I nearly didn’t read Laying ghosts to rest: Dilemmas of the transformation in South Africa by Mamphela Ramphele. I took the book out thinking it was a biography, and was a bit disappointed to find it was a 'political commentary' style book. But I gave it a go, and was soon deep into Ramphele 'story' of the state of South Africa’s democracy - where we have come from, the heady days of the new rainbow nation, and where we SHOULD be going. She tells us how we could become a truly democratic state, despite the ghosts of the past, and points out what threatens our ability to achieve such a state.
I fear that the people who should be reading it are just the ones who probably won't, or cannot read it. Parliament should start each day with a reading from this book.
Racism, ethnic chauvinism, sexism and authoritarianism are the ‘stubborn ghosts’, of four of the
chapters of the book. We must understand the baggage we carry, but make a transformational leap into what could be the a perfect democracy, she exhorts us. I agree with just about everything she had to say on topics like the TRC, loss of skills, BEE, the health system, education and leadership. My fuzzy vision of what this country could be accords with her crystal clear reasoning. But I couldn’t stop myself thinking that if a white woman had written this, it would not be taken seriously but because it was written by this hugely impressive, black South African woman, business leader, academic and activist, surely our leaders should pay her some heed? I hope they will, but fear that rampant materialism and greed has already blinded them.
I fear that the people who should be reading it are just the ones who probably won't, or cannot read it. Parliament should start each day with a reading from this book.
Racism, ethnic chauvinism, sexism and authoritarianism are the ‘stubborn ghosts’, of four of the
chapters of the book. We must understand the baggage we carry, but make a transformational leap into what could be the a perfect democracy, she exhorts us. I agree with just about everything she had to say on topics like the TRC, loss of skills, BEE, the health system, education and leadership. My fuzzy vision of what this country could be accords with her crystal clear reasoning. But I couldn’t stop myself thinking that if a white woman had written this, it would not be taken seriously but because it was written by this hugely impressive, black South African woman, business leader, academic and activist, surely our leaders should pay her some heed? I hope they will, but fear that rampant materialism and greed has already blinded them. But I feel I understand our politics and society a bit better after reading Ramphele's book.
This comment on Laying ghosts to rest: Dilemmas of the transformation in South Africa by Mamphela Ramphele (Tafelberg, 2008) by Caroline.
Book no. 2160 (Thea).
My book rating: 4½.
Book no. 2160 (Thea).
My book rating: 4½.
