Opposition

opposition

I tried to find the quote which has always stayed with me ~ I can’t ~ but to paraphrase  as I remember it, ‘a healthy democracy is dependant on its opposition’.

This is evident by the outcome of our recent national municipal elections held every 5 years this past August 3rd. Although there wasn’t a huge voter turn out, our ruling* party the ANC~ the African National Congress ~ was severely trumped in 3 major metros and elsewhere in previously held ANC strongholds. The opposition leader of the DA ~ Democratic Alliance ~ Mmusi Maimane ~ led a clean and inspiring challenge to the ANC.

We’re hopeful that the Democratic Alliance will bring back values enshrined in our Constitution, drawn up by Mr. Nelson Mandela and many other worthies. We’re hopeful that those who remain in the ANC will be similarly inspired. There are/were many within the ANC who did sterling jobs but there were far too many who were feeding at the trough. We’re hopeful that money for education & schools, health clinics, housing, water and electricity will be properly allocated and implemented; tenders will follow proper transparent procedures; councillors will be accountable; people who are qualified for the job will be given the job and no more positions for pals; and that tax payers money will no longer be used to line the pockets of those in the ‘inner circle’ ~ the sycophants.

The lead up to these municipal elections was seriously rough. Racism reared its ugly head at every turn. Dirt on candidates was unearthed; 20 potential candidates were murdered, perpetrators still to be found.

At long last, we can hope that our country can pull together in spite of the challenges ahead. That there will be more job opportunities for our youth who find fulfilment in their work and can foresee a future for themselves and future generations. That women and girls rise up from their position of subservience and disallow a firmly entrenched culture of patriarchy ~ and that men and boys do not feel threatened by the natural feminine.

It really does seem to me that we’re in a process of transformation in my neck of the woods ~ a slow one as worthy ones are ~ and while there opportunities for all in our beloved country, there are also dangers. There always are as the old gives way to the new, as a new consciousness and a new vision is born. Waking from sleeping is never easy ~

I think this is true for the world at large as well ~ the soul of the world is calling out for recognition of pervasive social malaise and a re-dressing of serious imbalances. We’re all being called to be in opposition that does not serve ourselves or our planet.

There are many seismic shifts worldwide. Locally we’re still in winter here in South Africa but I am heartened to see buds on plants that looked very tired. A bougainvillea pot plant looked quite dead yesterday but I today I can see the shoots! The below photo of orchids I took this afternoon. Snowdrops in the background. Opposition is healthy ~

orchidsIMG_1285

May The Force be with you, and thank you for reading.

 

*I wish they’d do away with ‘ruling party’ and-rather call it the ‘serving’ party ~

51 Comments on Opposition

  1. I can hold on to both ends of experience at same time, Susan–or move back and forth. Knowing what others experience keeps life in perspective. Don’t censor yourself. The world needs to know.

  2. I’m stuck on that sentence that 20 potential candidates were murdered. That puts our USA politics in perspective, but all candidates would likely be murdered here, too, if they didn’t have thick walls of bodyguards around them. Taming our human rage and greed seems almost impossible. Both our candidates are under investigation for thievery. What have we come to? But this seems to be the pattern of history.. It’s painful. And yet there is hope in your world. New politicians with the values needed and spring. I hang on to hope with you.

    • Our politicians also have body guards surrounding them. These others were new candidates hoping to make a difference in their municipalities and oust the ineffective ones. Hence the brutal killings –

      Please remove that image from your mind Elaine. There is always hope I guess – hope without hope even …

      Thank you for coming by.

  3. I enjoyed your comment so much on Marian Beaman’s post today that I followed you here.

    I am an admirer of Nelson Mandela, like so many others in the world, and have viewed the politics of your beloved country from a far distance. As I’m sure you know, American media give us only small snippets of international news.

    I do agree that democracy requires opposition. But it is so hard to make the rules of engagement fair and nonviolent! Both in your country and here in the U. S.

    Anyway, glad to have met you. I sense a kindred spirit.

    • Thank you Shirley! I followed you too and left a comment on your lovely recent post and signed up! I too sense a kindred spirit.

      Thank you for coming by and commenting. It was Benjamin Disraeli who said: No government can be long secure without a formidable opposition. I watch the news on your upcoming elections via CNN sometimes and also catch news from BBC World news and Sky (also British) and of course our own TV stations – though not too much coverage is given from that source. A lot is given to what’s happening here! We are ever hopeful that good will, peace and justice will prevail ..

  4. This is a very well written and well thought essay, Susan. I’d like to see it in the New York Times, online, or at the least, the Huffington Post.

    I am a democrat and have forever felt blessed to have been born in a democratic republic. But, democracy by its very nature is never easy. The founders of our country, the U.S., knew that and feared our Republic’s collapse. But, so far, despite some bombastic idiots, so good.

    I am always interested to read about the governance of other countries. Thank you for posting this. I do wish South Africa a fair and equitable government via whoever has that responsibility (not rule).

    • Your comments – first paragraph – are extremely kind Samantha thank you so much! (i’m blushing!)

      I guess we have to remember that democracy is always hard won. Maybe it is an ideal, but surely one worth working and striving towards. But golly, it is a rocky road – at least here in SA! Thank you for your good wishes – the same goes for you all in November elections.

  5. I know smooth transitions of power from one party to another at both local and national levels are essential if democracy is to flourish. I hope everything works out well in South Africa.

  6. Opposition is healthy, indeed. Thank you for this post, Susan. And sorry to hear about all the problems there — racism and the like. Sad state of affairs. Not much better here as we’re nearing November. Keep hoping for the best.

    • Thanks Silvia for coming by. We’ll get through it I suppose, as you will in the US but it is not without ongoing anxiety. Have a great weekend. 🙂

  7. I’m so happy I discovered your blog, Susan. Like J.H., I’m from Canada too and I echo her sentiments. I was in high school when Justin Trudeau’s father, Pierre Elliot Trudeau took Canada and the world by storm. He inspired my interest in politics and I’m very pleased that Justin now carries the torch of tolerance and inclusion – something the previous government sadly lacked. I found your blog to be insightful and beautifully written. I’m now a follower!

    • Thank you John for coming by! I saw on WordPress that you liked this post – so I followed you! And then it was a lovely surprise to see you here. I remember Pierre Trudeau … and I really like Justin Trudeau and all that he stands for. You are fortunate indeed!

      Have a lovely weekend – and thank you for your kind comments 🙂

  8. Congrats on the positive results–at least they’re a hint that change is in the air.

    Over here in Canada, it’s shocking to see some people post hateful comments about our Prime Minister because he goes to gay pride parades and supports equality. Oh, and has some fun now and then. God forbid our politicians are human!

    I feel for you and for your beautiful country. I hope you see some positive change soon.

    • Thanks J.H. for your good wishes. Right now there are ructions everywhere with the latest attempts by the governing party (ANC) attempting all sorts of dangerous ‘strikes’.

      I like Trudeau and all that he stands for. It’s extraordinary how people project their own stuff onto others …

      Thanks for coming by and have a lovely weekend!

  9. I’m sad to read about the politics there in South Africa. Like here, there is volatility as to feelings about our two candidates. Sadly neither are good choices… so which is the lessor of evil.

    As you stated, it would be wonderful to have our politicians working for mankind instead of feathering their own pockets. Plus, the parties do not work together, they work in opposition of one another so nothing constructive is accomplished.

    I LOVED your last quote…”making the ruling party, the serving party!” Yes, I totally agree.

    • Thanks Gwynn for coming by .. talk about volatility – the last 24 hours here have got us in a complete tizz … or those at least who have heard the brand new news. I won’t go into it … but yet more anxiety about what our government is up to. Quite unbelievable and potentially disastrous on many levels.

      Our government is a self-serving party sad to say. Have got the blues so won’t say anymore except ‘good luck’ with your upcoming elections …

  11. Very interesting post and I liked the sentence that says healthy democracy is dependent on its opposition. Agree with you totally but the reality is far from this statement in our country. The political parties are busy trying to prove themselves as the best party, and sometimes even an ordinary statement is taken as “intolerance” and so much of discussions and debates. I only pray that peace and harmony reign in all the countries and I loved reading your statement doing away with ruling party and call it a serving party 🙂

    • Thanks `Genevieve for coming by. Yes that’s what happening here – and more besides … With the loss of power in many areas and metros our governing party is desperately fighting for control of government resources … it is very scary. Right now our currency is rapidly losing it’s gained strength against other currencies as from yesterday late afternoon – Yes, let’s pray for peace and harmony all around the world.

  12. I think you are right about opposition being important. Perhaps it keeps people from becoming complacent. But we all know there are many different forms of opposition–and it can become very scary.

    I didn’t know about the 20 candidates killed in S. Africa.

    I have to hope that the people of the US will fight intolerance, and that the system will work in our upcoming presidential elections (as well as legislative seats that are up for election). Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November. I have no idea how these things are decided. 🙂

    • Thanks Merril for coming by and for saying about the placements of Election Day and Thanksgiving. Here’s hoping that the US will have much to be thankful for post election –

      There are many types of opposition I agree – when I was looking for the one I remembered and couldn’t find, I came across zillions of quotes, many of which decried opposition in any form, missing the point I think of the value of opposition –

      I watch the road trip of your upcoming elections with interest … and wish you all very well.

  13. Susan,
    I wish you and your country well. There are seismic shifts taking place throughout the world. The turbulence, however, has just begun. As long as there are repugnances against multicultural diversity, none of the nations will change completely. I am not being pessimistic. In fact, I consider myself to be highly optimistic. However, the complexity of change and what we must do to bring about a healthy civilisation makes me ponder and ask myself if we want to do this. If we really do want change.

    I hope South Africa takes a leading role and show us that it can happen.

    As for my own home country, the United States of America and the continent that I am living in at the moment, I have my doubts. Wealth blinds us to the poor and the need for change. We have somehow buried ourselves in self-indulgence and become like little children who refuse to share..

    Thank you for an excellent article that inspired my thinking.
    Shalom aleichem,,
    Patricia

    • Thank you Patricia. Even as I write a day later dreadful and alarming political stuff is happening and it is to do with greed – power once gained is rarely given up. I have nothing against money or those who are wealthy – but when political powers are hell bent on lining their own pockets and ignoring those for whom they were elected into power to serve, it fills me with despair.

      We’re about to elect a public protector, as Thuli Madonsela’s 5 yrs term is about to come to an end. She served us all extremely well … the person who may well be elected to this position is a lackey of the ANC.

      Can we really go backward as we try to go forward? The answer is yes – we’re in for a rough ride I fear. There are other awful political ‘things’ looming. Hope is hard to maintain –

      Shalom to you – and thank you again.

  15. If we want to cultivate a true spirit of democracy we cannot afford to be intolerant. Intolerance betrays want of faith in one’s cause.
    ~ Mahatma Gandhi

    Wishing the best for your country as it grows past this stage. We don’t often hear about countries outside of the US and a few other hotspots, but this demands some attention! Thank you Susan.

    • Thanks for the wise quote by Mahatma Gandhi Lesley. I’ve read a great deal about him and have much admiration for the way he stood up to injustice by effectively using the tactic of passive resistance. He spent some years here in South Africa. I wasn’t around then but we have monuments to him in various parts of our country .. Thanks for your good wishes –

  16. As you know, the election cycle here in the United States has become pretty outrageous. I hope whoever ends up in the winning seat will want to serve rather than rule, a very un-democratic notion.

    • Things get rougher the closer to the elections it seems. Hopefully there’ll be no Marie Antoinette’s brandishing their swords trumpeting their cause .. and may serving the nation be their focus.

      Don’t the elections happen around Thanksgiving? Thanks for coming by Marian.

  17. I think this is happening in many countries on different levels.
    We here in the America this year have to choose which is the lesser of the two evils. The governments have to be washed clean with a fresh start but how do we all do that with the power they hold.
    It would mean a revolutionary war and then who are the right people to vote into the governing positions.
    The world is in a sorry state and we the people are the ones that will have to pay for the greed.

    • Thanks Patricia for coming by. It’s especially tough when one has to choose between the lesser of two evils.

      The ordinary person in the street does seem to get the worst of it. Which is why the ordinary person must speak louder and clearer and say no to corruption, greed, power politics and so on .. here in South Africa this is pretty much what we did. Although our voices were somewhat drowned in the beginning, they grew stronger – ENOUGH! we cried! No more! ..

  18. I think you could change a few words and describe America, too, Susan. And I venture to say, both sides of our political scrap-fight would claim you were describing them. I’m not sure where truth lives anymore.

    • Thanks Jacqui for coming by – I sometimes also wonder where truth lives. Each party thoroughly and fervently believes their own ‘truth’ – its hard to sometimes see through the sturm und drang and the projections of one onto the other but when truth does appear it’s like a bolt of lightning out of the blue. Or out of the stormy skies.

  19. Thank you! Enjoyed the political view from someplace other than here in the USA. And, of course, I love the way you put your words together.

    • Thanks Marsha so much! I like watching the US road show just to keep my mind off what’s happening here! Though I think the tide is turning here – and may yours turn favourably too …

  20. Hi Susan – such a good post … and I’m so pleased to read and to hear that the DA has beaten the ANC in the metro centres. Now – somehow you need peace and that quiet democratic influence to move the country on to where it should be when Nelson Mandela handed over.

    I shall hear shortly when I meet up with some SA friends … but they voted to leave the EU … we’re in a mess here – I hope we have some humble leaders who can reach out together and help us all build a better future for us all …

    Cheers Hilary

    • Hi Hilary, I heard Mmusi Maimane on the news a little earlier quoting Nelson Mandela: ‘May our choices reflect our hopes and not our fears’. I thought that was pretty powerful! Maimane puts his money where his mouth is – to quote my son David on one of his FB posts. 🙂

      Out of disorder and chaos comes order – the UK will be OK. Thank you for coming by. Hope all is well with you.

  21. It’s sometimes hard to keep in mind that opposition does help us to grow….clearer, stronger and more determined. Thanks for this wonderful post, Susan, your high values and refinement come through so well! Love, Mira

    • Thanks Mira for coming by. I agree opposition does seem like a strange bed fellow to growth! I guess when it is not done only for the sake of opposing everything – but it can help to make issues clearer. That you for your kind words 🙂 Love, Susan

  22. Opposition IS healthy in the face of dogma or entrenchment. Opposition with a view to re-balancing. You’re right about the dangers inherent in the shifting of a society’s tectonic plates. I hope your country comes through it well. When you talk of the racism, is this still a black/white thing, or is it predominantly Tribal? The killings you speak of, are they taking place on all ‘sides’?
    With voices like yours Susan, it can only help to make the place better.

    • Thanks Brian for coming by. Tectonic plates is right – they cause huge shifts, hopefully for re-balancing.

      Re: racism – it’s both black and white and tribal. I wrote a post Iast year on racism in the midst of our country being being torn apart by it. The killings? Many ANC candidates who were fed up with the way things were being run (to the ground) and would have rectified matters within their communities were done away with. It was jostling to retain power …

      We all need to speak out.

  23. 20 potential candidates were murdered? Wow. And we in the U.S. think our current election situation is bad. So sorry to hear of your beloved country’s terrible growing pains. But then, it’s always been so, hasn’t it? I don’t know how many Americans were murdered by other Americans in our Civil War. Ditto the Russian and French revolutions, etc. Sometimes humanity is its own worst enemy; a cancer that destroys the healthy cells of its host until it, itself is destroyed with the death of the host. Peace be with you. Jeanie

    • Thanks Jean, real birthing pains are going on here which has been a long and painful labour. Perhaps we’re in the troubled adolescent stage right now. We can only hope that our democracy continues to mature. Peace be with you in the US in your troubled upcoming elections.

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