Daily Archives: June 18, 2017

Zuma: Political freedom without economic freedom is not complete freedom

The president says poverty, inequality and unemployment began when black people were dispossessed of their land.

President Jacob Zuma in Hammarsdale at a Youth Day celebration. Picture: Ziyanda Ncgobo/EWN.

HAMMARSDALE - President Jacob Zuma says political freedom without addressing the economy is an incomplete democracy.

Zuma was speaking in Hammarsdale at a Youth Day celebration organised by the eThekwini region today.

He says poverty, inequality and unemployment began when black people were dispossessed of their land.

Zuma has been warmly welcomed by the eThekwini regions youth who have come to listen to programmes for their development by the municipality.

This is in contrast to the reception the president got in the North West earlier this week.

He says the youth must lead the charge for economic freedom.

Political freedom without economic freedom is not a complete freedom.

Zuma has urged young people to be champions of radical economic transformation.

(Edited by Refilwe Pitjeng)

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Zuma: Political freedom without economic freedom is not complete freedom - Eyewitness News

The world is in serious need of a laugh right now. A ridiculous, oversized belly laugh would let the tension ease out. We are on edge, with that nasty grating feeling, a bit like when theres raw skin in your mouth and you cant stop touching it with your tongue.

Politics. Life. Everything.

When things are at their most difficult, the extreme moments in life, when you cant talk about Brexit one more time without screaming, then comedy can ease the pain. Stand-up comedian and writer Grainne Maguire believes that trauma sometimes brings out the best laughs. Comedy is a challenge to heartbreak, says Maguire, who writes for 8 Out of 10 Cats and BBC Radio 4s Now Show.The Irish comedian, who tweeted updates on her periods to the Irish Taoiseach as part of an original attempt to bring attention to the countrys ridiculously historic abortion laws, believes that comedy gets to truth and authorities dont like that.

And so it is in Spain right now. Comedy, it turns out, is touching a nerve, as it often does, and rather surprisingly the lawyers are getting involved. Comedy is not only a threat, but under threat.

Whats bizarre is, this is Spain, a modern democracy, a solid, sensible country at the centre of Europe. Locking people up for making a joke, thats something you might expect from an authoritarian and struggling state. But Spain?

Well, it turns out, this is Spain in the 21st century. The list of comedy offences reported in the latest issue of Index on Censorship magazine is not short. Spanish comedian Dani Mateo was told to testify before a judge in May for telling a joke referring to a monument built by Francos regime as shit. He told the joke during a satirical show. Now it doesnt sound like the best joke in the world, but hell, we defend his right to tell it. And Mateo is not alone in the Spanish comic fraternity. Theres Facu Daz, who was prosecuted last year for posting jokes on social media; Cassandra Vera, who was sentenced to a year in prison for making jokes about a former Spanish president; and three women who were accused of a religious hate crime for mocking a traditional Easter procession. Then theres the two Spanish puppeteers whose Punch and Judy show included a sign for a made-up terrorist organisation carried by a witch. They spent a year fighting prosecution, unable to leave the country for weeks, receiving anonymous threats and having to report regularly to the police.

Jokes are a barometer of public mood, and as British comedian Andy Hamilton told this summers Hay Festival, you can even use them to test how much the public like or dislike a politician or public figure. He remembered making a joke about then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and being told by one of her staunchest supporters to expect a wave of outrage. On checking, he found just three complaints, and thats when, he said, he knew Thatcher was on the way out. Perhaps someone could test out a joke about Theresa May and see how the complaints barometer swings? Author John OFarrell says: Its such a sign of a healthy democracy that we can laugh at our leaders.

Jokes do take the temperature of the nation, and one of many reasons politicians fear them is, as Mark Twain said, Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.

Politicians fear being made fun of, and fear that a satirical representationmay take root in the electorates brain. They fear the public seeing their weaknesses. Some may remember how TVs Spitting Image reduced each member of the cabinet to a single ridiculous idea, a spitting former Home Secretary Roy Hattersley or a tiny David Steel tucked in the top pocket of David Owen (joint leaders of the SDP-Liberal alliance). Not good for their egos, not good for their future prospects. Steel said later that the sketch definitely affected his image.

Joke-telling is not the only ingredient in the comedy cupboard that upsets the powers that be. The most obvious creators of exaggerated portraits are newspaper cartoonists, who sometimes feel the long arm of the police on their shoulders as a result.

South African cartoonist Zapiro told Index on Censorship: We provoke thought, even if that thought is pretty outrageous. Others can do it too. We just occupy a space where you can really push the boundaries. Zapiro faced a six-year court battle with South Africas President Jacob Zuma over one of his cartoons. But Zapiro is just as feisty as ever, and reckons he is bolshier than the generations that have come after him. Meanwhile in Germany this February talk show host and comedian Jan Bhmermann was hit by a civil court action banning him from repeating a poem that was rude about Turkeys President Erdogan.

Cracking down on comedy is just one attempt to command and control society. And when solid modern democracies such as Spain and Germany start taking their comedians to court its a sign that society is feeling so out of sorts that they think free speech no longer feels important or worth defending. In fact it needs that key freedom now more than ever.

OFarrell believes authoritarians are wrong anyway, that comedy is less about power and more about releasing our Munch-like screams. Lets get our Adams apples warmed up.

Rachael Jolley is editor of Index on Censorship magazine. The summer issue is out next week and features an interview with Zapiro. On July 4, the Index Stand Up For Satire comedy night will feature Al Murray, Tim Key, Felicity Ward and more.

Continued here:

Laughter can ease life's pain - we must protect the freedom to joke - New Statesman

A four-run second inning in which the visiting Joliet Slammers batted through the order set the tone early Saturday night, as the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, suffered their worst defeat of the season by a final score of 12-2 at UC Health Stadium.

Following a perfect first inning, Freedom (21-11) starter Zach Wendorf (0-2) faced five batters in the second before recording his first out. Despite not collecting a single hit in the inning, the Slammers (14-18) took advantage of three walks and two Florence errors to build a 4-0 lead. Wendorf would recover to toss scoreless third and fourth innings, but gave up a home run to Juan Silva in the fifth before a walk and a hit-by-pitch ended his evening after just four-plus innings of work.

Edwin Gomez, Melvin Rodriguez and Alex Rodriguez would also homer for Joliet in the game, as the onslaught continued against relievers Evan Bickett, Sam Brunner and Laetten Galbraith, each of whom allowed at least one run before Matt Pobereyko struck out the side in a perfect ninth.

Slammers starting pitcher Shane Bryant (0-2) stymied the Freedom through seven innings, limiting the home team to just two runs on sacrifice flies by Ryan Rinsky and Daniel Fraga in the second and fifth innings, respectively. Reliever Gibson Russ held Florence scoreless through the final two innings.

The loss set a new season-high in runs allowed by the Freedom, and the ten-run deficit was the largest for the team all year. Jose Brizuela, Collins Cuthrell and Austin Wobrock each registered two hits, but Andre Mercurio went 0-for-4 in the game, ending his hitting streak at 10 games.

The Freedom will look to avoid the series sweep on Sunday at UC Health Stadium, with first pitch of the series finale scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Right-hander Tony Vocca (4-2) will take the mound for the Freedom against left-hander Tasker Strobel (1-1) for Joliet.

The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY.The Freedom can be found online at FlorenceFreedom.com, or by phone at 859-594-4487.

Florence Freedom

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Slammers rout Freedom to take first two games of series, team tries to avoid sweep today - User-generated content (press release) (registration)

It's an annual commemoration dedicated to freedom; a celebration for freedoms already won in the knowledge that for all people of all colors to be truly free, the struggle must continue.

Nearing its 40th anniversary as a community institution, the 2017 Juneteenth Celebration -- its theme was "Bringing it Back Home" -- attracted people of all ages and backgrounds to Bessemer Park Saturday.

There, celebrants heralded the end of slavery via the Emancipation Proclamation -- read in its entirety as part of the ceremony -- while acknowledging the vast contributions blacks have made, and will continue to make, in society.

The future of young black leaders was ably represented in this year's royal court, led by Queen Brianna Forbes and Jr. Miss Juneteenth Serenity Sanford.

Supporting Forbes and Sanford were Queen attendants Kiaya Lucero-Lemons and Kiara Andrews, and Maelah Robinson-Castillo, this year's Jr. Miss Juneteenth attendant.

In addition to Forbes, Lucero-Lemons and Andrews, Anicca Roberts was selected as a 2017 scholarship recipient. All four young women, who are either in college or bound for it, read the well-scripted essays that helped secure them the educational stipend.

Thanks to those who come before, especially those who overcame the bonds of slavery, Andrews said today's generation has the "freedom to become what we desire, the freedom to live the way you want to live, the freedom to go any school, the freedom to say 'hi' to a stranger.

"The freedom to go and let your voice be heard."

Forbes and Sanford said that while they feel "humbled and blessed" to have been chosen as Juneteenth royalty, the meaning behind the celebration is what's most important to them.

"This means so much to me because I am a young African-American girl, and I see the hardships that African Americans go through, still to this day, even being free," said Sanford.

"Being American and being African-American, we're not as free as everyone else. So it's important for me to come out here with everyone and celebrate that I am black. This is who I am and this is what it means to me."

Being named Queen, Forbes believes, will allow her the opportunity "to step up in my community and really help unite Pueblo while making a stand for our black community.

"So this is a day to celebrate freedom and remember where we've come from -- how we've grown not only as a culture but as a nation. We have to remember to stand together as family and be thankful for the things we have today."

Gratitude also figured into the words of Rev. Shadrach J. Thomas, who delivered the invocation.

"We have a lot to be thankful for," he said. "As we look at this beautiful nation, our 45th president, where we are today: someone bled and died for this freedom."

The day was ushered in by a powerful performance of the national anthem by young Jaylen Sankey and an equally uplifting take on "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the traditional "Black National Anthem," by Sister Helen Wiley.

Celebrants also enjoyed a children's talent show, live music from local fave Carlos Crull and band, and smoky eats from Good in the Hood BBQ.

jpompia@chieftain.com

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

Also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865, announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, and more generally the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South. A melding of "June" and "nineteenth," Juneteenth was first established in Texas as a state holiday in 1980.

By 2008, nearly half of the U.S. states observed the holiday as a ceremonial observance. And as of May 2016, when the Maryland legislature approved official recognition of the holiday, 45 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or ceremonial holiday, a day of observance.

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Juneteenth stresses freedom, education - Pueblo Chieftain

MORRISTOWN, NEW YORK

A year ago this Sunday, I was making berry pies in the kitchen when I glanced outside: Dad had taken another face-plant in the grass.

Time to get a plastic chair, twist his limbs to a kneeling position and use his still-strong arms to get upright.

At 84, the former athlete-turned-dentist and father of four had been struggling with Parkinson's, the dementia that it often brings and the general indignities of old age. So the few choices he had left he cherished deeply, including being able to roam or nap or eat sweets whenever he wanted.

And roaming often involved, as care workers would say with a gasp, "A fall!"

Falls are the No. 1 cause of injury and deaths from injury for elderly people in the U.S, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older Americans fell 29 million times in 2014, causing 7 million injuries and costing an estimated $31 billion in annual Medicare costs, the agency says, citing the latest statistics. Falls evict people from their homes, shorten their lives and destroy their quality of life.

But not to fall means not to roam, which was a no-go for us.

So when nursing home officials or physical therapists asked "Has he fallen at any time in the last six months?" we were savvy enough to sidestep possible elder abuse lawsuits.

"Why yes, he has," was a fine reply. "About three times a day" was not.

Sometimes Dad was so black-and-blue from his falls that he looked like a boxer's punching bag. He had contusions on his head, his arms, his legs. Despite being wrapped like a mummy in Band-Aids, he bled across the house like a hemophiliac.

But after drinking milk every day of his life, Dad never did dent a single bone, while mom, his 80-year-old caretaker, cracked a toe, a finger or a rib every other month.

This is the first Father's Day since he passed away, so of course it's a kick in the gut.

Dad, however, would not have cared one whit. He was old school, honor thy father every day of the year, don't get sucked into this commercial hoopla - unless, perhaps, it's a gift of sturdy overalls that will be worn for years in the garden.

Richard Joseph Norman, born May 18, 1932, in the hard-luck upstate New York town of Ogdensburg, was an only child and a scholarship boy. So for the rest of his life, he concentrated on two things: family and charity. And he created those families wherever he went.

Drafted into the army as a dentist, Dad was Alan Alda 15 years before "MASH" went on the air, a maverick who brought wit and kindness to an institution not known for either quality. His bosses did never understand why so many enlisted men with girlfriends in distant cities had frequent dental problems on Friday afternoons.

Charity to Dad was not writing a check or attending a banquet. Every Thursday on his day off, Dad would drive around Rochester to round up supplies for the local homeless shelter - sacks of potatoes, onions and carrots, industrial-sized cans of beans or tomato sauce. On Monday nights in the fall, he would hold a free dental clinic for migrant workers.

At his office, those who came to work for him stayed for life. And Dad knew everything about his patients, not just how their cracked molars were doing, for long before Rochester folk embraced psychologists, everyone talked to their dentist.

In hindsight, we had plenty of signals of the end. Dad whose license and keys had long been taken away snuck out and crashed a car while mom was taking a nap. He blithely walked into a frigid river in his underwear for a swim. Plagued by insomnia, he ventured out in the snow to visit neighbors' porches or parked cars at 4 a.m. thank God no one shot him.

Once as I was trying to get Dad back into bed at 3 a.m., he became stressed and stepped back with his right foot. I felt sick, knowing that was just what a former black belt would do before delivering a kick that could shatter my tibia. I let him eat the cookies.

Still, Dad became lucid as a fox the day we had to put him in a nursing home.

"I did not sign up for this, Sheila," he said, eyeing the meager twin bed and the room's barren industrial patina. The snores of his new roommate reverberated through a flimsy curtain.

Dad lasted just over a month in that restricted setting.

The first few days he walked around its circular hallway compulsively, carrying his walker like a knapsack, seeking the one unlocked door that would lead to freedom. Within a few days, the facility's rigid fears about falls meant he was effectively locked into a wheelchair. Soon afterward, he struggled to swallow and gave up on eating.

So this year my berry pies have no ardent admirer and Dad's 12 grandchildren have no one to tease them. Two family weddings have brought us together but we still crumble at the sound of "Taps," remembering the yellow birch leaves that fluttered down on his grave.

Dad's lessons on family and charity will live on, however. So on this Father's Day, I want to celebrate a full life well-lived, a spirit that roamed and gave laughter and kindness to friends and strangers alike. There is no better legacy.

Visit link:

Pies and Freedom: A Father's Day Look at a Dad Who Roamed - Voice of America