Mumia Abu-Jamal's Radio Broadcasts
Higher Quality Audio files available info@prisonradio.org
Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal/Prison Radio
"Party Death "
rec 4-13-05
1) 2:54 short version Mp3
2) 3:31 long version Mp3
PARTY DEATH
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[Col. Writ. 4/12/05] Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
Recently, the so-called New National Party of
South Africa, the political party that overtly introduced
apartheid into South African political and social life,
voted itself out of existence by an overwhelming
majority vote.
Up until 1997, the party was known as the National
Party, and ran on an unabashed platform of white
supremacy, and the racist subjugation of the Black
majority population.
Some will date their demise to 2004, when the NNP
formally joined forces with the African National
Congress (ANC), which took power over a decade
ago. The NNP figured, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em,
and by so doing, voted itself into irrelevance.
When the party's reign began, in 1948, it
emerged on the right-wing of the United Party, and,
in a *herrenvolk*, white supremacist state where
'democracy' meant only whites could vote, their
platform was based on svart gevaar, the Afrikaaner
phrase meaning 'the black danger.' Their primary
slogan in 1948 was *Die Kaffer op sy plek*,
Afrikaaner for 'the nigger in his place.'
It was the National Party that publicly sympathized
with Nazi Germany during its dark, mad heyday.
It was also the National Party that had friends among
the U.S. right-wing, like Ronald Reagan's infamous
policy of 'constructive engagement.' Which really
meant, 'we'll speak harsh words when we must, but
otherwise, it's business as usual.'
Business as usual meant white terrorism, endless
brutal repression for millions of Black South Africans,
and warfare, for decades, against not only South
African Blacks, but Blacks throughout the southern
cone of Africa. It also meant U.S. support, both
overt and covert, in this reign of terror against
African life.
It caricatured the African National Congress as the
'terrorists' of the time, and waged an unholy war
against them, using Black and white forces to
combat them.
Now, after half a century of state terrorism, of
exploiting the people's labor and natural resources
of the land, they have voted themselves into history.
Indeed, many members now are members of the
ruling ANC.
How nice. How neat.
Political parties only exist as long as they serve
the interests of their constituents.
When they no longer seem to be doing so, people
seek, or organize, new political vehicles to carry
forth their political will or vision.
The National Party, after it was forced by
international anti-apartheid protests and activism,
had to abandon its overt herrenvolk democratic
pretensions, and on the day and hour that Blacks
could vote, was the day the National Party began
its trek into obsolescence. It initially tried to
emerge as a representative of the so-called
Coloreds (mixed, Indians, and Asians), but
that didn't stick.
A Party died.
We wonder what lessons this holds for the
American body politic? One lesson must surely
be that the politics of fear, which was, for generations,
the very engine of political power for the National
Party, cannot last forever. What of U.S. political
parties that thrive on fear?
Whither the Democrats, born a party in
defense of slavery?
Whither the Republicans, born as an anti-
slavery party, and once known as 'the Party of
Lincoln?'
They were reinvented as parties which barely
resemble their early origins.
What of U.S. parties, born in other houses,
other ages, which now represent the rulers of
wealth, the holders of capital?
When will they pass away?
Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal
[Check out Mumia's latest: *WE WANT FREEDOM:
A Life in the Black Panther Party*, from South
End Press (http://www.southendpress.org); Ph.
#1-800-533-8478.]
===============================
"When a cause comes along and you know in your bones that it is
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The Power of Truth is Final — Free Mumia!
PLEASE CONTACT:
International Concerned Family & Friends of MAJ
P.O. Box 19709
Philadelphia, PA 19143
Phone - 215-476-8812/ Fax - 215-476-6180
E-mail - AND OFFER YOUR SERVICES!
Send our brotha some LOVE and LIGHT at:
Mumia Abu-Jamal
AM 8335
SCI-Greene
175 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
WE WHO BELIEVE IN FREEDOM CAN *NOT* REST!!
Submitted by: Sis. Marpessa
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