We all need to share our views.
It has always been my wish to post my quick reflection in response to the article on the first page of Nelspruit Post dated August 14, 2013 (Residents irate about noise).
This is a free paper that is delivered at most of the busy roads in the city of Mbombela. I also want to believe that White River, Hazyview, Nkomazi (Malalane), Umjindi (Barberton) and other strategic areas would have its own newspapers. My view of these is that it should be used as a platform where people can share community development issues and subsequently suggest a nation-building programme.
As a liberated democratic nation, our views should always reflect the kind of a liberated society that we are. It should be welcomed in building a better society which will know no colour.
A nation that will have to lodge a legitimate complaint if any other citizen is feeling quelled by the other.
The recent 50th birthday celebrations of Mr Robert Gumede took the whole night of August 10, 2013.
I think it had a little to do with the frustrations of the said readers who went to report it to the said paper. Comparatively speaking, the noise of the 2013 Innibos Festival took charge of our eardrums from June 26 to 29, 2013 bellowing, and the Annual Moral Regeneration Festival on December 31 of each year, but as fellow citizens, we had to respect the Afrikaans traditional festival and we had to accept it. I still believe every citizen has the right to his/her tradition in this country.
Without mentioning what the birthday brought to our society. I want to mention the fact that there were two families whose children have won houses for them as there was a little competition that was also conducted as part of the celebrations.
That is a nation-building effort to some of us.
I think in a democratic society, we need to subscribe to a number of sacrifices to qualify as legitimate citizens of a special type. If we do not accept others, then we are in a wrong generation and it means we do not accept democracy.
Issues of entertainment should be encouraged as they refresh society and promote social cohesion.
But it can’t be that if another citizen enjoys, the other becomes impulsive. Then that would mean we are still harbouring some attitudes against each other.
