1. FUNDAMENTALS
Culture is conceded from a unique set of beliefs.
In the beginning homogeneous groupings of people, brought fundamental beliefs, unparalleled to those of any other group, into being.
The principle and innermost way people view their world gave birth to current and past cultures, including the African and Western cultures.
1.1 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF THE AFRICAN CULTURE
1. God gave the land and everything on it to man. The land therefore belongs to the people. They reign over the land and utilise whatever it provides to fulfil their needs.
2. They jealously protect and defend the land as well as its resources, from real or perceived intruders.
3. The land and the people living on it are equally important. Man and its land are in unity.
4. Commitment and allegiance to the group and the land is non-negotiable. The group entrusts the protection, conservation and management of the land to leaders who understand the needs and wishes of the people and those who came before them.
5. The leaders are regarded as a link between the people and their forefathers. They are seen to have “celestial” powers, able to communicate with the leaders of the past, living their wishes and conveying them to the people.
6. The authority exercised by leaders is unquestionable; especially that of the chief ruler or king.
1.2 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF THE WESTERN CULTURE
1. The universe is kept in harmony by a collection of universal scientific God given principles.
2. It is bestowed upon man to devote him to dedicatedly study and understand the absolutes of the universe. They are applied to regulate and advance society, and gain a competitive edge.
3. Man is obligated to positively focus brainpower, time and effort on creating and implementing “innoventions” that will bring about greater understanding of the potential and application of universal principles.
4. Man is committed to conform to the “Protestant Work Ethics” and to dedicatedly serve its employer and the people his products and services are aimed at.
5. Everyone is obligated to play an active part in growing and developing society and to positively contribute to advancement. Success centres on the creation and maintenance of a sustainable economic system that doesn’t stand on its own, but are fully integrated nationally and globally.
I accept that there could be different absolutes portraying the African and Western cultures. There could also be different emphases and interpretations, but these represent some of the most relevant to me personally.
One should be mindful that beliefs and the resulting culture are established over hundreds of years. Eventually, fundamentals not only trigger, but also determine how groups think about their daily life and how they behave under specific circumstances. Fundamentals are embedded and entrenched in people’s frame of reference. One could even argue that they have over centuries or more, been ingrained in the unconscious domain of the brain and the genetic make-up of its members. Culture and the behaviour it supports, is an automatic consequence… you are born and bred into your culture.
Examples:
1. The Western World “automatically” gives rise to a progressive stream of innovation and invention, from the primitive wheel to technological wonders used across the world. These include cellular phones, the GPS, personal computers, the internet, motor vehicles, aircrafts and many more. These astonishing “innoventions” were conceded by a collective set of beliefs inherent to the Western Culture.
2. The African belief system is most evident in the way its people traditionally utilised the land entrusted to them. They lived off the land reaping only what they required for their everyday needs. They honoured their environment and acted as custodians thereof. Unquestionable and immeasurable power and authority exercised by leaders and especially the “King” leader, as well as continuous and for many the unexplainable loyalty members show towards the group and the “King”, are typical of the African culture.
2. CULTURAL CLASHES
If the above is made applicable to South Africa, one could accept that the fundamentals mentioned, gave rise to how our people think and what we hold dear. The fundamentals concealed in our inner being, most importantly determine how we act… what we say… how we behave under given circumstances and what we achieve. It appears as if there are deep-seated and hardened “non-negotiables”, established over hundreds of years, which could force the African and Western cultures in our country apart.
The following are a few random remarks or factors supporting this notion:
1. The President of our country recently made a statement that “South-Africa’s problems started when colonialists and Van Riebeeck landed in the Cape more than 400 years ago.” There have been numerous similar remarks, actions and behaviour supporting that of the President. What does it say about Government’s perception of the Western culture?
2. The ANC and its allies are actively propagating the continuation of the struggle and revolution (National Democratic Revolution) portraying “White Capitalism” is the number one enemy that must be destroyed. This led to the forming of the Economic Freedom Fighters. (EFF)
3. Is capitalism and economic successes foreign and unwanted enemies directly associated with white people/the Western culture? Closely associated with capitalism is land ownership… surely one of the most dividing issues in South Africa. Government’s Land Restitution Programme allows for land claims. By 31 March 2014, 77 662 claims have been settled, awarding 3.1 million hectares to “traditional” owners. (Three % of South Africa’s dominantly white farmers produce 95 % of the country’s formal sector food. The remaining five % of locally produced food is produced by 220 000 black emerging farmers and the 2 million subsistence farmers. There has been a 90
% failure in land reform. E.g. The biggest and one of the most successful orange farms in the southern hemisphere has had no income for years. It has been damaged beyond salvage.
Is the traditional African concept of “reaping only what is required for everyday needs”, along with an apparent adversity towards managing land as a highly competitive business entity to blame for this failure rate?
4. “White people cannot claim land ownership”. Blacks must “occupy all unoccupied land” or for that matter, occupy “any land anywhere”. The ANC’s Freedom Charter supports this opinion. Last week the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) sent a warning to White people. He said: “White minority, be warned, we will take our land no matter what. We are not calling for the slaughtering of white people, at least for now.” Many people perceive a strong correlation between the struggle for land and the killing of white people. They claim that the murders already started in 1994 when the ANC government took charge. It is said that more than 70,000 whites have been murdered and untold numbers have been robbed, raped and tortured in the most-most-most-most horrific manner. It is widely accepted that the white farmer is the most dangerous occupation in the world!
5. Is this perhaps the world’s un-acknowledged genocide that very few people, care about or perhaps know about? How did it happen that ordinary cultural elements develop into extreme political issues? Is it possible for outsiders to fully grasp the anxiety, emotions and fears accompanying cultural differences in South Africa? What does the future hold?
6. Government’s land redistribution policy lies at the heart of the above matters and is a very contentious issue, especially after the ANC has reaffirmed its intention of replacing the "willing-buyer-willing-seller" principle. Sceptics feel that it is opening a space for “we-are-going-the-way-of-Zimbabwe”. The "willing-buyer-willing-seller" principle in the economy is as fundamental to the Western culture as its belief on what keeps the universe in harmony. What will the effects of negating the "willing-buyer-willing-seller" principle be?
7. The current student protests for free higher education has been accompanied by a wider campaign aimed at changing the nature and relevance of education at universities in South Africa. Students want demand decolonized education. They claim that what they call “Eurocentrism” does not serve South Africa’s interests culturally, socially and economically. They see decolonised education not the same as transformed education: “The existing system must be overthrown and the people it is supposed to serve must define it for themselves” One newspaper reported as follows: “The most recent expression of this is a video from the University of Cape Town (UCT), in which students were debating the decolonization of science. In short, the video shows a panel-discussion about Western modernity and the place of science in a decolonized African university. The students’ solution to the problem is to reject Western science, render it to ashes and create a new African scientific tradition. The elements of traditional folklore and superstition (that in a certain place in KwaZulu-Natal people believe they are able to send lightning through witchcraft to strike someone) should be included… we ought to explain this scientifically, because it happens”. The cost of current student violence around free education and decolonization has already exceeded R600 000 000. It is seemingly libraries, museums, art galleries and computer rooms that are targeted. Lecture rooms and vehicles are also destroyed.
It was earlier in this article speculated that culture has perhaps been ingrained in the unconscious domain of the brain and the genetic make-up of homogeneous groups. With this in mind a sceptic could speculate that the students' behaviour is the result of an uncontrollable urge, impulse or compulsion to destroy the intellectual and physical outputs, results or evidence of the Western beliefs, culture and its capitalistic system. How farfetched is this perception?
3. CLOSURE
I feel that the information mentioned here and the perceptions I may have expressed, represent only the ears of the hippo?
Orion
Culture is conceded from a unique set of beliefs.
In the beginning homogeneous groupings of people, brought fundamental beliefs, unparalleled to those of any other group, into being.
The principle and innermost way people view their world gave birth to current and past cultures, including the African and Western cultures.
1.1 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF THE AFRICAN CULTURE
1. God gave the land and everything on it to man. The land therefore belongs to the people. They reign over the land and utilise whatever it provides to fulfil their needs.
2. They jealously protect and defend the land as well as its resources, from real or perceived intruders.
3. The land and the people living on it are equally important. Man and its land are in unity.
4. Commitment and allegiance to the group and the land is non-negotiable. The group entrusts the protection, conservation and management of the land to leaders who understand the needs and wishes of the people and those who came before them.
5. The leaders are regarded as a link between the people and their forefathers. They are seen to have “celestial” powers, able to communicate with the leaders of the past, living their wishes and conveying them to the people.
6. The authority exercised by leaders is unquestionable; especially that of the chief ruler or king.
1.2 FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF THE WESTERN CULTURE
1. The universe is kept in harmony by a collection of universal scientific God given principles.
2. It is bestowed upon man to devote him to dedicatedly study and understand the absolutes of the universe. They are applied to regulate and advance society, and gain a competitive edge.
3. Man is obligated to positively focus brainpower, time and effort on creating and implementing “innoventions” that will bring about greater understanding of the potential and application of universal principles.
4. Man is committed to conform to the “Protestant Work Ethics” and to dedicatedly serve its employer and the people his products and services are aimed at.
5. Everyone is obligated to play an active part in growing and developing society and to positively contribute to advancement. Success centres on the creation and maintenance of a sustainable economic system that doesn’t stand on its own, but are fully integrated nationally and globally.
I accept that there could be different absolutes portraying the African and Western cultures. There could also be different emphases and interpretations, but these represent some of the most relevant to me personally.
One should be mindful that beliefs and the resulting culture are established over hundreds of years. Eventually, fundamentals not only trigger, but also determine how groups think about their daily life and how they behave under specific circumstances. Fundamentals are embedded and entrenched in people’s frame of reference. One could even argue that they have over centuries or more, been ingrained in the unconscious domain of the brain and the genetic make-up of its members. Culture and the behaviour it supports, is an automatic consequence… you are born and bred into your culture.
Examples:
1. The Western World “automatically” gives rise to a progressive stream of innovation and invention, from the primitive wheel to technological wonders used across the world. These include cellular phones, the GPS, personal computers, the internet, motor vehicles, aircrafts and many more. These astonishing “innoventions” were conceded by a collective set of beliefs inherent to the Western Culture.
2. The African belief system is most evident in the way its people traditionally utilised the land entrusted to them. They lived off the land reaping only what they required for their everyday needs. They honoured their environment and acted as custodians thereof. Unquestionable and immeasurable power and authority exercised by leaders and especially the “King” leader, as well as continuous and for many the unexplainable loyalty members show towards the group and the “King”, are typical of the African culture.
2. CULTURAL CLASHES
If the above is made applicable to South Africa, one could accept that the fundamentals mentioned, gave rise to how our people think and what we hold dear. The fundamentals concealed in our inner being, most importantly determine how we act… what we say… how we behave under given circumstances and what we achieve. It appears as if there are deep-seated and hardened “non-negotiables”, established over hundreds of years, which could force the African and Western cultures in our country apart.
The following are a few random remarks or factors supporting this notion:
1. The President of our country recently made a statement that “South-Africa’s problems started when colonialists and Van Riebeeck landed in the Cape more than 400 years ago.” There have been numerous similar remarks, actions and behaviour supporting that of the President. What does it say about Government’s perception of the Western culture?
2. The ANC and its allies are actively propagating the continuation of the struggle and revolution (National Democratic Revolution) portraying “White Capitalism” is the number one enemy that must be destroyed. This led to the forming of the Economic Freedom Fighters. (EFF)
3. Is capitalism and economic successes foreign and unwanted enemies directly associated with white people/the Western culture? Closely associated with capitalism is land ownership… surely one of the most dividing issues in South Africa. Government’s Land Restitution Programme allows for land claims. By 31 March 2014, 77 662 claims have been settled, awarding 3.1 million hectares to “traditional” owners. (Three % of South Africa’s dominantly white farmers produce 95 % of the country’s formal sector food. The remaining five % of locally produced food is produced by 220 000 black emerging farmers and the 2 million subsistence farmers. There has been a 90
% failure in land reform. E.g. The biggest and one of the most successful orange farms in the southern hemisphere has had no income for years. It has been damaged beyond salvage.
Is the traditional African concept of “reaping only what is required for everyday needs”, along with an apparent adversity towards managing land as a highly competitive business entity to blame for this failure rate?
4. “White people cannot claim land ownership”. Blacks must “occupy all unoccupied land” or for that matter, occupy “any land anywhere”. The ANC’s Freedom Charter supports this opinion. Last week the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) sent a warning to White people. He said: “White minority, be warned, we will take our land no matter what. We are not calling for the slaughtering of white people, at least for now.” Many people perceive a strong correlation between the struggle for land and the killing of white people. They claim that the murders already started in 1994 when the ANC government took charge. It is said that more than 70,000 whites have been murdered and untold numbers have been robbed, raped and tortured in the most-most-most-most horrific manner. It is widely accepted that the white farmer is the most dangerous occupation in the world!
5. Is this perhaps the world’s un-acknowledged genocide that very few people, care about or perhaps know about? How did it happen that ordinary cultural elements develop into extreme political issues? Is it possible for outsiders to fully grasp the anxiety, emotions and fears accompanying cultural differences in South Africa? What does the future hold?
6. Government’s land redistribution policy lies at the heart of the above matters and is a very contentious issue, especially after the ANC has reaffirmed its intention of replacing the "willing-buyer-willing-seller" principle. Sceptics feel that it is opening a space for “we-are-going-the-way-of-Zimbabwe”. The "willing-buyer-willing-seller" principle in the economy is as fundamental to the Western culture as its belief on what keeps the universe in harmony. What will the effects of negating the "willing-buyer-willing-seller" principle be?
7. The current student protests for free higher education has been accompanied by a wider campaign aimed at changing the nature and relevance of education at universities in South Africa. Students want demand decolonized education. They claim that what they call “Eurocentrism” does not serve South Africa’s interests culturally, socially and economically. They see decolonised education not the same as transformed education: “The existing system must be overthrown and the people it is supposed to serve must define it for themselves” One newspaper reported as follows: “The most recent expression of this is a video from the University of Cape Town (UCT), in which students were debating the decolonization of science. In short, the video shows a panel-discussion about Western modernity and the place of science in a decolonized African university. The students’ solution to the problem is to reject Western science, render it to ashes and create a new African scientific tradition. The elements of traditional folklore and superstition (that in a certain place in KwaZulu-Natal people believe they are able to send lightning through witchcraft to strike someone) should be included… we ought to explain this scientifically, because it happens”. The cost of current student violence around free education and decolonization has already exceeded R600 000 000. It is seemingly libraries, museums, art galleries and computer rooms that are targeted. Lecture rooms and vehicles are also destroyed.
It was earlier in this article speculated that culture has perhaps been ingrained in the unconscious domain of the brain and the genetic make-up of homogeneous groups. With this in mind a sceptic could speculate that the students' behaviour is the result of an uncontrollable urge, impulse or compulsion to destroy the intellectual and physical outputs, results or evidence of the Western beliefs, culture and its capitalistic system. How farfetched is this perception?
3. CLOSURE
I feel that the information mentioned here and the perceptions I may have expressed, represent only the ears of the hippo?
Orion
via International Skeptics Forum http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=313812&goto=newpost
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire