The Wise Words of Madiba

Aaron this is my In-Country assignment 1 :)  Enjoy!

This week has gone by so fast that it is hard to comprehend and reflect on everything that I have experienced.  Even when breaking it into smaller pieces, actually putting how I feel and what I have taken away from this experience in words is difficult.  As we spoke during dinner tonight, Aaron reminded me that reflections from this experience will continue to come even months from now.  With this insight in mind, I will continue to be aware and reflective even after our in-country writing assignments and blogs are over and try to process and share now what I have learned thus far.

“I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds there are many more hills to climb”.  –Nelson Mandela

I saw this quote during our visit to Iziko Slave Musuem this past week.  I have always viewed Nelson Mandela as an inspirational leader, but actually being in the country where he made such a difference has resulted in viewing him and his accomplishments in a much closer and sentimental lens.  From becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994, he made huge changes within the country during his term, but from this quote it shows that Mandela realized that more changes would still need to be made.   From my time here thus far, it is apparent that many hills have yet to be climbed and many changes yet to be made in South Africa.  This idea of climbing smaller hills ties into a main concept that I have witnessed this past week; which is the process of building community.  From all of the lectures this week, which focused on South Africa’s history, I observed that South Africa is still engaged in the process of building community within the country.  Whether it is rebuilding the community of District Six or regaining trust in the government, remnants and distrust associated with apartheid are still very apparent within South Africa. 

Alan shared his own experiences with apartheid during lecture this week, which were extremely moving.  For example, the first time Alan visited a restaurant was at the age of 26.  Even when he was a child he had to move schools and could not enjoy any of the recreational activities he grew up with in his familiar neighborhood areas due to the Separate Amenities Act of 1953.  His was unable to further his education due to his skin color and faced opposition on a daily basis.  From the apartheid’s extreme power to divide and destruct communities, it gave a lot room for these communities to start the process of rebuilding.  The entire community of South Africa was given a chance to begin the process of community building under the new leadership of Mandela and the creation of the new South African flag.  Alan expressed how the present South African flag represents unity, new beginnings and pride for the country of South Africa and its people.  I found this story of the South African flag inspiring, since I personally do not have a similar connection to the American flag.  It was moving to see Alan talk about the South African flag in such a passionate way and how to him and his people it virtually meant freedom from the past and a look into a new future.

I began to reflect on how I would describe the American flag to Alan and other South Africans, and drew a blank.  Yes, I understand what the flag stands for, but I do not believe I would be able to present it with as much passion and enthusiasm as Alan.  It made me wonder if this lack of passion was due to the fact that I was born into freedom and never witnessed the sacrifices being made when the flag was created, like Alan did in South Africa.  I realize that I take for granted the freedoms I am given each day, such as education, freedom of speech and more.  My generation has grown up accustomed to having freedom and though some in my generation still defend that freedom through their service. The threat of losing freedom or non-existent freedom has never been tangible like it was in South Africa.

So what comes next for this community rebuilding in South Africa?  There are many options and many more hills to climb.  If each following South African generation can learn to have the passion and unity about the flag like Alan, I believe it will help them harness feelings of pride for their country in years to come.  The upcoming generations of South Africa will be born into a situation more similar to my generation, with freedoms given to them as a birthright.  I myself plan on taking the step forward to see how I can create more of a connection to the American flag and become more thankful for the freedoms that I take advantage of each day.