In the 19th Century the continent of Africa was known as the Dark Continent because nobody really knew much about it. Today, in the 21st century the perception is that it is still the dark continent but for different reasons. I am writing this as a concerned white Christian South African of our continent.
As we look at our continent today there is hardly a region that is not involved in some conflict of some nature or other. There are about ten million refugees throughout Africa and I believe that this is a very conservative estimate. Just think of Ruanda, Darfur-Somalia, the Congo, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast and Ethiopia to mention just a few. We have read about and seen on the news of some of the terrible atrocities that have been committed by humans against other humans. In most cases these have been black on black violence. In some instances they are religious confrontations but more often than not it is just plain tribalism and black racism. The politicians will have you believe that tribalism is no longer an issue. I have bad news for them; it is very well and alive on our continent.
Politicians are forever talking about the legacy of colonialism and apartheid and are always looking for retribution in the form of massive payouts. This grandstanding is to hide their own short comings in the way they are running and governing their countries. In real life the Congo has been “free” since about 1965. Where are they, fifty plus years down the line. They are in a big mess, fighting and killing each other and, in all probability along tribal lines. Zimbabwe has troops in the Congo supposedly keeping the peace. Rumour has it that they are actually looking after Robert Mugabe’s diamond mines. Who is the colonialist Mugabe or the Belgians.
Just for the record I am of Irish, Scottish, British and German extraction. I have no love for the British. My wife is Afrikaans and Middelburg in Mpumalanga where we live, was one of the British locations for a concentration camp for the Boer women and children. There was incidentally a concentration camp within a stone’s throw from where the Boer women and children were held for black people. Records show that over 900 Boer children died in this particular concentration camp. No wonder the Afrikaans people have no love for the British. The Afrikaans people through hard work and diligence took over South Africa in 1949 through the ballot box. They were a very important part of the engine that built up South Africa into Africa’s foremost economy.
I would appeal to my fellow South African citizens to stop looking for retribution for past deeds by the British and Americans. Forget it; they are not going to compensate you. The politicians and those with an axe to grind will fan the flames of hatred with their constant rhetoric on this particular issue. Hate, like jealousy and greed, are emotions that are all consuming and are likely to destroy you. In any event if there was a massive payout what assurance do we have that the politicians would not further line their nests? I think you will now realise that I have very little love for politicians. They are masters at diverting attention away from the real issues in our country at which they are performing so badly. Here I refer to service delivery, crime, education, job creation and health to mention some without going into too much detail.
As an English speaking South African I was also victimised by apartheid. It was difficult for me to get a job in the government of the day. I certainly was not really a supporter of the apartheid system. My mother was a member of the Black Sash movement. Anyway, enough of the doom and gloom. In South Africa we profess to be a predominantly Christian country. There is a solution to our problems that we face in this country of ours, and indeed, through the whole of Africa. There is a wonderful piece of scripture which can be found in 2: Chronicles 7: 14 and this reads as follows:
” If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land”.
Is this not a wonderful piece of scripture with a very specific message. God does not say I may forgive their sin and I may heal their land. He emphatically says:
” I will forgive their sin and I will heal their land”.
In conclusion, should we not turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves and truly pray and seek his face asking for His forgiveness so that our beautiful land can be restored and healed.
Butch Hannan
The sad thing about the world today is that racism is practiced by people of the same race against like people. White on white, black on black. Just for the record I am a Christian and I am sure of my salvation. Are you??
At least I am worried about what is happening in Africa
and the race issue wins the race again…… Give it up for the resenting blacks and the guilty whites! Gold, noo! Platinum medals to both for coming first in the race card game! You not christians! You just claim by mere words to be, which is absolute vanity! No wonder Jesus said no1 will enter into his kingdom unless they become as little children, he had people like you in mind!
Xolani (and reference to the writer of “Africa is Bleeding”,
Africa is bleeding, and if you are too blind to see that, you are suffering from the same symptoms as 80% of South Africans, restricted by their self developed paradigms…..haal af jou oogklappe boetie!!!
It is interesting that you mention the writer’s selective choice of scriptures from the bible, yet you choose to selectively comment on only tha parts of the story you would like to challenge, whilst the overall message (if you bothered to read to the end), is about repentance by all, love, forgiveness and focus on the future!! By the way, when you write a piece about a certain topic, you obviously select relevant scriptures or references to that specific topic…..
What you perceive the “Dark Continient” as being, is really your problem, as you have obviously only one perception of the term.
With regard to your comment on tribalism and division of humanity, it is common knowledge, that no matter what Faith you belong to, whether it be Christian, Moslem or Hindu etc, is based upon the principle of “Good” and “Evil” and has a clear set of rules, of which the greatest comandment,rule or law is the right to life!!! That is what the writer refers to when he speaks about the human slaughtering in Ruanda…..no matter what your faith….your judgement day will come if you consider yourself the right to end human life on any scale whatsoever!!!
I personally know the writer, and believe my…..he is a good man who condemns unjustice to ALL races!! We cannot change others way of thinking by fighting, but what the writer means is that if we all go to our knees and pray, God will lead us and heal us as a nation.
The British????…..nothing personal, yes they too are God’s children, if they so choose, but in history the British are known for their interference in other nations and their uncontrollable appetite for wanting what is not their’s…..even the French and the Germans do not like the British as a nation!!
“rather be unborn than unlearned……”???? What a strange comment coming from you, as there are many people in South Africa that are unlearned, not because of choice or ignorance, but because of circumstances…..do they then not have the right to existence?
I will rather not comment on Mugabe, however, whatever the size of their bank account…..it won’t buy them success, happiness, love or eternal life and DOES NOT give them the right to take innocent human lives…..this slaughtering is not human, but animal instinct, and the reason being???????
So my friend, instead of critisizing the writer, read the overall massage of love for all human beings and their right to existence, whoever they are and whatever their race or colour!!!
Kind Sir
Being the bible quoting Christian that you are. I….well,,,uhm how do I put this – YOU PICK & CHOOSE A TRUTH TO Suite ‘YOUR VIEWS’ all while editing a message of universal love which is complete & perfect, we are led to believe. Please find love for the Brithish too – for they seem to me, to be – your Gods children too. Africa is by the way a continent populated by dark pigmented people by enlarge. So, most good & most bad it stands to reason would come from them (maybe). Ofcourse being a man of God, all you ‘may’ see is Gods Universal family undevided by tribe, race,class, education & petty nationalism. Stop asking for forgiveness good Christians and ACT RIGHT or in the words of Christ Go NOW & sin nomore! Obviously with all the guilt stinking up the air we breathe, some repentance could be of use. That said please do not wollow in self pitty & shame, rather BE GOOD. Last point – “rather be unborn than unlearned, fo igorance is the root to all ,misfortune”. It is niether the Belgians nor Mugabe Colonizing Congo. Someone with a far bigger bank account & greater power than either – is. Their race….that is irrelevant.
Xolani
Well good day my friend
How lovely of the author/writer to open up a discussion so we can all delve into that which is on our minds & in our hearts & hopefully find healing. The WORLD is in a pit of violence deprivation & hatred anybody who does not see that is suffering from a terrible kind of ignorance – obviously. I do not deny this (friend of the writer who knows what a splendid fellow he is). I question not that about the general statement Africa is bleading (and needs love by extraction & extrapoltion – pressumably). What I do question is WHY specifically point out that BLACKS are KILLING blacks (on a black continent nog al). I also question your reference & the writers reference to the BRITISH crimes & therefore their collective guilt. What about the Afrikaaners who trained their children to shoot black women & children. I am sure there was good reason they may have had rocks Plestimians get murdred for the same by Israel). How about we dislike them too! Dis nie baie slim. Further more it perpetuates the state of lovelesness to single Afrikaans people out as though they are the only humans to ere. In fact I would go further to say it is not fair do describe the crimes on mankind during the aparthied times as Afrikaans – they are not. People hurt people. For some stupid seperatist ideology (nationalism,racism,religionosm, classism, etc.). you message of love is flawed when it deems some more deserving than others. My critisism is not of the general message but rather of its specific shortcomings. Not the writer though whom I have no problem with & I bet is a grand fellow. As to the quote that I ‘especially’ have used. The only way to cure us of ignorance is learning. be that study educational or experiential is not too relevant. My friendin geniet jou dag en weet dat ek stem saam – Love is all we need! That & comon sense. Prayer is a blessin to be utilised in that regard too. it is however hypocritical to expound the virtues of love for all without demonstrating it.