A few days ago I posted about a Million-Man March that Desmond Dube is trying to organise. I think the idea is an important one and a potential mind-shifting, nation-building one. I’ll explain why just now.
But some disagree with me in every respect. I had this debate last night with my girlfriend and it became fairly heated. Then Karin commented on the original post today and I thought that it warranted my response.
So here goes.
I am a fan of marching when the cause is something close to my heart or worthy of a fight. I see marches as a massive and relatively quiet version of a brawl. People march because they can’t brawl with an issue. Like crime, we cannot and should not become fighters in the sense of murderers and revenge-seekers, that would not end well. So we march and protest and show our feelings.
Let me take you back. In 2005 I went overseas to do some freelance photography. I went to the G8 summit in Edinburgh. I think it was close on 250 000 people marched to lower the deficit of third world debt. And it worked. the G8 leaders came out of their conference and had made their decision. Some debt was lowered or written off (correct me if I’m wrong here please!). But it worked.
Ghandi protested, Mother Theresa lead her protests through her action and many more. Let’s look at the Million Man March held in the USA in 1995. This was the outcome:
“According to voter registration statistics, one and a half million black men registered to vote in the months following the March, leading David Bositis of the Joint Center for Economic Studies to remark, “In reviewing the sharp increase in the black male vote, I might find it highly implausible that there was another factor that rivaled the Million Man March in bringing about this change.”
And this was their goal: “The event included efforts to register African Americans to vote in US Elections and increase black involvement in volunteerism and community activism.”
Mission accomplished there too.
But the argument here in SA and the one that Karin put across is this, and I quote Karin:
Been there, done that! So what have these marches accomplished except public hooliganism and more offending? Did they ever after a march implement tougher measures or change legislation? Why don’t people start changing in their own backyard by fighting crime in their own communities and working TOGETHER to put measures in place that will change their circumstances there where they live? Be pro-active in your environment with local authorities input? Why wait for “government”?
So let me ask you this: Is marching not the start, the beginning, the recognition of a unified problem that is bringing people together and forcing them to join hands and walk beside one another? Is this not the case? Do all marches end in hooliganism? I don’t think so.
Why don’t people start working together to put measures in place that will change things? This is the start of that, is it not? Is it not a unified sense of discomfort that can bring about a unified solution to a problem? The people who will march (me being one of them) are not waiting for government to organise a march, they are organising it. And they will march and I will join them.
When I started SA Rocks a year ago I did it because I firmly believed that there was a mind-shift-change taking place. One from negativity to POSITIVE ACTION. That is where we are. No one said this march would be about violence, anger, oppression, hooliganism and by implying this you are expecting and willing it to be so.
One million people. Take a second to stop and think about that. Have you ever seen one million people in one place? I’ve seen close to 300 000 people in one place at one time and it was moving. Imagine the sense of belonging and unity that people will feel, imagine the shift in consciousness that will take place. One million minds sharing a common goal and unified purpose, that is life changing and solution-starting right there.
If nothing more comes of this than people feeling like they are OK and they will be OK then I think the march will have achieved a greater purpose than anything else has in this country of late.
I spent about an hour looking for graphic representation of one million people. Have a look:
About this video: Million Voices against Corruption, President Chen Must Go.
And finally, a million people is the population of East Timor and Swaziland respectively. That is a lot of people!!
Similar Posts:
- March against crime
- Million man march moved to April
- I marched against crime – the badge
- Desmond Dube talks to SA Rocks about the Million Man March
- This march in London I support – the right to vote
Popularity: 10% [?]
March 7th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
My life is affected by crime in many ways. I have burglar bars, electric fencing, panic buttons and an alarm in my home. Anti hijack, anti-smash and grab, alarm and a tracking system in my car. I love this country so I choose to stay. I will march. I care enough to do so.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Good post Nic – I agree – I think marching can be very positive if it remains peaceful. I have only ever marched once (I find it unfortunate to not have been old enough to have been one of the Purple People) but it was to celebrate Arch Desmond Tutu’s contribution to Cape Town, so it is different.
It is a strong message of unity. And thats what we are lacking in SA. Unity.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Thanks you guys. I am glad that people agree with me to some extent! I am sure there are people who don’t believe they work and wont ever. But so be it. I firmly believe that if people conceptualise the vastness of one million people they will understand the value if it works!
I am trying to get hold of Desmond Dube to try and get SA Rocks more involved in the process. Let’s hold thumbs!
March 8th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Don’t worry, can toyi-toyi and hold thumbs at the same time! Better that way anyway -then you won’t poke anyones eye out (if you dance like me).
March 8th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Am in complete agreement Nic. Awesome! I do think it should be made national…I have family in CPT who would love to take part in something like this. Do we know any further details of when it’s likely to take place? We want to organise a massive group from our church and community! I do believe this is the start of great things to come. I do not want to leave this country, but I also cannot bring my son up in its current climate. I really really want to give this a shot (no pun intended!)
March 9th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Yes, we also want to join the million man march, against crime, to Union buildings. We are prepared to close the business so that staff can join the march.
Sunday Times says it’s Thursday 13th March.
Will the media please give more details?
March 9th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Two probs.
It is gonna take thousands of people to co-ordinate and make this thing a success. In so few days?
Main stream media doesn’t seem to have bought into this so how many apethetic Citizens are gonna pitch and more inportantly where is the march from, what time etc.
ps ever tried to “thunk” through. I have cancelled my day. I’m in I just hope it aint another well meaning, poorly organized, flop. This will kill any future ideas.
March 9th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Seems some of my text was stolen.
Ever tried to get hold of Desmond or this rain tree. Good luck.
March 10th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Well done Nic! People love a spectacle where they can feel as one..well here’s the real challenge: until you get the criminals to walk with you and the prisoners and the juvenile dilinquents, this march will only be a nationbuilding effort with great feelings of inner warmth and fuzz that we all stand as one…. don’t get me wrong: should it change the tide on crime I will be the first to say YES!!!!!But as long as a guy walks with you that doesn’t buckle up, break the speed limit, etc…commit the so-called petty crimes it is a hypocritic act.
You know what: I will put my efforts with yours and walk right in front with you if we do the following: let the million plus march to the UNION BUILDING with a charter for the president and his whole cabinet to sign. Let us get to the role models right at the top, then work it to the corporate leaders and business, educational institutions, local governments until we reach every person in this country!!! Even the gangsters and fraudsters; even a gangster has a word of honour!!
A charter of moral value and honour, stipulating a code of conduct that will have no political prejudices, favouritism or reference to past injustices. Instead of enforcing a code at schools let us start with the elders who are raising these children, the leaders of state, business, education and religion to sign their name to this ethical code and promise to abide by it:..” together for a safe South Africa!”
This will gather and encourage and inspire a people if the president commits as well as all the top role models in every sphere; companies leader’s will set the example for their employees, put up the code on their walls for everyone to sign, they will take it to their children, and so the ripple effect will spread…what do you think??? I am working on the wording!!!
March 13th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Hi Nic
I was just wondering if there has been a mindset change since last year?
If you remember correctly a group of expats tried to do the same thing in London to highlight the state of our nation to the world.
You were at the time a fierce critic of all those attempting to show the world how South Africans (abroad and at home) feel about the state of the nation.
I was just wondering if all those at home who have become accustomed to daily violent crime have finally seen the light?
March 14th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
justwondering – Yes, I was at the forefront of that criticism. However if you recall I was ranting about their inability to be effective ON ANOTHER CONTINENT. They are not here, not on the ground and experiencing things that we are. They are removed and have left.
This march is about those who choose to stay and fight for their country. A completely different approach that, in my opinion, will yield a completely different result.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:37 pm
No march, no form of mass action, no false holy sing-songs or street dances or toi-toi will ever move any of the many nations in this so called rainbow nation to forget who he/she was!
Every one who is worth something, will tresure his/her roots and for as long as that is reallity, Verwoerd will be the problem solver!
Who is supposed to give up their identity in this country for the sake of of “nationbuilding”? All eleven nations? Do you or desmond dube really believe that is going to happen? When will you englishspeaking fools stop talking total rubbish?
The reallity is that none of these 11 nations in this country will be willing to give up their identity…..at the end you will have to agree/admit that Verwoerd had the only solution to the reality of not just Africa’s problems, but of all the nations on this planet!
We are all proud of who we are, and no march is going to get that out of us! So, start swallow this truth once and for all and stop talking rubbish!