"I HAVE A DREAM . . .
Yes, indeed, and with sincere apologies to the late Martin Luther King, I do have a dream albeit with less hope of it ever becoming a reality. After all, the Reverend King delivered his impassioned plea on August 26, 1963, in Washington DC and although America has a black president not much has changed since the days of him with the ears, George W Bush. The ghettos are still packed to capacity, black youths are hanging about, jobless, poor, and with little hope of changing their lives soon. The rich are not as rich as they used to be, the poor are worse off than ever before.
We elected our first black president in 1994, so why do I still have a dream?
As King has so aptly pointed out there, is a cheque to be cashed. When the architects of our constitution committed those words, based on amongst other things, the Magna Carta, to paper, they made a promise to the electorate: A promise that guaranteed every citizen the inalienable rights of liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness. A very tall order, one could say.
But, with King, I want to reiterate, that we should not be bitter or revengeful because the promises, probably made in good faith, were not met. We should always act within the restraints of the law.
Despite disappointment and frustrations I still have a dream that one day this nation will hold this truth to be self-evident: all men are NOT created equal. We have equal rights under the constitution, yes, but equal we are not. Some of us are clever, some sly, some honest, some dishonest, some talented, some dumb and others dumber, and so one can go on. And as for happiness, we may pursue it, but some of us are saddled with depression, discontent and other genetic and imagined disorders.
I still dream that heads of state and high officials in government and private companies will allocate lower salaries to themselves and better salaries to those in lower positions.
I dream of an effective and cheerful civil service who understands the idea of service.
I have a dream of a united country where all citizens are kind and friendly and reach out to the one next to them, no matter what colour or creed.
I have a dream of a country where people try to understand someone else’s point of view, his culture and her language.
I have a dream of a country free of corruption, graft and crime and the covering up of the aforementioned.
I have a dream of people who respect themselves and their property as well as other people and their property.
I have a dream of a country where the environment is respected and maintained for those who come after us.
I have a dream of a country where every person can read, write, and calculate.
I have a dream of a country where religion is respected and practised in schools so that children can acquaint themselves with different religions and broaden their vision.
I have a dream where physical exercise and sport are made compulsory in schools in order to develop team spirit and a healthy nation.
I have a dream of a country where those who work hard are not taxed till they drop dead from sheer exhaustion.
I dream of a country where the taxpayer can see clearly where his tax money goes, i.e. proper roads, effective policing, working hospitals, and responsible teachers in good schools.
I dream of government, business and municipal employees who answer their telephones on the first ring and do not pass you on and on and on till kingdom come.
I dream of a country where the electricity supplier is honest and keeps his house in order by properly maintaining power plants etc.
I have a dream that every developer is compelled by law to supply sustainable energy to every building, whether private or public, he or she constructs.
Yes, I have a dream, but it seems more and more like a pipe dream, I fear.
A few sad facts:
The Magna Carta was sealed but not signed by King John Soft Sword, the brother of Richard Lionheart. It is assumed that the king could neither write nor read.
In 1996 more nations were members of FIFA than the United Nations.
Married Love by Marie Stopes was published in 1918. The book was published in Afrikaans in 1927, but was declared legal in the United States in 1931 and went on to become one of the most influential books of its time.
William Wilberforce made a speech in British Parliament in 1789. It was almost immediately published as On the abolition of the slave trade. I wish I could report that the slave trade is dead.
A book or two on a more cheerful note
The Alchemy of Murder, Carol McCleary.
McCleary’s riproaring take on Jack the Ripper involves historical figures from Louis Pasteur to Oscar Wilde. One hopes to see more of her heroine, the feisty reporter, Nelly Bly.
Vroue bly gesond lewenslank, Sarah Jarvis, red.
A comprehensive look at women’s health by a panel of doctors.
The Miracle at Speedy Motors, Alexander McCall Smith.
The brand new Mma Ramotswe mystery is moving much slower than usual, yet it is a comforting read in these troubled times.
Afrikaans readers will be happy to know that these mysteries are now available in Afrikaans."
Yes, indeed, and with sincere apologies to the late Martin Luther King, I do have a dream albeit with less hope of it ever becoming a reality. After all, the Reverend King delivered his impassioned plea on August 26, 1963, in Washington DC and although America has a black president not much has changed since the days of him with the ears, George W Bush. The ghettos are still packed to capacity, black youths are hanging about, jobless, poor, and with little hope of changing their lives soon. The rich are not as rich as they used to be, the poor are worse off than ever before.
We elected our first black president in 1994, so why do I still have a dream?
As King has so aptly pointed out there, is a cheque to be cashed. When the architects of our constitution committed those words, based on amongst other things, the Magna Carta, to paper, they made a promise to the electorate: A promise that guaranteed every citizen the inalienable rights of liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness. A very tall order, one could say.
But, with King, I want to reiterate, that we should not be bitter or revengeful because the promises, probably made in good faith, were not met. We should always act within the restraints of the law.
Despite disappointment and frustrations I still have a dream that one day this nation will hold this truth to be self-evident: all men are NOT created equal. We have equal rights under the constitution, yes, but equal we are not. Some of us are clever, some sly, some honest, some dishonest, some talented, some dumb and others dumber, and so one can go on. And as for happiness, we may pursue it, but some of us are saddled with depression, discontent and other genetic and imagined disorders.
I still dream that heads of state and high officials in government and private companies will allocate lower salaries to themselves and better salaries to those in lower positions.
I dream of an effective and cheerful civil service who understands the idea of service.
I have a dream of a united country where all citizens are kind and friendly and reach out to the one next to them, no matter what colour or creed.
I have a dream of a country where people try to understand someone else’s point of view, his culture and her language.
I have a dream of a country free of corruption, graft and crime and the covering up of the aforementioned.
I have a dream of people who respect themselves and their property as well as other people and their property.
I have a dream of a country where the environment is respected and maintained for those who come after us.
I have a dream of a country where every person can read, write, and calculate.
I have a dream of a country where religion is respected and practised in schools so that children can acquaint themselves with different religions and broaden their vision.
I have a dream where physical exercise and sport are made compulsory in schools in order to develop team spirit and a healthy nation.
I have a dream of a country where those who work hard are not taxed till they drop dead from sheer exhaustion.
I dream of a country where the taxpayer can see clearly where his tax money goes, i.e. proper roads, effective policing, working hospitals, and responsible teachers in good schools.
I dream of government, business and municipal employees who answer their telephones on the first ring and do not pass you on and on and on till kingdom come.
I dream of a country where the electricity supplier is honest and keeps his house in order by properly maintaining power plants etc.
I have a dream that every developer is compelled by law to supply sustainable energy to every building, whether private or public, he or she constructs.
Yes, I have a dream, but it seems more and more like a pipe dream, I fear.
A few sad facts:
The Magna Carta was sealed but not signed by King John Soft Sword, the brother of Richard Lionheart. It is assumed that the king could neither write nor read.
In 1996 more nations were members of FIFA than the United Nations.
Married Love by Marie Stopes was published in 1918. The book was published in Afrikaans in 1927, but was declared legal in the United States in 1931 and went on to become one of the most influential books of its time.
William Wilberforce made a speech in British Parliament in 1789. It was almost immediately published as On the abolition of the slave trade. I wish I could report that the slave trade is dead.
A book or two on a more cheerful note
The Alchemy of Murder, Carol McCleary.
McCleary’s riproaring take on Jack the Ripper involves historical figures from Louis Pasteur to Oscar Wilde. One hopes to see more of her heroine, the feisty reporter, Nelly Bly.
Vroue bly gesond lewenslank, Sarah Jarvis, red.
A comprehensive look at women’s health by a panel of doctors.
The Miracle at Speedy Motors, Alexander McCall Smith.
The brand new Mma Ramotswe mystery is moving much slower than usual, yet it is a comforting read in these troubled times.
Afrikaans readers will be happy to know that these mysteries are now available in Afrikaans."
EY
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