page 5

The [unclear: New] Fascism

a reply to [unclear: Jan][unclear: Jai]Mitchell by [unclear: Richard] [unclear: Damao]

Eveyone who insists in seeing things in black and [unclear: while]bee caught up in the colour question. Therefore it is not surprising that most racially prejudiced white men develop a [unclear: parano] to discover black revenge in every black man's action. This I think is Mr. Jim Mitchell's mentality in his article "The [unclear: Ni] [unclear: "The] Nascism (Salient 7). Since this articles is not primarily devoted to the analysis of the aforementioned's mind, I will [unclear: now] the nitty-gritty of this article.

It is very encouraging to note that with extra-ordinary ingenuity Mr Mitchell can see a semblance of order in our chaotic situation. It is ever amazing to find some points of agreement between African States and the notorious Spanish regime in Europe. But agreement there is and it is on educating England to recognise that the era, when it could with impunity declare far off lands English, has reached its twilight—a lesson the Spanish regime seems to take hard when it comes to its own so-called territories in Africa. I would not be surprised, however, if African states were to exhibit some racialist tendencies, since they were reared in the white racist system—or perhaps it could be some kind of black backlash. In either case it shouldn't surprise anyone familiar with the power equation.

On the whole however, contrary to Mr Mitchell's generalisations, Africans are among the least racially prejudiced people in the world today. This becomes apparent when one considers the ever-growing population of Europeans in African States. Now, looking at the other side, it will be seen that European run States are the most racist in the world. It is very hard for a non-European [unclear: to] enter a European country. An appropriate example would be New Zealand. When I was returning from vacation last February, I was detained in Australia having lost my re-entry permit, and subsequently at Wellington Airport for the same reason. My European friends, however needed no re-entry permit, no matter where they came from. It was never my intention to make this public, but it appears Mr Mitchell's article absolves me from the normal courtesies expected or perhaps required from New Zealand's guests.

The situation as regards Asians in Kenya is different. Those who have decided on exodus to Britain were never Kenyan citizens, not withstanding an invitation to become Kenyan citizens on Kenyan independence. They preferred to retain British citizenship and therefore the privilege of banking in Britain. This as an intelligent person realise resulted in [unclear: continued] economic ex ploitation. [unclear: Time] [unclear: come] when [unclear: the] Kenyans would [unclear: have] When it did, the Asians [unclear: found] trusted mother land was no [unclear: longer] The blame can hardly attach [unclear: to] the British Asiansfor that [unclear: matter] if one sought for a [unclear: pipe-smoking] on a certain island north-west [unclear: of] a, the situation might be cleared.

Having a [unclear: multi-pan] system does not guarantee [unclear: against]torship. [unclear: Thus] any political science[unclear: who] is not educatable will [unclear: relate] [unclear: un]the French Fifth Republic which has [unclear: of] Parties and yet still [unclear: claimed] of having [unclear: a] dictator for [unclear: President] one party state likewise is not on [unclear: th] of it dictorial. In a one party [unclear: state] from village level to district [unclear: level] hence to [unclear: consti] tutional level. [unclear: Thus] systems worked well, there should [unclear: not] anyone expressing the desirability of [unclear: a] party in a one party slate nor [unclear: should] goals [unclear: black-mailed] drain in a two-party-state.

And now, how [unclear: about] The mini-skirt? mini-skirt [unclear: happens] African [unclear: inven] tion suddenly [unclear: come] in the western world. It is [unclear: basically] of necessity. To the average [unclear: Afri], wearing a mini-skirt is [unclear: like] when you have food. After [unclear: all,] long past when the "natives" used to [unclear: it] every western fad. People have [unclear: a] their customs. If I walked [unclear: naked] Quay and the police arresed [unclear: me] charge of obscene exposure, I would [unclear: not] hem fascists, and even if I did I [unclear: would] eel justified deep down.

It is not [unclear: necessary] into all the other ills, factual or [unclear: imag]upposedly afflicting Africa. It [unclear: would] icicnt to mention that they are [unclear: shared] ean-Christian countries too. In [unclear: fast] baffled by their multiplicity in [unclear: countrire]"civilisation is the watchword. [unclear: In] Ireland, people are still carrying on religious crusades against each other; students are alienated in most western countries; the Greeks oust their monarch and ban mini-skirts, Italians riot; Americans riot, assassinate their leaders, enact wild-west style sun battles and get bogged down in Asia endeavouring to impose an alien form of government on an alien people; Britain in a true racialist tradition ignores Smith and stages a liberation charade in Anguila, strikes are the normal occurrence in the same country; miniscule Polynesian islands whose only claim to distinction is their European habitation endeavour to contain hundreds of millions of Chinese people who have never expressed any intention to go to these islands —and what about Czechoslovakia? The list is endless—talk about removing the beam in thine eyes.

African Students worked hard for their scholarships and were rewarded by an invitation to study in God's own. They regard New Zealanders as their hosts and friends. If New Zealanders decide to repudiate their invitation, Africans will gladly go back to the countries of their origins—they are not here to stay. Mr Mitchell's article is apparently innocent in so far as it was motivated by institutional racism. He thus probably does not harbour any individual racism. It must not be forgotten that he is a product of his environment. If and when they are approached. African students are very friendly even to people of Mr Mitchell's persuasions. When and if New Zealand students go to Africa, they will be welcome, and some of Mr Mitchell's ideas should be erased. If on the other hand, Mr Mitchell wants to create a poor equation, it is best to remember that the black man's capacity to survive, has been proved by what he has gone through, through the ages. The present African is no longer completely on the receiving end, and should be able to acquit unusually well. Hitherto. I haven't used black or white because the black man is not really black, and the white man is really pink—or perhaps I am wrong.