The Bishop & the Dalai VS ANC

In true Madam & Eve style - YOH! this has been one heated week in South Africa. Seldom in recent times, can I remember such spirited (to put it mildly) debate from all spectrum's of South African's. The cause of this disturbance to our normally tranquil suburbia lives -  The Dalai Lama's Visa ( or lack of it ).

Suddenly we all are experts on philosophy, theology, history and a host of other subjects. Twitterland was abuzz, with Visa supporters on one side, and opponents on the other.  And the ANC government was made to look so foolish, even 'ol Julius would have been envious of.

Bishop Desmond Tutu

As if matters wasn't bad enough, then came The Bishops, thunderbolt press conference. I was glued to my Yaris seats, on the way home from work, listening to his menacing warnings - 'Watch Out...Watch Out...Watch Out Zuma'. One almost sensed President Zuma shifting nervously in his Lazy Boy couch, watching all of this unfold.

What to make of all this? Well here's my 2c worth. I was one of those who initially strongly felt that our local ANC-bashing media ( Mail & Guardian, City Press & Co. ) was, as expected, making a meal of it. The ANC insisted that the Dalai's visa application was being processed, with the media & the Dalai Lama's spokesperson saying that they were unduly being delayed. Big deal, I thought, the Dalai Lama is not exactly a diplomat, so it's probable that the government was processing it in due time. Then the rumours began that Beijing was pressurising Pretoria, into denying the Dalai Lama's visa, for obvious reasons. And suddenly, as one tweep put it - China was the new 'C' word.

I am generally very proud of our current government. I think they are doing a sterling job in very uncertain and trying times. Just look at how well we came through the Big recession in 2008. Thanks to positive pro-active legislation like the National Credit Act, we were saved from being exposed to many of the harms that other, economically advanced, first world countries faced. And then, there is the real freedoms, that we enjoy in our beautiful land. Being a Muslim, I don't think there's any other country in the world right now, that a Muslim can practice their religion, freely, without harassment, or hindrance as in South Africa.

Nevertheless, I now feel that, once all the hullabaloo started, the ANC could have put it all to rest, by just granting the Tibetan leader, his visa entry. If not for his sake, then for our dear stalwart, Bishop Desmond Tutu. I mean, surely we've bent the rules previously for others, so why not just expedite the affair, so that South Africa can breathe a bit easier and get on with other more important issues in life.
Then there's the small issue of China. This on it's own is a whole new blog or two, but if there were any truth in the rumours, that our R20 Billion trade deals with China was at risk, if we let the Dalai in, then here again, is where the ANC should have taken a stand. China is, and can never be our benefactor or saviour in life. Yes, we value their investment in our country. And there is much to learn from them, in the way they have built up their economy to be the powerhouse that it now is. But they will never be the make-or-break of our land. Only we will. We as South African's, by learning, educating, building and working together, will determine how successful a nation we can become. There are bigger things in life than mere dollars and rands. This is not what makes a nation great. It is a nation built on justice, principles, freedoms. It is making this a land, that we are all proud to be part of. And once we all start enjoying who we are, then yes, the money will come in time, but more importantly, we would have set a sterling example for generations after us. This is priceless.