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Leamington Letters #62: Where are they now?

16/12/2013

11 Comments

 
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How many times in the last couple of weeks (or last couple of years or even last couple of decades) have you heard Nelson Mandela described as a terrorist, or worse?

Not at all? OK.

Now go back to the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. You heard it a lot. And the people who thought that, and said that, are still around. They are just keeping quiet. Believe me, these right-wing racists are still thinking the same things, even if they are not saying them out loud.

In the ‘60s, Mandela and the ANC were the litmus test of a Dreyfusard, Claud Cockburn’s definition of  someone who would be on the right side of history regardless of his or her party political allegiance. For a just-about-post-imperialist Britain, the apartheid regime in South Africa divided people in a quite extraordinary way. Many of my friends at university were white South Africans who had been expelled from their country for their political views. There were, of course, very few black South Africans at Cambridge at that time.

But that made the espousal of the cause even more crucial. And it was focussed on the Stop The Seventy Tour protests of 1969 and 1970. The great John Arlott once said that if one placed a bomb in the grandstand of Twickenham on international day, one would destroy fascism in England for a generation. 

So there was a number of objectives in the STST campaign: to disrupt the Springbok tour, to ensure that the cricket tour of that summer was cancelled, and also to make the point to the supporters of the regime in South Africa.

It worked. And it was the beginning of a campaign which, ultimately and far too late, culminated in the release of Madiva and the first democratic elections, in which Jill’s parents proudly voted for the ANC. In the meantime, Jill and I had attended Mandela’s 70th birthday concert at Wembley in June 1988 and cried our eyes out as we watched his release on TV 20 months later.

He was the symbol of the movement, the epitome of anti-apartheid. We know now a great deal about his imprisonment and his grace and commitment during those 27 years. But while he was in that cell as prisoner 466/64, there were others outside those confines who continued the struggle and without whom, Madiva may still be there.

I want to mention just two, because I was privileged to shake the hands of both.

The first is Joe Slovo, the General Secretary of the South African Communist Party. Jewish, communist, husband of Ruth First, and hated by the Afrikaans and the British establishment alike, he wrote No Middle Road, a book which helped to convince many liberals in the 1970s that apartheid could not be reformed or changed: it had to be abolished. Totally. Completely.

The second, of course, is Oliver Tambo, who lived in North London from the early ‘60s, as a kind of overseas ambassador for the ANC. He was tireless in this respect – a great speaker and a very funny, witty conversationalist. He was primarily responsible for the expulsion of South Africa from the Commonwealth, and for the international acceptance of the ANC as a government in waiting. A great man.

The success of the movement and the abolition of apartheid was not, of course, merely down to two or three men, however great they were. It was the result of millions, black and white, from South Africa and every continent, who perceived the injustice and contributed in however small a way to changing minds.

But not all minds and certainly not all hearts.

There are still those who have not changed. You will meet them in London clubs, in small Tory enclaves, at private dining clubs in the City and at dinner parties in Surrey and the Cotswolds. They will be surreptitious in their attitude and disingenuous in their argument. But you will know them by their innate bigotry which will manifest itself if challenged.

Watch out for them. And take them on. They are not required on this voyage.

Today from the everysmith vault: It's been a hell of a few days for music in Leamington, with a succession of excellent gigs throughout a long weekend. Highlights, for me: The Rosenberg Appeal on Friday at LAMP (these three deserve a great deal more recognition) and the terrific sets by the Swaps and Wes Finch & the Dirty Band at the Pump Rooms on Sunday. 



11 Comments
Anders
16/12/2013 08:35:01

Thank you. Slovo was one of the real heroes of this struggle and he has gone unmentioned recently. Also agree that the racists are still out there and need to be brought out and challenged.

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John B
16/12/2013 08:47:17

What made the STST campaign fun as well as serious was the sense that we were also taking part in an épater le bourgeoisie exercise. The Arlott quote, which I hadn't heard, is spot on. And me a rugby fanatic!

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Allan
17/12/2013 00:05:21

I do think that there has been a sea-change in attitudes throughout the world but continuing and virulent anti-semitism shows that it will never be eradicated completely. A timely warning.

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Rod
17/12/2013 01:31:58

Surfed into your blog by accident. This is a point well made. The cuddly image which Mandela projected and the white response in no sense represents the reality of continuing racism in South Africa and, indeed, in the UK. I am catching up on old posts and will be in touch again I'm sure.

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Brian
17/12/2013 02:34:41

It wasn't quite a cult of personality but the Mandela image is misleading. He went in to prison as a bruiser. He emerged as a kindly old grandfather. While I have nothing but admiration and respect for him, you are right that huge amounts of work remain to be done. His death marks the end of the beginning.

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Steve
17/12/2013 02:36:57

This is a good question. And I think you are right about their current whereabouts. Find them, out them, challenge them.

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Ann
17/12/2013 02:58:22

I couldn't believe my ears at the 'spouting' and 'fawning' of some of our politicians on TV - some of us can remember their attitude back in the day.....as you say, what they say and what they think are 2 different things. I once 'dumped' a boyfriend back in the 70s - he'd gone to SA to visit his sister for several weeks and came back brainwashed into a 'convert' to the way things were there - 'well you can't sit next to them on buses cos they smell'....follow up me ranting about how he'd smell if he had no access to clean water let alone plumbing and nay a bath.....gggrrrrrrr......I also remember introducing Don to 'politically aware shopping' in Sainsbury's in Cov...'put those back - why? - they're from SA/Chile/rightwing dictatorship of your choice etc'. Not sure it ever did any good but made me feel better:-)

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Ellie
17/12/2013 05:20:35

Yeh, do I remember that! The boyfriend you pick for all the wrong reasons and turns out to be a racist pig. And doesn't understand wh you don't wish to spend another second in his company. Mine was not as specific as yours, more insidious, but no less appalling. My dad was right about him, but not for the right reasons!

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Scott
18/12/2013 00:23:13

I confess that I do know people who continue to think in this way, one at least on the periphery of my extended family. Meetings are rare but I bite my tongue to avoid rows. Having read this, I will not do so again. Good blog - thanks.

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myers
18/12/2013 03:41:37

..."I have a dream today that I can live in a nation where people will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character"... are you listening President of the MCC and England's batting coach?

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Jack
18/12/2013 04:50:38

Myers makes a good point. I was surprised that there was no reference to the 'sportsmen' who broke the boycott for greed. Gatting and Gooch have gone on to play major roles in cricket administration and should have not been allowed to do so. Disgraceful. Also Clapton's outburst which prompted the foundation of Rock Against Racism. He's never apologised, never even acknowledged what he said. His albums were thrown out of my home and nothing of his has been purchased since. Not that he gives a damn. But I do still.

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    Max Smith

    European writer, radical, restaurateur and Red Sox fan. 70-something husband, father, step-father, grandfather and son. Resident in Warwick, England.

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