Into the Cannibal's Pot: Lessons for America from Post-Apartheid South Africa by Ilana Mercer Publisher: Bytech Services 2012 A review by Jack Kettler Ilana Mercer is a classical liberal writer, now living in the United States. She writes World Net Daily's longest-standing, exclusive paleolibertarian column, “Return to Reason.” “Into the Cannibal's Pot: Lessons For America From Post-Apartheid South Africa.” The title of the book “is meant as a metaphor and is inspired by Ayn Rand's wise counsel against prostrating civilization to savagery.” (8) There is a real danger in the West as Mercer notes: “The cult of apology that has gripped America and Britain is, nevertheless, uniquely Western. What other people would agonize over events they had no part in, personally, or for damages they did not inflict?” (167) In chapter one of her book, Mercer documents the escalating crime in South Africa against the white Afrikaners, which are horrific and gut wrenching. Mercer’s book is a warning to America. She warns against the kind of wealth redistribution along racial lines that has been instituted by law in South Africa and is bringing the once only 1st world country in Africa to ruins. As noted by other reviewers, Mercer makes an irrefutable connection that “politically dictated egalitarianism” and “affirmative action” are the main culprits that have already ruined South Africa, and if unchecked will certainly bring about the same results to the United States and other free countries. The rapid cannibalism of South Africa's once thriving business and privately owned agricultural properties should serve as a wake up call to Americans concerned with protecting private property and entrepreneurial freedom. Mercer documents how the old South Africa had good relations with the State of Israel. Since democracy has dawned in the New South Africa, it has become a hot bed of antisemitism and Islamic radicalism. The two million strong Congress of South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (COSATU) are antisemitic and have vowed to make the remaining 70,000 Jews leave the country. (201) Mercer takes apart Western intelligentsia and their defenses of the glorious new democracy in South Africa where the Afrikaners farmers are experiencing a systematic genocide. The Western elite's excuses for not bringing attention to this are nothing more than an attempt to rationalize and provide cover for the black racism on the loose in South Africa under the guise of democracy. Mercer is well aware of the dangers of democracy. She writes: “It is a mistake to doggedly conflate democracy with freedom, and “the freedom to vote” with liberty. Majority rule, especially as it applies in Middle Eastern and African countries, doesn’t always empower the right people.” (From Mercer's article The Ugly Truth About Democratic South Africa) What about “saint” Nelson Mandela? Mercer does not fear to expose the reality of “saint” Mandela's new South Africa. In South Africa today there is a new admiration for the slogan: “Kill the Boer, kill the [Afrikaner] farmer,” which is chanted at numerous political rallies. This slogan was cooked up by Peter Mokaba who died at the age of 43 after living a short of life of envy and hatred. Mokaba was a leader in the South African struggle against apartheid, and a radical racist politician in the later part of life. Mercer documents his funeral in 2002 was attended by the current South African president Jacob Zuma and the two preceding presidents, Thabo Mbeki and “saint” Mandela or Madiba, his African tribal name by which he is affectionately known. At the sight of Mokaba in the coffin, the crowd roared, “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer!” President Jacob Zuma was caught singing “Kill the Boer” at ANC Centenery Celebrations in Bloemfontein, South Africa in January 2012. What about “saint” Mandela? Did Mandela's appearance at this funeral event indicate his approval of Mokaba's infamous call for murder? Has “saint” Mandela ever condemned this murderous chant? So far, his silence is deafening. Significantly, Mercer rightly sees the historic struggle and dilemma within Protestantism to reconcile “Pietism with power.” She brilliantly sees the connection between the New England and Afrikaner Calvinistic Puritan ancestry. (207) She understands that these theological cousins have always had a connection to Hebraic Law. (211) Not only is there a common connection to Hebraic Law, which functions as a tool of dominion and helps to order and structure society, these theological cousins also believed that Abraham's seed, the righteous would multiply until: “Indeed I will greatly … multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore.” (Genesis 22:17) These Puritans cousins believed that this Abrahamic promise ultimately found fulfillment in Christ and created a optimistic mindset because God was in control and moving history forward according to His redemptive purposes. The Abrahamic promise coupled with God's Law gave the Puritan cousins a reason for cultural self-confidence and optimism as opposed to pietism which suffers from never ending spiritual introspection and retreat-ism. Because of the joining of Hebraic Law and the Abrahamic promise in Calvinistic theology, an optimistic and dynamic world-view was created. The Puritan cousins were thus able to transform a howling wilderness into productive vineyards. Mercer is right to point out that the “exceedingly tough” Puritan mind was crippled by a correspondingly ”tender conscience” which led to a surrender without a fight in South Africa. Ilana Mercer is a true intellectual and if human cloning were possible, an immediate requisition should be submitted to clone 100 copies of Ilana Mercer for a starter. Leftists rarely challenge her head on since they rapidly discover all they have is a broken pencil when coming up against her powerful pen. Let's hope that God gives her many more years to use her powerful pen to fight for freedom. Mr. Kettler has previously published articles in the Chalcedon Report and Contra Mundum. He and his wife Marea attend the Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church. Mr. Kettler is the author of the book defending the Reformed Faith against attacks, titled: The Religion That Started in a Hat. Available at: www.TheReligionThatStartedInAHat.com For more study: Hopefully, Into the Cannibal’s Pot: Lessons for America from Post-Apartheid South Africa will receive a wide circulation and a thoughtful hearing from every serious-minded American. ILANA's website is WWW.IlanaMercer.com. She blogs at www.barelyablog.com Find some of her articles at: http://www.ilanamercer.com/Articles.htm Into the Cannibal's Pot: Lessons for America from Post-Apartheid South Africa