Sunday 18 December 2022 and we are one Sunday away from celebrating Christmas day. And I am excited about it. I want to wish you, upfront, a blessed Christmas day. May you and your loved ones experience the love of Jesus Christ in a wonderful new way like never before.
I’ve written about me reading Frank McCourt’s modern day classic ANGELA’SASHES. Oh shucks, that book leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It is
revolting. The Pulitzer Prize was awarded in 1997. I wonder what the criteria
are rewarding any such a prize? It is awarded for journalism and the arts since
1917. Its website is most interesting and I recommend that you visit it and
have a peek at what are on offer there! After looking at some stuff on its
website, I have decided that I will finish this book, gruesome, wearisome and
long-winded as it is. I think it is not a feel-good book at all.
The book certainly broadens my horizons just like any other book that I’ve
read – even Oxford University Press’ INTERNATIONAL LAW under the editorship of
Hennie Strydom of UJ [his team of scholars were Christopher Gevers, Laurence
Juma, Gerhard Kemp, Engel Schlemmer, Werner Scholtz, Frans Viljoen and Patrick
Vrancken]. Even the book RAUTENBACH – MALHERBE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW Seventh
Edition by my erstwhile lecturer, Ig Rautenbach; it broadens my grasp and
knowledge about SA Constitutional law.
Once again, I pity those people who can read, those who are educated
people, and who don’t read. Shame on you!
I once read about the Nobel Prize awards, and it was stressed, that you
get a lot of books and a set timetable to comply with. And then you start
reading. And so, it is more or less the same with the Pulitzer. Read. Read.
Read.
I read on its website:
“There are no set
criteria for the judging of the Prizes. The definitions of each category (see
How to Enter or Administration page) are the only guidelines. It is left up to
the nominating juries and the Pulitzer Prize Board to determine exactly what
makes a work "distinguished."
What makes a work “distinguished”? Indeed. That is an open-ended question. I don’t know what other works
were submitted that year when Angela’s Ashes won it and I am not going to
research it. Judging by Frank’s writing style, his use of words and his ability
to drag you kicking and screaming along the personal details of how many people
and the filth and stench and toilet buckets overflowing with all sort of filth
and hunger and throw up on the staircases and death and destruction and drunken
orgies, its mishmash of Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, Irish poems, hatred
for the English, the unqualified national loyalty to the Irish cause, it is a
distinguished book.
When you read it, the best advice I can give is probably to do so with
great caution and circumspection – do not believe everything. It seems as if
there is great artist’s freedom in this. And a healthy, liberal dose of a fertile
imagination is the underbelly of this modern-day classic. And then there is the
backlash against some of Frank’s stories. Keep on reading and keep on asking questions
– don’t expect definitive answers.
Back to the Pulitzer website. There is this video: ‘How I Did It’ – The Story Behind The New York Times’ ‘Civilian Casualty
Files’ It began by one reporter asking questions; one
reporter who was questioning the then President of the United States of America,
Barack Obama’s say-so about the body count of civilian deaths in some
airstrikes carried out by the USA Military.
And she was shocked by her investigation. I even question the legal
handbooks that I read; some are outright faulty and presenting a questionable
narrative.
I suggest to you that if you investigate the loadshedding saga in the
RSA, and if you do go deep down, you will take you own life into your own
hands. It would be extremely dangerous.
I repeat Prof Feynman’s advice:
“Educate yourself about
things. Study hard what interest you the most. Don’t worry about what others
think of you, that’s none of your business. Train you mind to think, doubt, and
question. That’s how you grow.”
On that note I leave you for today.
Please write me you story: neelscoertse@wirelessza.co.za
