I think if the rest of the country had listened more carefully to learn what I learned after moving to CA some years ago, Nixon would never have been elected.

Right on, Frank. While I’d not nitpick with you (okay, what the hell–white English speakers tend to be greater racists than white Afrikaners), I look forward to seeing the movie.

I’ve a feeling South Africans felt a greater ‘oppression’ than ‘ennui’, as Doc puts it, but the cause was the same. A bunch of goons (a small, radical minority) ruled a relatively easygoing, middle-of-the-road majority with a rod of iron.

One thing I learnt when very young–a minority has seldom ruled a majority very long (beyond a few generations).

I think the ANC (formed 1912–if I remember correctly) would be the first to admit it–it didn’t really chuck ‘em out; it waited them out. As with most revolutions, violence was orchestrated more by the state than by their eventual ousters.

In short, totalitarians tend to be their own worst enemies and it’s something we should always remember.