Comments on: Decansos/Courage -Paving the way to understanding diversity http://www.avovision.co.za/2006/04/11/decansoscourage-paving-the-way-to-understanding-diversity/ Sun, 20 May 2012 02:59:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: yojules http://www.avovision.co.za/2006/04/11/decansoscourage-paving-the-way-to-understanding-diversity/#comment-121 Wed, 19 Apr 2006 05:31:39 +0000 http://www.avovision.co.za/2006/04/11/decansoscourage-paving-the-way-to-understanding-diversity/#comment-121 It's such an important thing - for every story to be told and heard. In so many South African cultures, storytelling is one of the key ways that culture, world views and values are transmitted through the generations. I think it is so sad that we all have so few opportunities to connect with other stories and tell our own. The TRC process in SA, renowned in the world, gave South Africans working on the extremes of the war opportunities to tell thier big stories - what a wonderful way to begin the healing of our nation! But the more ordinary stories: the 'I was there', and 'this is how it changed my journey' have had no place. In one of the previous sessions I attended, another man who had been a young, white conscript, also broke down: he also had never had a chance to speak because he had unquestionably fought on the side of the'oppressor'. His story is as important as the freedom fighters: I'm hoping this journey will enable all people to have their chance to connect with their own stories. I'm starting to think through my own story, Elaine: we should have coffee soon - there's so much I want to tell you about my story, and so much I want to know about yours... It’s such an important thing - for every story to be told and heard. In so many South African cultures, storytelling is one of the key ways that culture, world views and values are transmitted through the generations. I think it is so sad that we all have so few opportunities to connect with other stories and tell our own.

The TRC process in SA, renowned in the world, gave South Africans working on the extremes of the war opportunities to tell thier big stories - what a wonderful way to begin the healing of our nation! But the more ordinary stories: the ‘I was there’, and ‘this is how it changed my journey’ have had no place.

In one of the previous sessions I attended, another man who had been a young, white conscript, also broke down: he also had never had a chance to speak because he had unquestionably fought on the side of the’oppressor’. His story is as important as the freedom fighters: I’m hoping this journey will enable all people to have their chance to connect with their own stories.

I’m starting to think through my own story, Elaine: we should have coffee soon - there’s so much I want to tell you about my story, and so much I want to know about yours…

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