I don't like to post on politics or world events very often, but now is one of those times to make just such a post. If you'd rather not read on, you've been warned.

Don't worry, I'll keep it brief.

I've spent a decent amount of time in South Africa (six weeks of cumulative time over two trips). It is a wonderful place, and the hospitality that the South Africans have for visitors is unlike anything I have ever seen. They (all of them) are a tremendous people. I have friends there that I would do most anything for.

What is taking place in Zimbabwe, South Africa's neighbor to the northeast, is a flat-out tragedy. Please read David Frum for a little more context, especially in light of this "Live 8" thing (which I don't fully understand; I don't have a TV so I don't pay much attention to this stuff). Frum ends his post with "More on this soon". I don't know if it can come soon enough.

Update (2005-06-14): David Frum delivers with two more journal entries. One on how Zimbabwe's slide is affecting South Africa; another that reproduces an email he received from a reader in Zimbabwe who has read these entries. Both are worth reading.