Unfair prayers on mountain top
I WAS at the highest pub in Africa over the Women’s Day weekend, enjoying a beer after having punished my body up torturous Sani Pass.
If I was looking for peace and tranquillity I wasn’t going to find it in the iconic pub as it was brimming with tourists from all over the country, and even from across the oceans.
There was a group of boisterous Indians who were on top of the world enjoying the Manchester United vs Tottenham match. When the match was over and the rowdy United fans celebrated with another round of drinks and posed for photographs in front of the bar before leaving, the noise subsided – but only for a short while. The pub quickly filled up with rugby fans eager to watch the Boks blitz the Pumas.
In walked a burly, rugged-looking boer in full battle-cry. Sure of a Bok victory, he drank heartily, glass after glass, and then joined the Afrikaans part of the National Anthem, filling the noisy pub with his booming voice.
He was a friendly, jovial man and, except for one or two whites who looked embarrassed, nobody minded his enthusiastic support. But as the Boks went to sleep against the Pumas, he also dozed off and a subdued spirit descended as they slumped to their first defeat against Argentina.
But the exuberant spirit of the soccer and rugby fans pales in comparison with what some backpackers experienced later that night. It was bitterly cold and no place would have been more welcome than before a crackling fire.
Unfortunately, they could not enjoy the warmth of the communal lounge as it was taken over by a large group of all-male Muslim hikers (remember, it was the Women’s Day weekend) who laid prayer mats on the floor and worshipped late into the night, causing a disturbance to others.
I understand that they had the manager’s permission, but he probably didn’t realise the inconvenience it would cause others.
Pray, by all means, even from a mountain top. But while one has every right to worship when, how and where one desires, one must be careful not to infringe on the rights of others.
A truly religious person would be considerate of the feelings and needs of others in a public place. If not, religion has failed you. T MARKANDAN
Silverglen