Our old flag

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edc

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http://www.news24.com/News24/MyNews24/Letters/0,,2-2127-2129_2112995,00.html
Dear Editor,

I am a black South African. I know there is much in our present Government to criticise but have remained hopeful that, after 13 years of democracy, the "powers that be" will eventually get it right.

However, I am saddened by an incident that occurred this morning on my way to the office. I have always admired my neighbour down the street for his loyalty in proudly hoisting his Blue Bulls flag despite staying in Stormers-land (WP).

This morning I noted that in addition to his Blue Bulls flag, he was also proudly displaying his pre-democracy South African flag. I don?t know this man personally and cannot comment on his political leanings. However, as a black South Africa, this flag to me is a symbol of oppression, fear and degradation. Much as a Jew would feel upon seeing the Swastika.

It is rather irrelevant to argue that the present government is responsible for the current crime rate, and everything else that is wrong in this country. The point I would like to make is - why are we celebrating a government/era in our country that was responsible for such widespread suppression?

I would like to believe that I am an intelligent black woman whose abilities extend to far more than just cleaning the "madams" house, making her food, or taking care of her children. Without the democracy that we are living in, my abilities would never have been realised.

I am saddened that some South African's would still proudly display a symbol that strikes such terror and loathing in the hearts of their fellow countrymen.

Amanda Vraagom,
Kraaifontein
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When I was in standard 1, as it was called back then, we used to sing the anthem and look at the flag, I felt proud of the country and my history. "kreun van osse wa" and such. I never associated the flag with Apartheid.

I'm today certainly not proud of the current of previous government, as both have and had serious faults. When I see the old flag I remember the innocence of childhood, that security and sense of wonder.

I'm undecided about how we should see the old flag in the current South-Africa. Any other opinions?
 
Well the confederate flag causes problems in America as well.

Some see it as oppression while others see it as representing good ol southern values.
 
edc said:
http://www.news24.com/News24/MyNews24/Letters/0,,2-2127-2129_2112995,00.html


When I was in standard 1, as it was called back then, we used to sing the anthem and look at the flag, I felt proud of the country and my history. "kreun van osse wa" and such. I never associated the flag with Apartheid.

I'm today certainly not proud of the current of previous government, as both have and had serious faults. When I see the old flag I remember the innocence of childhood, that security and sense of wonder.

I'm undecided about how we should see the old flag in the current South-Africa. Any other opinions?
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It seems this flag just does not want to stay in the Meuseums, where it belongs. I'm not saying ban it, just that it is a past symbol of the goverment of that time and most people would just not rather remember that time.

Now with edc, and other people that feel like him, it represents a time they felt safe and secure and might want to reminice about that time. Cool, I have no problem with that just have compassion towards other people's feelings towards the flag.
 
It's a symbol of Heritage for the most of the white South Africans. Our fathers died fighting the wars on the border and in Angola for that flag and your lives. Black or white.

It's a symbol of the Afrikaans people, Racist or not that is not what the flag stands for. It's part of our Heritage and it will remain on display for years and years and years to come.

Stop trying to blame everything on Appartheid. So if I see a Zulu wearing his Traditional clothes I must now feel fear just because the Afrikaners had a war agains them and then later united ?

No I find it part of their culture and heritage and I respect it.

I would suggest you get over it and respect our heritage too.
 
Pitbull said:
It's a symbol of Heritage for the most of the white South Africans. Our fathers died fighting the wars on the border and in Angola for that flag and your lives. Black or white.

It's a symbol of the Afrikaans people, Racist or not that is not what the flag stands for. It's part of our Heritage and it will remain on display for years and years and years to come.

Stop trying to blame everything on Appartheid. So if I see a Zulu wearing his Traditional clothes I must now feel fear just because the Afrikaners had a war agains them and then later united ?

No I find it part of their culture and heritage and I respect it.

I would suggest you get over it and respect our heritage too.
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Of course it is a symbol of a heritage were your parents skin gave them access to call my grandparents "boy" or "girl" even if they were older than them. I t is part of your heritage were people we killed for saying free mandela. It is part of your heritage were old men were forced to strip and have their an@s checked in order to get a dompas to work in their own country. It is part of your heritage that refused to give black people an honourable education as their life purpose was to work and clean after your parents and grandparents and ancestor's before then.

It is a good heritage that you went to fight a war (that you lied to your own people about) that was not your own because your leaders were scared that independent black states would signal to the black populance that they too can be independent.

That is a good heritage that we should always remember:confused:
 
Rooinek said:
Of course it is a symbol of a heritage were your parents skin gave them access to call my grandparents "boy" or "girl" even if they were older than them. I t is part of your heritage were people we killed for saying free mandela. It is part of your heritage were old men were forced to strip and have their an@s checked in order to get a dompas to work in their own country. It is part of your heritage that refused to give black people an honourable education as their life purpose was to work and clean after your parents and grandparents and ancestor's before then.

It is a good heritage that you went to fight a war (that you lied to your own people about) that was not your own because your leaders were scared that independent black states would signal to the black populance that they too can be independent.

That is a good heritage that we should always remember:confused:
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1. I was not part of any racist remarks or issues in my whole life.
2. I gained nothing from appartheid to this day.

So what is it that your crying about ?

Should we all now hate the Union Jack because of what Brittain did to us all white and black ? Should we all hate the US flag for what they did to the Blacks in relation to Slavery ?

Your comments score no relevance to the subject.
 
You guys really crack me up. :D :D :D

The old flag will never go away, its still part of SA.... "You" people are already burning everything else so leave history, sorry, heritage alone and focus on something else that you can f@ck up.....
 
Banning it will be like hiding away from your problems. The flag should be remembered as a time of good and bad. The same can be said of our current flag! a 3rd flag should be created that combines both new and old, and show that we should come together and unite!.
 
So do all of you own old SA flags? WHy do they ban them at sporting events?
 
edc/Pitbull, the "Vierkleur" is the real flag of the Afrikaner. It's also a flag without all the apartheid baggage. The old SA flag you refer to was also a compromise flag with the Union Jack on it.
 
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LabAnimal said:
Banning it will be like hiding away from your problems. The flag should be remembered as a time of good and bad. The same can be said of our current flag! a 3rd flag should be created that combines both new and old, and show that we should come together and unite!.
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What should a non white gain from the old flag?
 
Under that flag I was able to ride my bike in the street, as a 7 year old child. How many 7 year old kids are able to ride their bike alone in the neighborhood these days?

Anyway, if the old flag represents the previous government, then the old flag still advanced the black population more than African leaders did, Zambia had independence since 1964 and they are worst of today than South-Africans in 1994. So as far as oppression goes, it does not hold water, if we were a democracy in 1964 South-Africa would be like Zambia or Zimbabwe today. If you look back today, you can by happy with the old flag, back in 1964, I suppose it was a symbol of oppression.

If the old flag represents the people of South-Africa, white or black, then it represents a time when things were safe, when everyone loved this country and felt patriotic towards it. If you were black you were fighting for something you wanted, if you were white you were either supporting democracy (like my parents) or fighting to retain control of your country.
 
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edc said:
Under that flag I was able to ride my bike in the street, as a 7 year old child. How many 7 year old kids are able to ride their bike alone in the neighborhood these days?

Anyway, if the old flag represents the previous government, then the old flag still advanced the black population more than African leaders did, Zambia had independence since 1964 and they are worst of today than South-Africans in 1994. So as far as oppression goes, it does not hold water, if we were a democracy in 1964 South-Africa would be like Zambia or Zimbabwe today.

If the old flag represents the people of South-Africa, white or black, then it represents a time when things were safe, when everyone loved this country and felt patriotic towards it. If you were black you were fighting for something you wanted, if you were white you were either supporting democracy (like my parents) or fighting to retain control of your country.
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I ride my bike, all the kids ride their bikes actually the kids ride scramblers and quad bikes all over my area. Where do you live???:rolleyes:
 
JK8 said:
What should a non white gain from the old flag?
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A moment to feel proud of what it represents? Security, stability, patriotism, something I have not felt for 16 years?
 
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