Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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Youth Day
Currently Listening
World Through Your Eyes
By Reuben Morgan
see relatedPlease don't read this blog if you are sensitive. The images are graphic but sadly true. They are not my own images but come from googling them online. They tell a story. It was Youth Day yesterday in South Africa. We celebrated the Soweto Youth Uprising where black South African youth fought to be taught in their own language.
This is Ashley and his family. He used to work in the shop next door to me a few years back. He did not get to celebrate Youth Day yesterday. He was shot twice early Friday morning and killed .... for his cell phone (mobile). To show you how common this is in my office alone in the admin staff Sue's dad was killed in a similar farm attack ten years ago. Naledi's mom owns a farm down in the Transkei and the Muslim man who runs the trading station was also killed a few weeks ago. Daniels ex and the mother of his child was shot and killed in 2003.
This is the world famous photo of Hector Peterson. He was killed in the Soweto uprising in 1976. Youth were shot at for daring to protest rightfully that they be taught in their own language. For many years this has been a source of shame for white South Africans. I was three years old but still I feel shame as it was white policemen who fired.
Well the youth of 1976 can be very proud. Their children have done this. Set a man on fire. Why? Because he is not a Black South African. His crime - he is from Mocambique.
My point is this. We are all capable of doing extreme bad and extreme good. We are all capable of doing nothing and being indifferent. We are all capable of racism (on that note in the interest of equality I would like us to not use the word xenophobia but racism - lets call it what it is).
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Martin Luther King
I also have a dream and my dream is that this dream will come true for South Africa. For all South Africans - Coloureds, Indians, Whites and foreigners. All those who choose to make this beautiful country home.
I also want to be judged by the content of my character and not just the colour of my skin.
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Comments (32)
A shocking and disturbing photo, but one that I am glad to have seen. Sometimes words aren't enough. But this country seems to have become filled with hate.
I am recommending this because of the harsh reality...the truth in our beloved country.
But yes, we are all capable of such horror. And yes, I am sick of the racism in this country, which has now, lets be real, become reverse racism and the so called equality and democracy we were promised 10 years ago has NEVER come to light.
That said, I am taking my mean headache to the doctor - you were stern enough and so my appt is for 2:30pm - some woman I have never seen because wouldn't you know it, my regular docs are all fully booked. Aaargh, now to explain the car accident history etc to a stranger again - all info she will need in order to make an educated diagnosis...BLAH.
Fill you in later! Have a good day. Are you going to Ashley's funeral tomorrow?
And I am not recommending because I feel ashamed by what's happened here, and I can't bear the thought of people thinking that this is *all* South Africa is about, even though you are 100% percent correct in drawing attention to it too.
Thanks for sharing. I pray for South Africa and Zimbabwe. I pray for my family and friends who are in the thick of it. I pray for peace. I pray that each person no matter the colour of their skin would have respect for one another, would look to move forward together. My heart cries out....for my country...my land.....
If everyone could realize there is only ONE race, the human race.
People are routinely shot for their CELL phones??? Why??
I am so sorry to hear about those deaths, especially over a cell phone. Why are they stealing them?? I know there were some reports of terrorists using cell phones in making bombs as the source for detonating them.
I have not seen much about the racists killings on the media here but it may be censored and not allowed to our press. I saw one short story about Zimbabwe and the unrest there.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE2D91F39F934A1575AC0A961948260
This sounds like the verses in the Bible that speak of the End Times, bad weather, strange weather, people no longer valuing life, no longer respecting each other, open rebellion against authority and what is right.
*speechless*
wow... I don't know what to say... we're just worried about poor service at restaurants here, not being killed for a handie (mobile/cell phone)...
@Hecalmsthestorm - I'd like to answer that one. "because". Thats the only reason there is. I know of people who have been shot just because they didn't have a cigarette to give. The stories from our country are horrendous at the moment. Reality is it is such a beautiful place - just wish it was a lot safer so my children and I could enjoy its beauty to the fullest!
@Hecalmsthestorm - I wish I could even say poverty but that would be disrespecting the millions of poor that still choose not to do crime. Life is valueless here. Greed is everything sadly.
@martna1 - I know for me that i always have to remember the verses about who we are really fighting and try to have compassion on people
My parents and I left SA when I was 8, in 1986. The rest of my childhood was filled with a longing to go back home and my parents massive guilt that my generation did not grow up to make the changes that they so hoped we would.
A sad but true depiction of the spiritual poverty in South Africa. Yesterday the ANC youth leader said they will kill for Jacob Zuma...I heard him myself over the radio this morning. To kill somebody has become such easy words...it is said in the same way we will say we are going to a cafe to by a loaf of bread. Then later today I heard how the ANC dealt with the issue and I shudder at the thought of what is going to be the future we fight for. As an African leaving is not an option for me. We, the people of South Africa must fight for our voices to be heard. We can not allow life to become cheap.
i never imagined these sort of things to happen down there. i need to stop living in a bubble.
looking at these issues face on is the first step in solving them!
I often think about my "bad" days and how really insignificant they are. I think about all the stress and all the "problems" I solve and how it takes over my life. I often think about things like this that go on in the world and how I wish I had real problems to deal with so that at least all that stupid stress will be for something with some meaning to it.
And after all that, I think about what this really means, and how lucky I am to live in a place where I'm not worried about things like this happening to me and my friends.
That's a noble dream of yours but I doubt it will ever happen their.
@Zeal4living - Its crazy that it seems we have learnt nothing. The word democracy falls off our lips but we have no concept of it. Democracy means I can choose without fear of recrimination. Aaargh!!
Shocking - One day - peace on earth for everyone.
See, this is the problem. After apartheid "was over", all the attention (most of the attention?) disappeared. Except for a couple of news stories about white farmers being forced from their land, we (in the US) hear very little on the regular news. This bothers me because it's like blacks can do no wrong and that everything's pretty much okay. Obviously, this is not the case, and this proves it. I've got no solutions, but I'm just bothered that we don't hear anything.
Yeah, I'm still around. I'm your friend on Facebok, you know. Haha. I read your Xanga blogs, but I never comment on them anymore, for whatever reason. I guess since I have a MySpace and a Facebook that I concentrate on those. I hope that you are well.
God Bless,
Tom
Hey you, have a good weekend...just think....this time next week - WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This news from SA is very depressing. My prayers are with you and your countrymen.
It's so sad that racism still exist in the 21st century. I just wish the hate crimes and discrimination will stop and that people will live together in harmony regardless of race, beliefs and sex.
People say we learn from history but how come we are not learning from WWII where such racism exist?! This is a shame that human have not transformed, since.