Letters Readers’ views

Darwin and the Bible Ncube Mandlenkosi’s response (NA, Oct) to Dr Konotey-Ahulu’s review of my book, One Human Family: The Bible, science, race and culture reflects common misunderstandings in both science and biblical exegesis. Non-atheist Hebrew scholars, while denying that Genesis is factual, are generally happy to acknowledge that it was written as history, as the New Testament uniformly regards it.

“Theological” claims to the contrary may arise from wanting to cling to some of Christianity’s spiritual comforts while retaining respectability within today’s evolutionised intellectual milieu. Origins science can’t utilise the normal methods of repeatable, observable empirical science. Remove materialist antibiblical presuppositions in interpreting the facts, and there is a huge body of evidence supporting straightforward biblical history.

As a Christian ministry that, globally, probably employs more PhD scientists than any other, Creation Ministries International has answers to Mandlenkosi’s objections, and countless more are on our website (http://creation.com), with its 8,000 searchable articles and Q&A index.

r Carl Wieland Queensland, Australia

Namibia will not go down Referring to the article, “TheTroublewith Namibia” (NA, June), I strongly feel the need to lend my voice to the debate – a voice that is young, Namibian, and faithfully optimistic about the prospects of Namibia.

The country‘s position is informed by the ideal that Namibia belongs to all those that live in it and call themselves as such. Their rights are confirmed by a constitution which was drafted by Namibians of all races, colours, and creeds.

It is these ideals that inform our collective psyche; it is reconciliation, not blind and irresponsible redress, that motivates and ultimately binds us.

Despite my relative youthfulness, I am not naive enough to deny that we face challenges as a nation, especially in terms of sharing the fruits of prosperity and freedom.

However the fact that we have recorded 21 years of consistent economic growth

President Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, where land is still a major issue, 21 years after independence of over 5% each year, and that the nation has been listed in the top 6 of the Ibrahim Index on African Governance each year since its inception, refutes the opinion that Namibia’s future is destined to go Zimbabwe-shaped. We, the youth of Namibia, have committed ourselves to ensuring that this does not happen.

aamba Iithete Windhoek, Namibia

Goffe got it wrong  I am writing this to attest to the need for our people to avoid viewing history from the oppressors’ standpoint, and the use of their phraseology and their degradation of our struggle for freedom.

Our presence in the USA has always been omitted or minimised, especially when it has been in protest, dispute or attempts at independence to re-Africanise our people. So it is easy to see how actual events in the black community are altered to suit the mainstream understanding or interpretation.

It is thus easy to see how Leslie Goffe during his interviews with so many of the Provisional Government cadre of the Republic of New Afrika (RNA) got seemingly unimportant details confused (“African-Americansmovingsouth”, NA, July).

Documented facts show that in March 1968, over 500 blacks of the Civil Rights period assessed the limits of this country and gathered in Detroit, Michigan, and created an independent black nation within the boundaries of the United States. They wrote a Declaration of Independence (called the Code of Umoja) and over 100

of them signed the Declaration.

The Provisional Government of the RNA is committed to two of Malcolm X’s philosophical mandates – reparations and independent land. They have worked to see the reparations issue successfully integrated in mainstream black agendas worldwide, and as the surge of independence, sovereignty, and self-governance grows around the world, it will soon inspire blacks in this country and they too will look for self-governance and see the Republic of New Afrika as a goal worthy of their energy and pursuit.

The small cadre of officers in the Provisional Government are planning and working to make that option more palatable to the average African-American.

We have open elections every three years. Goffe’s article (as it stands) will certainly have an effect on the turnout. We may be small in number, but we are essential for the liberation of our people and will grow to fulfil our mission.

Kalonji Olusegun 2nd Vice President, Republic of New Afrika, USA

Black History Month Looking at what the great men of England were thinking, saying and ultimately doing to abolish slavery over 200 years ago, made me think of their own countrymen they treated in exactly the same way, banishing and transporting them to Australia.

I wondered about those craftsmen of Liverpool, who might have had no other use for the slave ships they were building if the trade were abolished. Indeed, perhaps the timing of the abolition of slavery and the transportation of British subjects to Australia coincided conveniently so these masters of ship design could continue with their work without loss.

So, ye former subjects of the crown: blame the African slave, will you? You who were treated no better than them by your own race. Ah yes, there was a white history too – every bit as black as the black. NewAfrican readers might look at The FatalShore by Robert Hughes for more details.

Truly, we as human beings are all one in suffering the crown we still make ourselves subject to.

lan Barnard Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

6 | November 2011 | New African maerskline.com

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