Bridge the Gap:Reconciliation celebration
As a South African with an Afrikaner heritage, December 16 has always been a day of cultural significance. For most of us this day carry great emotional power in our community, for some communities it was historically a day of celebration, for others a day of defiance.
ALBERTON – Today we celebrate December 16 as a day of Reconciliation. Our celebrations are made even more significant by the fact that this day, instead of dividing our community, now represents unity and common patriotism of the people of Ekurhuleni and South Africa.
This year December 16 is also an opportunity for us to celebrate our unity and our diversity. Reconciliation Day is the one day on our annual calendar that we can celebrate how we bridged the gap by achieving a triumph of our present over our past. Through reconciliation we build more than just national unity, but also local cohesion in our community.
As we come together to celebrate Reconciliation Day we remind ourselves and the rest of the world that difference, tolerance, and diversity must be celebrated as the keys to building a better future. It is a very positive sign that days like December 16 and June 16 have changed from being days of division to being celebrated as days of real unity. It is a testimony to the greatness of spirit in all South Africans and Ekurhuleni communities that the symbols of division of the past are now symbols of unity, respected by all South Africans.
While we celebrate Reconciliation Day we must also remember the suffering of so many of our fellow residents in Ekurhuleni. Our communities continue to face hardships like crime, unemployment, and the devastating effects of widespread poverty. The message of Reconciliation Day must be that these challenges are so much more important than our political differences, and they must be faced together.
I would like to encourage residents and leaders in our community that through reconciliation we can make a positive difference to the lives of all our people. Together we can tell a good story and build a world-class city and community. Lets bridge the gap by celebrating our diversity. Follow me on Twitter @neildiamond7.
