THE Nelson Mandela name fight is a bit uncomfortable, well for me that is. In some strange way, I think, there is something about the opposition politicos and their use of Nelson Mandela despite their rivalry with the ANC. Let’s get it straight, popular political movements and ANC are political rivals in the SA democratic vibe.
True, Nelson Mandela used to be an ANC member. He died an ANC member. I am a bit of a non-wise person, but not to the extent of not knowing that the first president of a democratic South Africa was its most famous prisoner.
I played quite a major role in the activities of his release that day at the Parade. I mean I was not just a laaitie at the activities. No. I was, to put it mildly, quite a South African. In other words, a big South African.
True, at the time of his release, it was a moment for the ANC, the whole world knows that. I, in fact, heard a rumour that FW de Klerk tried to join the ANC, but hardliners would not allow him. It is okay to remember that De Klerk was not really a big symbol in the democratic traditions of the progressive forces of the world. Imagine then my discomfort in the latest, shall we say, controversy concerning the Nelson Mandela symbolism.
His family, let’s agree, probably holds the biggest part in the discourses on the national icon from the Eastern Cape. And because of that, they probably hold the rights in claiming some superiority in the humbleness of this discourse. One can at least give that to his family.
But is that not narrowing his huge essence to the narrow lines of political-party discourse by doing that? Nelson, let us agree, has an essence bigger than "mere national" symbol. I remember his humble discourses more than the many discomforts suggested by awkward discourse in the so complex South African thinkings. Mind, then, the kind of discomfort raised by the current popular discourse on him.
It does not really feel comfortable that the actors in the current drama are not fools. Hey, let us agree, the opposition forces are not really great players in the politically stupid discourse.
There is something, however, about the narrow corners in the current lines of discourse. The discourse has political lines blurred with the beauties of South African social depths. Honestly speaking, how does Patricia de Lille really feel about Madiba? Remember when she was in the Pan African Congress? And now that she is in the DA, what really has been her voice in the discourse? Just, asking.
Nelson Mandela is no more a symbol limited to one political party. The man is a suggestion of something bigger than national politics. It is not even easy to suggest his legacy as a Nelson dream. He has not been like that. You know that too. Moreover, I don’t want him to be like that.
I wonder, though, is his persona capable of being limited to narrow political lines? I am not sure of my correctness, but is there a slight mind that compares Mandela symbolism with that of Jesus Christ? But hey, they are not comparable; the one is celebrated in winter while the other is in December!
The truth we must remind ourselves of is that we are not merely as shallow as everyday happenings. We are deeper in the conversations of the progressive mind than normality allows. There are many times that the narrow corners of political will demand that we become narrow too. I suggest that we do not go that route. Let us walk the directions that will broaden our views on the complex corners of existences that can be called life.
I want to be known to wish for a humanity that does not limit me to the narrow corners and confines of shallow thought. The scream is of a bigger thought process that must progress us as human beings to the depths in the thinking of the universe.
It is fair to say that we need to take note of silly moments like now, so that the world takes pride in our chivalries. It is difficult, but not impossible to see that our complex appreciation of the difficult corners of living are decorated by the beauties of simplicity. I like that thought because it does help us decorate the nasty, ugly corners of angry life.
Let us embrace our nasty moments with the many depths that our sweetness possesses. This, let me confess, is the line that I presume the complexities of our lives have chosen for us. It does sound difficult but it can be done.
There is no intention to be philosophical here, but between me and you, it is general knowledge that I prefer life to help us smile. That is not merely because we look beautiful, but also because when we smile the world smiles with us.
Who does not want the world to smile? It is generally known that this country has helped the humans of the world to smile at even the darkest essences of treacherous life. This is a beauty that must be allowed our embrace. The nice thing is that we are all capable, although we do not really know when we learnt it!