Posted on October 30, 2007 - by Justin Hartman
Best newspaper cover ever?
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I know this is very belated but time has not been on my side however I think this cover is timeless. Originally published in The Independent on the morning of the Rugby World Cup Final this front page moved me and is the best cover I’ve ever seen yet there is barely a picture on it. If you can’t read the writing click on the image for a larger version.
If you didn’t get it (I didn’t on the first time) this is all about England. The Independent would have all of us believe this is about SA but the clever play on words ring true to what has been happening of late in the UK.
The part that really interests me is that while our politicians are all complaining about transformation in South African sport there isn’t a single country that isn’t plagued with similar issues. Bloggers, the media and even political stalwarts have all agreed that politics should be left out of sport and this cover I think, highlights just how shallow these transformation claims are in our country.
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October 30, 2007
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Brilliance, sheer, utter, brilliance. I love that a British paper took such a bold move. Very gutsy.
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October 30, 2007
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The colour scheme is very interesting…
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October 30, 2007
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Brilliant! What a way to make a point!
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October 30, 2007
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What major politcal transformation happened in England recently, and what is the black struggle song they sing?
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October 30, 2007
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alleman the political change is the new prime minister and the song is Swing Low. It was originally a slave-song written more than 150 years ago.
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October 30, 2007
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Interesting. I wrote a very similar paragraph in my blog post (http://www.trashmedia.co.za/2007/10/22/it-wasnt-a-try-you-sour-poms/) almost immediately after we won the Cup. Perhaps it was an obvious route to follow…
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October 30, 2007
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Thanks – interesting about Swing Low.
But I have to say that to call the transition from Blair to Brown as “a major political transformation” is utterly ridiculous.
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October 30, 2007
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No it’s not, at all alleman. Blair represents all that has happened in the past four years with the war on “terrorism” and alliance with the lovely and articulate Bush administration and much strife for his administration.
His end marks a new era in leadership and many changes to come. It is major.
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October 30, 2007
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After Blair, Brown was the most powerful man in the cabinet that approved war against Iraq – he was not opposed to the war.
Transformation is really a word to be used when you mean something a different order of magnitude to mere ‘change’ or ‘reform’.
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October 30, 2007
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Brilliance, sheer, utter, brilliance. I love that a British paper took such a bold move. Very gutsy.
Visit My Website
October 30, 2007
Permalink
The colour scheme is very interesting…
Visit My Website
October 30, 2007
Permalink
Brilliant! What a way to make a point!
Visit My Website
October 30, 2007
Permalink
What major politcal transformation happened in England recently, and what is the black struggle song they sing?
Visit My Website
October 30, 2007
Permalink
alleman the political change is the new prime minister and the song is Swing Low. It was originally a slave-song written more than 150 years ago.
Visit My Website
October 30, 2007
Permalink
Interesting. I wrote a very similar paragraph in my blog post (http://www.trashmedia.co.za/2007/10/22/it-wasnt...) almost immediately after we won the Cup. Perhaps it was an obvious route to follow…
Visit My Website
October 30, 2007
Permalink
Thanks – interesting about Swing Low.
But I have to say that to call the transition from Blair to Brown as “a major political transformation” is utterly ridiculous.
Visit My Website
October 30, 2007
Permalink
No it's not, at all alleman. Blair represents all that has happened in the past four years with the war on “terrorism” and alliance with the lovely and articulate Bush administration and much strife for his administration.
His end marks a new era in leadership and many changes to come. It is major.
Visit My Website
October 30, 2007
Permalink
After Blair, Brown was the most powerful man in the cabinet that approved war against Iraq – he was not opposed to the war.
Transformation is really a word to be used when you mean something a different order of magnitude to mere 'change' or 'reform'.
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October 31, 2007
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Very very clever, can’t believe i didn’t see this newspaper here in London.
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October 31, 2007
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@alleman
The song they sing is ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’
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October 31, 2007
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How Justin can twist the Independent’s wordplay to support a very reactionary and conservative view on change (even if you have problems with how that change is happening) in South Africa is kind of mind-blogging.
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October 31, 2007
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Very very clever, can't believe i didn't see this newspaper here in London.
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October 31, 2007
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@alleman
The song they sing is 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot'
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October 31, 2007
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How Justin can twist the Independent's wordplay to support a very reactionary and conservative view on change (even if you have problems with how that change is happening) in South Africa is kind of mind-blogging.
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October 31, 2007
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TheLeoAfricanus I don’t really understand the point you’re trying to make. Can you please elaborate a little for us?
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October 31, 2007
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TheLeoAfricanus I don't really understand the point you're trying to make. Can you please elaborate a little for us?
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November 12, 2007
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The Independent’s Rugby World Cup front page…
Justin Hartman got it right when he praised the cover of The Independent newspaper in the UK on the eve of the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and England. It takes a very smart copywriter to think come up with the idea, and brave editor to …
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November 12, 2007
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The Independent's Rugby World Cup front page…
Justin Hartman got it right when he praised the cover of The Independent newspaper in the UK on the eve of the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and England. It takes a very smart copywriter to think come up with the idea, and brave editor to …