
It is wonderfully inspiring to see so many move so quickly, in response to an urgent call for humanity.
Thursday, 22 May 2008 Reports of xenophobic violence and hatred have featured prominently in South Africa’s – and the world’s – daily press . But what hasn’t made the headlines is the overwhelming positive response to the violence from the South African public. People often show support for causes out of the country, but when it’s in South Africa, they say it’s the government’s problem. “But now we are seeing massive support. Black, White, Indian, Coloured; they are all here.
http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/general/south_africans_unite_against_xenophobia.html
The Xenophobia in South Africa, a negative in every conceivable way, other than showing our heart and humanity to ‘the foreigners’, and to ourselves. It presents vast possibilities of change.
This kindness raises a few questions though.
- Is this type of compassion and display of generosity sustainable? Could we, if called to respond daily rather than a once off crisis, be as willing and compassionate?
- So we’ve demonstrated a miracle of support, generosity and kindness toward strangers, if we can do this (and have), how much more miraculous could our efforts be if we were to look at our brothers and sisters of Africa – still impoverished and squatting in camps? We can make the difference, or can we?
- Why, if we can come find the resources corporately and individually why can we not resolve some homegrown issues?
Are we tourist here – just passing through touching base with our immediate experiences, only to forget the realities and reminisce nostalgically from a distance or are we residents here?