Broader history to draw on

LAST month Aziz Choudry and Salim Vally launched their latest book, History’s Schools: Past Struggles and Present Realities, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

The unique collection of essays, which includes case studies from South Africa, Palestine, Iran, Argentina, the US and the UK, highlights the importance of studying the history of former resistance movements across the globe to connect with our contemporary struggles.

The overlooked but powerful philosophies about former social change movements should serve as vital lessons and inspiration.

While listening to the writers’ insightful but different accounts of the book, my mind wandered to some of the young and immature politicians, and social activists, who spew nothing sensible but venom.

It is sad that some of the younger generation do not read about the sacrifices and struggles of the former or current senior community and religious leaders, activists and even teachers.

Hence, they pass unfounded judgments and produce defamatory and unsupported statements.

Most of the younger generations’ lives are regulated more by self-aggrandisement and self-empowerment than by rational thinking, reasoning, wisdom and they think of nothing but themselves and materialism, consumerism and entitlement.

And so, I recommend them reading this book. History books are full of events of dreadful outcomes that befall societies when hate-filled rhetoric is recklessly used for devious goals.