Anarchy rules

IN REPLY to the appreciated letter by Andrew “Bugsy” Spiegel it is clear from the Oxford English Dictionary of 2010 that “an anarchist is a person who believes that the government should be abolished and that society should be organised on a co-operative basis” and this definition seems to describe an idealist.

The definition of anarchy in the same dictionary stands as: “a state of disorder due to lack of government or control. (my italics)

Chaos is defined in the same dictionary as “complete disorder and confusion” and is derived from the Greek khoas meaning “vast chasm or void” and this original root somehow does not seem to be an appropriate one.

It is possible that other dictionaries may have different definitions, but it really seems to me that anarchy: (without) and arkhos (ruler) especially with the appropriate rider – without control – is a better description of the lawless behaviour we are witnessing on a daily basis now. I fully agree with Andrew that if we all respected each other and practise this principle consistently there should be less need for a ruler! The anarchy in South Africa presently certainly does not reflect a large degree of mutual respect!

Last if I may say so, it seems that “Bugsy” is a principled idealist, the kind of person so desperately needed presently in South Africa. Ben Smit Melkbosstrand