Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply. Let him not laugh too gladly when the water runs through his fingers, nor stand too silent when the setting sun makes red the veld with fire. Let him not be too moved when the birds of his land are singing, nor give too much of his heart to a mountain or a valley. For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much.
Once again I found myself emotional when watching a movie about South Africa. And the above quote? I happened to be quietly teary just before that, but when James Earl Jones quoted that piece in the movie, I could not contain myself any longer and just broke down sobbing. My dear husband is so sweet and patient with me when I become overcome like that. I just could not get over how apt that quote is for me…”For fear will rob him of all“…and indeed it has. It was fear which drove me away from South Africa, which is still driving my friends and family away. Will it ever stop?
The book was originally written in 1946, 2 years before apartheid became official, and already fear was shaping the nation. I was born into that fear, nursed on it. No wonder fear wracks through me still, even 10 years after being away from it. It was almost as if Alan Paton could see into the future when he wrote that he wonders if love will be transformed into hatred. I wonder what he would think if he were to see what South Africa is today.
I just have to read the book now. The movie was powerful, but books are always better at capturing the nuances.
How is South Africa today?
Morocco, that is a small question with a very large answer
And I don’t know if I could do the topic the justice it deserves.
In short, from my perspective?
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My “short answer” turned into a novel. I will post my reply as an actual post once I have edited it etc.