Mandela himself was given a life sentence for both being a member of the African National Congress, an outlawed party and for bombing public utility facilities, thus branding him a terrorist. Second, as in the case with Nelson Mandela, political activists resort to armed acts of resistance that can be seen as “criminal” even if the resistance is justified by systematic racist or other forms of massive political and social repression. In these circumstances, even membership in a particular political party is deemed a crime. First, political activity might be deemed “criminal” by a state through legal means either by the legislative bodies or the courts. However, as we will see, the lines can blur between political activity and criminal activity in two basic ways. The two men are tasked with performing the ancient Greek tragedy, Antigone, for a concert that is being put together by the inmates. This short-story follows two prisoners, John and Winston, who have been imprisoned on Robben Island for unknown reasons. As is the case elsewhere such as in Northern Ireland, Russia, even Guantanomo Bay, and elsewhere, where prisoners are condemned sometimes for life, for political activity as opposed to what we might refer to as criminal activity by a western or U.S. The Island by Athol Fugard is short but deeply moving. Part of what this week will introduce as well, includes an example of “political prisons” which exist only for the purpose of political repression.
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