On the Stork TowerThe sun beyond the mountains glows;The Yellow River seawards flows.You can enjoy a grander sightBy climbing to a greater height
On the Stork Tower The sun beyond the mountains glows; The Yellow River seawards flows. You can enjoy a grander sight By climbing to a greater height
FourLessonA Drink in the Passage
Lesson Four A Drink in the Passage
Alan Paton
Alan Paton
Alan Paton(1903-1988)South African writer, founder and presidentof the Liberal Party (1953-68), whichopposed apartheid and offered a non-racialalfernative to government policy. The partywas banned in I968 by the Prohibition ofPolitical Interference Bill, and Paton washarassed by the racist government. On theother hand'Paton's genfle Christian-liberalsolution to the problems of South Africa wasconsidered hopelessly inadequate by anti-apartheid activists. Also his friendship withthe conservative Zulu leader Buthulezi, andhis opposition to international sanctions, wereeized
Alan Paton(1903-1988) South African writer, founder and president of the Liberal Party (1953-68), which opposed apartheid and offered a non-racial alternative to government policy. The party was banned in 1968 by the Prohibition of Political Interference Bill, and Paton was harassed by the racist government. On the other hand Paton's gentle Christian-liberal solution to the problems of South Africa was considered hopelessly inadequate by antiapartheid activists. Also his friendship with the conservative Zulu leader Buthulezi, and his opposition to international sanctions, were criticized
In his writing, Paton explores the relationshipbetween whites and blacks in his country. Inthis story, a well-educated black finds himselfcordially invited to split a bottle with a whiteman in the latter's apartment building. Theblack man is admired and praised by a group offriendly white people, but he has to drink in thepassage. Throughout the story one can see thatthe two sides are both anxious to reach out toeach other, but they do not know how. Obviouslythere exists an invisible wall between themwhich hampers their communication and fullunderstanding, not just a wall imposed byapartheid laws, but a wall deep in their hearts
In his writing, Paton explores the relationship between whites and blacks in his country. In this story, a well-educated black finds himself cordially invited to split a bottle with a white man in the latter’s apartment building. The black man is admired and praised by a group of friendly white people, but he has to drink in the passage. Throughout the story one can see that the two sides are both anxious to reach out to each other, but they do not know how. Obviously there exists an invisible wall between them which hampers their communication and full understanding, not just a wall imposed by apartheid laws, but a wall deep in their hearts