De La Rey
The song "De La Rey" by Bok van Blerk has been in the news almost every day of the week for two weeks now. People have even speculated that it might contain a hidden message for Afrikaners to start a revolution (conspiracy theories always make me laugh). Tonight it made it into the MNet news program called Carte Blanche.
It is perhaps wise to admit at this stage that this song is indeed used by some people to push a political agenda. Even though the song tells of the Afrikaner's suffering and perseverance against the british, people see black rather than british when they listen to it.
I have to agree that Mr. van Blerk is a bit naïve when it comes to politics. His admission that he would perform the song even to members of the Boeremag, if they were to pay him for it, was probably a bad idea.
There is a much bigger problem here though. If this song was to start a revolution -- as some people seem to fear -- blaming the song for the revolution would be like blaming the last piece of straw for breaking the Camel's back. If you already have a situation that is just one song away from a revolution, you have bigger problems than just one artist.
The question at this point would be, is there really a problem? Are we really just one song away from a revolution? I would say the answer is a definite NO. Do the Afrikaners feel the need for some kind of change? I would say they certainly do.
The Germans have been guilt-ridden for decades because of what they did to the Jews. They have been denied any national pride for such a long time that it is becoming a problem. Granted, what they did to the Jews was at least an order of magnitude worse than what happened under Apartheid (regardless of what Cosatu wants you to believe) but I think we can agree that many similarities do exist.
Does such shame even make sense?
After WWII the average German's defence was simply: "Aber wir haben nicht gewüsst!". We didn't know! Most people feel that this is not an acceptable excuse. But personally I feel it is just taken too far. How about I say to you: I was nine years old at the time and I REALLY DIDN't KNOW! That good enough?
I think it is about time we get rid of the guilt...
It is perhaps wise to admit at this stage that this song is indeed used by some people to push a political agenda. Even though the song tells of the Afrikaner's suffering and perseverance against the british, people see black rather than british when they listen to it.
I have to agree that Mr. van Blerk is a bit naïve when it comes to politics. His admission that he would perform the song even to members of the Boeremag, if they were to pay him for it, was probably a bad idea.
There is a much bigger problem here though. If this song was to start a revolution -- as some people seem to fear -- blaming the song for the revolution would be like blaming the last piece of straw for breaking the Camel's back. If you already have a situation that is just one song away from a revolution, you have bigger problems than just one artist.
The question at this point would be, is there really a problem? Are we really just one song away from a revolution? I would say the answer is a definite NO. Do the Afrikaners feel the need for some kind of change? I would say they certainly do.
The Germans have been guilt-ridden for decades because of what they did to the Jews. They have been denied any national pride for such a long time that it is becoming a problem. Granted, what they did to the Jews was at least an order of magnitude worse than what happened under Apartheid (regardless of what Cosatu wants you to believe) but I think we can agree that many similarities do exist.
Does such shame even make sense?
After WWII the average German's defence was simply: "Aber wir haben nicht gewüsst!". We didn't know! Most people feel that this is not an acceptable excuse. But personally I feel it is just taken too far. How about I say to you: I was nine years old at the time and I REALLY DIDN't KNOW! That good enough?
I think it is about time we get rid of the guilt...
posted by ispburger at 10:04 am
2 Comments:
This comment has been removed by the author.
De La Rey is in my opinie die beste Afrikaanse liedjie van die dekade so ver. Ek dink party mense probeer te veel daarin te lees. So ver as wat dit my aan betref, is dit 'n universele liedjie wat van toepassing is tot almal. Dit gaan oor vrees, oor probleme wat ons in die gesig moet staar, en op die ou end, oorwinning.
Elke mens in Suid-Afrika moet elke dag deur hulle eie probleme werk, en ek dink die lietjie het dalk al baie mense hoop gegee.
Gister toe sien ek 'n rapport opskrif langs die pad wat se dat De La Rey verban is op Loftes.
Ek glo dat geen liedjie in hierdie land moet verban word nie. Dit is die tipe goeters wat ons ou regering gedoen het, en baie mense het al geveg, en doodgegaan, vir ons vryheid, en om 'n redelike onskuldige lietjie soos dit al te wil verban, is net eenvoudig verkeerd.
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