tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post5668915393014631094..comments2024-03-08T17:37:22.880+00:00Comments on Geoff's Shorts: Storytelling (Van der Broek and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548882212024368758noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-26928027303489669442023-05-12T12:43:10.859+01:002023-05-12T12:43:10.859+01:00Well I'm doing some research snd remembered th...Well I'm doing some research snd remembered this story ... hence the current engagement. I'm so disappointed that the story isn't true ... not so much because of all the "right" reasons that all these astute writers offer but mostly just because it would be so wonderful if it was true!! A world with that capacity for forgiveness is a world that could have peace and love as foundational constructs. Anyway ... on with the research and many thanks for sharing this ... ps you are an amazing writer! Just saying!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02783643339761589989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-77525440291421464392018-04-24T14:14:50.982+01:002018-04-24T14:14:50.982+01:00My gratitude and honor to say a big thanks to a ma...My gratitude and honor to say a big thanks to a man with truth and do as he promise please every one on this site should join me and thank Dr UZOYA for the glory and happiness he gave to me, i break up with my husband 2 months back and i was down and do not know what to do until i saw a post about this spell caster Dr UZOYA who i explain my situation to, and then he said to me cry not my daughter for what you seek for is right here in my temple he gave me hope when i have no hope to my greatest notice, he did the spell for me and my husband was back 3 days after the spell please if you need any help my advise for you all is go to Dr UZOYA cause he is the best of all, contact him via driraborspellcaster@gmail.com OR you can call him directly on his cell phone number +1(301)909-8775rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07994669392069306702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-15334875040456293392018-02-20T05:14:26.867+00:002018-02-20T05:14:26.867+00:00Getting back my husband after separation was very ...Getting back my husband after separation was very difficult for me because he went to settle down with another woman, i had two children for him already. I have tried to make contacts with him to come back home yet he refuse, each time i look at his kids i become more sad and i needed him at my side to raise the children together. I was so lucky i finally got the help i needed, i went on a search and i saw Dr Mack contact. People say he is a very powerful spell caster that he can put an end to relationship problem, causes that disturb destiny, he is also good in curing different diseases. He is such a special man gifted with powers and reliable spell caster that have a cure to most problems of life. My husband is back to me and we are living happily as it used to be, Dr Mack have done what i could never have done with my own powers. contact dr_mack@yahoo.com<br /><br />(1) If you want your ex back.??<br />(2) if you always have bad dreams.??<br />(3) If you want to be promoted in your office.??<br />(4) If you want women/men to run after you.??<br />(5) If you want a child.??<br />(6) If you want to be rich.??<br />(7) If you want to tie your husband/wife to be yours forever.??<br />(8) If you need financial assistance.??<br />(9) How you been scammed and you want to recover you lost money.??<br />(10) if you want to stop your divorce.??<br />(11) if you want to divorce your husband.??<br />(12) if you want your wishes to be granted.??<br />(13) Pregnancy spell to conceive baby??<br />(14) Guarantee you win the troubling court cases & divorce no matter how what stage??<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08407578870851039378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-80164006560130437272017-04-13T21:58:28.397+01:002017-04-13T21:58:28.397+01:00Thank you for the important reminder to verify the...Thank you for the important reminder to verify the truth of accounts. Remember Cassie Bernahl, almost instantly proclaimed a martyr after the Columbine High School massacre? The tale was that the boys held a gun to her head and asked her if she believed in God. Answering yes, she was shot and killed. The only problem is that, according to the FBI, this never happened (one student said she was praying, though).Seraphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06216177538549223181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-32020329601973797162017-04-13T21:57:55.405+01:002017-04-13T21:57:55.405+01:00Thank you for the important reminder to verify the...Thank you for the important reminder to verify the truth of accounts. Remember Cassie Bernahl, almost instantly proclaimed a martyr after the Columbine High School massacre? The tale was that the boys held a gun to her head and asked her if she believed in God. Answering yes, she was shot and killed. The only problem is that, according to the FBI, this never happened (one student said she was praying, though).Seraphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06216177538549223181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-66988699307954278062016-11-27T22:34:22.219+00:002016-11-27T22:34:22.219+00:00Nevertheless we can cite Jesus as they drove the n...Nevertheless we can cite Jesus as they drove the nails through His hands," Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09629133640857906680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-54582465264621256822014-10-10T19:55:34.860+01:002014-10-10T19:55:34.860+01:00Hi John,
Did I not touch on this in the second pa...Hi John, <br />Did I not touch on this in the second paragraph? <br />I do feel that parable and fiction can be enriching. I also feel truth is important. I don't see a conflict. <br />Best, <br />GeoffGeoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925999586920385972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-56849489426257384172013-12-14T18:17:56.415+00:002013-12-14T18:17:56.415+00:00Hi Emily, thanks for commenting. I agree it's ...Hi Emily, thanks for commenting. I agree it's a human trait and not a uniquely Christian one by any means.<br /><br />Hi Simon, my thanks both for your comment and the time you took to look in to the matter. I've read <a href="http://www.justice.gov.za/trc/reparations/reiger.htm" rel="nofollow">Bishop Berege's</a> address at the commission and you're correct, he does mention a story that shares some elements with the one reported.<br /><br />You say that <i>"it's pretty evident that that DID happen, as the bishop could hardly refer to it in front of the commission as true if they knew it was not!"</i><br /><br />I'm not sure I agree. There were over seven thousand separate hearings held in front of different members - it would seem unlikely that any one person would be familiar with all cases enough to challenge the accuracy of Berege's statement, or would feel it appropriate to do so. I also do not feel Berege intended to mislead the commission. I'd see it as most likely that he believed the story to be true.<br /><br />Berege does not seem to have had any prior involvement with the commission so we can likely rule him out as an eyewitness. He also does not list the source of the story - to my mind it seems most likely he picked up on an early version from an external source.<br /><br />All that said, thanks for giving me the nudge to read through some more of the transcripts. There's much value in them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10548882212024368758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-23537456027725548122013-12-14T17:20:02.595+00:002013-12-14T17:20:02.595+00:00I am a Christian preacher and have published a cou...I am a Christian preacher and have published a couple of books of stories for use by other preachers and teachers, and I try and make sure that they're true and accurate (unless they're clearly apocryphal and used for humour!). So I was checking this one out and came across your blog. My problem with your conclusion is that there seem to be other gaps in the testimony which likewise cannot be filled, but which appear nonetheless to be genuine. The one I found was mentioned by Bishop David Berege before the Commission in April 1997: he referred to "the woman who was asked by Archbishop Desmond Tutu at the end of her testimony, ‘What do you want the Commission to do for you?’ and replied, ‘I would like you to enable me to meet the man who killed my son so that I can look him in the eye and tell him that I can forgive him.’" I could not find that reference in the reports, but it's pretty evident that that DID happen, as the bishop could hardly refer to it in front of the commission as true if they knew it was not! So for me the jury is still out on the story you mention. And from studies of journalism and history we know well that while details in the report may be inaccurate (eg the use of the word 'ghetto') the fundamentals of the story may nonetheless be true...Simon Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08759484702392974366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-21115017761321879542013-12-09T04:27:26.833+00:002013-12-09T04:27:26.833+00:00In any community, there are false stories or facts...In any community, there are false stories or facts that are circulated as truth. This phenomenon is not unique to Christians. But thanks for checking out this story — I appreciate it.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745585951732535797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-26113332004597882222013-11-14T22:35:28.148+00:002013-11-14T22:35:28.148+00:00Hi John,
Thanks for taking the time to comment. T...Hi John,<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to comment. To summarise my evidence I showed that it had not been transcribed, unlike any other hearing, and that it contained statements that could not have been made in a legal setting. I also pointed out several other incongruities and inconsistencies that make it quite certain this event did not happen.<br /><br />I don't feel you've given anything in your response to explain how these facts jar so strongly with what one would expect if the tale were real.<br /><br />You say it was "well documented by Rev. Mase Masengo of the Presbyterian Church of South Africa" - why did the commission not have access to this documentation? You say that James Kraybill "...would not have published it had he suspected in the least that it was fiction", but can you understand how your faith in another man is not a convincing counter to what I feel is quite damning evidence? On your final point in favour of considering it to be true you say "I then published the story in a discpleship course in Kenya, having been assured of its veracity", I do not feel that this adds to your case.<br /><br />I do appreciate you taking the time to comment. My apologies for my rushed response, it's been a rather long day. Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925999586920385972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-52550060547653215422013-11-14T21:55:04.933+00:002013-11-14T21:55:04.933+00:00Greetings, all. I first came across this story whi...Greetings, all. I first came across this story while teaching a group of missionaries in Niamey, Niger. It was a moving story, and came to me as well documented by Rev. Mase Masengo of the Presbyterian Church of South Africa. I personally contacted James Kraybill, the then editor of the Mennonite publication in the USA who published it and verified the facts of the story. He would not have published it had he suspected in the least that it was fiction. I then published the story in a discpleship course in Kenya, having been assured of its veracity. FYI, all Christians are not suckers for emotional tales. TRUTH is supremely important. And, there are MANY similar stories from Rwanda - accurately documented by the American workers who were involved in the reconciliation process between Hutus and Tutsis. Too, check the biography of Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch national whose family harbored Jews during the Nazi occupation ("The Hiding Place"). Corrie was put in the position of being asked for forgiveness by the Nazi guard responsible for her sister's death at Bergen Belsen. Chris and Geoff, we APPRECIATE being corrected. Thank you both! But... Chris, regarding your negative attitude toward Americans or Christians--or both? Learn how to state truth without vilifying those with whom you disagree. You'll gain a far greater hearing - and perhaps respect as well. <br />- Dr. John Wade Long, Jr. LongJnSilverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17779591159755128498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-61129584154661014112013-01-23T10:43:12.605+00:002013-01-23T10:43:12.605+00:00Thanks for the local information Chris!Thanks for the local information Chris!Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925999586920385972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-63458732778863166032013-01-23T04:14:45.113+00:002013-01-23T04:14:45.113+00:00You will notice that this story was never reported...You will notice that this story was never reported in any reputable publication. I tracked it down. It originated with a Presbyterian churchman, Maake Masangu. He told it to Americans. It seems to me he was on a tour of the USA. The Mennonites had it on their site. I told them it was false. The woman, Melanie or Melody, knew Maake Masangu and told me that was where they got the story. She contacted him for verification and sent me his response. He claimed there were too many documents to send on. The Mennonites deleted that story from their site.<br /><br />As the Americans are suckers for cheap emotion, they swallowed it hook, line and sinker.<br /><br />It has other non sequiturs in addition to the ones you mentioned. Where was the father kept between arrest and "burning?" No prison would have turned him over without a good, documented reason. Did Van de Broek keep him in his garage?<br /><br />I have written to the TRC years ago and they denied that such a case was ever heard. Search their site for "van de broek," "van den broek" and "van der broek." Closest you will get are clearly unrelated results.<br /><br />PT Barnum was right. The world is full of suckers.Chris Malanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14609866256624260350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-51617100226328944632013-01-23T04:13:02.501+00:002013-01-23T04:13:02.501+00:00You will notice that this story was never reported...You will notice that this story was never reported in any reputable publication. I tracked it down. It originated with a Presbyterian churchman, Maake Masangu. He told it to Americans. It seems to me he was on a tour of the USA. The Mennonites had it on their site. I told them it was false. The woman, Melanie or Melody, knew Maake Masangu and told me that was where they got the story. She contacted him for verification and sent me his response. He claimed there were too many documents to send on. The Mennonites deleted that story from their site.<br /><br />As the Americans are suckers for cheap emotion, they swallowed it hook, line and sinker.<br /><br />It has other non sequiturs in addition to the ones you mentioned. Where was the father kept between arrest and "burning?" No prison would have turned him over without a good, documented reason. Did Van de Broek keep him in his garage?<br /><br />I have written to the TRC years ago and they denied that such a case was ever heard. Search their site for "van de broek," "van den broek" and "van der broek." Closest you will get are clearly unrelated results.<br /><br />PT Barnum was right. The world is full of suckers.Chris Malanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14609866256624260350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-58552151308904099862011-10-28T10:26:02.494+01:002011-10-28T10:26:02.494+01:00I hear what you're saying. It's a good poi...I hear what you're saying. It's a good point and one I should have addressed. <br />I'm only in a position to challenge this specific evolved tale because it takes place in the highly unusual context where all conversations are recorded and freely available. If, say, 10% of conversations went unrecorded, my challenge would have been unconvincing to some. Also, I'm sure we can find some people who'll disagree with my findings.Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17925999586920385972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8028643425691313983.post-51058513450703924502011-10-28T09:30:38.504+01:002011-10-28T09:30:38.504+01:00Does this blogpost itself not demonstrate the impo...Does this blogpost itself not demonstrate the impossibility of an evolved myth going without challenge?hargadenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08857436673878143466noreply@blogger.com