Common Identity

[kilo39]

South Africans must work together to redefine their shared common identity, President Thabo Mbeki said at the lighting of the eternal flame in Freedom Park in Pretoria on Saturday.

Freedom Park was introducing its memorial element, Isikhumbuto, which is engraved with 68 000 names of people who died in the struggle.

Mbeki urges SA to find common identity Dec 16 06

Wonder if there are any troopies names on that board. Oh, but they were the enemy.

To my mind Mbeki and his government are the biggest impediment to 'common identity' for south africans. Ja, common identity with the constant veiled racism and apparatchik AA and BEE.

About 1 000 people witnessed the lighting of the eternal flame of heroes and heroines who died for humanity and freedom in South Africa.

 

[supersunbird]

Aint that the truth...

 

[Skeptik]

They spent over R450,000,000 on this. Soldiers who died in the Korean war are not represented either. I'm not against memorials, but surely there were better projects.

Why also this constant dragging up of "the freedom struggle"?

 

[Syndyre]

Why also this constant dragging up of "the freedom struggle"?

Politics. The ANC "won" the "freedom struggle" so the more they can bring it up the better they look to their voters.

 

[wallace]

What will our new "Common Identity" be? Murderers? Rapists?

 

[Syndyre]

Is there really even a common identity?

 

[Debbie]

Is there really even a common identity?

I don't think it's a matter of looking for existing common identity, I think it's a matter of actively creating it.

 

[IanC]

I don't think it's a matter of looking for existing common identity, I think it's a matter of actively creating it.

How??? ... Don't you think it more meeting half way??

 

[Syndyre]

I don't think it's a matter of looking for existing common identity, I think it's a matter of actively creating it.

And do you think we're heading in the right direction? Seems like we're becoming more sectarian.

 

[IanC]

Seems like we're becoming more sectarian.

Debbie2 ... I find it difficult to disagree with this.

 

[RompelStompel]

Soldiers who died in the Korean war are not represented either.

IIRC 2 Sqdn SAAF personnel who died in Korea are represented on the SAAF Memorial at Bays Hill nearby the SAAF Museum , AFB Swartkop.

 

[IanC]

IIRC 2 Sqdn SAAF personnel who died in Korea are represented on the SAAF Memorial at Bays Hill nearby the SAAF Museum , AFB Swartkop.

I will respect all soldiers who fought ... but I must admit to my patience being sorely tried by both the ANC and the MOTH's

 

[DigitalSoldier]

South Africans must work together to redefine their shared common identity, President Thabo Mbeki said at the lighting of the eternal flame in Freedom Park in Pretoria on Saturday.

Freedom Park was introducing its memorial element, Isikhumbuto, which is engraved with 68 000 names of people who died in the struggle.

But the president also said we need cheaper communications in February last year. Is this just more talk from the president ?

 

[IanC]

South Africans must work together to redefine their shared common identity, President Thabo Mbeki said at the lighting of the eternal flame in Freedom Park in Pretoria on Saturday.

Freedom Park was introducing its memorial element, Isikhumbuto, which is engraved with 68 000 names of people who died in the struggle.

But the president also said we need cheaper communications in February last year. Is this just more talk from the president ?

Damn ... he was actually in SA long enough to say all this ...

 

[Debbie]

How??? ... Don't you think it more meeting half way??

And do you think we're heading in the right direction? Seems like we're becoming more sectarian.

Debbie2 ... I find it difficult to disagree with this.

I have a lot of theory on this wrt in-group/out-group identity, how it fits in with the globalisation-fragmentation paradox, and how central the idea of identity is to existing global and local challanges. Heh, whether you want to hear it or not is of course another story

For now, I agree that society is becoming more fragmented- not just in SA but in the world more generally. I don't think this contradicts my above assertion that we need to actively create a common identity- the way I see it Syndyre's observation deepens the debate and ultimately supports what I think.

It has everything to do with individual and collective perception of the world around us and our place in it.

Want to hear my theory?

 

[TesterMan]

Yes please.

 

[IanC]

Want to hear my theory?

A new idea is always welcome (well most of the time ... anyway )

It will be interesting to hear how a common identity can between can be forged with so many disparate groups in SA

 

[OhGats]

This report
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/article.aspx?ID=343897 queried why there was no mention of the Border War or the Korean conflict, although apparently we do commemorate the Cubans who fought in Angola at "Freedom Park"
It could be that they are not finished with everything yet or it could be a deliberate ommission, hard to actually comment as I have not seen the place myself although I did take part in a survey a few years back about it. Yesterday the website was not working properly so its hard to know anything, the other problem is that there does not seem to be a complete casualty list available from the old SADF.

 

[IanC]

This report
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/article.aspx?ID=343897 queried why there was no mention of the Border War or the Korean conflict, although apparently we do commemorate the Cubans who fought in Angola at "Freedom Park"

Oooohhh!!, that's really designed to win over ex-troepies ... NOT