Here is the email that I have sent out. Please forward this to all of your contacts - thank you...
As many of you probably already know, plans to change our national rugby emblem from the springbok to the protea are in an advanced stage, after our government’s previous and numerous failed attempts. Every time this situation arises, we the fans speak out against it, mostly amongst ourselves and through the press on occasion. We speak with passion, we speak with pride and we speak united against what we believe to be a mockery of a proud part of our heritage as South Africans. Our voices have gone un-heard it seems - http://www.supersport.co.za/rugby/article.aspx?headline=Bok emblem up for discussion?&id=273340
It is time that proud South Africans, regardless of race, regardless of ethnicity and regardless of any basket in which you have been classed in to, speak out on a united front against this potential travesty. The voices of a few within the ANC ranks have sparked an outcry and fuelled emotional debate throughout South African communities and online forums, such as the well respected www.mybroadband.co.za. Here is one such discussion taking place at the moment: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=139467
It appears that our government has forgotten about the overwhelming feeling of unity we felt on the day that Francois Pienaar and President Nelson Mandela lifted the Rugby World Cup together in 1995. It seems they have forgotten the sense of unity we felt; the pride; the passion; and for the first time in our raindbow nation’s history, we felt acceptance and tolerance. It was a momentous occasion and one that will live with this writer for decades to come. The symbol that I remember that day by, is the Springbok emblem! I felt the same way when we lifted the trophy for a second time last year, alongside President Thabo Mbeki. I do not doubt for a second that both Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela wore their Springbok jerseys with the same feelings of emotion and pride that we did, and continue to do. And I am adamant that I am not the only one that does not want that special moment taken away from us, or sentenced to eternity in a dust collecting museum. Whilst government believe that standardising the emblems will miraculously help in unifying the people, I feel that they have lost touch with the people and this move will in fact result in the exact opposite taking place. As a proud South African, I do not want to let that happen, and I hope you will join us in doing something about this.
What we ask, is that you visit www.savethespringbok.co.za and pledge your support for this worthy cause – and then to forward this email to all of your contacts. We will be updating the website with your views. We ask that you also visit the discussion on South Africa’s premier consumer activism forum and post your opinions relating to this topic, however you feel - http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=139467. Please be careful though – we do not want to tarnish this campaign with abuse and hatred as so often happens in our beautiful country. We therefore ask that you carefully word your opinions so that we can take this campaign all the way to the top, with the utmost respect.
We also plan to take civilised and peaceful action should the emblem-changing plans continue to move forward. This is likely to involve placards at the ABSA Currie Cup Final. We hope to hand these out for free at the stadium (whichever it may be), however this requires funding that we do not yet have. However to ensure peace of mind, we do not ask you to go to your pockets, we instead ask that those who can support this cause by utilizing resources at your disposal, whether they be printers, designers, high level, relevant contacts within the government etc to please contact us by using the following email: [email protected]
Lets stand together and make a difference, even if it is just to remind politicians how much the springbok emblem means to us. You don’t need to be a rugby supporter to do so either, as every single South African has felt the positive effect of the springbok.
Together, we CAN make a difference. But we need YOUR help!
Kind Regards
Proud Springbok Supporter – [email protected]
As many of you probably already know, plans to change our national rugby emblem from the springbok to the protea are in an advanced stage, after our government’s previous and numerous failed attempts. Every time this situation arises, we the fans speak out against it, mostly amongst ourselves and through the press on occasion. We speak with passion, we speak with pride and we speak united against what we believe to be a mockery of a proud part of our heritage as South Africans. Our voices have gone un-heard it seems - http://www.supersport.co.za/rugby/article.aspx?headline=Bok emblem up for discussion?&id=273340
It is time that proud South Africans, regardless of race, regardless of ethnicity and regardless of any basket in which you have been classed in to, speak out on a united front against this potential travesty. The voices of a few within the ANC ranks have sparked an outcry and fuelled emotional debate throughout South African communities and online forums, such as the well respected www.mybroadband.co.za. Here is one such discussion taking place at the moment: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=139467
It appears that our government has forgotten about the overwhelming feeling of unity we felt on the day that Francois Pienaar and President Nelson Mandela lifted the Rugby World Cup together in 1995. It seems they have forgotten the sense of unity we felt; the pride; the passion; and for the first time in our raindbow nation’s history, we felt acceptance and tolerance. It was a momentous occasion and one that will live with this writer for decades to come. The symbol that I remember that day by, is the Springbok emblem! I felt the same way when we lifted the trophy for a second time last year, alongside President Thabo Mbeki. I do not doubt for a second that both Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela wore their Springbok jerseys with the same feelings of emotion and pride that we did, and continue to do. And I am adamant that I am not the only one that does not want that special moment taken away from us, or sentenced to eternity in a dust collecting museum. Whilst government believe that standardising the emblems will miraculously help in unifying the people, I feel that they have lost touch with the people and this move will in fact result in the exact opposite taking place. As a proud South African, I do not want to let that happen, and I hope you will join us in doing something about this.
What we ask, is that you visit www.savethespringbok.co.za and pledge your support for this worthy cause – and then to forward this email to all of your contacts. We will be updating the website with your views. We ask that you also visit the discussion on South Africa’s premier consumer activism forum and post your opinions relating to this topic, however you feel - http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=139467. Please be careful though – we do not want to tarnish this campaign with abuse and hatred as so often happens in our beautiful country. We therefore ask that you carefully word your opinions so that we can take this campaign all the way to the top, with the utmost respect.
We also plan to take civilised and peaceful action should the emblem-changing plans continue to move forward. This is likely to involve placards at the ABSA Currie Cup Final. We hope to hand these out for free at the stadium (whichever it may be), however this requires funding that we do not yet have. However to ensure peace of mind, we do not ask you to go to your pockets, we instead ask that those who can support this cause by utilizing resources at your disposal, whether they be printers, designers, high level, relevant contacts within the government etc to please contact us by using the following email: [email protected]
Lets stand together and make a difference, even if it is just to remind politicians how much the springbok emblem means to us. You don’t need to be a rugby supporter to do so either, as every single South African has felt the positive effect of the springbok.
Together, we CAN make a difference. But we need YOUR help!
Kind Regards
Proud Springbok Supporter – [email protected]
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