Comments on: Zimbabwe continues to unravel http://www.bloggernews.net/15467 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:04:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Anon http://www.bloggernews.net/15467#comment-7759 Anon Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:16:00 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/15467#comment-7759 I agree that those old prejudices still determine some people's attitudes, making them reluctant to criticise one side or the other because of their (perceived) role in the Cold War. However, to describe the Angolan government as 'Marxist' seems to be stretching things rather. Certainly, they once called themselves 'Marxist-Leninist'; I am not sure how they position themselves ideologically these days, or if they do so at all, but despite a strong element of central 'planning' in the economy they appear to have embraced capitalism wholeheartedly. A lot of foreigners are making a lot of money in Angola, and it has always been so. Some of those Cuban 'mercenaries' Nancy mentions were in fact guarding US oil installations in the 1970s, even, and today Angola supplies a hefty proportion of the oil consumed by the US. All this despite the MPLA government having spent decades fighting the UNITA rebels, who were backed by the US. I can see that people do take sides on the basis of an apparently simple capitalist-communist split. I just don't think it's a very good idea. I agree that those old prejudices still determine some people’s attitudes, making them reluctant to criticise one side or the other because of their (perceived) role in the Cold War. However, to describe the Angolan government as ‘Marxist’ seems to be stretching things rather. Certainly, they once called themselves ‘Marxist-Leninist’; I am not sure how they position themselves ideologically these days, or if they do so at all, but despite a strong element of central ‘planning’ in the economy they appear to have embraced capitalism wholeheartedly. A lot of foreigners are making a lot of money in Angola, and it has always been so. Some of those Cuban ‘mercenaries’ Nancy mentions were in fact guarding US oil installations in the 1970s, even, and today Angola supplies a hefty proportion of the oil consumed by the US. All this despite the MPLA government having spent decades fighting the UNITA rebels, who were backed by the US. I can see that people do take sides on the basis of an apparently simple capitalist-communist split. I just don’t think it’s a very good idea.

]]> By: Chad http://www.bloggernews.net/15467#comment-7642 Chad Sat, 24 Mar 2007 02:16:27 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/15467#comment-7642 I agree with the article and respectfully disagree with Julian here. Marxism may be mostly dead as economic theory, yet entire generations raised in a polarized world still hold and pass on the old prejudices. Similar attitudes still cloud the Israel/Palestinian issue because it was for so long a struggle which, in proxy, symbolized the struggle between the capitalist and communist world. Again, we're not talking about why the Palestinians and Israelis fight, we're talking about the symbolic meaning that results in the rest of the world taking one side or the other. Thank you, Nancy for a little deeper insight into the issue. Chad I agree with the article and respectfully disagree with Julian here. Marxism may be mostly dead as economic theory, yet entire generations raised in a polarized world still hold and pass on the old prejudices.

Similar attitudes still cloud the Israel/Palestinian issue because it was for so long a struggle which, in proxy, symbolized the struggle between the capitalist and communist world. Again, we’re not talking about why the Palestinians and Israelis fight, we’re talking about the symbolic meaning that results in the rest of the world taking one side or the other.

Thank you, Nancy for a little deeper insight into the issue.

Chad

]]> By: Julian Richards http://www.bloggernews.net/15467#comment-7393 Julian Richards Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:58:03 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/15467#comment-7393 Your comments on the politics of Angola are out of date. That terrible things are going on in certain African countries is not in doubt. But to insist on seeing the world from an anti-communist Cold War perspective helps no one. Your comments on the politics of Angola are out of date. That terrible things are going on in certain African countries is not in doubt. But to insist on seeing the world from an anti-communist Cold War perspective helps no one.

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