in981-Die-Reënboogkoninkryk-in-die-Koningprotea-boekmerk

▼

In September word die land van Suid-Afrika gevul met die geur van Erfenisdag. Mense dra protea-kentekens en versier die stad met die seskleurige nasionale vlag. Hierdie land, eens verdeel deur kolonisasie en apartheid, weef nou nuwe moontlikhede vir die menslike beskawing met sy inklusiewe reënboogkleure – net soos die Y-vormige kruising van die Suid-Afrikaanse vlag, waar verskillende etniese groepe deur botsing saamsmelt. Die straatkunstenaar het die kleure van die nasionale vlag met die koningprotea gekombineer om 'n metaalboekmerk te skep wat hoop simboliseer. Hierdie plant, wat in dorre grond gebore is, maar vlammende blomme blom, is net soos die olyfblaarboekmerk wat Mandela in "Long Walk to Freedom" vasgehou het – dit is beide 'n getuie van die moeilike jare en 'n vonk wat die toekoms verlig. Die gekartelde rand van elke boekmerk is gegraveer met die woord "Eenheid" in Suid-Afrika se 11 amptelike tale. By die Nasionale Biblioteek van Suid-Afrika word hierdie boekmerk tussen vergelende eksemplare van die Vryheidsmanifes geplaas. Wanneer die sonlig die gebrandskilderde glas binnedring, dans gevlekte lig en skaduwees tussen die bladsye, asof 'n mens die "reënboognasie" waarvan Aartsbiskop Tutu gepraat het, tussen die woorde kan sien groei. Hierdie land, eens deurdrenk met bloed, bewys nou aan die wêreld met die vasberadenheid van die protea en die inklusiwiteit van die nasionale vlag: ware versoening is nie om te vergeet nie, maar om die letsels van die geskiedenis in vrugbare grond te omskep wat nuwe lewe voed. Jongmense met boekmerke staan bo-op Constitution Hill. Die proteablomme op hul lapels en die nasionale vlagkleure wat onder hul voete waai, weef Nelson Mandela se onvoltooide droom – wanneer elke etniese groep 'n onontbeerlike kleurband in die reënboogspektrum word, kan die beskawing werklik blom met ewige briljantheid.

In September, the land of South Africa was filled with the fragrance of Heritage Day. People wore protea badges and decorated the city with the six-color national flag. This country, once divided by colonization and apartheid, now weaves new possibilities for human civilization with inclusive rainbow colors – just like the Y-shaped intersection of the South African flag, different ethnic groups are moving towards integration in the collision. Street artists combine the national flag color blocks with the protea to make metal bookmarks that symbolize hope. This plant, which was born in barren land but blooms flame-like flowers, is just like the olive leaf bookmark that Mandela used in "Long Walk to Freedom" – it is not only a witness to the years of suffering, but also a fire that illuminates the future. The jagged edge of each bookmark is engraved with the word "unity" in South Africa's 11 official languages. In the National Library of South Africa, people put this bookmark in the yellowed replica of the "Freedom Charter". When the sun shines through the stained glass, the mottled light and shadow jump between the pages, as if seeing the "rainbow nation" mentioned by Archbishop Tutu growing between the words. This land, once stained with blood, now uses the tenacity of the protea flower and the tolerance of the national flag to prove to the world that true reconciliation is not about forgetting, but about turning the scars of history into fertile soil for new life. Young people holding bookmarks stand on the top of Constitution Hill. The protea flowers on their lapels and the colors of the national flag flowing under their feet are weaving Nelson Mandela's unfinished dream – when every ethnic group becomes an indispensable color band in the rainbow spectrum, civilization can truly bloom with eternal glory.