Comments on: The Senate of South Africa

By: Francis

Francis — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:16:22 +0000

Thank you for the photographs. I do prefer the old design too. For me, South Africa and its politics is still a puzzle in spite of academic study of the same. On some occasions, it occurred to me to dismiss the Boers as wild bumpkins set loose in an equally wide country, while at others i certainly could not disregard the cruelty and savagery of the Natives, howsoever much their martial spirits were extolled by the British. I have personally never been there, living as I do, on the island of Mauritius. But given my experience of South Africans, Boer, British (or Black, amongst which, i must confess of having practically no acquaintances at all), I would naturally tend to have a good opinion of the British and am on very good terms with most of them. On the other hand, i have never really understood the Boer or at least been able to empathize with them. It is very difficult for me to have anything to do with them. There is, I feel, both a language and cultural problem. The markers of civilisation are different and the historical references as well. It may be the effects of National Party educational policies.

Yet, South Africa, with its history, remains a fact recorded by Clio on her scroll.

Thank you,

Francis.

ps: The above might sound pointless or un-PC, but these photographs inspired to voice out the malaise i feel whenever i come upon this subject.

By: Andrew Cusack

Andrew Cusack — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:35:09 +0000

Actually I dislike the Austrian parliament building. The detailing is fine, but the massing is exceptionally dull. (It’s much like the U.S. Supreme Court). A very boring classical composition.

By: Nelson Hanford

Nelson Hanford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:36:56 +0000

Let us not forget Vienna’s Neoclassical glory. Alas, Foster mutillated the Reichstag, and that is deprived of us too.

By: Harold

Harold — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:11:59 +0000

Andrew -

Yes, the parliament building in Victoria is lovely. I enjoyed visiting it many years ago. Victoria in general was rather nice as I recall. Dublin, Ottawa, and London also have lovely buildings. And, I must say that the United States capitol is impressive too. But the New York State Capitol in Albany is disappointing.

Harold

By: Andrew Cusack

Andrew Cusack — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:16:33 +0000

“Dissembled”, in the sense of veiled or given a false front.

By: Steven H. Cullinane

Steven H. Cullinane — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:09:18 +0000

“Disassembled”?

By: Andrew Cusack

Andrew Cusack — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:24:43 +0000

My three favourite parliament buildings are, bizarrely, all gothic: Westminster, Budapest, and Ottawa.

The parliament in Victoria, B.C. is also high on my list. More towards the classical is the Old Irish Parliament House (now the Bank of Ireland) which I have written about elsewhere on this site. Ditto the Old State House in Hartford, Conn.

A Peruvian friend and reader of this site donated a beautiful volume on the Legislative Palace in Lima.

The Indian Parliament is also a doozy.

By: Harold

Harold — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:08:39 +0000

Andrew -

Thank you for this article on the South African Senate. I, too, lament the redesign of the chamber for the use of the National Council of Provinces. However, it does occur to me that perhaps a political stament was intended. Something like a break with the past?

Harold

PS: Which parliament shall we visit next? I’ve always wanted to author a coffee table book: “Photographs of the World’s Legislative Buildings.” (I know. Call me odd.) Perhaps you could take up that cause?