Listening to the silent majority

[79]

Homo sapiens is unlikely to survive the technological onslaught on his environment and mere living space, as long as he remains virtually ignorant of the neurophysiological processes within the human head. However, a serious beginning has been made. Modern neurobiology, neurochemistry, psycho-physiology, social biology, computer simulation and other recently-developed methods of research do enable scientists to look deeper and deeper into the brain. The mind relates to the central nervous system as movement to the wheel. Gary Lynch, of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory at the University of Cal-

[p. 101]

ifornia concluded that ‘outside information such as the concept of apartheid’ is translated by the central nervous system into rhythmic electrical impulses. These impulses in turn cause flashes and a chain of chemical reactions in the brain. Science is fully concentrating on discovering the neuro-anatomic map of the mind. After dozens of years of concentrated study, researcher Gary Lynch still calls the human head ‘a neural wilderness’.

It was correct of Mr Justice Harms to say that Barend Hendrik Strijdom's cold-blooded deed was ‘worse than the behaviour of a terrorist.’ According to the judge, Strijdom's background explained his thinking, but did not justify his actions. Many conservative whites, not only in South Africa, but throughout the world, look upon blacks as inferior human beings. But they don't march into the streets and start killing them. Yet, the court was being told by a number of experts, that, yes, there were perhaps some indications of incipient paranoia here and signs of impending schizophrenia there, but nevertheless Strijdom did not suffer from a disordered personality.^58. Strijdom's ‘neural wilderness’ was obviously beyond his control. How could experts tell the court Strijdom was mentally healthy when, as a policeman, he had had his picture taken with the severed head of a black accident victim?

58. Also see The Wit Wolf Groupies by Jaap Boekooi and Frans Esterhuyse, The Sunday Star, May 28, 1989