Trump must try harder if he’s after women’s votes
THE women’s vote in the US election looms large.
So much so that President Donald Trump has promised a posthumous pardon for women’s voting rights pioneer Susan B Anthony, according to the BBC. She was convicted of illegally casting a vote in 1872 (before women were allowed to vote).
Making the announcement, Trump said: “She was never pardoned. What took so long?”
Michelle Obama, wife of former president Barack, this week delivered an unprecedented broadside against Trump, in support of Democrat Joe Biden.
His running mate for vice-president is Senator Kamala Harris, a feisty and vociferous lady indeed.
Trump might need to find something more punchy than a posthumous pardon dating back to 1872.
Signage surprise
LAST weekend Sylvia Hamann walked out on to her balcony at Eden Gardens retirement home and saw a huge sign attached to the nearby Cowey Centre: “HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY MOM. WE LOVE YOU”.
“Her kids did a great job of it,” says reader Doug McGarr.
“We 90 year olds at the home are very keen and looking forward to seeing what her family will do for her 90th.”
Peter Ripley-Evans
ONE of the province’s rugby greats is no more. Peter Ripley-Evans collapsed at his home a few nights ago and died without regaining consciousness, a shock to all who knew him because he had actually stayed in remarkable physical trim after retiring from rugby. He was 80.
Loosehead prop Rip was part of that remarkable front row that represented Durban Collegians and Natal right through the 1960s. The others were Keith Parkinson (hooker – later to become president of the Natal Rugby Union) and Fint “Jungle” Jackson (tighthead – who died a few years ago). Parky is now the only survivor of that formidable club and
Currie Cup ensemble. At Maritzburg College, Pete had been a beefy flank forward. At Durban Collegians (and for Natal) coach Izak van Heerden converted him into a highly mobile front-ranker.
He was a few years ahead of me at College. My abiding memory is of an epic match between College and Milton (on tour from the thenRhodesia), who had so far crushed all opposition. At half-time Milton were 6-0 up (these were, of course, low-scoring days in rugby).
By the final seconds of the game, College had pulled back to 6-5. Then Pete Evans charged down a clearance kick and dived on the ball for a try. The conversion made it 10-6 to College as the final whistle shrilled. Classic stuff. We rushed on to the field and carried Pete off shoulder-high.
He was gushing tears of emotion. Pete, a charming, sunny character, was part of the camaraderie of our rugby. Given his Welsh antecedents, he also was naturally a stalwart of the Durban Men’s Choir. The Heavenly Choir has gained a new voice.
Tailpiece
HUSBAND’S message: “Honey, I got hit by a car outside the office. Tina brought me to hospital. They have been taking X-rays. I have three broken ribs, a broken arm, a compound fracture in the left leg and they might have to amputate my right foot.
Wife’s response: “Who’s Tina?”
Last word
HOW can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?