Telling the Truth (6/5/10)

Well, after eating Kingclip fish for the first time in 2 years, I am feeling quite satisfied and happy! I believe that my most memorable parts of my previous visit to South Africa were the people and the food. I'm 2-down now with the food, having eaten Kingclip and boboti. So, hopefully, I'll be seeing more familiar faces soon!! :)



We visited the Victoria & Alfred waterfront yesterday, a very pleasant afternoon. We strolled through the craft market and met so many friendly people. It seems as though everyone here has become a welcoming 'host' to the world. On our taxi ride back to Milnerton, we spoke to a gentleman who spoke to us openly about South Africa's history and his experience of all that has happened in his lifetime.



He talked about seeing and hearing Nelson Mandela's first speech after he was released from prison. He explained to us that although there was much anger in the country, one had to 'forgive' . . . but not forget.



Earlier that day, we'd visited the Nelson Mandela museum which is currently showcasing an exhibit dedicated to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The TRC was designed to help reconcile the country post-apartheid. It was meant to 1) learn the truth of all the violence and brutality during apartheid and 2) reconcile the nation.



I remember reading in Elizabeth Gilbert's book "Eat. Pray. Love" that as she was going through a difficult relationship, a friend told her to "Tell the truth. Tell the truth. Tell the truth." I thought about this as I perused the images in the TRC exhibit. How important was it that the truth be told? How much more difficult is it to forgive, if those who victimize us never tell the whole truth about those victimizations?

I don't have the answers to these questions, but I find it interesting that the TRC faced them so many years ago.

Kelley