Stop!

Some harsh introspection (the best kind)

My mental resident has been pacing up and down my mental park.

Most of the anxiety being caused by this post, which was written and shared a tiny while ago.

I have been trying to pick out what precisely it is about the post that is causing this unsettling feeling. (The best way to describe the feeling I am experiencing would be to liken it to that feeling you get before speaking to a massive group of people that you have never met before in your life, or that fluttering slightly unpleasant feeling before going on a date with someone for the first time; not knowing what to expect, will you say the “right”things, will you get on well, is he cute? How do I look? Shoot, maybe I shouldn’t go at all!)

An unkind (yet necessary) feeling to the soul.

My suspects have come and gone.

Captured and then set free.

But the latest one has been detained and is pending trial.

I would like to use the below-mentioned saying or quote which lay spread-eagle across my wall (for the bigger portion of my past year), I elect this particular wise and truthful saying to sum up my current suspect (most likely to be found guilty).

“Whenever you have truth it must be given with love, or the message and the messenger will be rejected”. I believe that wise man responsible for this saying is Mahatma Gandhi.

Perhaps, my post was a little too narrow-minded in its examples as it was a post that was initially meant to highlight the phenomenal work being done by Survival International. It quickly turned into (as my blog is aptly named rantingravingrandomramblings) a rambling. A rather bitter one. Due to my observations that week. But after looking at my stats that week I realised that my blog is no longer a simple dumping ground for mindless thoughts and opinions. It is now a place where my peers and others come to read and find inspiration or to defend a point of view.

I am honoured to see that my blog has evolved in that way.

Having acknowledged that, I rapidly came to the realisation that, maybe this disclaimer is no longer relevant.

Frightening thought. That maybe I may not simple come to this “safe place” to rant, rave, ramble and occasionally throw my toys out of the proverbial cot which many of us inhabit at different times in our days.

This seems an important fork in the road. An important growing pain.

Intimidating. (To say the least)

I have never been scared of change, I often times embrace it with enthusiasm. However, this time is different.

Back to the post that’s causing this spiral and harshly introspective point in my thoughts (and future actions).

I was worried by the major portion of the world of people that I had unwittingly gathered and throw into the mud-pile.(Funny I call it that as it was never intended to be) 

Those brave souls that are instrumental and vital in the fight for the greater good and for positive social change.

The people who see that something is not quite right and seek to be part of the solution.

They are not always the people who are enduring the suffering or pain.

Okay, this is all pretty abstract. Here is an example.

I’m keeping Survival International in here to keep it tidy.

The people who began the organisation were never taken off of the land that they grew up on, they were never separated from their families by those that took over their land, they were not tortured or had family members raped, their tribes and people were not wiped out by an invasion of diseases those invading unknowingly brought along with them, their tribes were not invaded.  No. None of those boxes were ticked, by them, but they were still able to see that indigenous people and tribes are vulnerable and they still had the fire and passion to fight for their rights; and are doing a fantastic job at that.

Now, it is the following example (or the same kind) that I neglected to include in my previous post, this is the type of thinking and methodology I was attempting to shine the light on.

A very personal example here:

When I was 18 years old, after a childhood friend aged 14 died from a drug overdose, saddened and feeling pretty guilty that I was unable to prevent it, I decided to finally start a soccer team in my township (Ga-Rankuwa), so I set off with a grand plan in mind, I approached a principal at one of the local high schools in my community to find out if we could use their soccer field. He enthusiastically agreed. I then put out notices all over the place in shops and schools to tell people that if they were interested they should come and sign up. On the stated date I had a rather big fight with my mom that day, but despite this I headed to the school to register the interested young boys (and girls if any). I expected hordes of people to come.

Nobody, besides my younger brother came.

Needless to say I went to bed with a heavy heart and the word “defeat” - seemingly engraved - into my forehead. I was confused. Why one earth was nobody interested. This was a great opportunity after all.

A great opportunity according to ME.

 I was not a boy, I was never going to be one in this lifetime.  I was not into drugs, and the closest I have EVER come to indulging in such substances was occasionally over-indulging in wine and other alcoholic beverages, as do most young people and I would never have (at that age) turned to soccer in the fierce Ga-Rankuwa sun to deter me.

My plan was based on what I thought, not on what the people I was directing this at wanted. I was naïve and arrogant to some extent in my approach. I thought I knew best without consulting the very people this initiative would affect.

I never asked them what they wanted it to look like.

I didn’t see the hole in my plan until I was much much older, long after the desire to embark on this journey had subsided.

It is this process I intended to condemn, but seem to have failed to outline effectively, causing the focus to fall onto other topics, such as what some called my "attack on Australia".

I have opted to leave the post that has been causing me anguish and insomnia up, it is a reminder to me to be more cautious in my approach and my content and to be gentle where I know I should be.

 History can be a shaky ground as it is and needs to be handled with care.

For now my disclaimer stands, until I choose the fork in the road I am presented with.

 With love and all the care I can bring forth at this hour of the day (3:26am)

x

Of Self Expression & Self Preservation

I have been following Survival International for quite sometime now and I love their work. Their vision is one I can identify with. I am happy that there is someone, a group of people, whose lives are dedicated to this cause. The cause being to protect the rights and livelihoods of indigenous tribes and people. To avoid the further exploitation of their resources and cultural activities. In short - stealing from them.

Often times, I find myself debating with people I come across and those in my life about integration, self expression & self preservation and it's role in our daily lives and our quality of life as people.

For instance, recently I went on a road trip with some friends from France. One evening while driving from one town to the next, I believe we were headed to Port Shepstone, we began talking about one of the laws that France has. The conversation was steered in this direction by a comment that one of my travel companions made; that in France, Muslim women are prohibited to wear burqas. I was taken aback by this statement. He proceeded to say that he felt that it was a good law, which "protected"Muslim women.

Sensing my shock and being somewhat surprised at my disapproval he began to explain that the law (which was still in the pipelines in this article I found) was not only limited to Muslim people and their burqas, but enveloped all religions too. Rosaries, necklaces with crosses/crucifixes attached to them, religious dress of any kind - all disallowed (in public).

I would like to explain my distaste.

Throughout history we have seen painful examples of "what not to do" and I am of the opinion that making decisions for other peoples' well being is one of those mistakes. How could you possibly make an informed decision about that which you are not a part of and that which you do not understand?

The current situation in Australia is a perfect example of this phenom.

A typical example is that of the Aboriginal people. Their culture, resources (both natural and human-based), lifestyle and quality of life had been almost completely destroyed.

Now that the Australian government realises the extent of the damage they have embarked on a journey to try and mend the tears, the multi-layered tears. To avoid going into detail. I will sum up the method chosen to be the above-mentioned one, which is that they (which are not Aboriginal people) think they know what is best for that which they are not a part of.

It has been taken and destroyed, alcohol has long been introduced to them and is now a crutch, their customs have long been lost and are depleting rapidly due to death of those who knew how best to approach certain rituals and such.

Again, an example of others choosing what they think is best for others.
Arrogance.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe that the Australian government as well as the majority of it's people are genuinely apologetic and regretful of what has transpired regarding the indigenous people of Australia. It is extremely clear in this official apology and speech (**here is a downloadable version) to the Aboriginal people made by the then prime minister Kevin Rudd in February of 2008.

In fact I strongly believe that South Africa (and many other nations) can learn a lot from this apology and even more from the thorough explanations contained in the speech.

I hate to pick on Australia, I have a lot of great friends from there whom I respect tremendously and who have shaped me and added much value to my life and my journey. But it is not an attack of any kind, it is merely an inconvenient fact of historical happenings that finds me here.

I would like to revert my attention back to the French, one of their main reasoning for passing the law I mentioned earlier is that in the past they have had many conflicts based on religious beliefs. Actually, an entire war between the Catholics & the Protestants which lasted over 3 decades. And so it made sense that due to the sensitive situation back then, this law had relevance.

I still feel uneasy. Is this the best approach? That within French boarders you show no religious ties? Does this law then not propel and support the idea of atheism? I am conflicted.

Are the French merely preserving their way of life?

That being said, I would like to share this video that I found on Survival International's website, the page which deals with what they call uncontacted tribes. It lead me to the question of self-preservation and which approach is best.

Does exclusion lead to a better preserved self, nation, clan, tribe, family, friendship circle, society, business?



**I urge you to please read the apology/speech. It is moving, true and exemplary.