Border troops won't be honoured

[Sneeky]

This will help us find a common identity,,,

It's ok though, they cannot erase history.

Lest we forget.
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_A...046609,00.html

[mancombseepgood]

How does anyone get off deciding on who died for human freedom and dignity?
Especially back to the Boer war, WWI, WWII?

The Cubans helped fight for freedom in Africa, they played a role in ending apartheid and they should be honoured for that," he said.

Actually, they were probably just following orders to kill like 90% of everyone else.
Aah well... it's just another meaningless memorial that won't help put food on the poor's plate.
At least some of them will get a pat on the back and congratulations before being ignored.

[Paul_S]

It's ok though, they cannot erase history.

The problem is that they won't be able to shape their future if they don't accept the past and move on.

[RompelStompel]

Seems that the S.A. Armed Forces who fought fascism is acceptable , but those who fought the Marxist ters are not

Isn't there a memorial for S.A.D.F. KIA at Fort Klapperkop ?

[tibby.dude]

The names of border troops are ALREADY honoured in a SANDF memorial for fallen soldiers ... they certainly did not contribute anything to freedom in S.A so I don't see why we should honor them in Freedom Park as well.

The German people don't honour their Weermaght and SS troops who died by the millions in WW2 when it is Armistice Day in Europe but instead remember each year with a sense of shame and a responsibility to the world the calamity that was the Third Reich.

[zeb]

I'm pretty sure their families would not want their names on a wall amongst the terrorists, who are now treated like heroes.

Had it not been for these SADF soldiers, South Africa would have been just another Mozambique or (insert messed up African country of choice)

[tibby.dude]

I'm pretty sure their families would not want their names on a wall amongst the terrorists, who are now treated like heroes.

Had it not been for these SADF soldiers, South Africa would have been just another Mozambique or (insert messed up African country of choice)

I can't believe some people allegedly educated to use the Internet are still in denial about Apartheid.

So sad.

[HosstheBoss]

The names of border troops are ALREADY honoured in a SANDF memorial for fallen soldiers ... they certainly did not contribute anything to freedom in S.A so I don't see why we should honor them in Freedom Park as well.

The German people don't honour their Weermaght and SS troops who died by the millions in WW2 when it is Armistice Day in Europe but instead remember each year with a sense of shame and a responsibility to the world the calamity that was the Third Reich.

Of course not, make it a us and them situation

These “evil” individuals that died on the border were young guys, conscripted to the military by the previous government and sent to the border. Just because they where “on the other side” doesn’t mean they don’t deserve respect. Their deaths were not by choice and that what makes it truly tragic.

And I doubt very much that comparisons to SS Troops should even enter the equation, don’t even try to draw comparisons to the true evil of the twentieth century.

[antowan]

I seriously think the threat of communism is underplayed. IMO there was a real communist threat during the latter part of Apartheid. There still is, but the major communist power then (USSR) isn't around to fund weapons proliferation. That doesn't mean they didn't win... Time will tell where we end up in SA.

As a patriot, I would say communism or overdriven socialism will kill this country if it gets a foothold in the economic sphere. It is represented in politics.

[Datura]

The German people don't honour their Weermaght and SS troops who died by the millions in WW2 when it is Armistice Day in Europe but instead remember each year with a sense of shame and a responsibility to the world the calamity that was the Third Reich.

What a gross and uncalled for comparison.

[HosstheBoss]

Mongane Wally Serote, CEO of the Freedom Park Foundation, says they don't deserve it because they didn't die for freedom and human dignity.

However:

Responding to an article in the Sunday Times, Serote said the Cubans who died in Angola would be honoured.

People are naive to think that these Cubans were fighting for the freedom of the South Africans. They were pursuing their Masters (USSR) communistic ideals. The Soviets sent them in there to die, to further their failing ideals and test their weapons against western technology (as a secondary). Same as our ex government did to the young men of SA, very sad.

We get into these conflicts because of the Super powers at play, same as modern day Iraq and instead of blaming them, we blame each other.

[Getafix]

@tibby.

There is a little difference. A lot of us fought there. For what we believed in.

The blokes who got medals and decorations earned it. They were soldiers.

This new lot has breasts full of medals and coke proppies. Please tell me of one single battle that these cowards ever were involved in.

The Church Street and Magoo Pub bombs doesn't count.

Apartheid my ass!

Where would you prefer to live? Rhodesia or Zimbabwe?

This country of hours is such a **** place we have to deport our neighbours by the thousands daily.

Makes you think, doesn't it? Or can't you?

[simple_simon]

The names of border troops are ALREADY honoured in a SANDF memorial for fallen soldiers ... they certainly did not contribute anything to freedom in S.A so I don't see why we should honor them in Freedom Park as well.

The German people don't honour their Weermaght and SS troops who died by the millions in WW2 when it is Armistice Day in Europe but instead remember each year with a sense of shame and a responsibility to the world the calamity that was the Third Reich.

so quick to determine who is right and who is wrong. alas, there are many that are quick to judge the actions of others without having been in their situation. moral high ground is a shaky place, there is a long fall to the bottom

[xtermin8or]

What a gross and uncalled for comparison.

I find the comparison rather apt and fitting, how can people who fought against human dignity and freedom be honoured -

to be fair to Serote though he did say

We do not ignore the role they played, and we will allow the people of our land to debate the matter. South Africans must say if they think that (these soldiers) should be honoured.

It is strange how this just gets ignored

Jodi Kollapan said recently,

the problem in South Africa is that the small minority has the voice, that's why the Appropriation of farms is a national debate but not the thousands of landless people, that's why the perception of the sidelining of Afrikaans culture and language is very often the topic of the day, while many blacks are scared they are losing their cultural identity

It is a sad indictement on our society, that twelve years after democracy, it seems the problems of the minority are still prioritised as the problems of the nation

[zeb]

I can't believe some people allegedly educated to use the Internet are still in denial about Apartheid.

So sad.

I can't believe some people can't see the whole picture of how South Africa became the country it currently is.
I'm not in denial about Apartheid, but I'm realistic about it. You have a one track mind because you're probably too young (or too indoctrinated) to remember how different life was during Apartheid (for all race groups)

If you think the definition of freedom is having the right to vote, you're pretty ignorant.