stephen_biko oldephebe test 030913 ... oldephebe In January 1977, the Black People's Convention (BPC), in recognition of his momentous contribution to the liberation struggle, unanimously elected him its Honorary President. In his short but remarkable political life, Steve was always a target of the "system". He was frequently harassed and detained under the country's notorious security legislation. On the 18th August 1977, he was arrested in a police roadblock with his colleague and comrade, Peter Cyril Jones and detained under Section 6 of the nefarious Terrorism Act. Steve and Peter had in fact been to Cape Town, despite Steve's banning, to lend their weight to efforts to get all political organisations of the people to agree to a broader programme of co-operation to advance our course. His quest for black unity was eventually to cost him his life. That is the kind of man Steve was, no price was ever too high for him if what was asked of him was to advance the struggle. Unfortunately, this detention rudely interrupted Steve's noble journey in his quest for a true humanity. His death in detention at the hands of the operatives of one the most savage and repressive regimes ever known to humankind, less than a month after his detention, robbed the country of one of its foremost political thinkers and analysts. But, he did us proud as people, because even in the face of his death, he remained dignified. The man died on his feet and not on his knees as the enemy would have loved. Compiled by Mpotseng Jairus Kgokong Published by AZAPO: 7th Floor Balmoral House, 100 President Street, Johannesburg, 2001. PO Box 4230, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2000. Tel.: +27 11 336 1874; +27 11 336 3551; +27 11 333 6681 Email.: azapo@sn.apc.org ©Azanian People's Organisation 2001. ---------------------------------------- I just want to add that he died, if I'm not mistaken 35 years ago this past friday. He died from wounds he recieved while in police custody, he was transported to a hospital 800 miles away and allowed to languish while the blood pooled in his lungs. I could get really graphic but really the point is that we need to be really vigilant about this patriot act - really And now a word from the Land of the Big Obvious - umm..not neccessarily every voice raised against nationalistic intent or exertion of hegemony, or perpetuation of the status-quo or reinforcement of National /security Imperatives (and the expanding codification of what constitutes a threat to our National Security is really alarming)..is neccessarily the voice of madness or unreasoned iniquity. The defination of treason is being expanded and one day it may come perilously close to those laughable pretexts for indescriminate repression/prosecution that our nation vaunted it's might against to secure America and the rest of the free world against.. later, ... later 030913 ... oldephebe stephen was mostly about going beyond freeing people from the physical bonds of aparthied or oppression, he was about liberating the mind of the heretofore miseducated, mistreated, unloved, uncherished, exploited, brain-washed and contditioned - giving people a true knowledge of themselves, a true Love for themselves and people who looked like them, or similarly disenfranchised - to place oneself, ones ethnic and or human identity at the head of the hierarchy - a person's enlightened Personhood or Peoplehood to be at the Primacy of all things. His life and the struggle of apartied can be transposed into other similarly resonating contexts.. just something to think about later, ... 030913 ... oldephebe The selfless, the ardent, the true believer..biko encapsulate all of those attributes. At this time when we are considering the life of MLK and others of his ilk, let us breathe reverently the name of biko as we ruminate upon LIFE beyond the narrow constraints of our temporal lobes... our hearts 040120 ... x I read this all, but I'm having trouble figuring out what he actually did, besides be politically active. 040122 ... oE exactly.. politically active is such a sterile and even abstract term when used to chacterize, describe the heroic exploits of Biko. He willingly put is head in the murderous mouth of Aparthied. One man against the machinations of a relentless repressive system. He left a life of priveledge to reach down into the mud and muck of his brethrens struggle. His eloquence his will set against the long train of abuse upon humanity the black, the brown, the bronze, Aparthied has wreaked with a singular sadistic brutality. Come truculent wind, howl out of hell's heart, send your murderous minions against me - I wil not be hurled from The path to justice, to liberation from a physical, social psychological indentureship to a monstrous despotism, less than human. He was part of that noble continuum that included Ghandi, Mandela and others that finally broke the teeth of Hell's mouth. He spoke in a clear ringing voice. He did not cower. He, along with others became the manhood of an embattled, exploited people. ... 040122 ... birdmad In societies where people are expected, under threat of force, to accept things as they are without question, to be active and to challenge the established order of things is in itself a daring act. it's not a situation we've known here since the colonial days, so we take it somewhat for granted, but it could be where we are headed 040122 ... oE *nods head in passionate assent, gets up points at the screen and then catches himself, sits down slightly embarassed by his apoplectic gesticulations toward an inert cathode ray screen* 040122 ... oE stephen biko - man that brother was for REAL!!!! No diggity no doubt!!!! Okay so the Das Effect referance notwithstanding biko was for REAL!!! 040212 what's it to you? who go blather from