Publisher's Synopsis
"It might be hard for you to understand this being an outsider; but South Africa holds the souls of its sons and daughters in an almost inescapable gasp. History cast all of us in a strange and gripping drama, but I had deserted the stage. I had no idea what my role was, and felt I would never be whole until I found out!" - fine writing by Rian Malan in his "compelling" book MY TRAITOR'S HEART How a "South African became "politically aware"... The journey of my "political awakening" Thanks, once again, Madiba for all you have done for the "always beloved country" (as well as for the licence with my title) This little e-book of memories is for you and all South Africans (written in the very dark days of June 1992) Reflections on my very privileged journey "born under Apartheid" I was born in 1950, two years before the National Party won the election in South Africa and imposed the harshest racial legislation the world has ever known. Here is the story of my journey and the first stirrings of my "political awakening"... This work is also dedicated to all those people who over the years fought for a free and democratic South Africa. It is especially dedicated to those who made the supreme sacrifice in paying with their lives, the "supreme sacrifice". I'll only name a few: people like Steve Biko, Neil Aggett, David Webster, Abdul Timol and Hector Petersen, the schoolboy and the first shot dead in the Soweto uprising of 1976. It is especially dedicated to all those people who have suffered under the OLD SOUTH AFRICA of racism and oppression...and that is ALL SOUTH AFRICANS. Apartheid divided not only blacks and whites, but everyone. SEA AND SAND Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa But more the South of Africa Where we live.... Bless the angry mountains And the smiling hills Where the cool water spills To heal the earth's brow Bless the children of South Africa The white children And the black children But more the black children Who lost the sea and the sand That they may not lose love For white children Whose fathers raped the land.... Sea and sand My love My land, God bless Africa Many sunsets Gold and crimson Have dripped on the horizon, Weeping for the dying day. Many dawns have risen In timely resurrection From their cradles of light Sunsets and dawns Dawns and sunsets I have seen them all But when, Oh when will I see that day When love will walk the common way To heal my wounded people And break the shackles around their hearts? - Don Mattera. Dec 2013 "Watching children grow is like threatening the ivy to climb the garden wall. You wait for it to happen you hurry it along with love. But still you're disappointed at giving someone life enough to walk off on their own and not be carried in your arms. You never turn back - not once, and yet one day they've grown apart or taller Giving love to children has made us older overnight." - Rod McKune For my family. "I love you in the very special way that I've written about in these pages." # I don't know how the story will end... But I do know how it all began...
