Am I missing something? Only in Africa will the SABC broadcast an interview of an ex-minister of the Mugabe government on US’s Woordfees? Something he said made me think, but I can’t recall his exact words.
The topic was the land issue and he said something like: “If only the people (Zim farmers) could see things differently, the outcome of the land issue in Zimbabwe could have been different to what it is now.”
Dear Matthys, through your Single Story column you provided the answer to this question on how to think differently. You quoted: “The essential challenge is to transform the isolation and self-interest within our communities into connectedness and caring for the whole.”
And I then realised the truth within this aforementioned minister’s comment: the possibility of seeing problems or challenges as possibilities. It is astounding.
It also reminded me of a story my son told me of a Free State farmer, Nic Serfontein, and his ability to see differently.
To be able to see differently we must start to look differently, listen with mindful intention and attention. We must, as you suggest, include every single voice and think and act differently. We have to see possibilities. We have to see
community and not just ourselves behind high walls.
Call it what you want, we cannot afford to live in a bubble or isolation and turn a blind eye to some of the realities that some political parties are shouting about.
If we want a future for our children in this country, we have to change the way we see and think and do before we can even attempt to proceed to build a country with a future – for everybody and especially our children.
Our country is broken, but not conquered. If we think possibility – create community – we, you and I – the Joe Averages of this country, can mobilise as a collective and we can turn it around.
We are the difference we want and need and yes – we can – so get involved… Thank you for a thought-provoking column. Keep’m coming…
