Message From The Editor
With this being Mandela Month, a period dedicated to one of the greatest Statesmen ever, who overturned centuries of inequality, discrimination and disparity with a disposition of love, forgiveness and reconciliation, and always with great dignity.
We all do our bit for our ‘new’ South Africa, whether we opt for locally sourced produce, donate to local charities, or support local brands, and we’re very good at coming together around major sporting events as we support our heroes in unison. But, clearly, that falls well short of real and lasting social change. In fact, there seems to me more cracks in our societal fabric now than ever before.
These cracks span the entire social landscape of South Africa. They manifest themselves in high crime rates, discrimination, xenophobia and even environmental issues like pollution and poaching. These problems not only go against human, environmental and animal rights, they go against the very fabric of our nation - the fabric that should offer us all shade in the blazing heat of a modern world. The vision that Madiba had for South Africa was one of optimism and promise, of bountiful lands filled with hard-working, welcoming people who lived without bias in their hearts and only love for their country.
I recently heard of an idea that at first puzzled me, but after hours of reflection, I began to warm to the idea of living ‘humiliation-proof’. The Black Pride and Gay Pride movements serve as examples of embracing a “humiliation proof” attitude to life, which stems from a sense of maturity, optimism, and self-upliftment. To live ‘humiliation-proof’ is to live free of judgement and free of the bias of others. It encourages us to live in a state where the words, actions and beliefs of others no longer define us, and thus lose their power over us.
Of course, living “humiliation proof” is only one side of the coin. So, during this Mandela Month, may we gain a deeper sense of empathy for our fellow South Africans, to truly come to understand the personal and collective struggles of individuals and groups, knowing that our words and actions, even the smallest gestures, can help to heal and reconcile our fragile society.
Enjoy the read
“Sometimes, it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” – Nelson Mandela