Ideastream
The Greatest Challenge in History Calls on Us to Make a Difference
Dissipate the anger, turn it into love
jackboots march through Africa where’s the justice? do black lives matter only in the West nobody care about the rest?
Mandela’s legacy lies in decay the blessing of democracy of parliament equality pretense is over no more rainbow days
Mbeki follows acolytes squash debate on AIDS fantastic tales of beetroot and garlic and millions die
then Zuma comes to raid jackhammer smashes road to freedom leaves the basket held potential empty
meanwhile the Guptas polish dollared jewels in Dubai UAE won’t extradite
Zuma loses the race resigns on tv reluctant smile on face one last giggle for the masses
we bathe in Ramaphoria the Marikana man rakes the gravel soothes with platitudes we watch with melancholy fortitude for the corruption brood to lose its grip
await the judge’s gavel scales of justice zig and zag
1995 the TRC commission seeks to thrive to reconcile forgive
a quarter century forked tongues still smooth the worry lines of poverty and hunger with promises of future growth and sanitation to create the most unequal nation
impasse followed by enjambment:
we freak out as Covid stays our hand
won’t go away One hundred and five days and counting
screwed again oxygen in short supply why?
be fair share the shame and blame but we’re confused what is the game? passengers in taxis crammed but we cannot understand why family visits are still banned
despite the fear and desperation we reach out to help each other strive to be a loving nation
Welcome to my Wonderland
I wrote this on the same day Zindzi Mandela, political activist, poet and youngest daughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, died — 13 July 2020.
Lala ngoxolo.
67 Minutes for Mandela Day occurs this Saturday 18 July.
The 67 minutes represents a minute for every year he served the country, starting in 1942 when he started campaigning for the human rights of every South African.
At the Concert in Hyde Park in 2008 to celebrate his 90th birthday, Mandela announced the idea, saying, “It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.”
When launched by the UN in 2009, he declared that he would be “honoured if such a day can serve to bring together people around the world to fight poverty and promote peace and reconciliation.”.
This pandemic has highlighted we still have plenty work to do across the globe to achieve those goals.
More individuals are struggling with mental health issues than ever before. Drug and alcohol abuse become avenues of escape from inner turmoil. Anxiety, addiction, and depression affect millions from every walk of life.
Almost three years to the day after performing live at Hyde Park in 2008 for Mandela’s 90th Birthday Concert Celebration, Amy Winehouse was found dead in her Camden flat from alcohol poisoning.
In honor of her creative genius, let’s listen to her singing Rehab at that event.
Let’s use this time to turn our anger into love and compassion and strive to bring dignity to all humankind, despite the nay-sayers in our midst.
Many communities on our planet have demonstrated the power of people to change lives for the better during this pandemic.
This year’s hashtag is #ActionAgainstPoverty. I will continue my monthly donation to Gift of the Givers but in addition will donate part of my Medium earnings to the Each1Feed1 campaign.
Important media announcement:
“The Nelson Mandela Foundation is proud to announce that the 18th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture will be delivered by the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres on the 18th of July 2020. The theme for this year’s lecture, Tackling the Inequality Pandemic: A new Social Contract for a New Era, will focus on the current inequalities that have come under sharp relief during the COVID-19 pandemic and will look ahead to what we must do to address the world’s fragilities and build a fair globalisation.”
I’ll be watching!
Thank you Marilyn Flower for the Poetry Salvage prompt.
Perfect timing!