Trivialising National Youth Day – not funny at all
It's a sad day when some people, on social media, post parody pictures of one of the most painful days in South African history.
IT saddened me today to see how some people took to Twitter, Facebook and BBM to trivialise an important day in South Africa’s history – June 16, known as National Youth Day.
The horror of that day is clear to see on the faces of the pupils who were caught up in the protests in 1976 when Apartheid police opened fire on the oppressed students.
The original picture was shot by Sam Nzima and showed a dying Hector Pieterson being carried by Mbuyisa Makhubo while Pieterson’s sister Antoinette Sithole runs crying beside them.
Hector was just 13 years old when he was brutally killed.
But some insensitive smart Alecs think its fine to take the mickey out of what must have been a painful day for all involved. They depicted Hector Pieterson with two beer bottles in his hand, Mbuyisa smiling and smoking a cigarette while Antoinette is depicted grinning – not funny at all.
Today, we are meant not only to be honouring South African’s youth but also to be mindful of those who lost their lives in the brutal struggle for an end to Apartheid and not making fun of those who lost their lives.
