A prayer in our need

EVERY time someone in a position of power messes up, we howl as we watch our country take yet another knock.

Soon it will be time for more elections and maybe, instead of throwing our toys out of the cot each time something happens, we should rather say the following prayer (Josiah Holland, 1819-1881): “God give us heroes! A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; Those whom the lust of office does not kill; Those whom the spoils of office cannot buy; Those who possess opinions and a will; Those who have honour – those who will not lie; Those who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking; Tall folks, sun-crowned, who live above the fog in public duty and in private thinking; For while the rabble with their thumbworn creeds, Their large professions and their little deeds, mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps, wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.”

PICTURE: EPA SOLUTION: The writer argues that instead of protesting South Africans should say this prayer.