Canadian brings

By Sam Okello ¢€

The need for a good job has been nearly everyone’s dream.

Two weeks ago, John Pe- ters, a representative from the Mennonite Central Com- mittee (MCC) met with a Student Services Counsellor

=

“pal couch potatoes are deathly afraid

Malain's French Fry CoMmercials.®.

gt!

7

@y \

ARIES SECRETARIAL

e Book reports ; e Term papers

All your typing needs .

Call ARIES

SECRETARIAL}.

892-7625

24 2nd Street Parkdale

Wendy Mor Son

= Page 8

and myself to discuss job op- portunities for students and others interested in employ- ment.

Various job opportuni- ties exist within the MCC, according to Peters. He mentioned that the criteria for selecting suitable candi- dates did not necessarily de- pend on acadeniic qualifica- tions. “One has to show the ability that he’s determined to work” he said.

Peters pointed out that the MCC provided job op- portunities both in Canada and Overseas Countries such as_ in Europe, South East Asia, Africa, and the Mid- dle East. He added that MCC was a Christian agency concerned with cooperative relief, development, service

new experience home

and peace programs.

Peters explained that

under the Cooperative pro--

gram, the MCC deals with emergency relief and mate- rial aid such as grains, flour, clothing, health and school kits. Where as in the de- velopment sector, MCC con- cerns itself with public and refugees and also issues re- lated to human rights in developing countries.

development and

Besides working with MCC as assistant direc- tor of personnel, Peters has travelled extensively to over- seas countries.

Peters’ fascination with MCC stems from his first trip to West Africa when he visited Nigeria for a three year assignment to develop

South African Comic

Apartheid With Laughter

by Andrea Aster and

Shannon Thompson

Enemies of apartheid have assaulted the South African system of racial separation with every- thing from bullets to divest- ment,

South African Pieter- Dirk Uys uses laughter. “It’s the only weapon

that hasn’t killed anyone here yet,” he said. “But it’s a very strong weapon. In South Africa, every time I get just a few people to share a laugh at a pompous politi- cian, that’s a chip away.”

After the closing of his

one-man play, Adapt or Dye

at the University of Toronto, Uys will embark on a two to three week tour of Canadian’ university campuses. Until his visa runs out Nov. 7,.the Jewish Afrikaaner from Cape Town will entertain students with his biting, satirical por- trait of the oppressive South African political system and draw students into a discus- sion of the country’s current situation. In Adapt or Dye, Uys uses a series of sketches. - some comic, some deeply dis-

turbing - to tear the ideals -

of South African apartheid to pieces. No subject is sa- cred, and no one is above be- ing chopped apart by Uys’ vi- ciously funny axe. He does

not merely impersonate his |

chosen political targets, he

becomes them - brilliantly. His Pieter Botha, all quiv- ering lips and pointing fin- gers (“we want peace...the biggest piece”’) and Margaret Thatcher played with an ut- ter lack of feminine qualities (he hasn*t even bothered to stuff his blouse for this part) are fantastic. Both of them continuously repeat the same redundant political rhetoric while the lights gradually ob- scure them into darkness.

Through his _ portrayal of some 18 people, ranging from Desmond Tutu to ordi- nary South Africans, Uys has helped spawn an age of polit- ical satire in

South Africa. He has gone farther than anyone in publicly lampooning the gov-. ernment. So at home and abroad, people frequently ask him how he gets away with it.

Over. the past 15 years his plays have been system- atically banned, but to ev- eryone’s surprise, it was not because he stood up to the hated apartheid regime. He simply made the mistake of using the word ’God,’ which made his work blasphemous, and words like ‘kak’ (fart) which made his work ob- scene.

Uys, a white South African, has never been de- tained or beaten, but his con- demnation of the apartheid regime is strong.

- Nee new materials for teachers to use.

For Peters, travelling in this African country was like stepping onto a different planet. Perhaps never before had he imagined such a va- riety of peoples from differ- ent ethnic tribes, all distin- guished by their striking and often strange cultures.

The difficulties of wit- nessing different cultures in a foreign country was somehow a culture shock to Peters. In certain cases, Peters was not received graciously but he was ready to forgive any- one. Sometimes Peters often wondered why he was viewed with suspicion. aware that in most African traditions, it was “immoral” to give something to a per- son with your left hand. Un-

Fights

He was not

Beginning with his one- man shows in 1981, Uys de- cided to learn the laws and how to get around them. Al- though he knows the author- ities are watching, he refuses, unlike many South Africans, to be intimidated into self- censorship. 5

“I’m not going to be a victim of fear. No way. I make it clear on stage that I regard all the little things that happen to me as a mate- rial for tomorrow night,” he_ said.

Not surprisingly, Uys" success has created -an en- tirely new set of challenges.

“Success is always dan- gerous. Am I losing my edge, my anger? Or my commit-

ment? I know the authorities -~

are using me. They come to my shows with U.S. senators and point out that in a real

. police state I would never be

tolerated.”

He only hopes he can stay one step ahead of the game. He abides by a for- mula that has so far kept him out of trouble. 3

“My philosophy is 49 per cent anger, 51 per cent com- edy, because an angry per- son makes a boring speech. That’s not. what theatre is about.” es

Still Uys does not pre- tend to have all the answers. While his ability to mirror the lunacy in his home coun- try is invaluable, he is uncer-

aware of such a tradition, ters would feel surprised.

However, as time w on, Peters learned to cope with | unique tradition.

observed

“It [those years in Nj ria] was a very, very enr; ing -experience for me” soft spoken Peters recall

Now back home, Pet encourages people to work developmental programs ther in Canada or abro For more information ab MCC and job opportu ties contact UPEI Stud Counselor Shirley Huds or write to:

~ MCC Canada

134 Plaza Dr

Winnipeg, Man

R38T 5K9

Phone (204) 261-6381

tain of his impact upon st born white arrogance. he does not have a visio! the future, speaking vag of his belief that there 1 be some meeting ground! doesn’t allow violence.

As he ponders his future, his infectious hu recedes momentarily.

“I don't think I can much longer. I want to a play about birds, tré life. I mean, how ¢ go on about the cultu death? It’s grim. A South Africa, it’s less than here, because whe" here I’m talking to you reading the newspape"’ smelling freedom. It f* ens me to death.” |

He smiled again. “! to go back to the war, the phone is tapped.”

November 5 198