Look at South Africa - 'Celebrate the Beloved Country', but now
time to show some firm leadership on
Article Title: Look at South Africa - 'Celebrate the Beloved
Country' ...but now time to show some firm leadership on
Zimbabwe, PRESIDENT MBEKI (and the WORLD) Author Name: Craig
Lock Line Space: 65 characters Category (key words):
"Inspiration, Spiritual", South Africa, Inspirational Writings.
Web Site: http://kompuwiz.com/kompustore Other Articles:
http://www.soulful-writer.com and http://www.bridgeniche.com
Publishing Guidelines: This article may be freely reproduced
electronically or in print. If you do not want to receive my
articles as a member of an article list, you will have to
unsubscribe from them, as I do not have your email address. If a
lot of you do that, I'll take the hint and rather not send out
my articles! Thanks. All my articles (and quotations) may be
freely published. If they help at all, or make a difference in
people's lives by bringing some joy, then I'm very happy.
* Look at South Africa - 'Celebrate the Beloved Country' ...but
now time to show some firm leadership on Zimbabwe, PRESIDENT
MBEKI (and the WORLD)
Introduction: As a South African writer living in tranquil
far-off New Zealand, I am enclosing a "letter" about my thoughts
and impressions following on from a visit, together with some
personal views on the current dire problems in Zimbabwe, which
may be of interest. Just sharing a few thoughts and remembrances
after a recent visit to my former homeland, this incredible,
vibrant and diverse country at the tip of the vast ("dark")
continent of Africa, which may be of interest. This piece that I
wrote is based upon an inspiring address by former Archbishop,
Desmond Tutu. It is ten years since the first democratic
elections, so we can celebrate a decade of the birth of a new
country, where in spite of an endemic crime rate most people
accept each other and work together as common citizens of the
"beloved country". Well, I'm always looking at some positive
aspects and this is my reason for sharing this piece about my
former (yet always in my heart) country! * In the light of
current world events and global uncertainty, I say: "Look at
South Africa"... Thousands of people died over the years of
South Africa's turbulent, history (and under the "nightmare"
called apartheid - forgotten already ???)...which has ended
relatively peacefully. Out of a violent and bloody past, South
Africa's extraordinary relatively peaceful transition to
democracy was a minor "miracle"... and I believe, South Africans
have accomplished something unprecented, unparalleled in the
last decade. Perhaps there is a message in South Africa's
violent and tortuous path to democracy somewhere to the "trouble
spots of the world"... perhaps there was a reason for the misery
and tragedy of apartheid (as well as many centuries of
colonialism around the globe), after all... A possible
role-model? In spite of the corruption, crime and "cheapness of
life there, South Africa may be the "trail-blazer", the beacon
of magnanimity, hope and reconciliation to the world. With
strong leadership, a spirit of goodwill, tolerance, acceptance
...and most importantly, attempts to understand other peoples
and cultures, who are different to us (yet we humans have far
more in common than our differences)...and especially with the
SPIRIT of peace, your nightmare too will end. An end to the evil
of terrorism, man's inhumanity to man and the "impossibility" of
world peace CAN one day be achieved. Let the world celebrate the
quite magnificent achievement South Africans of ALL races and
creeds, "The Rainbow People of God" have accomplished in the
past decade. With your "torch of light" you may yet illuminate
the path to a world one day at peace with itself. CELEBRATE THE
"BELOVED COUNTRY" - a land of such contrasts, a "happy, sad"
land of great wealth and great poverty, yet the beauty and
richness of the land ...and most importantly its most valuable
resource, the spirit of its 45 million diverse peoples always
seems to shine through in conquering adversity. "How apartheid
was finally buried, without requiem; but in joyous celebration,
will remain forever in the hearts and minds of a nation reborn.
When tears came, and there was dampness in the eyes of even the
most stern, it was for putting the past in the past and hoping
for hope in the future."
"South Africa's ability to overcome deep divisions, to negotiate
a common future and to commit itself to reconciliation and
reconstruction offers new hope - not only to South Africa, but
across the globe.
"God does work in amazing and miraculous ways...and every person
and country has a unique purpose in "God's Divine Plan". *
"South Africa is blessed in resources beyond many. It dare not
live just for itself. It must work and labour to bless Africa
and the world...but especially Africa. If only for Africa's sake
we dare not fail; because as South Africa goes, so will the rest
of Africa."
and as Zimbabwe goes, so perhaps may eventually even the
economic power-house of it's Southern neighbour, South Africa.
Doesn't the world need a leader like Nelson Mandela today?
"Cometh the hour, cometh the man." The problems of the world
today cannot be solved by thinking at the same level that
created them. Jesus Christ challenged the conventional thinking
of the day over 2000 years ago. PPS: Why can't the world and
especially South Africa now try a radically different approach
to South Africa's "largely forgotten" neighbour, Zimbabwe in
"darkest Africa". Even though it's not a strategic country, like
Iraq!
Like South Africa in the past decade, let the INTERNATIONAL
(including African) COMMUNITY NOW show in a spirit of "unity"
how the immense problems under a brutal and repressive
government can also be solved PEACEFULLY through "constructive
engagement and negotiation in a show of peaceful unity with FIRM
LEADERSHIP". Time to show some strong effective leadership and
to act decisively on Zimbabwe now, President Thabo Mbeki (though
you were allies in bringing freedom to your constituents, you
can immediately make the lives of thousands of Zimbabweans far
better by firmly condemning the brutal repression of its
citizens by Zanu-PF and through South Africa's economic might
bring pressure on your neighbour by giving some ultimatums to
Robert Mugabe!
Standards of behaviour and repression that the international
community will NOT tolerate! And the world MUST support you.
Those leaders, who ignore the lessons of world history are
doomed to repeat them.
Let's not wait for ten years idly passing by (as in Iraq!). It
is now time to "raise the bar" - what and what we will not
accept in the global community, as 'acceptable behaviour' what
the world expects now as acceptable (and decent) standards of
behaviour in the community of nations. A radically different
approach is needed with the problem of Zimbabwe to that imposed
on Iraq; yet with the same "force and passion" as the US
military have shown, yet without violence. Now it's time for the
world to stand up and be counted. To show the peaceful, yet FIRM
way to resolving seemingly insurmountable problems and bring a
more "democratic" form of government to that beleagured country.
To at last show some effective leadership and shower the people
of that beautiful, yet blighted land under Southern skies with
humanitarian aid in the form of desperately needed food, health
supplies and education. That is the "pressure", which will raise
the standards of what the citizens of Zimbabwe will and will not
tolerate from their brutal dictator. Pressure from within AND
without, as with Apartheid South Africa. A more educated,
well-fed and healthy population will bring about change
naturally and according to the will of the people..... so that
eventually "the people will govern". Let's fight the "war for
peace" with passion and with all of our energies. In the "WAR
FOR PEACE" everyone then benefits (a "win/win" situation). I
believe, that is the only true way to lasting world peace in
living with and acceptance of each other... And so helps make a
better world. Let us take courage. The years are passing. The
time for decision by all of us to shine that ray of light (and
hope) in an often dark world, President Mbeki and the world is
NOW.
Craig Lock "The greatness of a nation consists not so much in
the number of it's people or the extent of it's territory as in
the extent and justice of it's compassion."
- Inscription at the Horse Memorial in Port Elizabeth, for
horses killed in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).
P.S: I am reminded of something Mahatma Gandhi's said not long
before he was assassinated: "When I despair, I remember that all
through history the way of truth and love has always won. There
have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem
invincible; but in the end, they always fall. Think of it,
ALWAYS." "Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not rejoice
in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things,
believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love
never fails. And now abide faith, hope, love; but the greatest
of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13
"When the world is filled with love, people are overflowing
with hope." - Craig Lock
Craig Lock's second novel 'The New Rainbow' is a moving tale of
the diverse peoples of South Africa, which is based on fact.
Like Alan Paton, Craig Lock reaches to the heart of his troubled
"beloved country". In his new novel, Lock, perceptively and with
an understanding of the historical elements, writes of the
situation as it was, as it is, and as perhaps one day it will
be, in the New South Africa. 'The New Rainbow' is available at:
http://kompuwiz.com/kompustore (click on SoulfulBooks)
"Uplifting, encouraging and empowering people through the power
of words and thought energy. Change YOUR world and you change
THE world."
THESE WRITINGS MAY BE FREELY PUBLISHED