Litnet

"The powerful 1969 earthquake that struck the Western Cape in South Africa caused widespread destruction, but also became a moment for the government to reinforce racial segregation under the guise of reconstruction. ... The rebuilding of Lisbon, on the other hand, represents one of the most significant Enlightenment-inspired urban projects of the 18th century."

"[I]n most cases, the causes and atrocities of the wars – Korea, Vietnam, numerous struggles for liberation across Africa and the Middle East, Latin America and a dozen other settings – have been brushed over or inadequately brought to light. South Africa stands out as an exception, with its Truth and Reconciliation Commission. But the truth of the lessons of Auschwitz holds true for a world in conflict since 1945, and makes the 80th commemoration all the more important."

"Forget the standard view of politics as left versus right, populist versus traditionalist, politically correct versus, well, just about everything else. That’s all old hat now in our brave new world. Instead, a simplified and much easier way of understanding the times we live in, compared with old school history with boring events and the like, is through something called vibe shifts."

"Unlike the devolved parliaments of Wales and Scotland, where the nationalists can achieve their goals within a democratic framework, the English nationalists have no uniquely English parliament of their own. They are free only to elect representatives to a British parliament in the broad sense, whereas the Scots and Welsh elect MPs not only to their own national parliaments, but also to the British parliament. Will this constitutional anomaly lead to bottled-up rage and frustration among English nationalists?"

"Meintjes devotedly nurses his grape and malt, the pool table and his favourite bars, while around him the grand spectacle of life unfolds, and the stoicism of Long Street is revealed on a nightly basis."

"With Lammy’s help, Sir Keir could wean Pretoria off its corrosive dependency relationship with Vladimir Putin. The Labour Party’s win could have very positive implications for the new Government of National Unity in South Africa."

"Colonel Jan Breytenbach, who has died peacefully in bed in his nineties, was arguably South Africa’s finest soldier in the latter half of the 20th century."

"I've heard of the blacklisting of campus speakers and the toppling of statues as a result of cancel culture and by the woke brigade generally, but cancelling an entire 'koshuis' must surely rank as a world first."

"It would be easy in South Africa today, preoccupied as it is with the result of its own parliamentary election, to overlook the importance of the Allied D-Day landings of 6 June 1944, which liberated the world from the Nazi scourge. But that would be a mistake."

"Thirty years of democracy has eased the strained relations between the races of the apartheid years. There is a spontaneity, humour and verve in public life, in the shops and eateries, which is very refreshing to any outside visitor."

"Tens of thousands of civilians flooded into the streets – no one slept that night. Carnations were the flowers in season, and many of the soldiers 'planted' the long-stemmed flowers in their gun barrels – an image broadcast across the world."

"This always seems to happen nowadays: When wars break out conveniently close and accessible to the world’s press, they get wall-to-wall coverage."

"So, you can well imagine my absolute delight when a pristine, popular, illustrated account of the Boer War, which had lain unread in a Welsh attic for over 100 years, was gifted to me by a good friend recently. This contained the photo of Kruger proudly and romantically advertising his earring, like a latter day Raleigh, or Drake."

"It feels a bit unreal putting these words on paper, but a phantom is looming ever larger in the global consciousness. Something is definitely going on; turbulent daily news events describe geopolitical tensions of all sorts – military build-ups and diplomatic stand-offs."

"Democracy is at risk of being replaced in many cases with despotic oligarchies and fascist elites. Our ‘imperfect, but still the best system of government’, to paraphrase Churchill’s definition of democracy, is even under threat in the EU, where right-wing parties with dubious links to history are poised to make electoral gains this year."