
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 13, 1991                   TAG: 9103130428
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SOUTH AFRICA NO DEMOCRATIC EXAMPLE

I READ WITH mild disbelief the Feb. 21 letter from Jack O. Martin, who referred to South Africa as "the only beacon of democracy still aglow on a dark continent."

I could be mistaken, but I always thought that a democracy was a nation ruled by the consent of the majority. One man (or woman), one vote. An equal voice for every citizen. An equal opportunity to enjoy the freedom of self-determination, the fruits of one's labors, full access to public education, facilities and legal processes. Freedom of both social, political and even physical mobility.

South Africa, where 1 million whites enjoy virtually total monopolization of wealth, health care, land ownership, and military and political domination of over 20 million blacks, would hardly seem to fit the description of a democracy. Punitive sanctions and global condemnation of apartheid are the very catalysts that brought about the "sweeping reforms" now under way there.

South Africa will indeed become a better and freer place for whites and blacks, but not by removing sanctions and waiting, "overtime," for the good will of the white minority to release its stranglehold. It didn't happen that way in this country. Not in 1964 - or 1776. DAVID A. JONES ROANOKE

by CNB