Who could fail to be inspired by the Elders? - or, to give them their full title, the Global Elders. It's like a kind of primitive society thingy, where people live in harmony with nature and where old people aren't cast aside onto the scrap heap and put away in old people's homes to end their days watching TV games shows, like they are in today's throw-away society, but given the respect their accumulated wisdom deserves. It's a lesson we must surely take more to heart if we're to have any hope of saving the planet. Here's their latest pronouncement:
President Robert Mugabe's government cannot lead Zimbabwe out of its current humanitatian crisis, the Elders group of influential statesmen has said....
The Elders include former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former US President Jimmy Carter and international advocate for women and children's rights Graca Machel.
"There is bitter disappointment in the current leadership. This government has not demonstrated the ability to lead the country out of its current crisis," said former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
You see? Wise words from the former UN Secretary General. A country where life expectancy has halved under Mugabe's rule, which is currently being ravaged by a cholera outbreak, where starvation is a constant threat for the vast majority of the population, where society has, in short, completely broken down....I think we can agree that this government has indeed not demonstrated the ability to lead the country out of its current crisis. The ability to lead the country into its current crisis....yes. Out of....no.
The people of Zimbabwe will surely be comforted by the wisdom of the Elders.
They should all go to Zimbabwe and remonstrate with Mugabe. That would be certain to finish him off.
Posted by: Bob-B | December 08, 2008 at 12:09 PM
Well, these are the same group of wisemen who told the world there is no genocide in Darfur. But Isreal's security fence is worse than apartheid, and like Rwanda. One wonders... Such soft language for Mugabe, like angels tiptoeing among the clouds. Such hateful resentment of the Jewish state. What to make of it?
BTW, isn't Kofi Anan a bit too young to be considered an elder?
Posted by: Noga | December 08, 2008 at 01:23 PM
I have just read an article in the London Review of books on Zimbawbe by an Asian writer who was thrown out of Uganda.
The words 'dictator', 'famine', 'Aids' or 'cholera' do not appear'.
Posted by: Richard | December 08, 2008 at 04:36 PM
See
http://drinksoakedtrotsforwar.com/2008/12/07/man-will-never-be-free-until-the-last-king-is-strangled-with-the-entrails-of-the-last-priest/
Posted by: Will | December 09, 2008 at 02:45 AM
Carter was one of those responsible for seating Mugabe in power.No other comment on his place in history should be necessary.
I lived in Rhodesia prior to 1980 and I remember some visiting journalists from the UK expressing disgust at the concern of the White community in one instance,regarding standards of maintanance of the sewers and water supply under a future Black Government.This was held to be selfish and reprehensible when the Blacks by and large had no vote.Well today they have the cholera and still no vote.
Posted by: Peter Harley | December 10, 2008 at 09:33 AM
"Carter was one of those responsible for seating Mugabe in power.No other comment on his place in history should be necessary."
Carter called the first election (undoubtedly a fair election) invalid because Mugabe chose not to run. The election was subsequently thrown out (Carter had a hand in that) and in the new election Mugabe used his usual tactics to win.
I'm always surprised by the position in history Carter is allowed to hold. Very few journalists hold his feet to the fire.
Posted by: Dom | December 10, 2008 at 02:58 PM