Phuthu Stay Phut, Don't go!

“A defiant ANC has vowed to push for the continued singing of controversial liberation struggle songs for “generations to come” so that memories of the past can be preserved.” – Times Live

I am really struggling to get this. What good can it possibly bring to this country to constantly be reminded of a past that no-one is proud of? And that by singing offensive, racist songs. This is not rocket science:

Negative Past + Daily Reminders of this Past = Bitterness and Resentment.

Personally, I seriously question the competence, intelligence and maturity of Mantashe. Tunnel vision?

I was under the impression that South Africa is trying very hard to move on; away from it’s past to get to a place where we can all move forward in unity. If we continue to sing songs like “shoot the Boer”, we might as well go back to using that hateful K-word. Doesn’t make sense now, does it – we have come so far. Racist songs – in any form – will only stir up old emotions and prolong that bitter taste in the mouths of those who are singing it; making it difficult for them to move forward in forgiveness.

“Any nation that doesn’t know where it comes from  will never know where it is going,” said Mantashe.

Memories of the past can be preserved by giving the future generation a solid history lesson without influencing them negatively – we are working on a better future here, remember. And if you really want to impact the youth positively (which is the aim, isn’t it?), add to this history lesson how South Africans overcame this struggle and how we are now working together to ensure a good future for all South Africans.

Geez.

By Elzet

Reference: Times Live

Whilst not as exhilarating as mountain biking, hiking still has its good points, especially when you’re pregnant:

1. You don’t have to carry a backpack – hubby carries it all

2. You get to stop a lot – We just couldn’t risk peanut getting into oxygen debt now could we. It has absolutely nothing to do with me being unfit or anything.

3. The hikes are not too long – again we wouldn’t want peanut (actually it’s more like a cashew nut) to get into oxygen debt.

4. You get to stop and eat at the top!

We went to Shongweni this weekend and before we could even get to the rocky path that led us up to the cliff, we had to walk through the Dam Wall tunnel. Well, I did a seriously fast, crouched, run-walk because there were spiders, big ones, along the entire length of the tunnel which was lit sporadically with 60 watt bulbs. It was spooky but I suppose it could have been worse – bats, snakes and toads also like dark places. Aaargh! Needless to say that on our way back, I had no qualms about wading through the river to get back to the other side.

This is the stopping and eating part I was referring to in point 4 above.

This is the dozing off part which I failed to mention in the list above,..

And this is going back down the path – I love working with gravity. The building in the top part of the picture is the dam wall – beautiful on the outside but prime real estate for orange and black spiders on the inside….