Struggle leader Chris Hani, was murdered 15 years ago and some of South Africa’s prominent figures celebrated his heroics yesterday. Hani was one of the many political figures who fought against the apartheid regime to see SA being where it is today.How many of our struggle leaders are celebrated? It is good that the likes of Govern Mbeki (the Presidents father), Steve Biko and events such as June 16 are still being remembered. But what worries me the most is “Why has it become fashionable to wear Steve Biko and Chris Hani shirts”? I mean when I was still at University (even now) people used to wear the very tight fitting shirts with Steve Biko and these struggle heroes on the front of their shirts. That is all fair and well…but the real issue is that these young people did not even know a thing about the struggle. Ok…they were not there but I am sure being their age they should know something about their History.
I am fed up with people who do not read and like acting all intellectual and what not. A lot of young people do not read History books. Actually forget History books, they do not read period because the internet has been provided and all that they can think of is “DOWNLOADING” the latest tracks from the British Top 50 Chart..! What more should be done to get young people to read. If you think about it carefully, you will realize that some students/young people decide that they are going to start reading and stop watching a lot of TV and this only goes on for a week and then they are back to their usual self (Non-Readers).
How would that help us commemorate our struggle Heroes in future if our next generation does not even know how they moved from racial segregation to multi-racial tertiary institutions? One thing that they will keep doing though is selling their “new found” brands with pictures of our fallen heroes in front of them…
PS: I however, give credit to those who were the struggle heroes shirts and have all the knowledge needed about that person is and why they are hailed as struggle heroes in Mzantsi.
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1 comment:
I do agree with you. I will borrow the words:"Knowledge is Power" to supplement your views on why young people should read more. I think we all take too lightly that it was not long ago that we as black people weren't even allowed access into a"Public" library let alone a Varsity education!!Its sad that in an age where we now have the freedom to take ownership of all the available opportunities in our country, we only settle for what we think we're entitled to and even less by being lazy. Anyone who is proud to be South African should Know How Their Freedom Came About.
You're also right about the T-Shirts, Its not enough to just wear a Steve Biko T-Shirt if you don't know what he did for the struggle.
I don't claim to know all there is to know about our historyBut I do know What was done to ensure gain my Freedom I commend all those who participated to This.. Dead OR ALIVE!
From one who is: Proudly South African
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