Name? Please spell that?
DemonSpawn
Date:
04/05/2006
So, here's something depressingly typical of the New South African Mindset.
Our dear good King Goodwill Zwelethini has decided he wants to change the name of our province, which was called Natal in the Bad Ol' Days, became KwaZulu-Natal in the Good New Days, and will now possibly be called KwaZulu, in the Future Days of Disillusionment. Or at least, that's the plan.
It's not so much changing the name as simply dropping the English bit altogether.
Now, I'm certain that to our Nkosi it may seem perfectly logical to want to wipe out every trace of the colonialism which oppressed indigenous peoples the world over. But wait – let's think for a moment, instead of blindly bleating with the rest of the flock...
His official reason: the name, meaning the Place of the Zulus, has a rich cultural reference, and reminds people of their historical heroes.
His unofficial reason: the name Natal was given to the place by whites, thus there is a problem.
My official response: This is not changing the name. KwaZulu is already in the name of the province, ergo the suggestion is illogical in itself.
My unofficial – okay my other official response – (let's not sink to the level of the politician, let's just be honest about everything): It is true that this province is the place of the Zulu nation, which I respect as a proud and strong people with a rich cultural background and some great heroes whom I myself have studied and admire. But to try to deny that this place was called Natal for almost two hundred years, (which is longer than the time that the provincial area in total belonged to the Zulus), is to blatantly disregard and exclude the rest of the people who live in this place. It's not the place of the Zulus alone, although this can be considered their “homeland”. The name KwaZulu-Natal quite accurately describes the integration of different ethnicities and harmonious blending of cultures which Nkosi Zwelethini, Madiba, Nkosi Luthuli and many other people strived for in the Struggle against Apartheid.
To deny by exclusion the Whites, Coloureds, Indians – of all types – not to mention the Xhosas, Sothos, Swazis, and many other tribes who were born, live and will die in this province, is not only unconstitutional, but self-defeating.
That's assuming he actually fought sincerely for equality and democracy during the Struggle, and isn't just another glorified pick-pocket.
One more thought.
If one wanted to wipe out all traces of oppression in an area, isn't ethnic cleansing a much more cost-effective option?
Okay, one last thought, and then I'll be gone.
If one wanted to wipe out all traces of colonialism, wouldn't it be prudent to start with the first and most prevalent symptom – Christianity?
Thinking is fun, no?
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