The immediate cause is the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma. Protests turned to looting -- as with some of the Black Lives Matter protests last year here in the United States. But there is more to the story:
1. Economic decline: South Africa has suffered stagnant and declining growth, leading to increased economic desperation for the poor over several years.
2. Endemic crime: There is a level of theft and violence that has become the norm over the past thirty years, with little trust in the police to stop it.
3. Ethnic tension: Zuma was the country's first Zulu president, against the will of the new Xhosa elite, so there is also an ethnic element to the backlash.
4. Coronavirus lockdowns: South Africa has mismanaged the pandemic, failing to acquire enough vaccines and keeping the country shut down economically.
5. Lack of alternatives: the only responsible opposition is the Democratic Alliance, which is demonized as a party of whites and racial minorities.
Much of what South Africa is suffering today began 15-20 years ago, with the same "woke" ideology now being driven by the Biden administration. This is a preview of where America could go, in a worst-case scenario. Read more here:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Be-thole-Country-ebook/dp/B08SCK2S16
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
