by Anita Mendiratta | Jun 29, 2013
With heavy hearts, the people of South Africa and the world wait, holding vigil, and their gaze on the Pretoria hospital that has housed the ailing President Mandela for three long weeks. Staring, anxious eyes and hearts, people pray, media gather, cameras click, the waiting continues…
The people of South Africa, and the world, want to know how their leader, their icon, their role model – their ‘Tata’ (‘father’ in the Xhosa language) – is.
Inside the hospital, limited family members and close friends create a gently flowing stream of visitors, feeling the enduring pressure of holding onto hope in such hard-to-be-hopeful times. It is a new struggle, one for life of a life so many, millions, so fearful of having to move on.
Since the beginning of June, the 08th to be precise, the return to hospital of the aged, ailing, adored President Mandela has caused a national, and global, eclipsing of all thought. As hard as the South African sun tries to break through the winter skies, flickers of light are hard to see. Millions create an outpouring of messages wishing ‘Madiba’, President Mandela, well, expressing how much they – the citizens of South Africa and the world, need him. The ache is palpable.
A man who has become a father to the world.
A leader who has become an icon of highest standing.
A human being who has become a symbol of the heartbeat of hope. How will we go on without him?
But who is ‘we’? Who, in these most tender of times, has the right, the real right, to say ‘I love you, my father’?
The significance, and the complexity, of this cry was recently highlighted when, in a deeply touching, exclusive interview with CNN’s Robyn Curnow – a journalist who, clearly, is welcomed into the Mandela family with trust and respect – was exposed to the open feelings and frustrations of those who are genuinely the only ones able to refer to President Mandela as ‘father/grandfather’.
The unedited message from the daughter of president Mandela? The people are hurting, the people are sad…but the people are not ‘family’. We, the family, must be given the respect due. http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/23/world/africa/makaziwe-mandela-interview/index.html?iref=allsearch
With her words, Makaziwe Mandela brought back to home so much that had gone so out of control. So many lines have been crossed. The line of respect, where in the Xhosa tradition, it is taboo to speak of the passing of an elder. The line of intimacy, where non-family members felt and voiced the right to know more about the intimate details of the wellness, or not, of the ailing former President. The line of conscience.
In many ways, the sense of ‘I have the right’ seen and felt over the past weeks in South Africa reflects the greater, global impact of social media. While social media may be e-based, its impact on the way the world thinks is boundless. As a result, social media can be viewed as a platform, a vehicle, for expression of values, demonstration of principles, window into what is deemed to be rightful to reveal.
Sadly, the omnipresence of social media, and voyeuristic usage of so many social media platforms, has left many – many millions – feeling a right to know/see/tell more. Because they can. Throw the curtain in the window open – I have a right to know.
Really?
Does the existence of public e-lines make crossing into the sacred, private space of bloodlines acceptable? Have we, through the creation of FB ‘friends’ lost the real value of genuine three dimensional friends?
Even in these tender and tearful days, President Mandela is teaching us – teaching us the importance of knowing when it is important to stand up, to step forward…but also when one must step back.
Sorrow, sadly, is innately selfish – it is an expression of one’s loss, and the hurt that is felt with same. And that’s ok. Sometimes, sometimes however, that sorrow can cause a crossing of lines. Sometimes we need to recognise that personal ache is creating a feeling of right to have the curtain opened. When actually it should stay closed to us.
Whatever the future may bring, however the hand of God shall work, President Mandela will remain for the world not only a symbol of freedom and possibility, but also an enduring example of dignity, decency, honour, And rightness.
Ndiyabulela, Tata.
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2013
by Anita Mendiratta | May 31, 2013
Right here, right now, Cape Town’s international airport is enjoying the arrival of aviation leaders from across the globe. The occasion? IATA’s Annual General Meeting.
As occurs across the globe when conferences, summits, congresses and meetings bring together leaders and followers, the question is asked: is it worth it? While the world’s heads of airlines and related industries converge under wintry South African skies, still two days away from the official start of their highly anticipated and greatly valued AGM, the answer to the question is a clear, confident ‘yes‘.
Why? Because of the impact that even the promise of union, and reunion, offers – inspiring leaders to stand taller, give more, share more, open up more, become more.
Once again, as is reinforced daily through the ever-increasing adoption of technology in our daily lives, the more tech we have, the more touch we need. Meaning is magnified.
It is not about increasing ‘friends’, it is about growing relationships.
It is not about network-based communities, it is about values-based peer groups.
It is not about ‘LIKE’ symbols, it is about real handshakes.
There are times in our ever-changing, ever-moving world, when e-connecting is enough. At others, what matters most, what makes the real difference, is going the distance – sharing a time, in a place, in collective commitment to a future.
Going the distance – the first step in bringing us closer together.
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2013
by Anita Mendiratta | Apr 29, 2013
April 15th, 2013 – a day presumed to be one dedicated to sporting heroes running across Boston’s marathon finish line, in a split second, turned into a day of heroism across the city. As waves of shock passed through collections of runners and crowds of supporters, immediately, the falling started – runners, fans, families, roadside frameworks…and tears.
Two blasts, ironically in front of a row of international flags, the fabric of all nations left blinded and blowing with disorientation by the smoke of the explosions. One tragedy, in one place, and yet in one moment the world was once again connected.
The Boston Bombings, as they are now known, which took three lives – one a mere child of 8 yrs simply stepping forward to hug his father at the finish line, one a Chinese foreign student hoping to create opportunity for herself in her adopted academic home, one an adored young woman hoping to celebrate her marathon achievement in her home state – and painfully injured hundreds of others, caused a global rattling of sense of security, and bruising of sense of global community.
How could this happen? Again?
Within hours, as the smoke cleared and dust settled, the global connections became clear. While visibly connecting Boston with Chechnya with Russia based on the damage caused by two men seeking to inflict terror on their own country of domicile, the invisible connections also became more and more visible:
– competing sports teams, standing in silence (and, meaningful musical salute) across playing fields
– citizens of the nation and world, standing in support of defeat of inexplicable, inhumane behaviour,
– governments, standing tall, unwilling to accept the horrific actions of a few to act as a reflection of cross-border ideologies and relationships,
One place, one moment, connecting one world.
Once again, the borders of our world are revealing how fading they are. Not only are we connected by pleasure – the joy of travel, the awe of e-connectivity, the promise of business opportunity, the hope of possibility – we are connected by pain.
A world on the move, and on the mend.
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2013
by Anita Mendiratta | Mar 30, 2013
As differing as the world’s geography, politics, policies and populations may be, there are some things that create a global connection. Faith. This universal connection was recently on display at a level rarely seen – but clearly it is felt.
Throughout the month of March, the eyes, and in many cases, spirits, of the world have been intensely focused on a tiny location on the planet, a place so small that its population does not even reach one thousand inhabitants. Yet, while not actually living in this city, 1.2 billion people worldwide, just over 17% of the world’s population, call this place their spiritual ‘home’. Vatican City.
It all began on the 11th of February, when Pope Benedict XVI announced, to the shock of many within the cardinal community, Catholic Church and across the globe, his resignation for personal, age and health related reasons. The last day of the month would be his last day as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.
It was a move that shook the faith, raising the voices of millions to question not just variations on a ‘why did he really‘ theme, but for devotees, an emotional ‘how could he?‘ God only knows.
With his unprecedented departure – the first papal resignation in close to 600 years – Pope Benedict XVI took with him a sense of the end of not just a papal era, but the end of an era of the Catholic Church per se. The College of Cardinals saw the signs, embracing the calling to rise to the challenge, recognising that for the Church to move forward, it was critical to recognise how the world around them – faith and followers – had moved on.
And, importantly, the world’s Catholic population was watching to see if, when, how, the Church would respond to the growing crisis of confidence and conviction, challenging its relevancy and credibility.
But it was not just Catholics keeping vigil. Across the globe, billions were watching the chimney of the Sistine Chapel for Papal conclave voting. Remarkably, in just two days a decision was made.
The sign of change came, not just in the colour of the smoke, but in the speed of the decision making process,
and the choice of a Pope from South America,
and the new Pope’s choice of name – Francis, a humble, compassionate, there-to-serve-the-people spiritual leader,
and the choice of the new Pope’s personal lifestyle as the leader of the Church – from rings to shoes, from vehicles to new home.
Significant decisions of both symbol and substance, critical to the minds and hearts of Catholics worldwide.
But why did, the world, Catholics and non-followers alike, watch the selection process so closely? Why did it matter to billions beyond the official population of followers?
Why did the choice of the next Pope touch so many, so deeply?
Why? Because of a bond that connects billions, regardless of location, language, lifestyles: believing in believing
The Catholic Church getting it right, banishing the ghosts and guilt of the past, matters to more than can be imagined. It is not about the institution, the structure, the face. It is about the need to believe in something better that all that burdens, something that still inspires right when there are so many examples of wrong, something that keeps us waiting for the dawn through the long hours of the dark. It is about keeping the faith.
As said by Ben Wedeman of CNN while covering the election of the new Pope, “Rome was not built in a day, and the Vatican will not be rebuilt in a week.”
Will Pope Francis be able to lift the Vatican, the Catholic Church and the minds of millions, to a higher place?
Insh’Allah.
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2013
by Anita Mendiratta | Feb 17, 2013
It was supposed to be a day of love and heart-smiles, not a day of loss and heartache.
It was to be a day to pass by in a blur of warm gestures and words, simple acts of loving kindness.
Yet for tens of millions of South Africans across the southern tip of Africa, and across the globe, Valentine’s Day 2013 will forever be marked as a day when shock united one and all. Hearts were broken as a hero fell, taking with him the pride of a nation, removing the brilliant golden glow from the rainbow.
The tragic events of the morning of February 14th put South Africa’s gold-medal Olympian in the global spotlight once more, just months since medal-winning Olympic glory gripped the nation, yet this time leaving a nation feeling deeply bruised. Millions today are feeling a sense of personal ache, a sense of mourning, a deep loss.
Suddenly, heroic efforts are having to be made by millions to find light in the darkness of possibility, faith in the face of fear of “could it be true?”,and in the case of one lovely South African voice tasked with speaking to the international news world, finding poise, perspective and professionalism in the presence of so deeply felt sadness.
The loss?
The loss is not just for a beautiful woman now departed too soon, or a national hero and role model facing devastating questions that could leave him facing a lifetime behind bars. Tears are falling across a nation for these two losses, but also for millions more. The ’bladerunner’ has fallen, his blades cutting through the cloth of the nation’s flag, his fans and followers once proudly cheering his name and wearing their national colours united in a state of disbelief, now patiently yet painfully waiting to hear the fate of their patriot.
And deep down, they know. Their beautiful flag, the image of the country that so many have worked so hard, for so long, to stand and fly proud for all the world to see, now falls in hurt. At this moment, instead of striking a confident pose, the stance of South Africa has changed. Whether true or not, there is a feeling that the world once again stands in judgment of the nation, each and every one of its people, because of the acts of one person.
The disappointment goes beyond the one. It is the millions of consequences of that one moment in time.
As was the case when the life of a young woman was ultimately taken from her after she boarded a bus in Delhi, leaving Indians feeling shame and outrage.
As was the case when twenty tiny, young lives were taken by the gun-charged hands of a young man in Sandy Hook, leaving Americans horrified and demanding of new debate re. rights.
As was the case when a group of Spanish tourists had their holiday turned to horror in a beautiful Acapulco
beach house, leaving Mexicans once again exasperated as labels of violence once again crept into coverage.
As was the case when a kidnapping of a tourist in the Sinai, leaving hopeful onlookers of the Arab Spring questioning if the nation can indeed move on.
As was the case when the Swiss bank account details were revealed for Grecian politicians, leaving the people of Greece trying to regain national solvency and dignity feeling bewildered and betrayed.
As occurs across the world, especially in (re)emerging nations trying to rebuild their strength of national
identity, image, reputation, and so importantly, strength of spirit.
In our world on the move, through all of the often super-human efforts to break from the pack and move ahead of not just competition, but expectations and stereotypes, it is so easy to forget how much it takes, at so many levels, to remain hopeful, faithful, optimistic, idealistic. Especially when one person, one action, can break millions of hearts.
Yet, as much as in these times it can feel as though God too is crying, stuck in the ‘how could this happen’, it is the few, the few remarkably and fiercely determined, who find the strength to stand up and say through their words and/or actions, ‘this is not who we are’, that inspire a tomorrow that offers not only a Band-Aid, but a hope, to help us get past today.
The tears must fall, the ache must be felt, if we are to move forward with a burning determination to be more than simply this.
– This month’s article is dedicated with immense respect to Robyn, Miller and Jerry. x
Copyright: ANITA MENDIRATTA 2013
