Ian Douglas Smith
1919-2007
Although always staunchly true to his beliefs, Ian Smith attracted controversy and more than his fair share of misunderstanding.
His son, Robert Smith said on Wednesday that he expected as much vitriol from the press as praise for his late father. And, rightly, he refused to say more, arguing whatever he said would be misconstrued.
Nevertheless, barely had he spoken than the headlines, commentators and obituaries were dismissing his father as a bigotted, unthinking racist.
This fate was shared by his predecessors as prime minister - Lord Malvern, Sir Roy Welensky, Sir Garfield Todd, Sir Edgar Whitehead and Winston Field - most of whom disliked him and some of whom despised him. All were accused at some stage as being racist.
Leia em:
Download a_eulogy_by_professor_jrt_wood_in_respect_of_the_late_ian_smith.doc