I was in grade school when “This Is How We Do It” came out. I’m pretty sure that my junior-high -school fantasies at one point included seeing Montell Jordan live, probably with TLC or Skee-Lo.
They most definitely did not include seeing Montell Jordan live, outdoors, in Kampala, promoting the upcoming launch of his new album.
My mind: officially blown.
I’m pretty sure that if you looked up “kick ass” in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of Peter Tatchell, who performed a citizen’s arrest on Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in 1999:
The attempted seizure of President Mugabe took place as his motorcade left the St James’s Court Hotel in Buckingham Gate, London SW1, where he had been staying during a “private” shopping visit to Britain.
Running out into the road in front of the Presidential motorcade, Tatchell’s three OutRage! colleagues — John Hunt, Alistair Williams and Chris Morris — forced the President’s car to stop.
Peter Tatchell ran from behind the President’s halted limousine, opened the rear door and grabbed the President by the arm: “President Mugabe, you are under arrest for torture,” Tatchell told the startled President. “Torture is a crime under international law.”
Turning to the President’s bodyguards, Tatchell said: “Call the police. The President is under arrest on charges of torture.”
Despite the arrest’s demonstrable legality, which you can read about in Tatchell’s press release, it (predictably) failed. Tatchell and two of his fearless comrades were seized by British police and held until Mugabe finished his Christmas shopping.
If you had to perform a citizen’s arrest on a world leader, who would you choose?
Dennis Matanda recently engaged in a search for heroes and came to the conclusion that Idi Amin is the greatest Ugandan.
To me, this is kind of like saying George W. Bush is the greatest American: resolve and dedication to a cause, no matter who dies. He promises a Part II, which I await eagerly, but I can’t hold in my skepticism regarding his ten points that “prove” Idi’s greatness. Here’s my rebuttal:
i) He was able to build the International Conference Center from Government Resources
Okay, this isn’t exactly a strong start (on my part) because I don’t know enough about the International Conference Center. Has it been used much since then? Has it brought in a lot of International Conferences? (Knowing my luck, this is probably the reason CHOGM is being held in Uganda.) But moving on:
ii) He had the balls to make unpopular decisions in terms of the Indians in 1972
This, as I understand, was a fantastic move for Uganda’s economy.
iii) He gave Uganda a bad name in the International Press
Which is exactly what this country needed — bad press.
iv) He went against Israel and lost [French Jet – Hijacked Passengers]
And more bad press.
v) He made the Scottish Skirt Look Good!
Not as good as Ewan Macgregor.
vi) He did not eat any of his kids
I’d venture a guess that this goes for the vast majority of humankind.
vii) He took French TV around his country on a tourism drive
This is cool, and something I didn’t know, but I think it qualifies Amin more for the “random trivia” category of hero than the “all time greatest” category.
viii) Yoweri Museveni, about 20 years later, did exactly the same thing
I fail to see the logic here.
ix) He did not actually kill over 500,000 Ugandans in those 8 years
ix) Maybe not 500,000. But a bunch. Enough that I wouldn’t put him in charge of my country, or in the same room as any of my family members, friends, coworkers or chance acquaintances. Or the guy who served me coffee this morning. Or my boda driver. Or…you know…anyone.
x) He was the star of the film: The Last King of Scotland
Really? ‘Cause I totally thought that was Forest Whitaker.
As always, I admire your willingness — nay, your unwavering, stubborn resolve — to play the devil’s advocate in the Ugandan blogosphere. But wow, man…curious to see where you end up with this.
My mom is a children’s ministries pastor in the States, which is something I know but not something I expected the average Ugandan citizen to know. Hence my surprise when a taxi conductor in Bweyale began the following, unprompted theological discussion with her:
Taxi Conductor: Do you fear God?
My Mom: Umm…yes, I fear God.
TC: (look of shock) You fear God?
MM: (wondering how deeply she should go in her explanation of her faith) Well, I’m not afraid of him. It’s more—
TC: (shoves two goats under her seat)
MM: Oh. Goats.
Wednesday, 16 May 2007, approximately 3:00 PM, heading north on Yusuf Lule Boulevard, Kampala, Uganda: I see a man riding a boda-boda, carrying a pair of snow skis.