The BBC seem a tad embarrassed by the news that South Africa – that wonderful rainbow nation – is refusing to accept a UN motion to unfreeze $1.5bn of Libyan assets to fund emergency humanitarian aid. I wonder why South Africa seems reluctant to help the Libyan Rebels? We may never know.
Here’s Nelson
. Is it heretical to view Nelson Mandela as anything other than a latter day saint? I think the BBC believes this to be the case based on this unctuous piece entitled “Why everyone wants a piece of Mandela” by Peter Biles. This article really takes the biscuit in sanitising Mandelas’ past, carefully paving over any valid criticisms of the former ANC leader. You see it’s not that I don’t accept that Mandela has done some good things, but he has also failed in many other areas and what I expect from the State Broadcaster is more balance. Stop patronising everyone who demurs from the Saint Nelson line.
Nelson Mandela is in the UK for the next week and given his near saint-like status in some quarters we can expect euphoric media coverage. I was interested in reading the BBC report which stresses his glowing relationship with the Queen and which trots out the mantra about his tireless “campaign around the globe for peace and an end to poverty.” Given the horrendous violence which afflicts South Africa and the genocide taking place in its neighbour Zimbabwe, is it too much to ask the BBC to ask some hard questions about the actual achievements of one of their idols? Is it not reasonable to expect the State Broadcaster review all aspects of Mr Mandela’s career – from his former days as a terrorist to his current period as a man that can do no wrong?
