Ian Smith, R.I.P.

Ian Smith, the brave and principled leader of Rhodesia who sought to preserve white minority rule—and, along with it, law, civilization, productive enterprise, and prosperity—in that overwhelmingly black country, and whom the liberal West in the name of equality and justice betrayed, delivering Rhodesia into the hands of an African potentate named Robert Mugabe who turned the country from a bread basket into a basket case, has died at 88. The New York Times’ obituary ends on a surprisingly generous note toward a champion of white civilization who during his life was reviled by the respectable authorities of that civilization:

To the end, Mr. Smith insisted that his regime, condemned in the outside world as racist and unlawful, had been beneficial to most of the country’s people.

“There are millions of black people who say things were better when I was in control,” he said in the 2004 interview. “I have challenged Mugabe to walk down the street with me and see who has most support. I have much better relations with black people than he does.”

Indeed, the truth of the matter, acknowledged by many sensible blacks, is that whites treat blacks better than blacks do. Whites in a position of authority tend to be just, humane, and responsible, while so many Africans in a position of authority tend to be corrupt and despotic.

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Mark A. writes:

I couldn’t believe that something that generous was printed in the New York Times. I am pleasantly surprised. I liked how Smith blamed Britain and the United States for abandoning his nation for political expediency. Outstanding. I recall seeing a film of Winston Churchill at his desk in the late 1940s—he was addressing the camera and said that apartheid in South Africa was the “greatest issue” facing Britain at that time. Clearly suicidal white liberalism predates the 1960s!

David B. writes:

Last week I was watching Court TV. One of their hosts, Jami Floyd, has a black father and a white mother, and is an aggresive liberal. She had a guest who grew up in Rhodesia in a liberal family, eventually becoming a lawyer. He has written a book titled, “A White Boy in Africa.” Mr. Godwin told of defending someone for treason. The Zimbabwe court still used British jurispudence.

Godwin won the case as his clients were found “not guilty” by the jury. As soon as they walked out of the courthouse, they were arrested again by Mugabe’s police. Godwin said that this could not happen in the United States. Jami Floyd said, “A lot of defense attorneys tell me that American justice isn’t much different.” Godwin replied that American justice IS different. Floyd still claimed that America was similar to Zimbabwe in sometimes having “unfair” justice.

The fact is that as America becomes more nonwhite, it WILL be like Zimbabwe. Jami Floyd is hoping for this result, I suspect.

Karen writes from England:

Another article on Smith from the Australian.

Bill Carpenter writes:

Here’s a moving eulogy to Ian Smith.

Mencius Moldbug writes:

Here is my obiturary for Smith.

You’d probably enjoy Smith’s autobiography, Bitter Harvest.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at November 21, 2007 12:55 AM | Send