Times change don't they?

This is a blip of a photo picture we spotted on the wall of the Seaforth restaurant which is set just back from the beach at Simonstown, near Cape Town. It's a photo of South Africans enjoying themselves on the beach in the 1950's and they appear, at a casual glance, to be having a wonderful time. But look more closely. If you've a smart phone or
tablet, enlarge the blip and look more closely and you'll see one very significant thing. The people on the beach are all white. Not a black or coloured face amongst them. During the apartheid years I don't think anyone other than white folks could use this beach.

What a contrast with today. In a few short years, South Africa has transformed itself into a country which is a beacon of equality and an example to other places the world over. Both in and outside the restaurant people of all different colours, races, religions and sexualities were co-existing quite happily. No sign of racism, sexism or homophobia to be seen.

Whilst other African nations have torn themselves apart ( and are still doing so) over these issues, South Africa just gets on with the business of building an increasingly prosperous economy and is slowly but steadily tackling issues which remain such as economic inequality housing and unemployment. So whilst the religions fight in Nigeria, Egyptians choose to move closer to Islamic fundamentalism different tribes wage war against each other in Mali Somalis and the Congo, and Uganda and Malawi continue to persecute Gay and Lesbian people, South Africa regards everyone as equal with the same human rights protected in law.

There's a lesson in this somewhere. Perhaps it's the legacy of Nelson Mandela and his unwavering belief in forgiveness and the future of his rainbow nation. Maybe it's what folks here call 'Ubuntu' ? I don't know. But in my adopted country, whatever it is appears to be working, and working well.