Monthly Archives: August 2011

Brian Mujati is the Northampton Saints player who says he was a called a baboon by two Leinster players at a match in Donnybrook last night.

But why ‘baboon’?

The accused players, Heinke van der Merwe and Steven Sykes are white South Africans. Mujati, although born in Zimbabwe, is a black South African.

Being called a baboon or ‘bobbie’, a derivative of Bobbejaan, the Afrikaans for baboon, in South Africa is like being called a kaffir or a nigger.

And it is forbidden under South Africa’s post-apartheid hate speech laws.

Still, while van der Merwe has one national cap to his name and Sykes has none,  Mujati has earned 12 caps for the Springboks.

Some baboon.

Former Bok Claims Racism Alive (Mail And Guardian, South Africa)

Leinster RFC Statement

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkBmhM0R2A0

Miss USA 2011 candidates answering the question ‘Should evolution be taught in schools?’ – not as dumb as they appear, sez Society Pages writer Gwen Sharp:

I suspect that some watching the video will see this as little more than an example of air-headed, dumb women not understanding science. But it’s important to remember that these women are carefully prepped for this competition; they have been through years of lower-level beauty pageant competitions and, to get to the Miss USA contest, they’ve clearly learned the rules of the beauty pageant circuit. They may or may not personally completely agree with what they’re saying; the point is to provide an answer that they believe is most likely to appeal to a group of judges who are looking for a candidate who will be palatable to a broad audience and unlikely to stir controversy. Whatever their personal opinions might be, the women are providing an answer based on a perception of what the most acceptable response is — and the discourse of choice is sufficiently normalized to be a viable, and perhaps the only viable, option they can give and hope to win.

Bonus lols:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QBv2CFTSWU

Normalising Choice in discourses about Evolution (Society Pages)

via

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPKNpYz-PxA

Eoghan Rice writes:

Tourists arriving into Dublin Airport last night received an unusual welcome. They are unlikely to forget the moment the screen doors opened to be greeted by 600 locals in green and white chanting “who are ya?” at them.

Go to 0.25 for horror-filled ‘tread softly for you tread on our flag even though it’s on the ground’ moment.

Zimbabwe-born prop Brian Mujati (above) has accused Leinster’s South African duo Steven Sykes and Heinke van der Merwe of making racist remarks about him during the province’s loss last night to the Northampton Saints.

Early this morning on Twitter the South African prop Mujati made the accusation, “Steven Sykes and Heinke van der Merwe were calling me a baboon during the scrums last night. Racism is still alive and things don’t change.”

“I was shocked by how how blatant they were being and to think I actually thought I knew Heinke (above) from back in the Lions days”, he said of the pair’s time together at the Johannesburg club side.

“The guy then tries to shake my hand after the game. Naturally I kindly told him to fuck off. I wish them all the best with their careers.”

Leinster Duo Accused of Racism In Scrum (SportsNews Ireland)

Tweets via Balls.ie

Update: The ‘Baboon’ In South African History

Having survived numerous attempted ‘chuggings‘, Blogger and graphic designer Meagan Hyland, took out her camera. And captured this brilliant image

She writes:

This candid shot was very hurriedly taken [opposite Trinity College on the right side of ‘Lush’] when I noticed what seemed to be a Chugger General delegating orders to his Soldiers-of-stealing-your-fortune. Spotted in the act a member ran towards me barking at me ‘why did I take the photo’ and ‘to delete said photo’, I told him I was no one of consequence and that I would delete the offending image (with my fingers crossed behind my back). A victory of split second happiness for me when I observed the photo later, the oft so happy, cheery, best bud chuggers appeared angered and annoyed and a little hung over (see far right).

I wanted to show the true face of these “Charity Workers”, don’t get me wrong, DO give to charity and help the less fortunate but do it in a way where you know the money will go to the right place and not to a commission or “administrative costs”. Charity starts at the home and if you want to start now you can send me a cheque made out to cash ;)

Is anybody else getting Chris Martin (centre) and Keanu Reeves (far right)?

Chuggers -Clipboard Charity Muggers (Meagan Approves blog)