Blitz or Bleat

APPEASEMENT, lies, hypocrisy and denial in the air! Nothing new, par for the course, welcome to the world, especially the “globalised” one.

An Olympic year, institutional distress and financial crisis; it is not difficult to draw parallels with the period from the 1920s through the Great Depression to the start of WWII in 1939. That ignominious moment in British history when the Prime Minister waved a piece of paper showing a peace agreement with “Mr Hitler”.The rest is history! Stalin later found out the hard way about trusting demagogic tyrants, as did 20 million (or more) Russians.Drawing parallels is dangerous as similar circumstances do not mean similar outcomes but can lessons be drawn? Human nature is remarkably unchanging.The 1936 Berlin Olympics was the showcase for a tyrannical despot whose disregard for the rights of his people, especially minorities, are well documented.The period of shame remains part of German conscience; however it is easy, after the event, for the “good guys” to eulogise on their own purity when, under similar circumstances, they would have probably been similar.”Mr Hitler” did revive pride in Germany, eliminate unemployment and create an invigorated industrial machine that endures to this day.He also succeeded in duping his own people and many others in the world through a veneer of effective public relations hiding the ever-increasing horrors of state abuse in the name of progress.The impeccably organised showcase Olympics was a successful component of this veneer.”Mr H’s” rise was a consequence of open defiance of the crushing terms of the Versailles Treaty that ended WWI but had condemned Germany to economic sterility; the Depression of October 1929, that not only collapsed the US economy but also, to lesser extent, caused major strains in the world economy, coincided with his rise.Remember the Depression was the result of financial exuberance and fraud within the financial sector; stupid lending policies, excessive asset leverage and the ever deviant, morally corrupt, ethically lost and “anything goes” standards of the 1920s – especially amongst the increasingly rich upper and middle classes! The net effect was a Blitzkrieg invasion of continental Europe by Germany that rapidly expanded into WWII and 50 million dead (or more).If Britain and its Commonwealth, and later the US, had not stood firm, the world would be a different place today – how different will never be known; the scars of that period remain in many forms.The “Blitz” mentality is part of this legacy; stoicism and determination in the face of severe adversity.So it’s 2008; the world has enjoyed 15 years of financial exuberance; now stupid lending policies, excessive asset leverage and the ever deviant, morally corrupt, ethically lost and “anything goes” standards of recent years – especially amongst the increasingly rich middle classes – again have landed the world in economic “doo-doo”.Globalisation has added spice to the mix as sovereignty has been sacrificed to being part of the global club and, unlike the 1929 catastrophe, all the global members are swimming in the same electronic economic pond.The difference is that the stronger nations, who spend proportionally less on fuel and food and are able to absorb financial shocks; the poor can’t! Doha-ha-ha! Seventy-two years later, we have the Beijing Olympics; another “coming-out party” with a totalitarian state with their own views on the treatment of minority, worker and human rights, 6 000 years of history, a compliant population, with a trade balance and growth figures to die for! Wipe away the smoke and mirrors, the pollution and algae and that incredible Bird’s Nest structure, what remains? Another great big PR exercise? Is this another veneer of public relations hiding systematic abuse of minorities, individuals and human rights in the name of progress? Who knows; valid question.So where does Africa, especially Namibia, stand? Our Constitution is quite specific on values – is all OK, are there abuses and if so do we protest or do we adopt a position of convenience? The reality is that our values, as Africans, can only be determined by our actions, not rhetoric or legalistic outpouring; the AU is our spokesman, other views are of little relevance.Our stance on Darfur, DRC, Zimbabwe and other situations, where the UN, our saviour and mentor, have indicated significant abuses, is what matters.Where are we when the rock becomes a hard place? The jury is out.However I do think it is wrong for governments (or anyone else) to beat, torture and kill their own people and history is a cruel measure.So are there parallels to be drawn? The concentration of coincidence is powerful; we should at least be aware.Reading tea leaves is hazardous! However, in a world in its current economic pit stop, the marbles of power are being rearranged.Alignments are being realigned.Financial power, and thus political power, is shifting.Institutional change of multilateral organisations is in the air.Where does Namibia position itself? Firstly our good relationships with India/China must grow within the context of mutual benefit, not on the basis of repayment for past support.Namibians must realise that doing business with the East is done differently; they are no less voracious than other capitalists – no long-term free lunches! Secondly the US is a proven and reliable partner despite popular opinion based on their aggressive foreign policy.Their guard is about to change and this, together with the current economic setbacks, will offer opportunity for beneficial relationships – political and economic.After all the US was a colony itself once! Thirdly we have to shift from a “Bleat” mentality, complaining about the past and demanding new toys, to a “Blitz” mentality where we, as Namibians, stop squabbling and get on with the job.World orders are changing, leaders are becoming younger and the young are fed up with the old leaders padding their legacies.The “Born Frees” are here.They want “Blitz” not “Bleat”.And Bling!That ignominious moment in British history when the Prime Minister waved a piece of paper showing a peace agreement with “Mr Hitler”.The rest is history! Stalin later found out the hard way about trusting demagogic tyrants, as did 20 million (or more) Russians.Drawing parallels is dangerous as similar circumstances do not mean similar outcomes but can lessons be drawn? Human nature is remarkably unchanging.The 1936 Berlin Olympics was the showcase for a tyrannical despot whose disregard for the rights of his people, especially minorities, are well documented.The period of shame remains part of German conscience; however it is easy, after the event, for the “good guys” to eulogise on their own purity when, under similar circumstances, they would have probably been similar.”Mr Hitler” did revive pride in Germany, eliminate unemployment and create an invigorated industrial machine that endures to this day.He also succeeded in duping his own people and many others in the world through a veneer of effective public relations hiding the ever-increasing horrors of state abuse in the name of progress.The impeccably organised showcase Olympics was a successful component of this veneer.”Mr H’s” rise was a consequence of open defiance of the crushing terms of the Versailles Treaty that ended WWI but had condemned Germany to economic sterility; the Depression of October 1929, that not only collapsed the US economy but also, to lesser extent, caused major strains in the world economy, coincided with his rise.Remember the Depression was the result of financial exuberance and fraud within the financial sector; stupid lending policies, excessive asset leverage and the ever deviant, morally corrupt, ethically lost and “anything goes” standards of the 1920s – especially amongst the increasingly rich upper and middle classes! The net effect was a Blitzkrieg invasion of continental Europe by Germany that rapidly expanded into WWII and 50 million dead (or more).If Britain and its Commonwealth, and later the US, had not stood firm, the world would be a different place today – how different will never be known; the scars of that period remain in many forms.The “Blitz” mentality is part of this legacy; stoicism and determination in the face of severe adversity.So it’s 2008; the world has enjoyed 15 years of financial exuberance; now stupid lending policies, excessive asset leverage and the ever deviant, morally corrupt, ethically lost and “anything goes” standards of recent years – especially amongst the increasingly rich middle classes – again have landed the world in economic “doo-doo”.Globalisation has added spice to the mix as sovereignty has been sacrificed to being part of the global club and, unlike the 1929 catastrophe, all the global members are swimming in the same electronic economic pond.The difference is that the stronger nations, who spend proportionally less on fuel and food and are able to absorb financial shocks; the poor can’t! Doha-ha-ha! Seventy-two years later, we have the Beijing Olympics; another “coming-out party” with a totalitarian state with their own views on the treatment of minority, worker and human rights, 6 000 years of history, a compliant population, with a trade balance and growth figures to die for! Wipe away the smoke and mirrors, the pollution and algae and that incredible Bird’s Nest structure, what remains? Another great big PR exercise? Is this another veneer of public relations hiding systematic abuse of minorities, individuals and human rights in the name of progress? Who knows; valid question.So where does Africa, especially Namibia, stand? Our Constitution is quite specific on values – is all OK, are there abuses and if so do we protest or do we adopt a position of convenience? The reality is that our values, as Africans, can only be determined by our actions, not rhetoric or legalistic outpouring; the AU is our spokesman, other views are of little relevance.Our stance on Darfur, DRC, Zimbabwe and other situations, where the UN, our saviour and mentor, have indicated significant abuses, is what matters.Where are we when the rock becomes a hard place? The jury is out.However I do think it is wrong for governments (or anyone else) to beat, torture and kill their own people and history is a cruel measure.So are there parallels to be drawn? The concentration of coincidence is powerful; we should at least be aware.Reading tea leaves is hazardous! However, in a world in its current economic pit stop, the marbles of power are being rearranged.Alignments are being realigned.Financial power, and thus political power, is shifting.Institutional change of multilateral organisations is in the air.Where does Namibia position itself? Firstly our good relationships with India/China must grow within the context of mutual benefit, not on the basis of repayment for past support.Namibians must realise that doing business with the East is done differently; they are no less voracious than other capitalists – no long-term free lunches! Secondly the US is a proven and reliable partner despite popular opinion based on their aggressive foreign policy.Their guard is about to change and this, together with the current economic setbacks, will offer opportunity for beneficial relationships – political and economic.After all the US was a colony itself once! Thirdly we have to shift from a “Bleat” mentality, complaining about the past and demanding new toys, to a “Blitz” mentality where we, as Namibians, stop squabbling and get on with the job.World orders are changing, leaders are becoming younger and the young are fed up with the old leaders padding their legacies.The “Born Frees” are here.They want “Blitz” not “Bleat”.And Bling!