Open letter to Mr Marais (and other Observatory residents) Dear Mr Marais
I have noted your e-mail and those of the other people in Observatory. You accuse me of being disingenuous, so let's be candid. I originally reacted rather angrily to an e-mail from Trevor Hughes. Where did that anger come from? After some soul-searching I must admit that it was not directed at Trevor, but at you. In a few e-mails, which you wrote to me and which were also published to other members of the Observatory community, you attacked me viciously and in a very personal manner while making the point that the Woodstock police was not doing enough in Observatory. When I read Trevor's e-mail, I somehow made the connection with your personal attack on me, probably because the subject of the e-mails (police (non)-action) was similar and made a remark generalising the Obs community. I must concede that this was wrong of me and I sincerely apologise to the residents of Observatory. Having said that, I would also like to make the point it is clear to me that once again crime did get the better of us. Not only can we fall victim to crime, but crime is also such a dividing, polarising and segregating force. In other words: crime divides and rules. And that is so wrong and disheartening. I am pretty sure that we all want the same thing and most of us are working hard to try and achieve this: to be able to live and work in a safe environment. We should not let squabbles among ourselves and pointing of fingers deter us from seeing the big picture. I fell into that trap and I am very sorry about that. I hope that we can turn this into a hard lesson learned and move on from here in the right direction. Best regards Teun Baartman On Mar 21, 12:07 pm, Kris Marais <[email protected]> wrote: > In my capacity as a resident and property owner in Observatory i > absolutely endorse Justin's message below. > Teun this is yet another example of the disingenuous tone of your recent > email wherein you make snide reference to 'Observatory' and it appears > to me you are "playing to the gallery." (the gallery? "anybody or group > of people copied in your email who would like to see Observatory insulted) > Kris Marais > > > > Justin Ashley wrote: > > > Teun, Trevor related a personal experience he had and objected to, > > which is his democratic right. He did not make any attempt to > > indicate that the views he expressed were representative of any > > organisation or community. > > > The first two paragraphs or your initial reply to his post are > > reasonable and clear. The gratuitous insult to the Observatory > > community that you decided to throw into your last paragraph is > > offensive and untrue, and I think deserves an apology from you. > > > Regards > > > Justin > > > *From:* [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] *On > > Behalf Of *Teun Baartman > > *Sent:* 19 March 2010 08:55 AM > > *To:* Trevor Hughes > > *Cc:* [email protected]; Brian & Sue Amery; Woodstock SAPS; David > > Raphael; Cedric Thomas > > *Subject:* [obsnw] Re: Police harassment > > > As I said: I'm not an expert. Let's wait for the police reply. > > > Still does not take away the fact that apparently the Obs community is > > in two minds about what it wants. > > > Regards > > > Teun > > > On 19 March 2010 08:42, Trevor Hughes <[email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > > On Fri, Mar 19, 2010 at 8:09 AM, Trevor Hughes <[email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: > > > > Quoted from the constitution:- > > > > 14. Privacy > > > > Everyone has the right to privacy, which includes the right not to > > have > > > > 1. their person or home searched; > > > 2. their property searched; > > > 3. their possessions seized; or > > > 4. the privacy of their communications infringed. > > > > Its pretty clear! > > > > Trev > > > 2. Supremacy of Constitution > > > This Constitution is the supreme law of the Republic; law or conduct > > inconsistent with it is invalid, and the obligations imposed by it > > must be fulfilled. > > > Makes you think ......... > > > -- > > Teun Baartman > > 083 298 1009 > > 021 448 3584 > > > Please consider the environment before you print this e-mail!! > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected] > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > obsnw+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the > > words "REMOVE ME" as the subject. > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > > signature database 4957 (20100319) __________ > > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > >http://www.eset.com > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google > > Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. > > > To post to this group, send email to [email protected] > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > [email protected] > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/obsnw?hl=en > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > obsnw+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the > > words "REMOVE ME" as the subject. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Observatory Neighbourhood watch" group. 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