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A man I greatly admire, Prof Jonathan Jansen has a different view: read his reasons why #RhodesMustStay here
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Another important and interesting view, from veteran political journalist Max du Preez, can be found here in his article. Rhodes and the Rage of the Black Middle Class
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My husband Beric, a UCT alumni, standing at the Rhodes Memorial near UCT |
The poo-throwing students of the University of Cape Town are making headlines, trying to force the removal of the statue of
Cecil John Rhodes that has dominated the skyline for decades.
I find myself in agreement with those calling for the statue’s removal.
Yes, it is time to do away with the
Rhodes statue and move it to some dusty museum as a part of our history, much
as Stalin is part of Russia’s history and Hitler is part of Germany’s history.
But, really! Is throwing poo and
using destruction to achieve the removal of a controversial symbol the product of
a democratic republic? Is it the action of decent, intelligent human beings?
Of course not. These cowardly tactics are no less an oppressive tyranny than all that has gone before. The English imperialists had good manners; the Afrikaans nationalists had discipline and courage. The late great Nelson Mandela might have considered throwing a bomb or two, but at least he did it with intelligent forethought and a careful weighing up of the long term costs. Ultimately, he eschewed destructive violence for constructive dialogue and, together with FW de Klerk, created the potential for something greater than what existed before.
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Rhodes statue on UCT Campus -photo via @UCTRadio .Vice Chancellor Dr Max Price personally wants the Rhodes statue moved. http://on.fb.me/1wZiYdA
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The poo-throwing students of UCT have
given no thought to the repercussions of their crude and petty violence. Their actions have certainly brought the issue to the forefront of our attention. It’s also conveniently
detracted the media’s attention from the enormous corruption and mismanagement
of our current ANC-led national government; the only province still functional at a state level is the
home of the University of the Cape Town: the opposition-led Western Cape. (Despite
the validity of the issue, one has to ask if this fuss over the Rhodes statue is
a tactic of the ruling ANC who have failed to gain control of the Western Cape by
democratic means. Are they now stooping to bullying, distracting tactics to achieve that end by
destructive rather than constructive means?)
What has this fuss really achieved
for the good of the country? There is no enlightenment or true liberation in calling
scatological scatterings an expression of change and rebellion against "black shame." The only shame here is the acceptance of this wanton destruction as a valid act of freedom.
Freedom fighting
is not about seeking a quick fix of superficial issues such as whether the
statue of Rhodes should be removed and the names of streets, airports
and cities changed. All those cosmetic changes should come at the end of the battle, when the brave new
world we all voted for in 1994 is running to the highest level of its great potential.
If the future “leaders” of our
country resort to poo-throwing and acts of unruly destruction to get their own
way as quickly as they possibly can, what kind of country will we leave for our
children, and our children’s children?
Certainly not a country that provides
a better life for all her citizens. Real change, change that is lasting and
replaces the worst of the old with the best of the new does not happen
overnight.
While the actions of these students may
not reflect the atrocities of Nazi Germany, apartheid South Africa or the
American genocide of the Native American Tribes (take a moment to remember American Indian Leonard Peltier, still a political prisoner after 40 years!), the sheer tyranny of this toddler mentality acting as if might is all right (the black student protestors), and white is all wrong ("the symbols of white supremacy"), is more
dangerous.
The baying for the removal of the Rhodes
statue should serve as a warning of what might happen in the future, if the
worst manifestations of this modern day revolution are allowed to take root.
There are times
when a revolution must be as fierce and as ruthless as the raging fires that so recently destroyed thousands of hectares of Western Cape fynbos. Then, much needed change can sweep through a land
and offer rebirth and a glorious opportunity for growth and expansion.
But, for South
Africa, that time is past. We need to
rise above our sense of victimhood — of race, of gender, of sexuality — and realise that, if we as a country
are to survive and start living up to our great potential, we’ll have to make
some grown up choices on how we bring about change.
Here are some suggestions on how to make thoughtful choices for change that is for the greater good of all:
Question our motives: WHY? Why am I doing this? Why do I want to destroy this structure? Why am I obsessed with doing this? What are the real reasons I’m angry? And am I angry at the right issue? Am I challenging the right power structure? Or am I being swept away by an invisible undercurrent that could indiscriminately destroy all in its path.
Is this real progress or is this simply destruction? If we rush headlong into changing things without proper thought before action, we risk destroying something that can help us build a stronger foundation that will sustain growth over generations. We may feel the short term satisfaction that releasing our anger into violent action gives us, but what if we destroy something valuable and useful in the red rage of our need for instant change and instant gratification?
Have faith and develop patience! There are Divine forces at work that the modern world often chooses to ignore. Whatever your religion or faith of choice, time is the greatest test of how our faith in God’s plan for our human lives and our tiny planet plays out. When things are moving too slowly for us; when the promised land seems ever further away, it’s then we have to hold onto our belief in the unseen and the unknown and trust that, if we hold steady to all that is good and right, moral and just, compassionate and kind, in the end, we will have contributed to a better world, if not for ourselves then for the generations that will follow.
Think for yourself! Never follow the herd. Think of the consequences of any action you take. And be prepared to move out of your comfort zone of your beliefs.
I’m a white African. I was born in Rhodesia, named after Cecil John Rhodes, in a small village nearby where he’s buried.
Question our motives: WHY? Why am I doing this? Why do I want to destroy this structure? Why am I obsessed with doing this? What are the real reasons I’m angry? And am I angry at the right issue? Am I challenging the right power structure? Or am I being swept away by an invisible undercurrent that could indiscriminately destroy all in its path.
Is this real progress or is this simply destruction? If we rush headlong into changing things without proper thought before action, we risk destroying something that can help us build a stronger foundation that will sustain growth over generations. We may feel the short term satisfaction that releasing our anger into violent action gives us, but what if we destroy something valuable and useful in the red rage of our need for instant change and instant gratification?
Have faith and develop patience! There are Divine forces at work that the modern world often chooses to ignore. Whatever your religion or faith of choice, time is the greatest test of how our faith in God’s plan for our human lives and our tiny planet plays out. When things are moving too slowly for us; when the promised land seems ever further away, it’s then we have to hold onto our belief in the unseen and the unknown and trust that, if we hold steady to all that is good and right, moral and just, compassionate and kind, in the end, we will have contributed to a better world, if not for ourselves then for the generations that will follow.
Think for yourself! Never follow the herd. Think of the consequences of any action you take. And be prepared to move out of your comfort zone of your beliefs.
I’m a white African. I was born in Rhodesia, named after Cecil John Rhodes, in a small village nearby where he’s buried.
But I say the Rhodes
statue represents the past. Remove it and replace it with a statue of a Southern Right Whale, that ancient
species, so mythical and majestic, and so important to the eco-tourism (and
economy) of the Western Cape.
Then let’s get back to the really important work of making
South Africa into the world-class country she has the potential to become.
"So, you want a revolution?" by Judy Croome
"So, you want a revolution?" by Judy Croome
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A whale seen off the Cape Coast. Photo from www.southafrica.net |