Preserving a past, but for how long...

Voortrekers Monument, Pretoria, South Africa
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Headed to the local Pic 'n Pay market for breakfast food before visiting the Voortrekkers Monument in north Pretoria. Pretoria was named in honor of one of the leaders of the Great Trek, Andries Pretorius.

12:30 - Monique drove Stefan and I to the Voortrekkers Monument. Voortrekkers (Boer settlers) were decedents of the original Dutch settlers who were not happy that the British had come to the Cape to colonize the area. The differences in culture and views on religion drove the Boars to set out on a great trek to escape the expansion of British influence. A series of treks began in 1838 and lasted until the mid-1850s. Along the way they faced hardship and attack, most notably by the Zulu. The monument is a huge granite structure that depicts the story of the trek and a history of the families that made the journey. Not many people were at the monument, a couple of British families and a Chinese tour group. The museum was odd and had an erie aura to it. The Afrikaans (Boers who changed their name around the beginning of apartheid) are very proud of their heritage and history. But history will not be kind to the Afrikaans because of the codification of legal segregation and discrimination or apartheid. I will be visiting the Apartheid Museum on Wednesday and try to provide a condensed version of the cruel policy of racism and hate. I hear it is a very moving experience.

Pretoria from atop the monument
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We take our children to see Williamsburg, Yorktown and the Liberty Bell to teach them about our past and history. The sad trend here in South Africa is that the current government seems to want to erase the past by removing symbols of the Afrikaans past and changing the names of cities and landmarks that seem to offend some people. I don't really agree with all of the current trends. I feel that if you don't remember the past, you are doomed to repeat those mistakes. In 2005, a council that approves "name changes" in South Africa, approved a measure that would change Pretoria to Tshwane. As of this posting, it has not made it through all the wickets needed to officially change the name. How would we feel if Virginia or Georgia wanted to change their names because they represented Colonial Great Britain.

One of a series of 27 frieze depicting the trek
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Another interesting part of the museum was a display of Boer culture based  on their Dutch heritage. Very similar to the PA Dutch in central PA in designs found on hex signs and Amish quilts. Very family centered and strong representation of the bible in the home with oversized copies of the Bible on display.

Tonight we had a dinner in honor of Pim and Roos who are leaving tomorrow to go back home to The Netherlands. Monique made a traditional South African style dinner called pojiekos (Afrikaans for big black pot of food) prepared over a campfire. Another fun night around the campfire (except the freezing cold weather), it was 31 degrees last night. Even had some political conversations with the teachers from Gabon. They seem to be fans of Al Gore; not sure what news they have access to. Talked about music. They say that the young are fans of 50 cent and Eminem; won't get into what that holds for the future of Gabon.

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Tomorrow it is off to the Lesedi Cultural Village