I was browsing a very popular American blog today and I came across a post which concerned Jennifer Hudson’s casting as Winnie Mandela in a new upcoming film. I was very interested as to what people thought of this development so I decided to check the comments. I was horrified by what some of the people had posted!
I do not often make comments on websites but this time I felt compelled to do so!
Let me just start by stating that I am not a fan of Winnie Mandela, my upset regarding these posts was mainly due to the horrible comments about Nelson Mandela and South Africa. I did try and post my comment (although they don’t seem to be showing) - this was my reply:
“I am a South African, who lives in the post-apartheid 'New' South Africa and I am horrified by the comment about our country being much better off under the Apartheid regime!
I would love to hear the persons’ reasons (aside from healthcare and Aids denialism) as to why we were better off then! To address the Aids denialism saga: Yes we had a leader who was ignorant about the crisis and made very bad decisions, but let me not get started on the dilemmas created by the George W Bush administration!
With regards to the current healthcare system, things were good back then but only for the minority (white citizens, by the way I am a white South African). Aids was not prevalent in the years of apartheid so using that as a point of comparison is ignorant!
Regarding the state of our economy, this is one of my favourite debates! Let me start by pointing out that we are a developing country (classified and considered as third world). Fortunately our third world country had smart financial leaders who knew how best to regulate financial affairs so that our country did not plunge into economic turmoil during the global economic meltdown.
While we did go into a recession, we have been doing relatively well compared to other countries, from what I have heard. Last time I checked the markets the Rand (our currency) has gotten quite strong against other major world currencies, not to mention that platinum and gold (we are the second largest supplier of gold in the world) has shot up due to concerns over instability in the stock markets etc...
Do not point fingers when the issues you are addressing are a lot closer to home! America is billions of dollars in the red and relies on plenty of countries (see China and oil rich countries). America has only recently received a glimmer of hope regarding their healthcare system which (by first world standards) has been atrocious.
I have been on medical aid all my life costing me about R 500 ($71) per month and I have always received all the medical care and products I have needed (from private institutions). We still have major problems as far as healthcare is concerned as most impoverished citizens do not have access but there seems to be hope as the new SA administration is currently in the process of working on a new healthcare insurance system which would provide all South Africans with affordable/free healthcare.
To address the comment about the Mandelas killing people: Apartheid was a struggle for liberation and unfortunately people were hurt, injured and killed and that is part of the ugliness of it all, but when looking at the history of how peace is restored it is an unfortunate reality.
I do believe that Nelson Mandela and many others used themselves as mediums for a greater cause, no different to soldiers at war for their country who do not intentionally wish to kill or harm but understand the inevitability.
How many great world leaders are only good after all? Look at Winston Churchill for example, he was a great leader but has left behind a huge problem the Middle East still faces today. Would he have made the same choices if he could see the outcome? Who knows but surely he made those tough choices for the greater good.
All countries have flaws and we as South Africans acknowledge ours and confront them in an attempt to make life in our country even better. People may get hurt but peace and harmony will heal our wounds. From the way I see it we have never been fighting a pointless war.”
In the process of reading the comments and writing mine, my perspective on so many things was enhanced. I felt so proud to be a South African. I also gave the concept of being a third world country a lot more thought and realised that the bottom line that sets us apart surely has to be money, and clearly that brings more problems than anything.
Yes we have major problems, but so does every other country. Our knowledge, diversity, rich culture and humility are what make us first world and that is something to be proud of!
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