Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts

Monday, January 26, 2015

You have to be brave to call my mother old!



My mother, at 81, was at her yoga class when she said, “I have heard nothing from the Neighbourhood Watch.  They had their meeting last week, but not a word from them”.

“Did you put your name down to help?” asked one of the ladies.

“Yes, but only for when they were short of someone to go on duty”, she replied.

“Well, I heard that they were not going to take you because you are too old”, piped up another of the yoga ladies.

“If you think I am too old, you can piss off!  And if they think I am too old they can piss off too!  See if I give a shit what goes on in the neighbourhood now.  The whole neighbourhood can piss off!  I will look after only what is in my own yard”, my mother fumed.

With that said, my mother furiously stomped her way back home.  By the time she got there, there was already a message from the secretary of the Neighbourhood Watch on her house phone, apologising that they did not mean to say that she was too old to help.  Needless to say, my darling mother refused to call back.  When she phoned me with this news, she told me that the secretary and the entire neighbourhood could fuck off and if the neighbourhood was in trouble she would not lift a hand because they considered her “too old”. 

The next day, around 7am, the chairperson of the Neighbourhood Watch was banging on the door.  With many apologies he tried to calm the situation down. 

 “Now you listen to me!” she said angrily, “I can do a hell of a lot more than most 50 year olds”. 

“We do need you.  Please don’t get upset”, she was told.  

That afternoon she got a call to say that she would be on duty once a week from midnight to 2 am. 

She managed perfectly well with her team mate and the search light.  In her two hour stint, they were called out twice and worked together with the police four times.   She, at her age, is probably more experienced at working for Neighbourhood Watch than any of the younger crowd.  She has been a police reservist, is a paramedic, can shoot a bull’s eye at  100 meters, can ride a 750 Honda bike and is qualified to do helicopter rescues at sea.   Age should not be counted in years, but by the willingness and ability to give assistance to humanity. Don't ever call my mother old.  She may just tell you to "fuck off!"

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Open letter to President Zuma to pardon Eugene de Kock

Sunday, 25 January 2015
For Attention:  President Jacob Zuma
The Presidency
Pretoria
Email:  presidentRSA@po.gov.za

Your Excellency

REQUEST FOR PRESIDENTIAL PAROLE FOR EUGENE DE KOCK

We beg for a Presidential Pardon for Eugene de Kock, solely on humanitarian grounds. We are not excusing his actions, nor do we use it as motivation for a pardon. De Kock pleaded guilty on all the charges against him. He showed remorse and begged the affected families for their forgiveness, which he received from all but one. He accepted his punishment like a man of integrity and is not a danger to anyone in society.  We believe that a pardon will not only allow de Kock to live  his old age as a free man, but will also be able to contribute positively to the healing process of all South Africans which is absolutely necessary  for the prosperity of all who call SA home.  We further believe that such a pardon from the President will cement his prestige as world statesman.    This would be an act of humanity, from the heart of a great man and warrior.
While due process is taking place regarding Eugene de Kock’s parole, you are the only person who can set him truly free with a Presidential Pardon.   As Mandela himself said, there is no such thing as half-free.  You are either free or you are not.  Parole with conditions is half-free.
For the love of justice, compassion, forgiveness and for reconciliation of our land, I beg you to consider a Presidential Pardon for him.
Yours truly,

Dianne Lang