I recently finished reading an incredibly powerful book by Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that took place after the end of Apartheid. The book, No Future Without Forgiveness, offers a compelling testimony of the healing and reconciliation that took place amongst black and white South Africans after the end of the oppressive apartheid regime. I wanted to share some excerpts and quotations that had particular meaning for me:
[After recalling a particularly egregious act of violence by police officers under the old government.] Theology reminded me that, however diabolical the act, it did not turn the perpetrator into a demon. We had to distinguish between the deed and the perpetrator, between the sinner and the sin, to hate and condemn the sin while being filled with compassion for the sinner… Theology said they still, despite the awfulness of their deeds, remained children of God with the capacity to repent, to be able to change.
In South Africa the whole process of reconciliation has been placed in very considerable jeopardy by the enormous disparities between the rich, mainly the the whites, and the poor, mainly the blacks. The huge gap between the haves and the have-nots, which was largely created and mainainted by racism and apartheid, poses the greatest threat to reconciliation and stability in our country.
True forgiveness deals with the past, all of the past, to make the future possible. We cannot go on nursing grudges even vicariously for those who cannot speak for themselves any longer.
Tutu does an impressive job conveying the emotions that many South African victims felt as they worked to forgive those who had done them such great harm–both physically and emotionally.
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¡Felicitaciones España!
It’s hard to believe it’s over! After one (short) month of intense soccer craziness–the 2010 FIFA World Cup has ended its run in South Africa.
To see highlights from a South African perspective, checkout the Mail & Guardian’s photo slideshow.
Today, our team of (mostly) Americans threw an American-style 4th of July party for our South African friends! While the weather was cold (…it’s winter here in the southern hemisphere), the energy was high and there were plenty of games to go around. True to American form…we insisted on making our friends take part in a series of competitions. The games included: American trivia questions, a 3-legged race, a potato sack race, a football toss…and a hot dog eating contest! Not to mention there was a music playlist that included only songs containing the word ‘America’ or a reference to an American state in them (courtesy of Greg).
Everyone had an incredible time celebrating together and I think it helped us Americans feel a little closer to home!
Part of the Paradigm Shift team celebrating the 4th of July!
Complete elation after the US victory!
I had never been to a World Cup game before…and I had definitely never been to a sporting event of this magnitude before. Of course, I can only be referring to the United States v. Algeria soccer game I attended earlier this week.
Truth be told, when I bought the tickets I had no idea that I would get to attend the third (and final) game of group play for the United States. I simply wanted to see a World Cup game–and I wanted a cheap ticket. A South African friend of mine hooked me up with tickets to see Team USA play (it only cost me about $20), and I couldn’t have been more excited. The fact that I got to see the United States fight for their soccer future in a knock-down, drag-out fight with the Algerians simply made it even sweeter.
A recent article in the New York Times described American-style soccer and our epic win over the Algerians. Here’s a fun excerpt:
As the need for a goal increased, Bradley sent in Benny Feilhaber at the half, Edson Buddle at the 64th minute, then Beasley. Now it was the old pro football drill of everybody go long. How American was that? Only instead of Joe Montana sending everybody deep, it was Howard, the American keeper who plays in England, half-Hungarian, half-African-American…
After a few wide-open steps, Donovan flicked the ball to the right to Jozy Altidore, the Haitian-American, who banged it into the center to Clint Dempsey, who grew up playing with his Mexican friends in the dusty fields near the border in Texas. Dempsey tapped the ball at the keeper, who could not hold on to it, and there was Donovan to bang it home at 90:45.
Bring it on, Ghana : ) We’re ready.
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On 11 June, the 2010 FIFA World Cup FINALLY began in South Africa. The country has been anticipating the tournament for more than six years! As the first African nation to host the World Cup, it seems South Africa has a lot to prove. The energy around Johannesburg is exhilarating! It seems South Africans are ready to welcome the world with opened arms. I have to admit, I’m not the world’s biggest soccer fan, but I’m definitely excited about the next 30 days. Ke Nako : )
To read a South African perspective, here’s an article from the South Africa: The Good News website.
And just fyi, ‘Ke Nako’ is both Sesotho and Setswana for ‘It is time.’
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In mid-March, an article entitled Leaders’ Lavishness Gives Rise to Lifestyle Audits ran in the New York Times.
There are few things in life that bother me more than government officials taking advantage of the very people they are entrusted to help. Corruption within the South African government has long been a significant problem. After the fall of apartheid, South Africa was able to become more fully involved in the international community at-large. But with this increased participation came a closer spotlight on the activities and interests of officials in the “new” South Africa.
But it’s not just South Africa…it appears that corruption runs rampant over the entire continent, and much of the world.
An organization called Transparency International publishes an index measuring ‘perceptions of corruption.’ The aim of Transparency International is to bring people together in a powerful worldwide coalition to end the devastating impact of corruption on men, women and children around the world. Huguette Labelle, the president of Transparency International, makes a compelling argument as to why corrupt governments are particularly harmful to those living in poverty. Her points are as follows:
- Corruption has dire global consequences, trapping millions in poverty and misery and breeding social, economic and political unrest.
- Corruption is both a cause of poverty, and a barrier to overcoming it. It is one of the most serious obstacles to reducing poverty.
- Corruption denies poor people the basic means of survival, forcing them to spend more of their income on bribes. Human rights are denied where corruption is rife, because a fair trial comes with a hefty price tag where courts are corrupted.
Transparency International also lays out some important factors in eliminating corruption:
“Stemming corruption requires strong oversight by parliaments, a well performing judiciary, independent and properly resourced audit and anti-corruption agencies, vigorous law enforcement, transparency in public budgets, revenue and aid flows, as well as space for independent media and a vibrant civil society.”
It is undeniable that governments play an important role in either helping to eliminate poverty or further exacerbating the problem of poverty within their borders. As citizens, we must demand accountability from our leaders and transparency from our governments.
Below is an image of the 2009 CPI (Corruption Perception Index).
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