It was also on a Tuesday, about 10 am that morning when the news came over the radio. I had turned 26 just one month before that fateful day and was still in the formative years of my political life; it was in any event too early for me having grown up in an apolitical home, to form an opinion of the event but it shocked South Africa in its boots.
Doctor Hendrik French Verwoerd Prime Minister was assassinated by a man of a deranged soul and mind and died in his seat in Parliament that morning.
South Africa was divided between those who mourned and those who rejoiced.
I had to make a choice, and looking back I think that I made the right choice to stay above the fray and remained aloof.
In the aftermath of all South Africa showed a good sign of the heart by declaring the killer, a lost soul with a demented mind, a ward of the State President and sent to life imprisonment where he died at quite a ripe age.
Why do I place this today?
I shall reply to that in another Post. It will have to suffice for the day that any student of history will have to consider where the World stood at that time. It was a different World to today.
The entire World is at another road crossing than it was then. In South Africa of today we are proud of what Hendrik Verwoerd stood for; those who differ with me on this point, in South Africa or outside, read up before you judge.
To be followed up.
Ike Jakson
In Americus GA saka Americoon
Tags: Africa, China, Colonialism, History of the World today, Nelson Mandela, Russia, South Africa
Jaksonian Philosophy 
September 6, 2016 at 5:08 pm |
“a demented mind,” has no nationality, political aspect, race or borders. God knows WE in the unraveling USA, had and still has PLENTY.
September 6, 2016 at 11:46 pm |
Thanks my old Friend. There is still a lot to come on this topic. Much of it helped to shape my life and what I am today.
September 7, 2016 at 9:50 pm
Bring on, Sir Ike. Much of my “life” has been shaped by many. of the same things.
Good, Bad, or Indifferent! Going on 73 years of decrepitness. And damn if my folks were not correct, when they said many times…”Your turn is coming.” . Damn were they ever, correct.
September 8, 2016 at 7:47 am
Yeah JP, that is my only great regret in life, that it took me so long before I realized how much my parents meant to me.
September 6, 2016 at 5:42 pm |
BTW, look forward for and to the follow up.
September 6, 2016 at 11:49 pm |
They will be coming, ole Friend.
September 7, 2016 at 9:50 pm
Waiting with uhhh, bated breath, Ike’ster
September 8, 2016 at 4:30 am
I shall do the first one soon to mention and honor my old friend El Campeador. I miss you JP, it;s just the darn eye thing and now the absence of my Gmail.
September 9, 2016 at 9:30 pm
Could be worse Ike. “Absence” of life itself. That ain’t good, good fellow. In your case, or mine.
September 10, 2016 at 12:49 am |
Hang in there JP; I shall bring in the Cavalry to get you out.