I awoke this morning in my country. I have been awakening for some little time now. And for the last week or more it has been with the story of South Africa in my mind and the rhythm of Maggie Soboil pouring the prose of "Cry, the Beloved Country" into my heart. Another Meg, the most traveled of my family and dear friends to offer me tips and advice, simply said get to know something of the country and the people you will visit. The most traveled indeed. Yes. I will get to know something of these people dear Meg. I will get to know something of their country.Do you think you know the story of their country? Something of her people? I did. As it turns out I knew nothing. As it will turn out, even after reading so many books and watching so many movies and following impassioned cyber-debates between her countrymen - posts as fresh as today, I will still know nothing of their country. Nothing of her people.
And I will go there and hope to then know something. For on this trip I will try so very hard to be wide awake.
I was not yet born when my European ancestors 'discovered' my country in their name and that of their god and,
I was not yet born when exploration and progress of white men tangled up with tribal tradition in my country and,
I was not yet born when the natives were corralled into reservations so meagerly parsed in my country and,
I was not yet born when the natives of Africa were captured and enslaved in my country and,
I was not yet born when they were on paper set free in my country and,
I was not yet born when the rising up of those who were not truly set free won their legal rights in my country.
I was born when the reality of legal rights together with what lies in the hearts of some and not in others is messy and painful.
But I was not awake.
I was born when the natives were rising up from legal and systematic de-humanizing in their country. But I was not awake.
I was born when the rights of all citizens were won and declared equal on paper in their country. But I was not awake.
I was born when new leaders set about to help all men women and children tell the truth and reconcile in their country. But I was not awake.
I was born when the reality of legal rights together with what lies in the hearts of some and not in others is messy and painful.
Don't go back to sleep.
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You will never go back to sleep my love. You have been slowly awakening all your life, and once awake, you will not go back to sleep. You know too much, you've seen and will see too much, and most of all, you will feel too much to go numb again. I remember reading "Cry the Beloved Country" and I remember weeping. I know the beauty of that country will enchant you and you will know joy deep in your soul. Joy is made all the sweeter, when you know that sorrow has been on the path as well. Capture what you can with your camera, my love, and what you cannot capture on film, capture in your heart.
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Hi Lisa, Thinking of you@@ Here's hoping you can stay awake and soak up everything!!!! Toni
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