An article by Steven Benjamin. Here's another article I uploaded onto MyNews24, SPRINGBOK TRANSFORMATION dealing with the current ongoing national Rugby team's transformation issues. It's been a big topic not only in South Africa but further vested interests in other rugby playing nations as well, not least of which being the World Champions, the New Zealand All Blacks. It's been said many times by those outside our shores, that the world needs the Springboks to be strong - more for fan service and the famed Springbok-All Black rivalry, over a hundred years old... it adds to the intrigue and drama, and story of the sporting stage. South Africa has one of the biggest rugby playing populations in the world, and comparing ourselves to Australia and New Zealand, in terms of our rugby talent pool... well, we should be the best in the world. It's a burden we've placed on ourselves, yet time and again have failed to live up to. And of course in 1995 with the Nelson Mandela moment, it was assured, that our place was cemented in Rugby folklore, commemorated at last years Rugby World Cup, that this sport would come to mean more than just a game. Much like our All Black brothers across the ocean, where rugby is a religion, in SA, rugby is more of a symbol (and a passion). Embedded in SA culture since the end of the 18th century, over time it has become a tool for division, and then for unity... and perhaps now again for division as the growing democracy reestablishes its identity. And the Springboks, as the most successful national team, in many ways forms as the face of the nation, a representation of the country as a whole... It is here is where the proverbial nerve is tapped. Transformation has taken the form of Quota's when in reality, real transformation is needed. As one journalist put it "it's not about taking sport X & Y "away from white people", its a lament over all the potential star players (non-white) that haven't been found, all because of the elitist structures in our sporting codes, as well as institutionalized racism. Quotas are not the solution, but they do force us to come to terms with the complacency and passivity with which our sporting institutions have truly reached out to impoverished and disadvantaged areas. This of course is a governmental issue as much as a sporting one... Further reading: The Lost Bafana - an article I wrote about the decline of our national football team Bafana Bafana.
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If you haven't already heard, a marketing firm called Quirk is planning to petition the Lego Co. to make a Nelson Mandela Freedom Fighters set to tell South Africa's best story. So why am I blogging about it, well I actually have a vested interest in this... sort of. My sister work's for the marketing firm in question and she came home all excited about it, before it was broadcast before the nation on prime-time news. So I'm just doing my part to spread the word before the December petition handover - which will mark one year since Madiba's passing! It does seem that Lego is taking over the world, especially in pop culture, from famous movies - The Avengers, The Justice League, Star Wars etc. to other famous films and even TV series'. Even the Beatles have Lego caricatures. So, it kind of feels right that Madiba should get one too - and this is one series that will transcend markets and industries and commercialism, heck, it already has. Quirk may have started this with convenient publicity benefits and a greater message, but its already become bigger than them because it involves so much more; its about continuing immortalizing the Legocy and conveying SA's greatest story to the next generations, in one of the most popular mediums yet. Have you signed the petition? --- www.legocy.co.za The trailer for The Lego movie, released earlier this year. (read ITK's review HERE) This film also transcended a story simply about toys and actually managed to be allegorical of quite a few issues in society. If you haven't seen it i highly recommend it. Here's the link to the LEGO Youtube Channel, to take a firm step into the world of stop-motion. I thought of posting this video/song simply because its cool, but as so often happens, it does tie in well with a broader message and theme permeating in South Africa today, Madiba has been laid to a much deserved rest, but a huge part of his legacy remains within us - a part he fought and was prepared to die for: FREEDOM. Additionally, mandela always said that music and Dancing put him at peace with the world... The 'free' sung about in this video (by Rudimental featuring Emeli Sande) is complete in its openness - its the freedom we yearn for but so seldom exercise. We have been liberated, so don't live like you're still oppressed... it all starts in the mind. An African Myth A poem by Steven Benjamin From humble hills A heart starts to beat Walking begins From humble teachings Breaking a branch “Troublemaker” is born A mind grows No boundaries found, but what he sees. A man of blood and bone, and of the earth. A tormented land, thirsty Quenched, only with the blood of its own people. Within the division, He grows He is armed The land knows his name Shackles now, and resolve In the dungeons kept Land and frigid sea, between His blood, from youth, and love Reformed in the cold of night and blinding heat of day Behind high walls and in rocky quarries A brotherhood is sealed. And through the wire and the stone, his voice grows His spirit remains. But the body withers His name is known Bullets fly, bodies fall A nation walks to the edge The bloodied hand of the Abyss beckons The gates open with the chant of the people for the cage must be unlocked The man steps forth The world takes a breath. One last brother falls The Abyss steps closer... But, the boundaries seen are broken, My heart beats as yours To kill you, is to kill me His heart beats For his people, and rampant land. Peace He broke a branch once Perhaps from an Olive tree And extended his hand gracefully, To his fearful enemy ... - Years pass That fearful day nears When the land will reclaim a man The people will cry tears to soak the once bloodied ground And the heavens will cry too An old man’s heart stops beating... And the world stops, for a moment. He is sent back His body taken, Back into those humble hills - This is the story of a boy, a man, a husband, a father, a Chief, a lawyer, a leader, a soldier, a freedom fighter, a prisoner, a peacemaker, a reconciler, a liberator, a president, a humanitarian, a King, a legend, a hero, an icon… the father of a democratic nation, the son of an African land... the closest incarnation of that ancient African myth, where all hope, is in but one, an incorruptible one. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 1918 - 2013 ... [God Bless all, 2013 is marks the first full year of publication of this blog, here's to a waaay bigger 2014. I'll be a little preoccupied in this end of year festivities and travels. Be safe, be blessed, hug your family and friends, and keep on reading and writing. thanks to all my first time visitors as well as dedicated loyalists, Cheers - I take my proverbial hat off to you!] South Africa today: the state of the nation The Daily Maverick online Sometime late last year I wrote a short piece on South Africa and my (shared with countless other citizens) frustrations with the government (whom I did not vote for), bickering politicians and every other ill in this country - (the piece was inspired by the Marakana massacre). I felt compelled to write another piece. As the rape and thence murder of Anene Booysens continues to illicit a varied reaction across SA and the world, the deeper issue of the culture of violence permeating in SA has taken center stage . There are so many problems, so I’ll dive right on top of one of the biggest; though to be honest, no one could really change this in a substantial way – some problems take time to sort out, and some pain will only become manageable with even more time, the scars though, will remain, for a very very long time… I speak of Apartheid of course, and the fact that the nation of the New South Africa was born out of this heinous and evil construct. The nation which emerged was fraught with problems, but equally so, alive with possibility (to use a marketing catch phrase) and boundless potential. With such a fractured and divisive past, our subsequent number one enemy has always been ourselves. We know what we can achieve, and have achieved, but division persists with too many corrupt officials/government members, and an inactive public. However, everything I’m saying, and can and want to say, has already been said, so I’ll throw in some quotes here This is from a recent article on the Daily Maverick online newspaper: “We don’t know to what extent the frustration of young and old males, at their wits end in a society that has discarded them, where they have no jobs and women tend to get things quicker exacerbates the situation. That is not a cause, but could be an underlying issue behind incidence of sexual violence.” Link to full article here. "Cooper" referenced and quoted above is a doctor and psychiatrist. Of all the varied cultures we have in South Africa, the one we’re tending to cultivate and nurture the most in this near twenty year democracy, is violence. Here, where societal inequality is unparalleled (just the other day I watched a magazine program, showing off the a beautiful palatial mansion with sea views, a swimming pool and an entertainment deck – for the kids to entertain their friends with table tennis or snooker etc… meanwhile a few kilometers away, there are people who don’t even have a toilet in their own tiny house), dividing the country into the “have” and “have not’s”. As one local white comedian/ventriloquist put it “I grew up with the ‘we hate apartheid, but we benefited from it’ group”… the current democratically elected government has seemingly just left its people to fend for themselves – “If you want wealth, go get it”. This mentality, of every man for himself, has perpetuated from government down throughout South Africa, where we only seem to galvanize when our national sports team takes the field. There’s a lot of angst, frustration, unresolved anger, hurt and passion brewing beneath the surface, issues that weren’t dealt with in the Truth and reconciliation Commission (which should not have ended so soon) for example. Most uneducated black people (a result of every SA gov.) are too quick to haul out the race card whenever something goes against them, and most white people are too afraid/ashamed to talk about the past, and pain and suffering they know little of. I don’t know what it’s like to be forced from my home under an oppressive government and dangerous security police as I’ve grown up in a sheltered environment, mostly in the new South Africa, but older generations of my family can speak of such experiences – and that’s just one aspect… We’ve come out of an evil regime, and simply tried to live normally, act as we usually would if there was never an apartheid to speak of, but the scar on the nation as a whole is too deep to ignore. Plainly put, there’s very little dialogue between portions of society, a place or moment where one or many can vent their concerns and frustrations. So everyone seems to talk amongst friends, or keep their thoughts to themselves. I finished compiling and writing this article shortly after an introspective stroll down the Sea point promenade. Sitting there on a bench watching ships disappear and emerge from the mist off shore, looking down into the deep blue of the Atlantic, feeling the refreshing breeze which took the sting out of a hot day… What we see is nothing new; pain is pain, the world keeps turning and simple things will always be made to look complicated. Tides will continue to ebb and flow, and we will struggle on, always finding ourselves as our own worst foe.
The violence which has become common place in SA, and which for so many abroad is synonymous with us, is perhaps the civil war we should have had but didn’t. It was a miracle that we averted war – a poster for peace and reconciliation – but the same tools we carried in anticipation for conflict and survival, we now use on ourselves, frothing up in various forms, from drug and alcohol abuse to violence against our fellow men and women, compounded further by corruption, poverty, AIDS, all forms of crime, a lack of education, and thence morals and ethics - it's a different, passive kind of civil war. It's always amazing to me, just a few days ago my family played host to some friends from Switzerland, and their impression, along with countless others who've visited our shores, was that South African's are a warm and loving people, always ready to accommodate... so, when we put our best foot forward we can be example's for the world, but at the same time, our internal conflict can be the shame of the world - or at least one example of it... During the last days of apartheid, so many people prayed for a peaceful end, the country was a nervous hive of tension and prayer,as most sought God's guidance in our most trying time... how many though continued, and are still praying for the wellbeing of the nation? The Skin I live In - a sublime Spanish Horror film Trailers of the best foreign films and some forth coming attractions. Since we're into awards season I thought of indulging my film reviewer persona. A recent article/feature I did for In The Kan ("Top 10 films of 2012 you may have missed") got me thinking about foreign language films and how little exposure they receive by English speaking audiences. Often Hollywood attempts a usually less-than-successful remake of non-English films; a typical example of this is 2010's 'The Tourist' starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. This typical romantic comedy wrapped in an action flick was actually a remake of a french action thriller called Anthony Zimmerman starring Sophie Marceau (though I can't give you an accurate review as the original film still eludes me - and I have no motivation to see the remake). You might be wondering how I can make general assumptions like this - well i have a very trustworthy instinct about films with the only real surprise being the recent release of Pitch Perfect - a film I wouldn't have batted an eye at, but somehow ended up watching, much to my delight. To the list then - all these films are good, if not brilliant, and yet I haven't seen all of them yet... see it as a to-watch list. Russia: Twilight Portrait A privileged social worker is gang raped by three policemen, A look into contemporary Russia. Brazil: Elite Squad 2 - The Enemy Within (technically a 2011 film, but so what) A former cop, now head of prison security, gets entangled in a web politics and police corruption after a prison riot. (Those who know me already know that for some reason, I really want to see this film) Denmark: A Royal Affair Nominated in the Best Foreign Language film category in this years Academy Awards. France: The Intouchables Currently in cinemas (art-house/nouveau), watch this trailer then see the film - it'll make you smile. Spain: The Skin I live in My unofficial #1 - technically released in 2011, but as is usually the case, only reached South Africa in mid Jan 2012. "A man tries to recreate his long lost love". This is a Hitchcock-style horror film (also reminding me of some recent David Morrell novels) thinly veiled as a psychological thriller. It's difficult to describe this film adequately, you just have to see it for yourself, with friends, and then chat about in the middle of the night because sleep will not come easily. --> this trailer gives you nothing really, but it's difficult to really quantify the film in trailer form. What to look out for in 2013 Searching for Sugar Man Something with a distinctively South African flavour! Nominated in the Best Documentary category of this years Academy Awards: And then, for now anyway, My most anticipated film of at least the first half of 2013: Dead Man Down Causing waves all because two names have been reunited - watch to find out. Some other titles to look out for: Most are really getting their panties in a twist over Niel Blomkamp's return to our screens with Elysium (which is NOT really a sequel to District 9 - it's set in the year 2159), and then there's, need I mention, Man of Steel . There's a number of sequels (as always) to big franchises: Die Hard, Hunger Games, Ironman, Anchorman etc... But here are some lesser known titles:
--> Happy viewing... In the thorns and the cross-hairs: Liberation movements – strange thing about them – labelled outlaws, terrorists, revolutionaries, enemies of the state…. Ideals change, men change, so do politics and thence, perhaps most of all, people… people are the most fickle. “I choose God before man” – Rev. Beyers Naude People are complex, forever in a struggle to find out who we are, what we’re here for. And so now, in the modern quest for globalization – although it has been an idea for quite some time now, since the inception of colonialism – making the world one country, seeking integration, unity, solidarity, love and all that good stuff, in a world getting ever ‘smaller’ – are we not discarding ourselves? We constantly (without reward) seem to be seeking answers in each other. I made an earlier post about heritage, and remembering where we all came from; to not discard our past and to preserve our culture, yet this means to oppose the concept on globalization on some level. Of course a part of the concept of the global village is to accept each and all equally, flaws and imperfections included, and unite under the banner of humanity. However, as is very easy to surmise and gather when looking at the world today; things are becoming ever more superficial, run by capitalistic ideas and motives. Thankfully, certainly from my perspective, the larger portion of society is waking up to see that ideals are not as black and white as they assumed it was – there was never the simple ‘good guy bad guy’ complex in world politics – we were just led to side with certain nations over others, when in fact guilt can be laid equally on all sides. Propaganda. Humanity. Opinion. Belief. Strange hey? Although it is our differences that make us unique – through all the beauty – it is those same differences that has been the cause for so much conflict. Many would support the idea of maintaining traditions – the good ones at least – to retain some notes of cultures from all corners of the globe, for it is that which weaves such a colorful and diverse tapestry. As we move headlong and with gaining momentum into an uncertain future, we should always reflect, remember, pause and breathe new and perhaps better life into one of the few certainties of this life – our past. To briefly shed the complexities and distractions of today. I had such a moment a few weeks back while visiting Freedom Park in Pretoria. The center piece of the park is the wall of names (S'khumbuto - meaning, among other things "place of remembrance") with all those who died in the eight major conflicts that shaped the nation, with particular emphasis on honoring those who died in the name of peace, human rights and the freedom and liberation of South Africa. Those conflicts are:
In total, up until 1994, the nation of South Africa had been at war for over 500 years. However, it’s not just about recognizing those souls, but also laying them to rest. Something which should be mimicked in every country, in some way, is the concept of Isivivane (derived from the word “viva” – in this instance carrying the meaning of “commitment to solidarity”, “unity of purpose” and “coming together”) – the place of healing and rest. This is the symbolic burial ground for all those who died. Isivivane is crucial to Freedom park, built to enhance awareness and inspire commemoration. Arriving at the site, one is required to remove your shoes as a sign of respect. This was also the site where a host of religious leaders held ceremonies and rituals to lay to rest those fallen heroes. No matter your belief, it is hard not to be moved by this experience which is concluded (after receiving an in depth explanation as to the relevance and meaning of the surrounds) by washing your hands and face in a rock pool of fresh water. Everything here holds some meaning; even the type of trees planted, and the method for entering and exiting (through separate pathways). The actual burial ground – some would liken it to the tombstone of the site – is the ring of boulders. In addition to the two boulders denoting National government and the International community, there are 9 other boulders from the 9 provinces in South Africa, all with Historical significance. For example, the boulder from the Limpopo province is from a site once ruled by one of the earliest kingdoms on the sub-continent who traded gold with India and Egypt. The boulder from the Western Cape is from the Table Mountain range – one of the oldest mountains in the world. The biggest rock is from Mpumalanga province, a piece of green Verdite from the recorded 3.5 million year old Barberton Green-stone belt (yes, one side of the rock really does have a green hue to it). If you ever get the chance, I recommend visiting this rich place, to get away from our usual everyday ebb and flow. For those unable to visit the park, feel free to visit the website at Freedom Park.
News update: How to win when you already lost. Charges dropped. Court case avoided. A victory for freedom of speech and political satirist cartoonist Jonathon Shapiro. But! - Jacob Zuma... tut tut. He and the ANC - we shouldn't be surprised - sees it as a victory for the them... Why?
-- In other words; a typical political response! in some way, one kind of has to admire them, sort of, in a weird way... only a little And now for the weather: Hurricane Sandy image from nydailynews.com (projection) Making landfall later this evening (USA eastern time) 90 mile/140 km an hr winds, 1600 km diameter... My friends say they're safe... I'm keeping y'all in prayer! |
[Banner illustration by Joel Kanar]
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