The abovementioned blog post has the potential to elicit intense emotions in South Africans from all walks of life – whether we claim to be politically inclined or not. Below is an attempt at a non-emotive, ‘considerate of all things said’ response to one of the commentators on the blog, as well as the blog article itself:
@Matoro – It would appear that race, tribe and colour have – sadly – all BUT vamoosed from the South African mindset.
We are 17 years into a democracy that held the promise of unity, growth and equality for all – and still does. Yet when we find ourselves at loggerheads with one another, we experience a debilitating relapse of the cancer that threatened to destroy the very core of who we are as South Africans. Instead of seeking common ground – to advance, heal and improve the country as a whole – it would appear that there is an underlying sense of retribution which prevails among us. Black South Africans seek retribution for the wrongs incurred at the hands of white South Africans in the past, and white South Africans seek it for the country which they ‘lost’ to the black South Africans. White South Africans blame the government for the crime statistics that prevail in the country, Black South Africans...white South Africans...black South Africans. The list goes on. This in turn causes short sightedness, encourages our dwelling on the negative aspects, and deters us from seeing the hope and the beauty that this country and its people hold.
As for the article, Mr. Radley provides an interesting approach to consider Mr. Malema’s so-called popularity. What if he does provide a voice to discontented South Africans? What if his voice does avert the illegal, anarchic response displayed by those who were dismayed with other administrations in the past, globally?
All aspects considered however, I do not believe that a 17 year old democratic South Africa needs utterances made in arrogance and which appears to be intended for provocation or for propagating a personal vendetta. What we do need are the leaders that Radley suggest. We need leaders without any personal agendas, who have the courage to address the pressing matters in our country with boldness and with the genuine concern of all South Africans at heart – regardless of racial or political alliance.
There is however another facet which South Africans need more than any number of leaders with character, integrity and substance. And that is the element of Forgiveness. No amount of objection, protest or complaint is going to have any impact on matters unless we forgive - one another as well as those who have gone before us. At this junction I estimate that I may well be posting on the topic in the not too distant future. Until such a time however, will you take up the challenge with me and lead right there where you are...?
Lest we voyage down the “well practiced neural pathway” that leads us to deduct that South Africa has been been damaged beyond repair, let us display the courage and boldness which we so desire of our leaders, and be the first to forgive..and to HOPE. (Neumann, 21 July 2010).
http://michaelneumann.blogspot.com/2010/07/mandela-malema-and-reason-to-hope.html
