Most White South Africans Still Just Can't Get Over 1994

Most White South Africans just can't get over 1994 !

I am not prone to making sweeping statements and I know this is a helluva one!

But you know, it keeps on coming back and hitting me between the eyes. Take this whole debacle with South Africa not giving the Dalai Lama a Visa - now I'm big time pissed off, because I really dig the old guy, but suddenly all these people who don't give two hoots in hell about Buddhism or His Holiness are jumping up and down - owning the process, man.

I know there are a few things that possibly lead to this sad diplomatic fuck-up:

• The ANC has long established links with the Chinese Communist Party
  
• South Africa is China's Biggest trading partner in Africa.
• A brand new China Trade Office opened in South Africa last week.
• The 50th Anniversary of the Dalai Lama's escape from China has just been all over the media.
• etc
  

And our foreign policy is often a bit shaky, like our vote on Myanmar at the UN wasn't exactly a shining moment! But, hey we are a new democracy and we try not to piss off our friends, rather than standing up for what we truly believe in. A lot of the time our government does ok.

Gordon Brown Did Not Meet HH at 10 Downing Street

So, instead of working something out and doing it in a more elegant way like the Brits did recently when HH visited and Gordon Brown didn't meet the Dalai Lama at 10 Downing Street, the SA Government blustered and blundered and came up with a series of patently stupid excuses for refusing a visa to one of the most respected religious leaders in the world.

Joined a Facebook Group

I happily joined a Facebook group to Bring the Dalai Lama to SA and invited almost all my friends to join, hoping to raise some consciousness - hoping that the government would see the error in this decision and reverse it.

Not 24 hours later this very group had turned into a mob - slanging and slandering; an anti government lynch mob trying to organise Anti 2010 FIF Soccer World Cup protests.

Withdrew from Facebook Group

I withdrew from the group and that is why I said what I began with: Most White South Africans Still Just Can't Get Over 1994. Whenever there is a gap; an opportunity even just the tiniest little glimmer of a chance - you see them pile in with insults, damnation, criticism, negativity.

But go to workshops on the city's Integrated Development Plan where public participation has been called for or other community initiatives or anything that requires participation, input and a positive spirit and ... surprise, surprise -slim pickings.

Oh, and the Peace Conference that was the focal point of the whole fuss, just seen on Reuters that its been cancelled.

50th Anniversary of Dalai Lama's Escape

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the Dalai Lama's escape.

I met him once here in the City Hall in Durban and spent about two hours in his presence - we were showing him around an exhibition for Artists for Human Rights. I edited the Catalogue of the opening of the Human Rights Print Portfolio , so I had some privileges at the opening.

I was amazed at how ordinary he seemed and what a great sense of humor he has. He was laughing and making jokes, all the time.

But like Madiba, he just had that "thing" that made you feel so blessed and special and humble and happy and all kinds of good feelings, just to be in his presence.

Today, China is on the alert. President Hu Jintao yesterday called for a "great wall" of stability in Tibet on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the failed anti-Chinese uprising which led to the Dalai Lama's flight into exile.

Ratu Ngawang Remembers

Ratu Ngawang, now 83, then a hardened young guerrilla fighter who was responsible for getting the spiritual leader out of China, is celebrated among Tibetan exiles for his role in the Dalai Lama's epic escape across the Himalayas.

He remembers:"We killed many of their soldiers, and without regret," he said. "I was an experienced warrior and was unafraid. We were battling to save the Dalai Lama, so we were prepared to die. Many of my best friends lost their lives."

The Dalai Lama to Make a Speech in Dharmsala

The Dalai Lama scheduled a speech today (Tuesday) marking the 50th anniversary in the Indian hill town of Dharmsala where he is based.

His envoy, Kelsan Gyaltsen, said the situation in Tibet was "very, very distressing.