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Mister Wong
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In my role as editor, I always endeavour to remain as neutral as possible when it comes to all things political. A closed mouth gathers no feet.However, in the words of comedian and satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys, we live in a country that thankfully always throws us such material, that at times it is simply too juicy not to roll with.
I have no axe to grind with the ANC or President Jacob Zuma, but this one cannot go without comment.
In a speech that infuriated Christians and opposition parties alike, the president told hundreds of supporters in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape that only an ANC membership card would guarantee an automatic pass into heaven. “When you vote for the ANC, you are also choosing to go to heaven. When you don’t vote for the ANC, you should know that you are choosing that man who carries a fork... who cooks people,” he said.
“When you are carrying an ANC membership card, you are blessed. When you get up there, there are different cards used, but when you have an ANC card, you will be let through to go to heaven,” he said to wild applause.
“When (Jesus) fetches us, we will find (those in the beyond) wearing black, green and gold. The holy ones belong to the ANC.”
It is not the first time that Zuma’s remarks have led to a political storm. He angered Christians and opposition parties during the 2009 general election campaign when he repeatedly told ANC rallies that the ruling party would rule “until Jesus returned”.
The use of political religion often helps maintain its power base by instilling fear of some kind in the population. North Korea holds frequent air raid drills to emphasise the possibility of imminent invasion. In China, the government emphasises the danger of instability. The Stalinists maintained a state of panic by claiming that Trotskyist conspirators were sabotaging the Soviet Union. In Germany, the Reichstag fire, blamed on Communist terrorism, provided an opportunity for Adolf Hitler to declare a state of emergency. In the United States, the fear of communism or terrorism (as evidenced in the Red Scare and the War on Terror) has been used similarly.
In this modern age, it is unacceptable to wield religion as a political weapon; to emphasise the threat posed to society by some otherwise-recognised or hypothetical threat or whichever rival party or group it deems to be the most ‘demonic’.
The ANC spin doctors tried to water down Zuma’s prophetic words, but he struck a chord with so many uneducated voters who will believe he was literally ‘speaking in tongues’ from the good Lord above.
In many ways, Zuma’s religious beliefs – exacerbated and inextricably linked to the ANC’s ideology – makes the implicit explicit; the implied, direct; and the danger to South Africa’s democracy immediate.
Between puberty,adolescence and constant pursuit for street credibility he indulged in literature(thanks to daddy's collection of readers digest).His love for literature led him to understand and loathe those who lacked melanin.he joined a popular party,finished school and the economics of his backround didn't allow him to further his studies,still he was taught that that is not an excuse for failure.He found his first job and the atmosphere at the workplace resembled that of daddy's apartheid narrations,he hated those without melanin more.found a second job and more hatred brewed.
His life was synonymous with that of his country.He grew up with this democracy,from RDP to the growth plan,the rugby world cup to 2010,Rainbow nation to the Reitz four and Steve Hofmeyer,arms deal to the bread cartel.he read all the election slogans from a Better life for all to together we can build better communities.he read many books from Long walk to freedom,Beyond the engeli mountain,the battle for the soul of the ANC,After the party and Finish and klaar.they sparked all sorts of emotions from anger to understanding,pride to disgust.he witnessed the beautiful rise of the black middle class who can now sit at restaurants and counted himself lucky to be affording such,the rise of the black diamonds,the ugly economic grasp of our white community,the greed of our politicians,the moral decay and corruption endorsement by Africa's grandest revolutionary movement at Polokwane.He found inspiration in its people from Nkosi Johnson,Neil Tovey,Joel Netshitenzhe,Pius Langa and many more.He loves his history,he loves the ANC but realizes that this is not the same party his father voted for in 1994.
He is now 29,earning a living wage,a father to a 2 years old who his father say he is everything like him in 1984,He looks at his son and remembers his days through history with his father.He decide that for the first time in 5 elections he is not voting for the ANC but the DA.not to please the DA,not to give power to the whites but for the future of this country,for his son,for the ANC to change attitudes,for the next 40 years of his life.NO something in him disagrees "you cant vote for them.
He is in turmoil should he vote for history or the future,but is DA the future?