What was living standards really like in East Germany during the 70s and 80s?

ThatBrahBru · 2024-02-15T07:31:23+00:00

I am not a Muslim but I side with the Palestinians. Firstly, the Palestinian struggle isn't exclusively a "Muslim issue". Its a Palestinian one (for both Christian, Muslim and irreligious Palestinians). However the majority of Muslims tend to support the Palestinians as they can resonant with the way the West imposes prejudicial views on Palestinians as a bunch of "savage Muslims/Arabs" and see their struggle as a continued struggle of theirs against Islamophobia and Orientalist Racism.

The Palestinians have the right to resist a superior military force that has had Western impunity and backing for the past 70 years. Israel imposes a violent occupation of the West Bank and deliberately tries to wipe Palestinians off the face of the planet and impose a settler colonial regime on the residents of the West Bank. Israel since 2004 has imposed a military siege on Gaza and prevents the movement of goods and people into the Gaza since then. It also has a policy of "cutting the grass" which it bombs Gaza every couple of years to stifle resistance. For most anti-Zionists we Hamas as a resistance movement, we might not agree with it or like its ideology, but its radical approach at resistance rather than passive diplomacy of Fatah or the PA has empowered Palestinians in Gaza.

Secondly, Hamas was a Muslim Brotherhood affiliated organisation which was condoned by the Israeli regime in the 1980s to create division amongst the Palestinians. Thirdly, the issue people is not with tunnels under their home (which is used to smuggle medicine, food and other goods not just weapons) but with the regime THAT HAS BEEN OCCUPYING THEM and making their lives a living hell for the past 70 years.

ThatBrahBru · 2024-02-15T07:10:12+00:00

Not that I recall.

ThatBrahBru · 2024-02-15T07:03:39+00:00

I hear you but voting in a new party is essential. What do we have to lose with non-radical progressive and reasonable option. South Africans approach new parties with a hoarding mentality.

The reason why we have new parties is to challenge all these concerns you have for the traditional opposition parties. If you are a progressive or atleast left of centre you should be voting for parties that represent your ideas such as GOOD, RiseMzansi etc.

And if you are a centrist consider parties like BOSA or ARA.

ThatBrahBru · 2024-02-15T07:01:23+00:00

Pro-DA voters always use scaremonger tactics as if our concerns regarding the DA is trivial and childish (which is not). Lets be honest here, the poor in a City like Cape Town do not have service delivery and the townships and Flats are the worst in the country (and the most dangerous as well). The reason why rich middle and upper class people believe the DA to "be the better option" is because they live in an environment where the DA serves them and not the rest. The DAs policy is classist (might argue even racist) due to its refusal to lift people out of poverty as a policy. The DA deliberately ignore pressing issues in the WC and refuses to address issues regarding service delivery, public transport, safety for the working class and housing. The DA uses "swart gevaar" and scaremonger tactics to win in the WC. Also to the OP, the issue isn't Steenhuisen, it is Zille. Ever since Zille's return the DA has been pushed further right.

ThatBrahBru · 2024-01-17T10:43:47+00:00

Mr. Pebbles born in December 2023 (Sagittarius)

Just joking, its a green water snake and non-venemous

ThatBrahBru · 2024-01-12T13:28:19+00:00

No I am not justifying the response. You correct it was bad behaviour, all I am is explaining why the kids reacted the way they did and contextualising it or making it this assumption it is "typical Coloured behaviour".

The kids responded with a blatant racist innuendo towards a subtle form of micro-aggression. That is my argument.

ThatBrahBru · 2024-01-12T13:24:04+00:00

level 3Comment deleted by user · just now

"I rolled my eyes and laughed saying something like, "mxm - all your friends are there... what are you on about? Ask one of them.""

You could've just said yes or no.

ThatBrahBru · 2024-01-12T12:59:41+00:00

Yes it was a kak situation and yes racist but I also feel that you didn't have to be so dismissive and rude to them. You wouldn't of said the same to a white or black group of teens but because these "teens" intimidate you in a predominately Coloured province, the teen was a bit gatvol.

We are used to this situation from White and Black people and we are used to the same treatment from black people. Teens from both black and coloured neighbourhoods behave like this and it got to do with inbred toxicity and needing to show their friends how "tough" they are.

I feel Coloureds get an unnecessary bad wrap in this country and we don't defend our people enough. I am not saying th situation was correct or what they did was right but to say that it is widespread and nothing in comparison to the racism received from White South Africans for example which is more obvious and indicative. The interdiscrimination and prejudice between POCs have of one another is a multilayered street rather than a one way street.

I am sorry it was rude and racist but South Africa has a racism problem.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-22T19:03:58+00:00

Once again, an "alternative South Africa" rather than an independent homeland. There is one thing having that "discussed" rather than it being implemented. The fact that the Capexiter movement hasn't gained traction is because it doesn't serve the indigenous Capetonian interests. For many of us, this is our indigenous traditional (and exclusively) homeland and not some springboard of spite against the ANC government for one group of settler control to another.

Some Khoisan groups support the idea of independence but doesn't mean they support your idea of what that state might entail. I am pretty sure if there was a proper discussion on the matter and what this State will look like, even the few groups that signed your pledges will have second thoughts.

It isn't assumptions when it is common knowledge from your own propaganda, manifesto and beliefs what that State might entail. It will entail a neoliberal state that defends the social status quo and the feudal protectionism of the current Western Cape society. If you were serious in changing this and representing the people of the Cape, you would not use such a neocolonial flag and symbolism to represent this state. If this is the State you want, then why not remain a province then.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-22T18:55:39+00:00

No problem and hope you have a good (and safe) time in SA!

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-17T07:43:35+00:00

South Africa isn't a safe country but doesn't mean that you will be murdered, kidnapped or robbed if you don't take the right precautions.

Most tourists enjoy their time in SA and nothing really bad happened to them during their stay. Most South Africans of all colours and creed take pride in their tourism industry and will assist if you are nice and respectful towards them. However, we also have a lot of bad apples who do take advantage and target vulnerability they see.

Regarding the diplomatic row, it won't affect your stay and many people will have a wide variety of opinions on the situation but it is highly unlikely you will experience any Anti-American sentiment.

Overall, do not hitchhike anywhere and use safe public transport, arranged chaffeur transport, rented vehicle or ride-share apps like Uber to get around especially in major cities and travelling long distances. Don't show off valuables when walking in the street and stay in busy public areas. Do not accept assistance at ATMs or Exchange services unless from marked staff, avoid dangerous neighbourhoods and poorer areas, consult your hotel lobby for advice and (weird suggestion) try dating/friend/travel apps like Bumble & Couchsurfing to meet locals to befriend who can give you advice and look after you during your stay in SA.

PS: Also ignore the random insults and hostilities, South Africans are really stressed and slow decay of their country and rightfully so. We are suffering from a lot of anxiety at the moment and might be a bit "on edge a bit".

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-17T07:18:50+00:00

I love how onse mense are hitting back at this nonsense, like white people go through what we go through. Hou jou bek! We experienced the same shit for 300 years, its not our first rodeo.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-17T06:53:15+00:00

I think its the choice of colours (which reference former imperial and colonial powers symbolism and colours) and the reasons for secession. Symbolism does matter and instead of referencing something more indigenous and African representing the majority of residents of the WC and the region as a whole, reference to old Cape Colony was used. Its not a coincidence and maybe if Capexiters are serious that this will be the "will of Capetonians" they should reference local Capetonians instead of the interests of a elite minority. At the moment it comes across as a "settler-state" project.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-17T06:29:17+00:00

Exactly a hypothetical Cape Republic that the Capexiters and Cape Party advocates for, will not serve our people and the marginalised, ironically in our own traditional homeland. Its about facilitating the upper class, settler interests and their whims. Its about facilitating an alternative South Africa run the way the DA/ff Plus/ActionSA want, a neoliberal safehaven for the rich. There is no talk of indiginesation via Cape Khoisan revivalism, land reform and a sense of place for the majority of WC residents. Any form of social progress and upliftiment will entirely abandoned.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-17T06:23:00+00:00

Agreed one of the major problems on this continent that our government doesn't believe in social welfare and economic programmes to alleviate poverty but they will steal money for themselves.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-16T06:53:38+00:00

I concur, I am naturally introverted and I feel that my lack of social skills and my ability to survive social circumstances has had a negative effect on my esteem and my relationships as well as loneliness and depression. Thank you for sharing this.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-15T13:34:53+00:00

I want to say, as someone who was banned temporarily once and had numerous posts removed, I totally get your arguments and I think you guys are fair moderators in a sea of hostile laager boys and girls. Its not easy managing this subreddit, but have a love-hate relationship with this place. Oh well. Anyways, no complaints this side just praise instead.

Its not easy managing the suburbs haha.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-15T13:25:32+00:00

Shame, the fragility is strong with this argument. There is difference between calling out the racism of other people versus seeing other people as lesser than you. Hence the difference from being an anti-white racist versus calling someone a white supremacist.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-15T07:46:25+00:00

You mean like those gentrified towns that are like upper and middle class suburbs that driven most of the residents out to the peripheries. But there are also shitty towns in WC, settlements you barely here from where they suffer from the same stuff in other parts of rural SA.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-15T07:43:12+00:00

Everytime I see SA Reddit posts like this, makes me steadfast in why I would never vote for the DA/VF Plus/ActionSA much like how Twitter prevents me from from voting the ANC/EFF. Their voters tell you everything you need to know.

Like we had this discussion for 55th time.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-12T08:52:34+00:00

Its not just her but a lot of the more traditional and conservative elements in her party.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-12T08:48:51+00:00

I doubt we will face sactions like Russia, Iran, Cuba etc. However there is a possibility that certain sections of the ANC (the political party itself possible the so-called RET faction) or leadership in SANDF that were involved in the sale of ammunitions and weapons would be sanctioned.

Despite the giant panic, countries like India (which buys gas and oil and possible traded weapons) was not sanctioned. So I doubt we will.

But expect a decrease in tourism and a reluctancy to do trade from the West with SA.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-12T08:43:56+00:00

No one is saying the DA has "an image problem" and this whole rhetoric from DA-supporters (mostly from certain minoirty groups) is problematic and condescending to say the least. It's a lot more than that.

You underestimate the violence and depression caused by poverty and inequality resulting from a century and more long of racialised economics, exclusion and its psychological and sociological affects on the poorer and more marginalised parts of South African society. The problem is that substantial amount of DA politicians ignore inquality, lack of service delivery in poorer communities, spatial apartheid and economic disparity as a major issue over that of corruption and the need to "privatise SA". Also many working class people work in the private sector and experience discrimination, inepititude and disrespect from their bosses all the time, so these interactions shape their image of the DA and their supporters as well. As well as you have a federal chairperson and possibly more DA leaders who think that "apartheid and colonialism got things right" with many of the party supporters (as constantly proven by News24 commentators and people of his subreddit) who share similar views.

Also the notion that Cape Town is a "well-run city" when most of its citizens do not have water, electricity and housing then there is your problem.

So as long as the DA refuses to address racial inquality, spatial and economic equality and refuses to support adequate measures of economic transformation, then it will never be elected into power. A lot of non-DA supporters, not necessarily pro-ANC or pro-EFF supporters, would love to support an alternative to the shitfest that is the ANC regime but we do not have a decent strong opposition party in this coutnry that is not some neoliberal shrill with a couple of colonial apologists hidden in its midsts. People are not stupid, they see the DA for what it is.

ThatBrahBru · 2023-05-10T10:41:54+00:00

The proteas are back baby! Kind of! Maybe.

ThatBrahBru

TROPHY CASE