ...  I  mean  ,, see  my  semi dyslexia   with  words like  have .. it  becomes ahve and if  you read  carefully you  will pick these up ,, a  case of  the mind  working  faster than the fingers .. so  thats one  of  my  foibles ...  and I generally  leave them  there as a  trademark of me ..  I take my posting on my semi abled painting  appie that  i am attempting to give a sense of worth  while  also getting odd jobs done  .. contrasting to able bodied that refuse  work  that I  would  ordinarily do excepting that I  have too much on  my plate .. Sipho's story is long ... but  it  would  appear I  would be wasting my energy  posting it .. lots of questions and  answers there ..........

[georg ruf jr.]

One of the things I like about Germany, is the opportunity of have free speach ect.
I know I can say my opinion anywhere I go. The only thing that might happen, is that somebody may be anoid. I don't mean hurt. I believe it is realy hard to be liberal and openminded. We are always in a conflict between our longing, interests and expectations and the way society (if in form of a person, family or what ever) wants and needs us. In this context we we struggle for individuality. Actualy far to much for a single person to cope with. It's human to make mistakes and  do wrong. But it also human to look back to question and change things in my life. (for e.g. how fashist am I, what have I done in life to influence life in society ect.)
You're so right about Michael or other people trying to add to the site with politics ect. and not getting replies. I'm worried about 2 things:
1. I'm not sure how open I can be on this site??
2. It`s not that I'm worried about the spelling and grammar as such. I'm worried my grammar could be so bad# I'd be misunderstood.

[SandyB]

 @ Jnr .. thanks  for  the  reply .. How  open  am I  generally ??  How  open  is Mike  generally ??  ..  providing  there is  no  hate  speech    just say  your  say ..  at  times   you  may  have  to  try to  choose words  carefully  if  you  think they  might  cause  offence .. its  the case  of  having  an  opinion  without  being overly  opiniated  etc etc ...

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

I may not reply to your posts Sandy but I do read them and enjoy them so don't cut back now.

[georg ruf jr.]

Michael once mentioned to me in a mail, about putting things  on the site and worying nobody would take notice. I'm sure there are so many out there (incognito) that prefer to read and not write. Sometimes it's nice just to "listen" what somebody says.

[Michael Alexander]

You can post what you want in here... I will not accept blatant racism (not just black and white) or any smut, porn etc.... and above all make sure you post it on the right board...... Just keep the Oranjemund Orientated stuff under Oranjemund Discussions...the rest under General Discussions....

The one thing that I too like in Namibia, is that we too enjoy a great token of freedom of speech...you cAn criticise the government if you want, just don't use hate speech... the Windhoek Advertiser is forever climbing into the government, the publish front page photo's of murdered people laying in a pool of blood, body parts etc.... quite often South African Visitors are astonished to see such visuals..... it just goes to show, for the time being you can enjoy your freedom of speech........