You have to wonder what liberation really meant for the ANC if the organisation can bar one of the world’s greatest beacons of freedom and enlightenment so as not to offend a repressive but powerful regime. You have to wonder whether it was more about achieving power than attaining freedom.
There are a few rare individuals who transcend the barriers that separate most of us, who tread their way through life on that path reserved for those who see beyond what is in front of them, who inhabit a world worth striving for, rather than the shadow of a world in which we exist.
The Desmond Tutus, Aung San Suu Kyis, Nelson Mandelas, Helen Suzmans, Mahatma Ghandis and Dalai Lamas of the world are nobler than lesser “leaders” who achieve what passes for power but lack the imagination, character and substance even to see a higher plain, let alone walk on it.
President Motlanthe has this week shown himself to walk on that lower plain reserved for those mortals who are given power but who are sadly lacking in the mettle and imagination it takes to achieve true greatness.
The ANC government has become far too accustomed to making sweeping decisions for the flimsiest or most self-serving of reasons rather than from a position of enlightenment and true leadership.
Who are these people who would make such damnable, offensive and indefensible decisions in the name of governing us? Who in the new ANC generation could wear the shoes of a Nelson Mandela, a Helen Suzman, a Desmond Tutu? How dare a lesser individual bar a human being of the calibre of the Dalai Lama? Motlanthe is not fit to lick the Dalai Lama’s sandals or touch his saffron robes. He should wear sackcloth in repentance of his despicable showing this week.
Far from wishing to bar the Dalai Lama, our government ought to be welcoming him proudly while demanding that the Chinese government give Tibet its independence. Now that would be worth applauding and give us something to be proud of. That, let’s be honest, would win the ANC some votes. That is the kind of gutsy government I want, not this namby-pamby embarrassment. It is shameful.
I am ashamed to be South African today. I am ashamed of my government. I am ashamed of my president.
Now will somebody in the ANC please stand up and speak out against this outrage?
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Isn’t it amazing how nobody from the ANC has the guts to protest against this? Why? I’m sure there are still some freedom fighters left who can speak out?
Stand up be counted!
The Chinese government will pay better money than the Dalai Lama ever will.
As we all know, the ANC is for sale to the highest bidder today regardless of the future consequences for the nation.
BRAVO, TONY! Thank you for speaking out. You are right, the light that the Dalai Lama, Aung San Su Kyi, Ghandi, Bishop TuTu, President Mandela and Helen Suzman bring into the world sets them apart. Are perfect human beings? Probably not and they would be the first to say so. But they are exceptional in that each of them was prepared to spend a lifetime asserting the rightness of a principle: that nothing is accomplished by force.
In my collection of favourite images is a photo of President Mandela and the Dalai Lama hand in hand, laughing wholeheartedly. It is an image of such joy that one cannot look at it without smiling—broadly.
More than any carefully worded message, that photo tells us all we need to know about life; HAPPY PEOPLE DON’T MAKE WARS. Happiness comes from being AT PEACE–firstly, with yourself; secondly, with those closest to you; thirdly, with those who–for whatever reason–would harm you.
To harm or ill-treat or disrespect such people is truly craven–the opposite of the Moral Courage that all l of the exceptional people you named have that in common.
Something else they have in common is Wisdom and its sister, Humillity. They did not seek power for themselves. They sought Liberation and not only for themselves, but for everyone.
‘So long as one of us is in chains, none of us is free’. The ANC seems to have forgotten that. Tibet, Burma, Sudan, Zim=China +Allies.
well, bababra hogan (about to be formerly known as the minister of health) has voiced her concerns. let see if barbara’s balls are bigger than everyone elses in the anc…
It is very easy to judge but we don’t know the circumstances that led to this decision. If there’s one thing I learnt in life is never to pass judgement without all the facts.
South Africa is just looking after its own interests finish and klaar and there’s notthing sinister about that !!!
I could not possibly agree with you more.. This will forever cast a huge shadow on the WC 2010, if it has anything to do with that at all.. Outrage does not cover my sentiments, and ashamed of that feeling because His Holyness is not in favour of those sentiments.. so let me be sad then, very very sad !
Yes, it does seem that Barbara Hogan know she’s only minister till 23 April, doesn’t it? Still, hats off to her for speaking out.
No-one else dare speak out - not if you want to keep your ANC job. The one thing every savvy politician and civil servant knows today is: “If what you’re about to say is not 100% pro-Zuma, or 100% ANC-worshipful, rather just keep quiet. Or you WILL be victimised”.
The problem with South Africans is that we cannot differentiate between the “ideal” and “reality”. Ideally we all like the Dalai Lama and what he stands for as it is exactly what the liberation struggle was about. He stands for the ideals we are all striving for. Unfortunately, this is the real world of international relations, politics, trade. Tibet and the Dalai Lama and Tibet cannot offer what China can offer whether people think is to the ANC or the country. The decisions that are taken are based on reality not the ideal world. Governing a country means certain decisions have to be made based on the best interest of the country. We cannot be found on the wrong side of China and that is the reality.
Barbra Hogan has asked Mothlante to apologise for the insult to the Dalai Llama. This should assure her of a new position outside the government. She is the only member of cabinet with the balls to speak out against this idiotic episode. FIFA must be wondering about the implications of giving the world cup to a country controlled by China. Who will SA ban next, The Taiwanese football team, the head of the UN………..
Andile, its true; we shouldn’t judge when we don’t know the context that the decision was made in. However, I don’t feel there was any transparency regarding why the decision was made the way it was and had this been made available, we could probably all be having a much more constructive and effective debate over this matter. With that in mind the outrage is completely understandable and I too feel ashamed of my country today.
If you feel as strongly as you say, don’t be shy to sign up for the petition at the link Paddy II put up. I do and I did…
Andile - I recall the NP’s mouthpieces also using that sort of “we are protecting our interests, finish and klaar” rhetoric when faced with criticism of apartheid.
So - progress, I guess. At least now it’s a black majority government turning its back on the idea of human rights, as opposed to a white minority one.
Short term decisions like this have long term consequences. The “right thing to do” is now the “right thing for me, me, me”. The world is counting up our selfish and often bizarre decisions. The day of reckoning will come when a disaster will strike SA and the world will turn its back on us, like we have turned our back on our brothers (e.g. Zimbabwe).
You are all totally out of the loop. China’s trade with us is peanuts compared to the rest of the world. And we are the ONLY country(other than China) EVER to refuse the Dalai Lama a visa.
Our image - the Mandela Miracle - is shot to ribbons and we have become a pariah state.
This does not only affect trade, it also affects aid and charity - and most of our projects in Aids clinics and NGO work in the townships and rural projects is Western Charity.
The potential cost is horrendous. Just if the support for ARVs subsidised purchases is withdrawn - we won’t be able to afford healthcare.
Andile, what context do you need to make a judgement?
South Africa could welcome the Dalai Lama, but also politely censure China about Tibet. As the Rudd government in Australia has done (Kevin Rudd ticking the Chinese off in mandarin!).
The world is not about either spiritual/moral values or economic/political realities: its about both.
Isn’t it amazing how nobody from the ANC has the guts to protest against this? Why? I’m sure there are still some freedom fighters left who can speak out?
Stand up be counted!
ANC with courage - JUST who are you trying to fool - all their bravery lies with the McBride method of bravery - or necklacing.
Freedom fighters - Haa! Who are you trying to fool?
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Tony Jackman is a journalist, budding playwright and sometime chef. He's written two plays, An Influence of Ghosts and Blue Train Coming, and back in the day wrote loads of songs. He paints a bit in watercolours when he remembers to, and apart from that he massages words and pushes grammar for a nice little magazine called myweek.
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hi the nail on the head with that one.
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