STRAY THOUGHTS

摘要

The selfish individualism of Western society does not sit well with the traditional values of the developing South. Ugly reminders of this are Margaret Thatcher's declaration that 'There is no such thing as society', and George W. Bush's willingness to wage unjust and brutal wars in favour of capitalist acquisitiveness. Not surprisingly, people raised in a gentler, more supportive environment look back to their own traditions as a counter to this. Recently you may have noticed quite a few references to the Nguni word ubuntu, referring to an African philosophy that points towards the values of the community rather than the individual.