The Cutting Edge - Kamau Muiruri (i love reading TXT) 📗

Introduction
Cutting Edge developed as a result of contributing montly articles to a local newspaper. Mainly, the themes are a sociological review of recent occurances localy as well as internationally. I attempt to go beyond the news by giving a commentary with both subjective and objective opinions.
It is my hope that this offers an interesting reading.

-Kamau Muiruri, 2008


When South Africa took a wrong turn

What is happening in South Africa is just a symptom of a bigger problem waiting to occur and it could be sooner than most of us would believe. When the presumed foreigners have gone, these unsatisfied groups will find a new enemy whereby the issues of historical injustices and tribalism will begin to be real issues in the country.

-Kamau Muiruri Monthly contribution to Stavanger Afenbladet, Norway, April 2008

In the recent past, South Africa shocked everyone when outbursts of anti-foreigner violence in and around Johannesburg led to death of ten scores of African people, hundreds injuries and thousands others become “refugees in refuge”The so called foreigners are indeed Africans from all walks of life mainly Zimbabweans who had fled economic collapse and political violence in their homeland, Kenyans who had taken their small scale tourist business skills abroad, Nigerians who had gone to open their African fashion stores, Cameroonians who had wanted to work a year or so and then go back home and so on -- were driven from their homes by South Africa blacks who later patrolled along the roads, apparently guarding against any foreigners trying to return. It is as though, they forgot that just few years ago, all Africa was united in one song of calling for the release of Mandela and praying for the end of apartheid. As school pupils, we had made T-shirts and “release Mandela” songs and Sarafina film had often aroused our anger against the apartheid regime. We were united in soul then, yet far. What has happened now?It is argued that those who are doing these shameful acts are those South Africans struggling to find jobs and to buy food as prices rise, and that they are targeting foreigners they see as competing with them for scarce resources. Therefore, the greatest failure is that of the current regime to provide basic life to all people of South Africa.This violence will likely only worsen South Africa's economy as well as image as a crime capital -- it has a murder rate of more than 50 per day -- just as it prepares to host visitors from around the world for the 2010 soccer World Cup. Ambitious Africans shocked by the violence have dropping their plans to study, do business, visit or take refuge in SA and instead they are now heading to US and UK. And who knows how many “Obamas” are in the blood of those Africans SA is rejecting today. They will eventually be accepted in US, UK, Norway and so on and I know that they will one day rise and shine for those communities that showed kindness in time of need.In other words, South African is quickly falling apart because its people are disillusioned by poor leadership. The hope that was represented by the fall of apartheid has long gone with the winds. The coming of a black dominated government did not transform into a change of life but a change of colour from a dominating white to a dominating African. Now that the South African blacks cannot fight the black government they put in place with their blood and sweat, they are unconsciously displacing their frustration on a presumed enemy. At the moment, the greatest enemy to them is the flood of Africans from all walks of life who wanted to live the Mandela dream. However, this is just a symptom of a bigger problem waiting to happen in South Africa and it could be sooner than most of us would believe. When the poor Africans have been scared off from South Africa, South Africa will definitely suffer as its image in the continent is already tinted. Their interest in Africa will also suffer. Further, when the presumed foreigners have gone, these unsatisfied groups will find a new enemy whereby the issues of “historical injustices” and tribalism will begin to reincarnate into real trouble for the country. South Africa was in the beginning seen as hope for Africa but the turn it has taken is wrong. As Mandela grows old and less visible, there comes in more shocking images from the country which might give lead to what awaits South Africa if things are not put right in good time. When there are problems in South Africa, that time, it might be peaceful in Zimbabwe, fine in Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon, Rwanda, Uganda and so on, so where will South Africans seek refuge? There is a wise saying in my local language that states that “the firewood that is in store may laugh at the one that is already burning in fire, forgetting that it will be next some day”.


The symbolism behind 2008 American presidential race.

Introduction
Looking at the state house race closely, there have been so many messages that is better symbolised than mouthed. Sociologists point out that the use of symbolism largely improves interaction. It makes it easier to make meaning of what would, otherwise, not be easily stated or need not be stated.

-Kamau Muiruri Monthly contribution to Stavanger Afenbladet, Norway, May 2008

The world is desperate for a change of tone and course of domination. Nothing short of a revolution will alter the course of any domination of one group by the other and that explains why Clinton and her supporters were determined to stop that historic occurrence from happening. All the same, nothing will stop change from happening when the time is ripe. Obama’s triumph is symbolic and shows that something is happening to our world. Unexpected person is making a historical mark and inspiring the right change of how our society is ordered.

Obama now adores world’s media and is definitely taken seriously as the only hope for removing America from the awkward position it finds itself in the modern arena especially in Iraq. But more so, Obama adores the bedrooms and office boards of young and ambitious black people world over.(Including me). Why? Black young men see themselves in Obama. They have come to learn that many barriers to success only increase the determination to excel. This determination to excel is a seed and when planted on good fertile minds it can cause great positive change in the world today. In sociological terms symbolism is partly a forum of passing messages intentionally or unintentionally without use of words. We consciously and unconsciously decode symbols/actions/personalities every day. Looking at the state house race closely, there have been so many messages that is better symbolised than mouthed. Sociologists point out that the use of symbolism largely improves interaction. It makes it easier to make meaning of what would, otherwise, not be easily stated or need not be stated.

In Obama’s quest for the highest office in the most powerful nation, we have seen the issue of black vs. white arising. However, Obama’s triumph was not solely because he was black, but really because he was not black enough. Indeed many afro Americans feel that Obama does not fully represent them because he is not coming from the black people who truly languished under the yoke of slavery in America. Here we see a symbolic difference between black Americans as opposed to African Americans. Black Americans can best be described as those who descend from the black slaves while the African Americans are the new generation of black people who have freely emigrated from Africa and made America their home. Africans who have settled in America as immigrants tend to succeed usually because they go there with an independently developed self as opposed to those who are born and grow up in the backdrop of slave master history. The greatest struggle of the black Americans as opposed to Americans who are immigrants from Africa is that they try to settle an old score and fight an old battle. They go back to the history of years of exploitation in slavery as well as civil rights denials and discrimination to get their inspiration from there. Therefore they tend to overdo things and to be more bitter, angry and emotional about issues that establish their history. On the other hand, Africans immigrating to America are more open-minded. They do not have much problem with the white people and they can easily work under pressure without feeling emotional and philosophical when some white people treat them badly. In other words, they feel that there is no much difference between being treated badly by a fellow African or by a white person. This is because they have not internalised the “we and they” concept as much as those who have grown up with such dominant history. Obama’s father being from Africa gives him a more interesting background and history that does not try to free itself from the chains of slave history. Another perspective that gives the contest some symbolic significance is that of a contest between genders. Where the contest was not seen on race perspective, the more progressive people would look at it in terms of man vs. woman. Many women identified with Mrs Clinton simply because she was a woman while many men as well as women identified with Obama as a man. Many people would naturally trust their life on a male figure than a female on matters so sensitive such as leadership. But Mrs Clinton was also out to make her history to become USA first female president and that is something she would have wanted to prove; that women are also capable. The other perspective is reflected by the issue of experience as opposed to inexperience. Mrs Clinton feels that she is experienced to handle USA politics and is better placed than Obama who is still “green” in this field. Her experience however is still a disadvantage in an age that is hungry for change. Clinton experience is based on the old politics, she is bringing nothing new or inspiring to the people of America and the world. We know her so well to be able to predict her every move in the future. On the other hand, the sky is the limit for Obama. His “inexperience” stands for open opportunity. He can come in there and decide to take America in a desired direction without so much surprise. For example he can pull out American troops from Iraq and begin a brand new policy to deal with that issue. That is the good thing about “inexperience”. It offers a chance for radical changes because the person is out to prove himself and mainly he is honest with the decisions that are made (at least in the beginning). An inexperienced person is therefore preferred in a time when people are out for change. The race between Clinton and Obama had also in it the symbolism of rich vs. the poor. Mrs Clinton stands for the rich while Obama stand for the poor. The rich and middle class in every society often want to retain the statuesque (things as they are) while it is the poor who are dissatisfied with the system and push for changes. In his funding, Obama received much from individuals including low income category. On the other hand, Clinton had much money from her husband’s connections as well as her own rich connections. That Obama was identified with the poor and vulnerable in the society played a vital role in his vote. In