Not just a fire of passion (which I do not run short of). No, this burning fire is ignited and kept alight
by my love and deep seated desire to participate in political debate.
Living in SA provides for much material to throw into my fire.
I felt the need for this page as I have often found myself needing to let out my thoughts but not know where or how to do it.
Freely and on somewhat of a public platform.
12 October 2011
Following posting this article on my facebook page, there was an avalanche of reponses. Here is my response and my thoughts:
At first I was going to re-read the article and then all the comments before responding but then I realised that, if I did that, what I would churn out would be a rather clinical and clean response formulated with the purpose of making sure that I did not upset anyone. But then I thought, why?
So here is my from the heart and mind, true response:
South Africa is in a very difficult and particularly unique position in that we did not have a civil war when Apartheid ended and therefore there are a lot of heavy unresolved issues within us as people and us a nation. Feelings that have not been dealt with and resolved and due to that we have become obsessed with being "politically correct" which in itself is a redundant concept (topic for another day).
We have unconsciously adopted this habit of skipping around hard, harsh issues to avoid the eruption which is threatening to emerge (otherwise known as suppression).
As much as I would LOVE to be the person who swoops in to give some shiny, pretty comment, I am not. Not right now anyway.
There is a lot of inequality in SA.Fact.
A lot of the inequality has been perpetuated by the inbalance in the ownership of things.
Money.
Power.
Land.
The idea that land should be shared is a rather polite suggestion and nudge towards balancing the visibly tipped scale. The fact that race is mentioned in this conversation and that it is relevant is sad.
But we are where we are and this is what it is.
“White” South Africans own a big portion of land which was forcibly taken from the indigenous people of SA. Fact.
One of the big tasks facing our government is that of attempting to level the playing field. A near impossible task. How do they do this without asking for permission? How do they ask for permission? How do we come to the table to discuss and find a middle ground to make it happen in as smooth a way as possible?
It is hard when those with land feel threatened and attacked and fear losing what they have (which is a lot) whenever the topic of land re-distribution or sharing is brought forward.
We all know what happened in Zimbabwe and also the calibre of the leader of Zimbabwe. His method did not work. Too extreme, messy and not well thought through. It was a real life example of “what not to do”. We will not walk into that same ditch. No.
If sharing of land is to happen, those who own it need to be part of the process so as to avoid imposing legislature that is going to force them to do so. Which would be a repeat of Apartheid - laying down legislature that conveniently benefits the end result, which is whatever those in power desire. This would not be right (I believe that the ends and the means are the same). But an intervention may need to happen.
To ensure that concerns of food shortage due to lack of agricultural knowledge are silenced or dampened, a plan/process needs to be laid in place that would assist those who the land is granted to. To make sure that instead of becoming a burden on the economy and the agricultural system they then become an asset and a resource that uplifts the country economically, socially as well as culturally.
I am a firm believer that anyone can learn anything. The levels of efficiency and brilliance may vary, but if it is taught it can be learnt.
So instead of being negative about the idea of sharing land simply because it has been brought forth by Malema, I invite you all to try and listen to what the core message is and try to imagine a South Africa where the idea is not tossed into the bin as an absurdity or an attempt to “get rid of white people” because I am fully aware that this is a real fear.
The intention here is not to disregard white South Africans and to render them obsolete. No.
The intention is to attempt to empower those who have, for a very long time, been at the absolute bottom of the pile.
Those who need to learn how to do for themselves and therefore the country. Those that would like to contribute to a better place for their children but don’t know where to begin. Those that have sacrificed this and that and whatever else to live to see the day South Africa is where it is now.
Let’s move forward and build together. Let’s try to be aware and real about the reality we are faced with and that we are a part of. Let us break the culture of tip-toeing around hard important issues that need to be addressed in order for us to heal and build better.
I repeat - This is not an attack on “white South Africans” it is merely a suggestion (which may need to turn into an intervention) on one of the ways of balancing the dramatically tipped scale.
