»
Archives
»
Open Poetry #36
»
Reconciliation Day
| Open Poetry #36 |
|
Reconciliation Day |
|
|
OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa 
|
Reconciliation Day 16 December 2005 A long, long walk, Madiba. More than A Long Walk To Freedom. Some of us don’t know, didn’t know, can’t know, want to know, . . . are afraid to know . . . We are a miracle country, a real country, yes, a country with scars and tragedies and real blood and stabbings and burns and gun wounds and murders and past tortures (and some still hate and some still murder) but we are also a country with quivering, shimmering, breathing, beautiful hope and heart. The most precious thing we have as fleeting as butterfly breath and as substantial as a mature whale is the forgiveness that many so many have heart-given to their perpertrators of such evil atrocities. I stand in awe I bow my head in reverent silence I cannot own that ability for myself for I don’t think that I could do it if I had had to walk your path but I own it by association for I am proud to be a compatriot I am proud to say, ”I am a South African.” - Owl [This message has been edited by OwlSA (12-18-2005 06:38 AM).] |
||
| © Copyright 2005 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
Diana, I am unaware of what this is: Madiba but admire your strength and honesty here. You are able to claim, what I cannot. |
||
|
OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Thank you for reading, littlewing. Madiba, is the affectionate nickname that we South Africans have for our ex-president, Nelson Mandela. It is an honorary title adopted by older male members of Mandela’s clan. He wrote a book called "A Long Walk to Freedom". This poem is mostly about the miracle that occurred in South Africa in 1992 when he was released from prison (as a political prisoner). There could have been a blood bath, but truly, he was so loved by all, even most of his enemies, that that didn't happen. We whites didn't have much of an idea of what the Indians and especially the blacks were going through during the Apartheid years (sounds like a cop-out and for many it was) - except, of course, the perpetrators of the horror - and there were many of those. We had a Truth and Reconciliation Commission where amnesty was given in exchange for full disclosure, and although it was far from perfect, and not nearly all perpetrators and victims were able to tell their stories, for those that did, an amazing amount of ubuntu (pronounced ooBOOntoo - and meaning something far more encompassing than goodwill - a Zulu word) exploded and many of the blacks and Indians were unbelievably forgiving - during, before and after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and today still. The 16th of December was previously an Apartheid holiday commemorating the victory of the Boers (Afrikaners) over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River – the name of the river speaks volumes. The 16th of December is now called Reconciliation Day – which I think is absolutely perfect. - Owl |
||
|
serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
My admiration for you grows with every word of yours I read. Just before you came to Pip, I was immersing myself (and educating me) regarding the history and trials of Africa, particularly South Africa, and it is a rich and wonderful history full of courage, pain, and self-assessment for many as well. I hope you'll continue to share your stories with us. I may be unable to travel the world, but perhaps I can see it through the eyes of others--and perhaps I'll see it with a little more understanding than I would if I bought a ticket to a seven day tour package. Because of you, I know now, what a conversation with a Zebra should sound like. And because of you, I know the value of owning my part in conditions that I previously thought were none of my doing. Now that's something, my friend!  I'm so very happy that you found your way here to Pip. |
||
|
OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Serenity Blaze, thank you for your wonderfully kind words. Happy giggles about knowing what a conversation with a zebra would sound like! I would imagine that not many South Africans do, so you are doing very well on that one! Thanks for being happy that I’m here, but believe me, nobody could be happier about that than me. I will just have to cut down my time here gradually to once a week, as it is very expensive to be online in South Africa. That may change in 6 months to a year as Telkom, the telephone company that has a monopoly, is going to have opposition soon. Another company has been given a licence (hopefully Telkom doesn't have shares in it) and the new company will probably be up and running in about 6 months. So perhaps Telkom will offer more services like R7-A-Call-In-Call-More-Time for Pay-As_You-Go phones (of which I have one). It has it for landlines, but not PAYG. Yay!!! - Owl |
||
|
littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
Gosh, I could not have said it better than K . . . I am well aware and highly admire Mandela, I never knew that he was also called by that name. I agree, I love to learn, to read and gosh, don't ya know the both of you are feeding my brain? Thank you for this . . . and your explanation. |
||
|
OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Yes, our Madiba is such a wonderful man. Not many presidents deserve the epithet, "lovable" nor "honourable", much less both, the way he does! You can't talk littlewing! I have learnt so much from you. It is a joy to read your work. - Owl |
||
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
I have been keeping up with your contributions here on pip..which, by the way, are outstanding. I haven't had much time to respond this week... I just wanted to make sure you knew that I am reading you, admiring your work and looking for you name.  "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
||
|
OwlSA Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347Durban, South Africa |
Susan, thank you so very much for this. I was going to say that you can't know how much I appreciate it, then I realised that you actually know exactly how much I do - that is why you said it. You are an empathetic person who looks at people from THEIR point of view, as so many people in PIP do. I am just so overwhelmed by the kindness and the "realness" to coin a word, of the people on this board. You really are all incredibly special. I am loving it so much here. - Owl |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
