When posting please remember that you are wanting to create a business relationship - whether a contract or work relationship. Use your post to present a professional image of yourself & if relevant, your organisation. In addition to what you are looking for, provide your name, title, and contact details.
When admiring a good band playing, a person may comment that the band was “tight” - meaning that every chord is spot on, that every member of the band came in exactly on time & that they finish together - clear & sharp.
In writing there is an equivalent - a well written article where nothing is superfluous - in the content or in words used – and a graphic picture is painted.
As professionals in fields where presentation is critical, a recent article featured by Time magazine may be of interest – it is not necessary to agree with the sentiment of the article to appreciate the quality of the writing – in fact as it’s clearly written, it’s easier to put forward different points of view and interpretations.
Using an African National Congress rally in East London, the article describes a pre-election South Africa – painting a picture of the “… modern ANC look – the mix of bling and camo worn by the Prada proletariat …” and the ideological contradiction of a “… parking lot, where Range Rovers, BMWs and Mercedes-Benz were pasted with giant ANC stickers promising to ‘Build a Caring Society’“.
In examining the non-delivery of services and the enrichment of the few, the writer highlights the problems experienced by liberation movements that come to power, and compares South Africa with other African countries, Latin America, China and South-East Asia. The analysis suggests that revolution is “incompatible” with democracy.
The article concludes by suggesting that what has made Mandela great is the democrat in him – not the revolutionary; quoting Mandela’s speech at Adelaide Tambo’s funeral that our leaders should be “making this country of ours the caring and decent society for which this great South African dedicated her entire life and for which she sacrificed so much”. That description applies equally to Mandela himself.
Take a few minutes to read the article – see whether you agree with the description of South Africa today and post your thoughts, criticisms and counter views. Personally, I would suggest that the membership of the skills-universe – only a few weeks old – and the help and support group members have already provided to each other, is the beginning of a “caring and decent society”.
Click here to read the original article
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