|
May
19, 2005
 As
I reflected this morning over breakfast, I realized
that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I must
make the most of each and every opportunity because
I can learn something from each one.
Today,
we had the incredible opportunity to visit the historical
Apartheid Museum. After over three hours in this museum,
I was still unable to take in all the emotional and
truly amazing information I absorbed. I am positive
that one cannot independently study apartheid and
consider themselves complete without visiting this
museum.
The
museum is the perfect aid for helping anyone to feel
as though they existed throughout the time of apartheid.
“Humanity was born in Africa, all people, ultimately
are African,” one quote on the museum’s
wall read.
There
were so many readings full of depth that it made one
want to reach each and every one. Unfortunately, there
wasn’t enough time in the day. The photos touched
each of us in a special way, while the paintings done
by Bushmen left us with a dialogue about African mysticism.
Bushman art is renowned for the sophistication of
its spiritual symbolism. I learned that while some
paintings contain many messages we don’t understand,
it is sacred to them—like my Christian Bible
is to me. While some people believe that God is above,
the Bushmen believed that God is below in the earth.
This idea is reflected in African paintings expressing
their connection to nature.
The
exhibition also illustrated the lives of the social
and political movements that gave birth to apartheid,
such as the “poor white problem” and “Afrikaaner
nationalism.” In 1948, apartheid was implemented.
Passages in the Bible were often used by apartheid
supporters to justify apartheid and the continued
separation of the races.
One
African said, “When the Europeans came they
had the Bible, and we had the land. Now we have the
Bible, and they have our land.”
During
a very positive conversation following the visit to
the Apartheid Museum, we found that the loss of land
is a consistent problem among blacks (and was) in
the same manner that Native Americans lost their land
(in the United States).
Where
do we go from here? In order to be successful ambassadors,
we must first recognize that a problem exists. Part
of the problem is that many of us don’t recognize
that there is a problem. Forms of segregation and
slavery still exist. Our schools and income brackets,
for example, are still separated. Realizing these
disparities is just the beginning of our journey to
success. We as young leaders are confident that with
this remarkable experience we are well on our way
to shaping our futures in a positive and powerful
way.
Bronson
Edwards ’07 is a dual degree major in applied
physics and mechanical engineering.
|
