Heritage Day

So on Heritage Day I thought about what it is that we are actually celebrating...and I realised that South Africa has such an incredible cultural diversification and is a true melting pot of cultures. People have come from all over the world to form the fabric that is South Africa.
This is truly a remarkable country we live in. Within a broader social and political context, the day's events are a powerful agent for promulgating a South African identity, fostering reconciliation and promoting the notion that variety is a national asset as opposed to igniting conflict.

Then I started thinking about my own personal heritage. I am a born and bred South African, but just like all of us, there is so much more to our roots. My father had Russian and Israeli roots. My mother Greek, but also some Norwegian, as Norwegian vikings had invaded Greece.

And then the South African in me, in all of us. Its like when you go to a South African comedy show, and you know its only humour, you being a South African, will understand. I mean there are a lot of funny South African swear words that only we understand;) Like what I saw at the Loeries Awards, how South African advertising and commercials have this unique flair...how we just love our rugby and biltong. Its everything South African...we are just different;)

Africa is the cradle of mankind, and more interestingly, scientists have discovered thet the 1st life forms(algae) originated in South Africa and we have the oldest human remains, implying that the 1st humans might of originated from South Afica. The Karoo area also has some of the best dinosaur fossils. So not only are we incredibly diversed with all our different languages, cultures, eating habits, peoples' looks, but we also have a very rich biological and environmental heritage.

So for Heritage day I thought about our South African legacy...and the great freedom fighters of Mandela, Mbeki, De Klerk and many others, who believed in peace and empathy. These elders have all shown us the way and all we have to do is listen and follow our roots...Thank you for this heritage. As Mandela said in 1996 on Heritage Day: "When our first democratically-elected government decided to make Heritage Day one of our national days, we did so because we knew that our rich and varied cultural heritage has a profound power to help build our new nation.
We did so knowing that the struggles against the injustice and inequities of the past are part of our national identity; they are part of our culture. We knew that, if indeed our nation has to rise like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes of division and conflict, we had to acknowledge those whose selfless efforts and talents were dedicated to this goal of non-racial democracy."

I am proudly South African. I left a few years back to go live in America as I was "fed up" with the small mindedness of the people here. But in America I realised that Cape Town can be a small minded "clicky" place but that furthermore it was the people I was hanging out with that were small minded. And even though I loved it in America, there was this constant yearning or calling to return to South Africa...Now that Im back I realise it is my calling to be in this country and make a difference. I am proud of who I am- an upstanding an honest citizen who wants the best for his country and its citizens. I am also proud of what I stand for- peace, empathy, loyalty, inegrity, love and growth. Being a Mr SA semi-finalist has really made me see what a great country we have and how improving and growing this country is possible if we are willing to put in the time, effort and courage. I am willing.

I want my kids to know about where I come from, where they come from. How important their grandmother was in their and my upbringing. I will leave them the legacy of tolerance, empathy, love and generosity, taught to me by my mother and the great leaders of our unique country. And they will know about this country of ours and grow up with all our quirks becoming a part of them. This is who we are, this is our heritage.
And my kids will receive this heritage. And their kids. And your kids.
So on Heritage day I said thanks to my parents and forefathers for making me who I am today.
And thank you to all of you for making this country what it is.
Namaste and love to you.