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<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cA miracle? A negotiated revolution? A \u2018refolution\u2019? All of the above can be, and have been, used to describe South Africa\u2019s transition from being the world\u2019s last surviving racial oligarchy to a democratic order. The theme of this book has been that the transition occurred because the principal antagonists, the ANC and the NP, mutually recognized that neither could win the struggle on its own terms: the conflict was deadlocked, and perpetuating it would cause horrifying loss of life and serious damage to a potentially prosperous economy.\u201d[1]<\/a><\/p>\n Growing up since the 1950\u2019s my only information about what happened in South Africa as the government passed from the hands of the National Party to the African National Congress came from American newspapers. By the 1960\u2019s \u2013 with the efforts of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. and many others \u2013 people were finally waking up to the injustice and cruelty towards black[2]<\/a> citizens. We looked with grave concern at what was happening in Africa also.<\/p>\n We got mixed messages about South Africa \u2013 injustice from white supremacists, confusion over all of the various tribal distinctions, \u201cnecklacing\u201d, and fear that the Soviets were just going to turn South Africa into another satellite.<\/p>\n All of that is past now. In his book on the history of apartheid in South Africa, David Welsh describes in great detail the process of the transition from an essentially minority government to a government of the majority. His narrative is detailed but interesting as he captures the major leaders\u00a0and events that played a part in the story.\u00a0Here are a few thoughts:<\/p>\n I remember reading about necklacing in the news. It was horrifying. Welsh\u2019s honest account gives all the details \u2013 negative and positive of all sides. He portrayed Mandela and De Klerk as men of high standards; each with possible regrets. It is all the more reason to see how peaceful, comparatively speaking, the transition of government was.<\/p>\n Another comparison that Welsh makes is that the\u00a0ANC had the high moral ground but\u00a0De Klerk’s decision to unban the ANC and begin the process of democracy\u00a0was also a moral and religious decision. “So far as is known, De Klerk is the only ex-leader of an authoritarian state to have made a comprehensive apology for the misdeeds of the state whose head he had become.” [5]<\/a> It may not make up for all of the injustices done by the NG but repentance is a good beginning.<\/p>\n Why does this especially affect me? In my dissertation I will be demonstrating how the CRC folks seem to get stuck on \u2018tradition\u2019 and only accept change slowly. I think that is part of what was going on in South Africa. Tradition is a wonderful thing. Cultures get some of their identity from their traditions. But what happens when a tradition is harmful?<\/p>\n It is mystifying to me how the CRC can stubbornly hold on to beliefs that are clearly unbiblical. I do not wish to cast aspersions on anybody; but merely ask my brothers and sisters to re-examine Scripture and be willing to listen to the Holy Spirit and make changes.<\/p>\n I know that apartheid has not ended completely. As a Christian, I believe that it won\u2019t end completely in a sinful world. But I am thankful for our studies at Portland Seminary and especially for a chance to go to South Africa and see the world through different lenses. I am thankful that we can make a difference in our world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [1]<\/a> David Welsh. The Rise and Fall of Apartheid<\/em> (Johannesburg & Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2010. 566.<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> Even in my lifetime the term has changed from “Negro” to \u201cdark-skinned\u201d to \u201ccolored\u201d to \u201cAfrican-American\u201d to \u201cblack\u201d. No one is really purely white or purely black; we\u2019re all just shades in between.\u00a0I tried to pick the term I see most often, but I am sensitive to people’s feelings and if I offended anyone, please forgive me.<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Ibid. 54.<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> Ibid. 288.<\/p>\n\n
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