We need to understand that those in power sway immense influenze on the masses of our people and how we are socialised. Therefore those in power need to understand that with this privilege and freedom comes immense responsibility. Personal retrogressive agendas along the lines of ethnicity has no place in South Africa in 2011 and beyond. Have we not learned from apartheid? And why are we so bend on pursuing a retrogressive Africanist-Nationalist agenda?
Those of us that came to the National Democratic Revolution via the UDF and the
black consciousness movement understand the value of simply being human and striving for equality. We understand and have always aspired to what is contained within the Freedom Charter and now our constitution. The fact that we are different and have a blended heritage is what makes us unique. It speaks to the richness of our culture and speaks to the "rainbow" nation we are.
A unique social exercise that is protected by our constitution. One is not better than the other. We are equal. Or perhaps I am just a fool to believe that the blood that was shed for this inalienable right and privilege should today guide us in all we do.
A question we might have to start asking is whether the ANC has the moral will to guide us through this Red Sea or is it Dead Sea? I know that the movement has the political will to do so, I am just not sure it has the moral capacity. I might be wrong, but I am not seeing positive signs anywhere from any one in key leadership positions. We do no require a policy conference to comment on injustice.
What is needed to move us forward as a nation? How do we begin to take ownership of this country of ours? How do we heal the wounds of the past? We certainly did not achieve that with the TRC. It merely scratched beneath the surface and further infected the wound. It helped a few families find peace and painted a picture of reconciliation but it certainly did not heal South Africa. If anything in retrospect, it placed a plaster on a growing brain tumor. Be that as it may, we are where we are today because we sought quick fix solutions and we continue to do so.
The anger amongst our people are most palpable in our poorer communities. And here poverty makes no distinction based on ethnicity or cultural background. The writing is on the wall and instead we want to place these acts of rebellion and discontent on the sidelines and call it isolated incidences.
We have failed to bring our communities together in a progressive and sustainable manner and because of this the spray painted rainbow nation is fast crumbling before our eyes. Let us not fool ourselves in thinking that a few white people at the Kaizer Chiefs/Orlando Pirates derby is a definite sign that we are now united as a nation. People continue to isolate themselves in their respective communities and continue to organise themselves politically and economically along the same lines. Again we have made advances in nation building, but the reminders of the divisions in our society is stark.
Why is this though? We have become a nation of opportunists where individualism has been crowned the one eyed king or is it blind-eyed king? I see progressive changes in our children, the new generation as they operate beyond ethnic boundaries with no limitations. And also only those that is exposed to it. But for us dragging the psychological baggage of apartheid it is slightly more difficult. We have so much further to go and so much more healing need to be done. We need to engage pro-actively with issues related to race and identity. We need to construct a South African Cultural Paradigm that speaks to the humanity of individuals. We need to place before us our past and deal with the hurt and sorrow constructively and lay it to rest.
We need to unite in this time of displacement and polirisation and set a pro-active agenda that will not only be designed along class structure, but will bring people together from all walks of life.
These are but a few suggestions. I certainly do not have the answers. I only write about what I see and hear. We need to stop playing the blame game and start doing. We need to take whoever to task should they seek to harm our nation and start the progressive discourse.
Remember; some of us is not all of us.
GAH - thetruthseeker
@ Jozi
.jpg)