Learn from history so we can build tomorrow

AT last a commonsense response to the infamous Helen Zille colonial issue (“Leverage aspects of the past to advantage”, April 7).

It had to come from the author herself because we, me and you, the media, are terrified of being “politically incorrect” and looking back into the history of the world, let alone South Africa and speaking our truths.

The Romans built roads in England, the Normans built cathedrals and some burnt them down in their version of progress.

It took my ancestors a thousand years to wake up and capitalise on the numerous colonial invasions, pillage and looting.

The whole world has evolved on bloodshed and tyranny in one form or another, but thinkers and doers evolved and built order from chaos, built tomorrows.

What are we, thee and me, allowing the “clowns” in power and our fear of history and words in South Africa evolving for us today – worse still for our children’s children’s children?

Forget (not forgive) the injustices of millennia past and live in the now. Today’s youth must learn and have the opportunity to learn from history and even our mistakes of today – if they want to live tomorrow!

Zille is right, we must lever the past to our advantage for the hope of “a tomorrow”.

Let’s stop getting our knickers in a knot about words and deeds and political/social correctness, whatever that is.

Life is not perfect, but as long as we can think, speak and act freely and without fear of reprisal, it doesn’t have to be a growing dung heap.

David Jarratt, Walmer, Port Elizabeth (a Yorkshire man since 1944, in RSA since ‘71 and damned proud of both)