Specially one of my vintage.
For most of my life, the Nationalist government was in power.
They terrorized the white population with tales of how we would be all be killed by the blacks if they were given power.
They called this the "Swart Gevaar" ("Black Danger")
Their other story was that all blacks were Communists who would kill all whites given half a chance.
This was called the "Rooi Gevaar" (Red Danger")
That government also took away access to overseas radio and, of course, we were not allowed TV then either.
Net result: we only heard their point of view
Net net result: a thoroughly brainwashed populace.
You can see a little of this sort of thing happening in America today - with the "Arab Gevaar" being used to keep US citizens bound by fear in the same way.
You may wonder why I am reminiscing about all this today.
Good question.
Here's the thing:
In those days, we got so used to the whole world hating us: sports teams refused permission to play anyone anywhere ; boycotts; sanctions; you name it.
We were loathed international outcasts.
We thought they were the ones who were wrong (obviously) but still, it was not a good feeling.
Then 1994!
Finally - acceptance. . .
More - we were the wunderkinden of the world.
It felt great.
Now?
Now - the unthinkable. . . .
Our president has made bad decisions over the years but his extraordinary stance on Mugabe is, even for shell shocked South AFricans, bizarre.
That Mbeki should side with him in spite of the known horrors and atrocities that have taken place under Mugabe's regime beggers belief.
Mbeki's refusal to take any stand against him leaves us dumbfounded and deeply ashamed of him.
And feeling we have betrayed Zimbabwe and her people.
The frustration of having our president saying things that are outrageous and completely out of keeping with the opinions of the majority of people (black and white) of this country is overwhelming!
Are we going to be a "nation-non-grata" again?
In closing, in the words of our anthem, 'Nkosi sikelele iAfrika' - God bless Africa - because we surely cannot make it on our own.
9 comments:
argh. bloody fools are ruining it for everyone. gotta wonder what our future really is here.
Very disappointing. And disgusting....
Shocking to say the least. Lord help us! I never thought I'd see this day hurumph! Love to ya'll xx
Thanks for sharing this Alison. T & I don't get the paper anymore, we decided a bit of ostrich ignorance was OK for a while....obviously not tho'. I am shocked & so disappointed that the people 'in charge' are even less concerned about the people they govern than I thought they were. Where to now I ask?
~Kim
Well HELLO there! Thanks for stopping by. This last post of yours really summed up the feelings of a lot of us Sefricans. I mean *hello* even George Bush has the common sense to condemn Mugabe, which doesn't say much for our Mr President now does it? Oy. Vey.
Hi there we haven't met - I'm Linny KJ's mum. I'm passing on your blog to teachers here at the school in the UK. It comes as no surprise - afterall Mugabe's wife and Beki's wife are sisters...there you go- Blood sisters. Ticks all the boxes. We are SO glad we live in UK its a pleasure! Hope you sell your home with a view like that - no probs!! should i show the teachers here, they may want a 'lekker' home with a view. Where you moving to?
Very sad - unfortunately the world is ade up of people who don't think of consequences before they act. Thanks for sharing your history - prayers with you and your family!
I personally don't have enough knowledge on the S. Africa situation to comment - at least intelligently. But I know we American's are struggling through what it means to be Christian in a Democracy and how our authority should be appropriately shared. We need God's help too.
Were you born and raised in South Africa? In America, we hear on the news about Mugame...and it's scary.
Have you read Alexander McCall Smith's books "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency"? They take place in Botswana. 9 in the series so far and I've read each one, waiting for the tenth. May God protect those few good people!
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