Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 SMI; site sun.uucp
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!decvax!decwrl!sun!alan
From: alan@sun.uucp (Alan Marr, Sun Graphics)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion
Subject: Falwell, South Africa, Homosexuality, and divestiture.
Message-ID: <2719@sun.uucp>
Date: Wed, 28-Aug-85 04:25:14 EDT
Article-I.D.: sun.2719
Posted: Wed Aug 28 04:25:14 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 30-Aug-85 11:26:40 EDT
References: <2836@amdcad.UUCP> <18100011@ada-uts.UUCP>
Reply-To: alan@sun.UUCP (Alan Marr, Sun Graphics)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Lines: 59
Xref: watmath net.politics:10711 net.religion:7495


Someone wrote:
>  In yesterday's newspaper it was reported that Jerry Falwell, leader
>  of the Moral Majority, met with Botha.  Afterwards, he publicly
>  promised to start a $1 million media campaign in favor of
>  the South African government's current policy.

Someone else wrote:
>  I've heard Jerry Falwell publicly disapproving of apartheid. What
>  he  was  talking about was the campaign in favor of reinvestment.
>  While  practically  all  blacks  in  South  Africa  are   against
>  apartheid, a lot of them are against divestment as well.


1.
A London newspaper this week or last found in a poll of the
blacks in South Africa that over 50 % (something like 57 %) were
for some form of economic boycott such as divestiture.

2.
"Interesting how Jerry Falwell apologizes for racists and is
against homosexuality."   (Not the exact words),  Larry King,
August 28, 1985.

3.
South Africa has suspended trading on its stock exchanges
because of the dramatic fall of the S.A. Rand from 42 cents to
35 cents in one day.  They will reopen Monday, Sept. 2.  The BBC
attributed the decline to the outflow of capital, and to rumours
of a strike in the mines on Sunday.

4.
The US government (State department, I think) scolded the South
African government for imprisoning the churchman who was going
to lead the March Wed. to the prison where Nelson Mandella is
imprisoned.  They said that the arrest leads only to greater
tension and they questioned the effectiveness of 6 weeks of
emergency decrees.

5.
In my opinion, Jerry Falwell doesn't have a clue about the real
situation in South Africa, or have enough contact with ordinary
people there (not hand-picked for him to visit), or have enough
self-control to avoid insulting the churchmen who are showing
real compassion.  His whole attitude and his very statements are
examples of knee-jerk reactions.  He is generating more heat
than light.

The Republic of South Africa, (as represented by the whites) is
loosing their grip faster than I expected.  For the moment that
is.  Expect them to get a grip on the situation momentarily.
Whether that will be the open handshake of negotiation or the
fist in the iron glove, only time will tell.


---
{ucbvax,decwrl}!sun!alan

"Extraordinary how potent cheap music is."  Noel Coward