Do you remember, the days when you were but a child? Simple and innocent, when music clearly echoed through your heart for the happiness it intended to bring.

A song is singing in my heart, one, which has been singing since I was a child, one that has echoed through the halls of my mind, one, I have always thought I have only heard on my own.

It began many years ago, upon the whitewashed beaches of Durban, our fair Natal, port of all the commerce of this proud nation.

Fathers, mothers, children and our extended family of species all sang together as one, when the world turned its eye upon the shields of this country as we agreed to change for peace.

As nation upon nation, race upon race, raised their flags, their colours of unity and togetherness and rose from the ashes of being apart, and joined as one, the great nation of South Africa.

From the tip of one of the most southernmost land points of this world, the humpback whales sing a song, a song that they wish to share with all those who seek but only to live and let live.

They call for nature and people alike to remember that we are all playing the same song, that we are all a part of one world. That beyond the borders of South Africa, is the rest of Africa and connected to that is Asia and to that is Europe, and beyond this is the great island nations of the sea that joins us all to North America, which extends itself to South America.

Have you noticed that only one, Antarctica, is not connected and it is the only place, cold and alone, an island by itself.

The very world tells us a story we should all hear. A song and a story that those very humpback whales bring to us, as South Africans and we have had that chance to share this story.

So I, friend and patriot of this nation, by the name of Gilbert Martin II, fool amongst many courts, yet proud, for I have stood and will stand by what I believe, declare that time will still change, these tides of failure and disbelief, hatred and anger, will all subside.

It begins in you, South Africa.

From the beaches of Durban, I extend my call to the lands and valleys of the giant Drakensberg Mountains, across the farmlands of the Orange Free State.

I call to the great machine of Johannesburg, the mighty centre of all economies of Africa. Across the plains and savannah, the secretive bushveld that stretched north to our famous plateaus.

I call from the sands of our Karoo, across the mighty Orange River and the canyons that run amongst the mighty rivers of our nations, right through the trees of the ancient Knysna forests.

All our elephants sing the song of the whale, to remind us all one simple thing. The lions roar it across the savannah and the people speak it in the mine. They speak it around the braai fires.

South Africa, we have so much, we share, such great cultures, such great minds, such great technologies and economies. So much, we can share and give.

Why do we fight with one another?

Why can we not see that we are all the same and it only takes that one moment to ponder the question of how could it be, if only we decide things differently, say things differently?

I have been sitting watching all these things happening, I have raised my voice in unison of those who have suffered, black, white and Indian; Muslim, Christian, and Jew alike, all of them, the same beautiful people, the same great histories, the same pains, the same fears.

Let us remember the days of peace once more, let us take each other’s hands and sing a different song, let us not forget where we came from, and let us not forget how much we suffered under these silly, nonsensical ranting and arguments.

Let us pick up our tools, let us silence our voices, let us build this nation, and let us finish the race we began, WE ALL BEGAN, a long time ago. Let us raise the new flag and raise the pride of our flag of peace and love.

Let us shine that light, now more than ever, because the world seems to have forgotten and will soon turn here to us, to see, how we did it, as they did when their economies crashed.

Let us now rise as this nation of strength, a nation of wise men, a nation that will not tolerate certain individuals destroying the core of what we built, and a nation that will not suffer like the rest of Africa.

Let us do this, not for ourselves, not for our flag, let us do this for whatever Gods we believe in, to be proud, to tell our children, and our children’s children and also our friends and families, that this is their home and we did it for them.

Let us look past all that has happened and CHOOSE now to become the change we want in this great country.

I call you now. Are you listening? What do you say? South Africa. Ke Nako ("It is Time"). Kom Tuis ("Come Home"). Eendragt maakt magt ("Unity is Strength"). !ke e: /xarra //ke ("People Who are Different Joining Together"). Shalom ("Peace"). Salaam ("Peace").

It is after all your decision to make a change, or simply ignore where we are heading. Write your name below, if you agree for peace and peace alone...

Those whales sing a song of peace and unity, is your heart singing it too?

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.

- News24

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