We are still fighting the ‘gevare’

GEORGIE Z of Birchleigh North writes:

I greatly admire the attitude and actions of our finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, to establish a balance between political opportunism and the economy. Our President is conspicuous by his absence and it is my perception that he has run away pretending with the aid(s) of showers to impress foreign powers.

Gordhan openly challenges the President’s cronies, who are trying to disrupt his efforts. They must charge him if they can prove that he has broken the country’s laws or violated the constitution.

The President, who has a lot to hide, has no alternative but to publicly state that he supports the finance minister, while desperately trying to save himself.

I have been trying to understand why we have failed so dismally to become Madiba’s rainbow nation. It is my perception that we have dwelled too much on who is entitled to what and neglected to consider our responsibilities, thus allowing political opportunism to thrive and racism to fester.

We cannot change history but we can learn from the mistakes made. When we dwell on who is entitled to what we, the rainbow nation, should consider the following:

The country’s history from the time that Bartholomeu Dias rounded the Cape and landed in Algoa Bay in 1488.

The Nationalist Government first came into power in 1948 perceiving that they had finally won the “Boere-oorlog”. The “swart- en Roomse gevare” were popular topics.

The Nats expanded the colonial structures of segregation as a means to protect it against the “swartgevaar”. Verwoerd invented apartheid.

Black rule in Africa has never been a great example of good governance.

Apartheid was practised for less than 50 years.

Many black people are now fighting the “Afrikaner witgevaar”, even though they perceive that they are free; and the white Afrikaner still the “swartgevaar”.

Political opportunism is thriving and racism is festering.

So what have we really achieved during the last 20 years of perceived freedom under the ANC’s reign? Despite our efforts at reconciliation, we are still concentrating on the “gevare” and have failed to leave behind our grievances and grudges.

What are we really entitled to? No two human beings are alike but we have a right to be loved and nurtured by our parents. Therefore, as parents, we have a responsibility to love and nurture our children and not to irresponsibly contribute to the current population explosion.

As children we are influenced by our upbringing but we reach a stage when we must accept full responsibility for our actions.

In old age we are entitled to consideration but only if we consider others. The reality is that what we sow we will reap – whether it is thoughts, words or deeds.

Create a simple life that is content with little things as increased prosperity often brings out greed and selfishness.

Have you been outside lately and thanked God for his gifts of nature? A glorious spring has sprung!