HERITAGE
LETTER |
The following article is from items published in the
Hout Bay press. The submitted articles are often shortened
or edited by the publishers, which is their prerogative, however, articles
here appear in full.
D.C. |
|
History repeated. Our heritage not only consists of the tangible buildings and artefacts left to us by our forefathers but also their wisdom and fine examples passed down to us throughout history. Africa's reverence of its ancestors may not be as misplaced as many westerners may think. The absence of a written ancient history of our country is a stumbling block for researchers but in this age of globalisation there are universal examples of wisdom of which we could well take note. E.G. The Scenario:- The new leadership of the country took over after years abroad; the economy on the brink of disaster with a massive foreign debt. The country's two most powerful groups spoke different languages and rural people their own languages and dialects. Corruption was widespread; taxes were diverted into their own pockets by officials. Hijacked travellers, would lose their lives or goods journeying between towns; lawlessness was the order of the day. The threat of war sounded on the country's borders. Does it all sound familiar ? Right - South Africa 1990's! Wrong ! England in the 1270's "If you want to foretell the future - one should look at the past!" A statement that has been made by many but one that most of us, including politicians, usually overlook. A little research confirms that history repeats itself and that more than 700 years ago England's troubles were tackled by an inspired monarch, who became the father of modern British legislation. On the 2nd Aug 1274, England's King Edward I returned to England from a Crusade to the Holy Land having spent more than four years away from his Country which stretched from the Cheviot Hills on the Scottish border to the Pyrenees in the South of France. He and his nobles spoke French; the other great power in the country, the Clergy, spoke Latin and rural folk from the distant parts of the country spoke various forms of early English which we would not even recognise today. Edward commenced by spending several months travelling around the country uncovering corruption, eventually firing 14 bailiffs whose job it was to collect taxes and whose pockets were full of the crown's revenue. Having made a forceful stand against corruption, he started to work on the legal system to give towns greater autonomy in the application of the law. He introduced a system whereby every able bodied man would devote time each month to the practice of military training, which meant that Edward had, at the realm's disposal, a vast trained body of men without cost to the state, making it unnecessary to have an expensive standing army. The system worked well for more than 500 years and though faced with many possible invasions during that period, England was never again occupied by a foreign power. He also decreed that the verges of roads passing through forests should be cleared for considerable distances so that robbers could not hide and spring on unwary travellers. Edward created the process of delegated representation of the Country in Parliaments by creating the House of Commons who sat regularly. He also created a system of higher courts of appeal. Edward applied a meritocracy approach in appointing talented councillors to help rule the Country, which included foreigners. He also managed to settle his vast debt to the Italian bankers who financed his Crusade. Like Mandela, Edward was a head and shoulders above his contemporaries, both physically and intellectually (he was called Longshanks at 6ft 2in). He put in place the foundations of nationhood, but it took hundreds of years before true democracy reached everyone in the country; it is less than 100 years since women in Britain were given the vote (more than half of the British electorate). Europe's "Renaissance" began after his reign and in successive centuries, from a second class nation, Britain eventually grew in stature to become the world's most powerful nation early this century. Why didn't democracy come faster to Britain? I'm not qualified to even attempt an answer. Perhaps it was initially the lack of a unified language and latterly the lack of a homogenous education system, though factors like climatic conditions and disease were surely major influences. Africa's "Renaissance" is yet to come, however, the comparisons between South Africa today and Edward's England are too coincidental for comfort. History's lesson is that it takes vision, gifted and unselfish leadership, discipline, dedication and time to build nations, so perhaps South Africa should not expect overnight miracles. Unlike England, I don't think it will take 600 years but it will undoubtedly take generations for South Africa to reach its true potential.
Dave Cowley |
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