Comments on: Invasion into our house – Ben Freeth http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4195 This is Zimbabwe is Sokwanele's pro-democracy activist blog. It provides grassroots news and views from Zimbabwe. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:14:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Andrew Storer http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4195/comment-page-1#comment-274590 Andrew Storer Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:20:15 +0000 http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/?p=4195#comment-274590 Ben, All I can do is support you - as you say, prayer. In political terms there is I fear not much the West will do. We did not stop the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust (although we were at war with Nazi Germany from Sept 1939 so that was something) the Rwandan genocide and many others. Publication in the world media is probably as good as it gets. In natural terms you should leave but I cannot presume to advise you flawed as I am! By all means appeal to the West but don't expect anything from our politicians - journalists may be different. At the end of the day it is realpolitique and maintaining the aid industry (why I don't know but there we are) unless you can persaude a sea change in attitudes which will take a long time. I have lost your phone no. but I recall your phone was burnt in the arson. God bless, Andrew Storer<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('274590','Andrew Storer'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> --- <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('274590','Andrew Storer','Ben,\r\n\r\nAll I can do is support you - as you say, prayer.\r\n\r\nIn political terms there is I fear not much the West will do. We did not stop the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust (although we were at war with Nazi Germany from Sept 1939 so that was something) the Rwandan genocide and many others.\r\n\r\nPublication in the world media is probably as good as it gets.\r\n\r\nIn natural terms you should leave but I cannot presume to advise you flawed as I am!\r\n\r\nBy all means appeal to the West but don\'t expect anything from our politicians - journalists may be different.\r\n\r\nAt the end of the day it is realpolitique and maintaining the aid industry (why I don\'t know but there we are) unless you can persaude a sea change in attitudes which will take a long time.\r\n\r\nI have lost your phone no. but I recall your phone was burnt in the arson.\r\n\r\nGod bless,\r\n\r\nAndrew Storer'); return false;">Quote from this comment</a></div> Ben,

All I can do is support you – as you say, prayer.

In political terms there is I fear not much the West will do. We did not stop the Armenian genocide, the Holocaust (although we were at war with Nazi Germany from Sept 1939 so that was something) the Rwandan genocide and many others.

Publication in the world media is probably as good as it gets.

In natural terms you should leave but I cannot presume to advise you flawed as I am!

By all means appeal to the West but don’t expect anything from our politicians – journalists may be different.

At the end of the day it is realpolitique and maintaining the aid industry (why I don’t know but there we are) unless you can persaude a sea change in attitudes which will take a long time.

I have lost your phone no. but I recall your phone was burnt in the arson.

God bless,

Andrew Storer

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]]> By: Cat Graham http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4195/comment-page-1#comment-274421 Cat Graham Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:53:41 +0000 http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/?p=4195#comment-274421 <a href='#comment-274417' rel="nofollow">@Iain Steven</a> - Ben, I was recently in London for an Aiglon reunion, and could hardly believe the story I was told about what you are going through, your bravery and your firm belief in what is right. When I think about our time at Aiglon, and how it prepared us for most anything in life, you clearly get the high bouquetin award, nothing could have prepared you for this except for your own personal fortitude. As someone said, you are indeed made of the right stuff. Ben I am so proud of you, and pray for the safety of yourself and your family. If there is anything I can do from NY, please let me know, sincerely I would like to help. Warmest admiration and regards, Cat Colella Graham class of 88<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('274421','Cat Graham'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> --- <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('274421','Cat Graham','<a href=\'#comment-274417\' rel=\"nofollow\">@Iain Steven<\/a> - \r\n\r\nBen,\r\n\r\nI was recently in London for an Aiglon reunion, and could hardly believe the story I was told about what you are going through, your bravery and your firm belief in what is right. When I think about our time at Aiglon, and how it prepared us for most anything in life, you clearly get the high bouquetin award, nothing could have prepared you for this except for your own personal fortitude. As someone said, you are indeed made of the right stuff. Ben I am so proud of you, and pray for the safety of yourself and your family. If there is anything I can do from NY, please let me know, sincerely I would like to help.\r\n\r\nWarmest admiration and regards,\r\n\r\nCat Colella Graham class of 88'); return false;">Quote from this comment</a></div> @Iain Steven –

Ben,

I was recently in London for an Aiglon reunion, and could hardly believe the story I was told about what you are going through, your bravery and your firm belief in what is right. When I think about our time at Aiglon, and how it prepared us for most anything in life, you clearly get the high bouquetin award, nothing could have prepared you for this except for your own personal fortitude. As someone said, you are indeed made of the right stuff. Ben I am so proud of you, and pray for the safety of yourself and your family. If there is anything I can do from NY, please let me know, sincerely I would like to help.

Warmest admiration and regards,

Cat Colella Graham class of 88

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]]> By: Iain Steven http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4195/comment-page-1#comment-274417 Iain Steven Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:39:33 +0000 http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/?p=4195#comment-274417 Ben, I heard you on the radio the other day here in New Zealand. I was surprised and saddened by your plight. I knew when I meet you that you are made of "The Right Stuff". I was impressed with your character, and believe that you have what it takes to pull through any situation. God bless you and your extended family. Yours in Christ Iain<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('274417','Iain Steven'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> --- <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('274417','Iain Steven','Ben,\r\n\r\n I heard you on the radio the other day here in New Zealand. I was surprised and saddened by your plight. I knew when I meet you that you are made of \"The Right Stuff\". I was impressed with your character, and believe that you have what it takes to pull through any situation. God bless you and your extended family.\r\n\r\nYours in Christ\r\nIain'); return false;">Quote from this comment</a></div> Ben,

I heard you on the radio the other day here in New Zealand. I was surprised and saddened by your plight. I knew when I meet you that you are made of “The Right Stuff”. I was impressed with your character, and believe that you have what it takes to pull through any situation. God bless you and your extended family.

Yours in Christ
Iain

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]]> By: Yorkshire Born http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/4195/comment-page-1#comment-274326 Yorkshire Born Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:41:15 +0000 http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/?p=4195#comment-274326 Yesterday, I returned from two weeks in Zim, having stayed most of that time on the outskirts of Chegutu. Mr Freeth's situation, and his extraordinary bravery and decency were mentioned by people I met, several of whom know his family personally. The Zimbabwean people we met were tolerant and spiritual. Their land is rich - fertile, and underpinned by a treasure chest of minerals. More important still is the love most of its people have for their soil, each other and God. They need the support of the affluent world, so that when the present regime finally ends, it is replaced, not by further corruption, but by true democracy. It seemed to me that the resourcefulness of many Zimbabweans was both their strength and their weakness. Yes, individuals were finding ways to survive by doing deals, but until there is police force which is truly responsible for the welfare of all citizens, which does not turn a blind eye to crime, which does not prefer extortion and bribes to keeping law and order, this great country will continue to totter on the brink of oblivion. Mr Freeth is right. Prayer and good practice is needed, so that those who have harmed their fellow Zimbabweans will choose to stop.<div class="comment-remix-meta"><a href="#" class="replyto" onclick="replyto('274326','Yorkshire Born'); return false;">Reply to this comment</a> --- <a href="#" class="quote" onclick="quote('274326','Yorkshire Born','Yesterday, I returned from two weeks in Zim, having stayed most of that time on the outskirts of Chegutu. Mr Freeth\'s situation, and his extraordinary bravery and decency were mentioned by people I met, several of whom know his family personally. \r\nThe Zimbabwean people we met were tolerant and spiritual. Their land is rich - fertile, and underpinned by a treasure chest of minerals. More important still is the love most of its people have for their soil, each other and God.\r\nThey need the support of the affluent world, so that when the present regime finally ends, it is replaced, not by further corruption, but by true democracy. \r\nIt seemed to me that the resourcefulness of many Zimbabweans was both their strength and their weakness. Yes, individuals were finding ways to survive by doing deals, but until there is police force which is truly responsible for the welfare of all citizens, which does not turn a blind eye to crime, which does not prefer extortion and bribes to keeping law and order, this great country will continue to totter on the brink of oblivion. \r\nMr Freeth is right. Prayer and good practice is needed, so that those who have harmed their fellow Zimbabweans will choose to stop.'); return false;">Quote from this comment</a></div> Yesterday, I returned from two weeks in Zim, having stayed most of that time on the outskirts of Chegutu. Mr Freeth’s situation, and his extraordinary bravery and decency were mentioned by people I met, several of whom know his family personally.
The Zimbabwean people we met were tolerant and spiritual. Their land is rich – fertile, and underpinned by a treasure chest of minerals. More important still is the love most of its people have for their soil, each other and God.
They need the support of the affluent world, so that when the present regime finally ends, it is replaced, not by further corruption, but by true democracy.
It seemed to me that the resourcefulness of many Zimbabweans was both their strength and their weakness. Yes, individuals were finding ways to survive by doing deals, but until there is police force which is truly responsible for the welfare of all citizens, which does not turn a blind eye to crime, which does not prefer extortion and bribes to keeping law and order, this great country will continue to totter on the brink of oblivion.
Mr Freeth is right. Prayer and good practice is needed, so that those who have harmed their fellow Zimbabweans will choose to stop.
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