"All that I took from thee I did take, Not for thy harm, But just that thou might'st seek it in my arms" - Francis Thompson
As an African child born in the formidable years of Apartheid in South Africa, at the height of black resistance and solidarity by black and white people in the home front and internationally, I feel very opinionated and not less educated with these affairs to such an extent that I would like to share my thoughts on paper with my fellow people on how I so wish for our country to be prosperous, using its resources, talents and manpower at its disposal for the betterment of humankind.
I envision our Republic as a progressive, powerful and compassionate nation of a few uneducated people. A country with lots of sunshine where the majority of us can trust each other without any harboured thoughts of dissent or mistrust. A nation where our attitude as a people will be like that of a stapelia flower, a strange succulent plant native to the deserts of Southern Africa. Our people should do away with their sense of entitlement; it must be foreign to us. I long for a country where its people love and cherish the Local, Provincial and National Government and be its ambassadors.
Every time when I revel in these thoughts, thorny words from a friend of mine just play out in my mind “Don’t trust white people, if they seem close to you it is because they want to use you.” And to some extent I ask myself how true can this be for what selfish reasons would whites use me or anyone else for that matter? This is like an adult member of a family who thinks his or her visiting uncle/aunt wants to bewitch them; chances are that the aunt/uncle might be the one who brought him/her up from their toddler years.
Struggling to create a better world for future generations
If South Africa is to grow and develop as a developmental state, its citizens should stop the obsession that is currently sweeping throughout the country of Black and White as if these are the sole inhabitants of our motherland. These current racist ranting’s by various writers and politicians doesn’t reflect the feelings and thoughts of the broader masses of our society. We all know very well that the continued existence of poking the sleeping lioness can deliver this country into a nasty civil war.
A particularly noteworthy action was when the State President of our Republic referred to certain behavioral patterns as being white and some as being black, for a current incumbent of such a high office to be making such reckless utterances clearly indicates to us that we have a moral and social dilemma in our hands. We should ask ourselves "What spirit is driving some of these influential figures to be making racially divisive remarks?" “What is their modus operandi?” I am a South African and I call upon my fellow countryman to form a United Nationalist Front. There has been a long standing tradition of lack of unification within this country.
The use of indigenous South African languages as a medium of instruction in our school is an initiative that could take our society in the direction that we could all be emancipated into our nationalistic dream and be ready to cultivate this country and make it take its rightful position within the global community. Until 1991 our population was classified into a couple of racial groups, namely: The Indians; Black Africans; Coloureds and Whites. Apartheid South Africa emphasized these differences, a new dawn has fallen upon us but we still find ourselves reiterating the position of Apartheid South Africa by engaging in this antagonistic viral racial exchange. The case of racial disharmony is quickly unfolding under the Presidency of Jacob Zuma. All sensible people in our country know that we resisted civil war and were treading on its edges.
The spirit of goodwill should prevail and be fostered in our people and a positive attitude amongst various population groups.
Democracy and Security
Despite numerous administrative gains, prosperity for our nation is coming very slow as result of the crippling corruption that has become fashionable and contagious. Material reconstruction of our society is an essential prologue to its unification and can only be achieved if we as a nation in the quest of the advancement of our country can as a matter of public policy place emphasis on academic credentials as an objective measure of merit before we place burden of public office on any individual. We need public officials who are devoted to their duties. I can't shrug off the thought that what could certainly fracture our society into a civil war is the gap between the rich and the poor. There's a Chinese proverb that says "Wealth does not pass three generations".
If our country can fall into extremes of rich and poor as it is currently heading, it will be corrupted to the point where virtue would be suffocated, ending any noticeable welfare, as well as any other desire to contribute to the public good leaving society with nothing. I therefore appeal to fellow South Africans to join together as we weld South Africa to a permanent diverse multicultural competitive society which will shy away from the advancing gross moral turpitude.
Dr D.F Malan’s speech at the inauguration of the Voortrekker Monument in 1949 stated “As a heritage the Voortrekkers left us a greater South Africa. Their infinitely greater achievement was that they left to posterity not only a country, but a country which at the same time was the bearer and future nursery of a national soul.” Even if this was clearly directed to the Afrikaaner population of that time but his words were true and applied to all South Africans, our ancestors left us a great country through their sweat and blood. The onward march of our minds towards the attainment and practice of nationalistic ideals should be pursued with such great vigour and enthusiasm.
There is a window of opportunity for growing hope of improved economic and educational opportunities, The Republic is therefore calling upon enthusiastic and self-assured citizens who are united in position to protect it from dying through this slow racial vegetative division
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
