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DA: George Michalakis: Address by Democratic Alliance Member of the NCOP, during the Heritage Day Debate, on 'Let’s build a heritage we can be proud of' (18/09/2014)

DA: George Michalakis: Address by Democratic Alliance Member of the NCOP, during the Heritage Day Debate, on 'Let’s build a heritage we can be proud of' (18/09/2014)

18th September 2014

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Honourable Speaker

The Greeks have a word, much like our own Ubuntu, that cannot be translated.  It represents a set of values and is considered one of the highest virtues.  This word, this value, is called philotimo.

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Philosopher Thales of Miletus explained: “Philotimo to the Greek is like breathing.  A Greek is not a Greek without it.  He might as well not be alive.”

This feeling that many of us know without even having heard the word before, literally means “love of honour”.  In its simplest form, it means “doing good”, “doing what is right”, putting your country, your people and your fellow beings before yourself. It is an appreciation and admiration for heritage and the ancestors. It is honour and pride. It is a sense of duty towards your people, often through generosity and sacrifice and ultimately, it is your legacy – that which you leave behind to make the world a better place.

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Thales could just as well have said: Philotimo to the human race is like breathing. An individual is not a person without it. He, or she, might as well not be alive.”

Honourable Speaker

On 24 September we, as a nation, celebrate National Heritage Day. We become even more united in our diversity as we re-commit to the values that have built this nation over the past two decades.

Heritage is a constantly changing concept.  We are shaped by it and each generation in turn does its part to shape the heritage of those who come after them.  We therefore are, to some extent, our heritage. As individuals and as a nation.

We as a young, united nation are still finding our feet and building a heritage we can all be proud of – together. This is done through individual actions, respect and a love of who we as a collective are and what we stand for.

Slowly but surely it gives form to a rich and joint heritage: where the statue of a boer general peacefully stands in the shadow of our democratic flag… a radical group protesting at his feet. Where hardcore rugby fans flock to Soweto with their vuvuzelas and “chesa nyama” becomes just as colloquial a term as “braai”. Where it is not uncommon to hear sakkie-sakkie and Brenda Fassie at the same event, or a thousand hearts beat in sync with the rhythm of the Kaapse klopse. To some, the juxtaposition of these apparently conflicting cultures may seem peculiar. But to me, it is in this diversity that I find what it means to be South African.

The magic of our heritage, unlike nations that have enjoyed peace and unity for centuries before us, lies not in what has already been built by those who came before us.  The magic lies within ourselves and the moments we create. That is our heritage.

It is enshrined in the overwhelming sense of pride when we read that Cape Town is the most beautiful city in the world, or that Gauteng alone has a larger economy than almost all other African countries. It is in the knowledge that we were the inventors of the CAT scan, thin solar cells, the cybertracker, the oil can guitar, the first to introduce street lights, the first to turn coal into oil, the first heart transplant, the world’s first digital laser and the second oldest air force in the world. To name a few.

Our heritage is also that strong sense of love one feels for our fauna and flora, our coastline and mountains. The love that drives us to fight for the rhino, or to vote for Table Mountain. The love that so quickly becomes a longing when we are abroad. And the knowledge that wherever we are, whatever we are: we are all South Africans.

Similarly, our heritage is to be found in the actions of strong leaders. Their legacy became our heritage.

I think of King Moshoeshoe from the region where I come from, who chose peace above revenge and personal interest. I think of Mahatma Gandhi. These men had philotimo. Or people like Helen Suzman and President Mandela who, in their different ways, along with thousands within the borders of our country and from without, fought for the very principles we base our nationhood on today. Out of a certain philotimo.

They displayed these virtues without ever having heard the Greek word before. They left us a heritage, as a young and vibrant nation, of unity in diversity, a respect for the rule of law, a love for democracy and the democratic values, a sense of duty and pride.

Of course, there are those few who do not share in this dream or this legacy. But it’s their heritage too. We must ensure that these principles, which many often take for granted, become a vital part of being a South African. We are immensely privileged to have it.

Often, we concentrate so much on giving our children what we didn’t have, whilst we should perhaps concentrate a bit more on giving them what we were indeed fortunate enough to have.

Unfortunately, Speaker, we run the risk of leaving them nothing but a culture of corruption and a legacy of unemployment. Where those who care for no one but themselves and nothing other than to dodge their day in court become the unfortunate stuff heroes are made of, with Nkandla as their monument of corruption.

The legacy of those who came before us, is our heritage.  What then, honourable friends and members, will our legacy be? What will the heritage that we leave our children upon which to build their hopes and aspirations, be?

Whatever we as a nation leave behind, through our actions, may it always display some measure of philotimo. May we build such a legacy that will ultimately be a heritage of which those who will come after us can be proud. Only then can we say, without blatantly lying, that this generation has a good story to tell.

I thank you.

Issued by the DA

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