Caster Semenya – “the Other”

The book I penned, based on my life experiences, is titled “The Other”. It was a title that was self-suggestive once I had written the thing.
This is because it became blindingly clear to me that, as a general proposition, people had a regrettable propensity to relate to each other as “us”, “them” and “others”. This was certainly the case in Rhodesia, my birth country. Native Africans and settler Whites were very much in an “us” and “them” relationship. We Coloureds, "makarhaadiis" or "mabusumani", were regarded as “others”.
Conferring human beings the status of being “the other” is to render them as ambivalent and irrelevant. They are divested of, not only the right to equality, but the right to participate and contribute in social and political interaction, be it confrontational or cooperative. They become sub-human.
The key to, and the purported justification for this state of affairs, was that we Coloureds were different from the dominant groups. As much as we had the genes of both these groups we emerged from the womb as neither white nor black, but mostly as a rather nice shade of brown with hair that was also neither really straight nor really crinkly.
We were physically different from the other groups. That difference was ensured by the admixture of our Native African and settler White genes. Genes are capricious. So some of us Coloureds are visually more Native African in appearance and others are more settler White.
That visually obvious difference ensured my status of being “the other”. Being “the other” divested me of the basic human right of equality. It was used to justify subjecting me to pernicious discrimination and exclusion … even as regards the political contestation between the “us” and “them” groups.
Any anthropologist would have certified me as human. Science confirms that my visually obvious difference to the settler Whites and Native Africans is due to the admixture of genes I possess.
And so it is with Caster. Her visually obvious difference ensures, in the opinion of so many, ample justification to discriminate against her and exclude her from sporting contestation. As was the case with me, in Rhodesia, the admixture of her genes guarantees all this, despite the fact that science has fully confirmed her as being female.
Now who are we kidding here.?
Do we really not know that the athlete that is a champion at high jump is tall and has long legs because of his/her genes? So too as regards the burly shot putter and the big chested light weight track stars. Are we really not aware that they are good at the events that they compete and excel in is mostly attributable to their genes??
Caster is no different from you and me. She is human. She is female. Her visually obvious differences have been determined and set by the admixture of her genes, as is the case with you and me.
Because of my gene structure I have an enviable honey brown complexion and have been a champion at shot putt, pole vault, chess, darts and golf. However I came third last in the 100-yard sprint. Because of my gene structure I have never been a runner and could never have been a champion at running. My genes conferred an advantage as regards the events in which I excelled but divested me of any meaningful prowess at sprinting.

Caster is no different. Her gene structure undoubtedly confers an advantage as regards track events. As much as hard work and training helps. Her sprinting prowess is primarily attributable, as always, to her genes. Her visual appearance is due to the capricious nature of genes.

She is to be lauded for having got off her butt, (as I tried to do) explored her capacity and talents and exploited them on the world stage. Caster is not “the Other”. She is not sub-human.
She is part of “us” and “them” as regards the track. She has every right to compete equally … just as I had a right to be treated as an equal.

This strident carping about her status as a human being needs to just stop for being the product of crass ignorance, irrationality, and even bigotry.

The maniacal buffoon Donald Trump threatens genocide.

WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened North Korea, promising “fire and fury like the world has never seen,” following new reports the country has escalated its nuclear program. 08 August 2017.

This report was confirmed by video footage showing Trump bellowing and snorting that if North Korea “continues” to threaten the USA it would be subjected to “fire and fury like the world has never seen,”

This is by far the most irresponsible statement/threat that any leader has made in modern times or even history.

It is diabolically irresponsible.

a)      What Trump means is that North Korea will be subjected to an attack that exceeds that experienced by the Japanese at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It cannot mean anything esle.

b)      During the final stage of World War II, the United States dropped nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively.. The two bombings killed at least 129,000 people and maimed tens of thousands of others who suffered terrible lifelong afflictions on account of burns and radiation sickness.

c)      North Korea is ruled by a military junta, headed by Kim Jong Un as its tyrannical leader. This regime undoubtedly deserves its reputation as being evil considering its record on the human rights front. Politically motivated murder is routine with victims even including Kim’s own Uncle. Thousands find themselves starving to death in labour camps and prison farms.

d)      However, the populace of North Korea, the ordinary folk, are no more guilty or responsible for any of this than you and I are.
From cradle to grave they are kept totally subjugated on every count and in every respect.
Access to information and education is restricted to only that which ensures total loyalty and adulation of the “Great Leader Kim…” and includes ridiculous, fatuous nonsense.

e)      Simply put, the people of North Korea are like kids at boarding school, guilty of nothing.

So we need to understand very, very clearly the unavoidable implications of Trump's threat.
It is simply impossible to subject North Korea to “fire and fury like the world has never seen” without killing millions of innocent humans who are the general populace.

This renders Trump’s threat diabolical. It is a threat of mass genocide.

It is the most irresponsible statement/threat by any leader in modern times and historically.

Included in the implications is that fact that it is an open secret that North Korea has a plethora of military assets trained on South Korea to be activated in the event of an attack. This will guarantee the annihilation of South Koreans.

Lastly, it should be noted that Trump’s claim that North Korea is threatening the USA is disingenuous in the extreme. Kim Jong Un has been consistent in posturing that his development of nuclear capacity is so as to ensure that his country "can defend itself", especially in the light of the aggressive stance of the USA.

Since coming to power the Trump regime has indeed subjected North Korea to a continuous stream of bellicose sabre rattling.

An obvious question that remains hypocritically unanswered is - since it was the United Nations that imposed the ban on nuclear weapons why is it not that body that is addressing the issue with North Korea?
Why is it the Trump regime that has assumed the right and responsibility to bring North Korea into line?

The sooner this lunatic Donald Trump is divested of all responsibility as regards North Korea the better.
The USA is not the World’s policeman and the UN is being decidedly shameful in its acquiescence, tolerance and connivance at the dangerous machinations of Donald Trump.


What is utterly appalling, if not contemptible, is that none of the stream of talking heads and so called experts appearing on the news media channels condemned Trump's threat.
What they routinely did was to obfuscate it in every conceivable way.

And there is actually a very, very dangerous elephant in the room here. North Korea is supported by China and Russia. Both are nuclear powers.

World Athletic Champs --- versus --- fickle, unkind, unjust humans

I am on repeated record as saying that we need to understand that most of us have a very poor, fickle and flawed sense of justice. It is why I contend that jury trials are a lotto.
This was proved once again yesterday on the occasion of the 100 meters final of the World Championships in the United Kingdom.
The finalists were each treated to a standing ovation by the crowd, especially Usain Bolt and the English athlete. This was fully deserved.
However, Justin Gatlin was once again booed at crescendo levels of volume.
Perhaps worst still was the fact that all the commentators, treated his incredible win as a none event, hardly acknowledging it and concentrated on heaping even more praise, adulation and worship on Usain Bolt, as if had won the race. Bolt actually came third.
Bolt had already been deservedly praised for his incredible record as an athlete for many hours and in every conceivable way. However, this did not change when he actually lost to Gatlin and Christian Coleman in one of the most exciting finishes in history.
Gatlin’s win was all but ignored.
The reason why Gatlin was subjected to this disdainful, contemptuous treatment by the crowd and the commentators was that Gatlin failed himself and society in the past by involving himself with drugs.
However, and this point cannot be stressed enough. Gatlin paid his dues for his deviant conduct. Society exacted a penalty and he served it out. The same applies to Luvo Manyonga.

So, the question that arises is this --- Do we really not believe that those of us who fail, make mistakes and err should be rehabilitated??
Do we repudiate the wise counsel of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela that it is not that we will stumble, but it is critical that we get up?
Apparently not?
Apparently, Gatlin must forever be condemned and held in contempt … despite the fact that he has got up from his stumble, rehabilitated himself and pulled off an incredible human achievement.

That is why I am on record, as also stressed during the Carte Blanche coverage of “The Oscar Pistorius Trial Of The Century” that most of us have a poor, flawed and fickle sense of justice.

Both Justin Gatlin and our Luvo Manyonga failed in the past. Yesterday they proved Nelson Mandela right.

Please join me in according them a salute for incredible human achievement … Gatlin for winning the 100 meters and Luvo for winning the long jump.

As for Almaz Ayana, who decimated the field in the 10,000 meters, all one can say is that we lesser mortals bow and prostrate ourselves before her in unreserved acknowledgment and adulation. What a star.!! Really!!!
If this were Roman/Greek times we would elevate her to the status of Goddess of the track.

PS: I am soooo bemused by the fact that nearly all the British athletes are migrants, starting off with Mohammed "Mo" Farah. that they shed tears of joy over .... and yet brexit is founded on the proposition that the Brits don't need migrants ... lol ...

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Also recommended is ----- https://coginito.blogspot.co.za/2011/05/osama-bin-laden-some-are-good-even-bad.html

and my book at ...... http://proudlyzimbabwean.orgfree.com/book_page.html