4 minute read
EDITOR’S COMMENT
Of the power of music, legacies (good and bad) and protecting our children
It’s early Sunday morning and someone, somewhere in our complex, is singing Johnny Clegg’s ‘Scatterlings of Africa’:
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Released by one of South Africa’s many music icons in 1982, its lyrics tell the story of the hungry, the searching, and those trying to make a better country. Poignant and catchy, it’s a tribute to the ‘White Zulu’, whose legacy is a unique combination of musical talent and an example of an unflagging commitment to social justice.
As timeless and appealing as Scatterlings, in my opinion, is the ‘Pata Pata’ song by Miriam ‘Mama Africa’ Makeba, a late 1950s release that “still captures a subversive joy and a sense of indefatigable human spirit”. Named after a dance, Miriam Makeba, singer, songwriter, UN Goodwill Ambassador and civil rights activist, paints a lyrical picture of “everybody starting to move down Johannesburg way when the Pata Pata starts to play”.
Of our living legends, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (our personality profile in this issue, see page 22), is one of many great examples. Now 90 years old, he and his wife inspired the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, launched in 2013 and supported by three pillars: The Knowledge Legacy, Showcasing Leadership, and Courageous Conversations.
South Africa is a land of legacies, born of countless numbers of people who have made a difference to the lives of others. They include the musicians, the writers, the activists, the marginalised, the doers, the poor – all part of a rich tapestry that serves to inspire. Many have found international fame, others will be remembered only in the stories passed down by their families, and many names will be forgotten but each, in their own ways, were and are ‘Starfish Throwers’. Widely quoted, the original ‘Starfish’ story was written by Loren Eisley and published in 1969 in the Unexpected Universe. The more popular version speaks of an adult, who, while walking along the beach, sees a child continuously bending, picking things up, and then throwing them gently back into the sea. Curious, the grownup goes up to the youngster and asks: “What are you doing?”
“I’m throwing starfish back into the ocean – the tide is out, and they will die if they’re left on the beach,” the child replies.
“But there are thousands of miles of beach and thousands of starfish,” the adult counters. “What difference will it make?”
Picking up another starfish and throwing it into the waves, the child answers: “It made a difference for this one.”
Which brings me to my next point: that of negative legacies. As impactful and far-reaching as the good ones, the bad ones leave suffering and destruction in their wake. The murderers, the paedophiles, the racists and the bullies: they, too, will create legacies, many of which will outlast their own lives. One can only hope that justice will be meted out to them, and their victims will be able to find healing and closure. I think especially of those who have abused children, be they parents, relatives, teachers, carers or criminals.
In this issue, our feature article delves into school and campus security. According to Passmark, South Africa has more than 25,000 schools; some wealthy, others desperately under-resourced. With recent media headlines announcing the suspension of two sports coaches, the shooting of a teacher in full view of scholars, the rape of a 6 year old in the bathroom of her school, and ‘systemic gaps’ that allow teachers accused of or found guilty of crimes against children, we, as parents and community members, have to be more vigilant than ever. To this end, the National Parent Teacher Association has a list of tips to prevent or identify criminality and violence in schools. These include keeping the lines of communication open with children and teens, being involved in their schoolwork, friends, and activities, and asking ‘openended questions such as “tell me more” and “what do you think?” Warning signs and changes may range from ‘subtle to dramatic’: withdrawing from friends, declining grades, suddenly quitting sports or clubs, problems with sleeping and eating, and complaining about headaches, stomach aches and other physical ailments.
Our hope lies in many of the more than 60 million people who call South Africa home, in its courts, and in even the smallest acts of kindness. In her book Optimized Self Journal Diary Notebook for Beautiful Women, Shannon L. Alder entreats people to: “Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you,” she says.
So, even if you are only able to provide a sandwich to a hungry person or a smile (with your eyes in our mask-wearing world), it will be of value.
Ingrid Olivier, Editor
ingridolivier@idotwrite.co.za
