JoburgerMay 20th, 2008 - 11:16:52

The xenophobia linked violence is nothing compared to the violence the general population suffers on a daily basis. Yearly tens of thousands of innocent people are murdered. Everyday the news papers headlines with horror stories: 2 weeks ago 4 people had their throats slit in Johannesburg, one survived. Go to www.news24.co.za and follow the top stories every day. Genocide is what its called in the rest of the world, in Africa its a way of life. But hey, keep on sending aid money, we need to buy more AK47's! Thanks.

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Manuel Colunga-HernandezMay 20th, 2008 - 12:05:42

I think this will become the norm in many places around the globe. I say this because of the pressures of population, immigration due to catastrophe and war. As one area degrades certain of the population will be forced out, they in turn become a factor in pressures within countries that take them in... it becomes a vicious cycle. With so many places now exhibiting war or food shortage or climatic impact or natural disaster, the more stable and affluent countries will start questioning what their roles are... thus xenophobia sets in. Hey just look at the United States... they want to blame everything on my ancestry! (its the Mexicans fault! You gotta watch out for them darn Mex'kins!) or in a neighborhood with asian populations or Hmong (I live in Minnesota home of the American Neo-Nazi movement... o joy!) You think South Africa is bad, just give it to this summer... Indonesia, Europe, the US, France, Germany, Russia... China! you name it ... Mexico! South America,.. I really think it is just a matter of having gone the wrong path and needing to reassess what the individuals rights and power truly is. Health Education Shelter and a sense of usefulness. These things are lost when IGNORANCE is in control of minds and Tyranny is law. Am I wrong? Mankind may be in decline.

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Michael from NYCMay 20th, 2008 - 12:11:41

Xenophobic is just another word for racism. Just like Rev. Wright, Obamamas preacher

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Sri LankaMay 20th, 2008 - 12:20:16

Don't forget sri lanka. Tamils have been made 'foreigners' in their own lands and subjected to most violent rule by the sinhalese majority for decades now. Eversince the white man left, sinhalese are trying to rule over the tamils, claiming even the northern most areas as their own. Wonder when they'll shift their border post a little few miles up north into india and claim it as their own as well. I wish there was something like a competent UN body right now.

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Ali ,NYC.May 20th, 2008 - 13:06:02

I think what is happening in South Africa, is what is happening in almost every part of the globe. The universe it self evolves and revolves when there is peace in some places there is always problems in other places. To me, that is the true nature of life itself. Remember, only mother nature has the power of resolving what's contained in it including the humans. The world has been like that from the begining. Flash back, you will see there is no differences between yesterday and today. Let's just do what we got do and pass on, we are actually not in control of the situstions on this universe. Think about it.

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buddhamateMay 20th, 2008 - 14:21:43

It seems the whole world is going down the toilet!But it is wrong to say that'sjust the way of the Universe ,and that's the way it is , accept it.
It's when our conduct runs contrary to the universal priciples this sad stuff happens.We humans are responsible and as it is a man made thing ,man can fix it. There is more to peace than just the cessation of war.

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theantibushMay 20th, 2008 - 16:05:26

This will all quickly blow over.
The rioters are out in the open, disorganized, and incompetent.
Lacking strategy and any semblance of leadership, they will soon
find themselves right back in their impoverished ghettos or other prisons.

However, if a leader ever arises among them that understands the economic system of South Africa, and carries out attacks against that infrastructure, especially bridges, pipelines, power transmission, rail, marine, and aviation, and government heads themselves, South Africa would become another Mogadishu in the course of a single summer.

The government is correct to assert that current police action is sufficient.
Nevertheless, if they are ever faced with an organized threat, they will need to chop off that threat’s head with all available resources, and do so with deliberate haste.

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gabrieleMay 22nd, 2008 - 01:42:33

The uproar in Johannesburg and Durban came at no surprise to me.

In 2003 I met Senegalese watchmen on the Pavillon carpark in Durban.
I asked where they came from when I noticed their accent.

A befriended Zulu commented to that later saying that they take away the few jobs from the Zulus.

Now, with the price of bread haven risen astronomically and that's not only bread I feared the worst.

Rising mortgage interests also played a role in South Africa, recently.

Perhaps, that was indirectly the tip on the iceberg...

Domestic workers must have lost jobs, too, consequently.
It certainly will have happened in other fields, as well.


When the white man suffers the black man suffers with him.
And that is nothing new in South African history.

Also, 42 dead in an uproar in Africa is little as brutal as this may sound.

Not to forget is the criminal element that always surges in such moments.

It's a warning sign, though.

G.

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