South Africa: From Sandton to Melrose Arch through Sandton

In any case

There is a more important blog I wanted to write that I have been ruminating over for days already and have not been able to write the first word of a sentence, yet it is working and forming in my mind as it is not ready to be birthed and given the light of expression.

On a lighter note, however, I hailed an Uber ride from my hotel to Melrose Arch, the driver decided to take the back roads through Sandton and it was quite revealing.

I would have loved to take pictures, but this might have been considered a security risk and probably endangered my life before I was given the opportunity to explain my interest.

Prisons of defence

Whilst I find the security at my hotel a bit superfluous and cumbersome because it requires all drivers of vehicles into the grounds sign in apart from the fact that gates are manned and have barriers, what obtains in residential Sandton is quite enhanced.

Literally all compounds have high walls topped with barbed wire fenced that I believe is also electrified. To my English mind, the affluent literally lived in the equivalent of prisons, if not fearful, at least, concerned about the world beyond their walls that is violent and so far removed from wealth and access to opportunity.

The walls themselves are architectural pieces and there are some notices that suggest that there are armed response units ready to tackle any trespassers.

Overwrought oasis

On arriving at this apparently exciting Melrose Arch that exudes affluence so alien to the generality of South Africa served by many from the townships spruced up to slave in genuflection to the presumably sophisticated or nouveau riche, it looked very much like an oasis in a vast desert, the appearance of Melrose Arch from the motorway read true in reality.

I first stopped at Sunglass Hut where I asked for lens cleaners having forgotten to pack any for my journey and the store assistant quickly offered a luxury case with a refillable spray cleaner, a washable ‘Microfiber’ cloth and a jeweller’s screwdriver. Meanwhile, he offered to clean my glasses.

When it came to paying for the goods, he could not operate the till, and after fumbling for minutes, he called his boss who was out of the shop on some business and he immediately appeared to sort things out. Why Sunglass Hut needs to have a mobile phone number to conclude a transaction escapes me, and if not because I felt a bit amenable since I was paying cash, I would not have parted with any information about me.

Cavalier cravats and more

My view was almost coloured by this experience until I was accosted further on by some affable gentlemen who looked rather dandier than I was. They run the Cavalier gentlemen’s fitters shop where for once they seemed to have everything that exuded class, taste and sophistication.

They had seen me walk by and came out to compliment my dressing and even averred that they have never seen someone as smartly dressed as I come by their shop before. They had me when they said they also had day cravats. This considering that last time I asked for cravats in Sandton, I was presented with a Velcro-fastened bib. The horror.

The variety of colours and quality of the stuff, I could not resist, yet I restrained myself, I left with two beautiful cravats, and to their recommendation of getting matching pocket squares, I intimated them of the fashion faux pas of matching pocket squares to ties, it should never be done.

Yet, I did like the way they wore their pocket squares, much like a blooming origami rose, I should have asked to be shown how to do that. I might well be inclined to have a bespoke Savile Row suit made for South African prices made for me. We’ll see.

After shopping at Woolworths a brand that looks a bit classy in South Africa though long since extinct in the UK and probably never really related to the one that once rules the shopping precincts of the UK, I hail an Uber ride back to my hotel having learnt again of the great disparities that ail South Africa.

Postscript: I have since learnt Woolworths of South Africa is modelled after Marks and Spencer of the UK and has never been related to the old Woolworth’s brand in the UK.

Vera Drake fetes Dr Mengele in Rotterdam

Seeds of inspiration

Sometimes the most useful inspiration comes from the most unusual places. Our ministers probably gain inspiration from the outposts and outback of the country where certain practices might make Victorians look soft on discipline and moral rectitude.

One must indeed say that our politicians always always have our welfare and wellbeing at heart as they seed our thoughts with innocuous ideas which creepily make it into the mainstream.

At first hearing, it all seems like the reasonable common sense application of societal norms to make us all live at peace with each other.

Even so, when such ideas come from the person in charge of security or for translational context – public welfare – it has to be commendable.

Purity is of the essence

At first hearing, the ideas of Eugenics might sound so noble and pure that one would just subscribe to it. The question then becomes what and who determines purity and how that is scored.

It is unlikely, that we would democratically select those to sit at the head of the Eugenic food chain who can then dispense judgment from on high about what is worthy and what is worthless and should be expunged.

Rather, these self-appointed protectors of societal purity would move from consensus to tyranny as the initial appeal of the idea becomes a sinister human extermination agenda that can no more be sustained by reason.

Now, there is no doubt that certain members of society may not know their responsibilities in civility, virtues and parenthood; we have laws to deal with crime, hospitals to deal with illnesses, social welfare to deal with deprivation and abuse – these things help define the advanced civilisation of society, most especially in Western communities.

The state ensures within its resources that all these services are available equally at the point of need so that our comfortable normality does not descend into chaos.

So, it is with interest that I have read this translated piece of inspired logic that has come from one veritable source of social engineering genius – Leefbaar Rotterdam (Liveable Rotterdam).

Target! Aim! Abort!

“I want appoint three specific target groups of whom I find that obliged pregnancy discontinuance (in accordance with the legal failure period) and forced contraceptive from taboo environment must be obtained. This concerns children of addictive parents, (Antillean) teenager mothers and rationally disableds.” Translated from Dutch - electronically.

Basically, the proponent is suggesting forced abortions and compulsory contraception on a number of “undesirables” who make the society we live in dysfunctional.

The primary concern as the story develops is the prevention of child abuse promoted by the “No Kidding” campaign in the Netherlands.

Somehow, the proponent has data that suggests that these “appointed”, “specific”, “target” groups are more prone to systemic child abuse.

Indeed children should be protected from parental abuse and what way to prevent child abuse than to nip it in the embryonic stage. A child unborn is a child not abused. I fear for my mind on this matter.

Unfairness in choices

So, addictive parents who are hooked on drugs probably need more help to get them off drugs and the necessary mentoring to see the value of children and the joy of parenthood.

As for the rationally disabled; which in context could mean those who are seriously impaired in functional abilities; they might still be able to rear children within a support network that includes adaptation and rehabilitation for the onerous duties of parenthood. The same job is just as difficult for the fully able parent.

Teenage mothers of Netherlands Antilles origin (a different species?); supposedly are different from those of indigene Dutch descent – well, it just shows how equity in selection and assessment does not sit well with eugenics.

Perish the thought that this has anything to do with an extreme right agenda that flirts with xenophobia.

Some commentators have resurrected the spectre of a modern-day Dr Mengele, I would not deign to offer that flattering comparison.

Helping the unborn child?

Vera Drake in the 1950s helped women in difficulty by performing illegal abortions; the stigma of illegitimate children was unbearable in those times.

Our contemporary Vera Drake in Rotterdam would be helping the unborn child by forcefully aborting it before it draws its first breath.

Thankfully, she has not yet suggested sterilisation – Ah! That is for humans, I meant neutering, for undesirables.

There are no easy answers to the societal problems that allow for these target groups to exist, the welfare of parent and unborn child should have serious determination and careful consideration if this is to become common practice.

As this seed-thought just appeared in a blog where flippant comment might just take like wildfire; it would not be long till one of the ministers of the realm flies the kite to gauge popular opinion.

I do wonder why the chief proponent of Eugenics – Sir Francis Galton never had children – sometimes your ideas might just reveal what you should not be doing lest it turns out wrong.

I rest.

References

Source link which invited commentary – Thanks!

AbsoluteNow.com: Vera Drake long synopsis:

Abortion does not solve social problems – Evaluating the ethics of abortion

Babelfish translation at altavista.com