February 2nd is many things. It is ground hog’s day, it is my dad’s birthday (Happy Birthday Dad!), and it is also the day, 20 years ago, that F.W. de Klerk announced the beginning of the end of apartheid.
Many know the name Nelson Mandela in association with the end of aparthied, but much fewer know the name F.W. de Klerk and his role in ending aparthied. F.W. de Klerk was the the last reigning president of the Aparthied era, and therefore the first and only white President to begin the reconciliation process.
The Cape Times published an interesting article reflecting on the short, but powerful speech that changed the course of a nation on February 2, 1990. I encourage you to read the article in its entirety, but below is an excerpt from the speech for those of you who must rush on.
“The season of violence is over. The time for reconstruction and reconciliation has arrived… People serving prison sentences merely because they were members of one of these organisations or because they committed another offence which was merely an offence because a prohibition on one of the organisations was in force, will be identified and released. Our country and all its people have been embroiled in conflict, tension and violent struggle for decades. It is time for us to break out of the cycle of violence and break through the peace and reconciliation … The agenda is open and the overall aims to which we are aspiring should be acceptable to all reasonable South Africans. In this connection Mr Nelson Mandela could play an important part. The government has noted that he has declared himself to be willing to make a constructive contribution to the peaceful political process in South Africa.”
So, just one more thing to add to your Ground Hog’s day celebration. Rejoice and Remember that our God is a God of reconciliation. Reconciling Man to God, Man to Man, and Man to Creation.
So it’s no secret that we’re not huge sports fans. It’s not that we’re anti-sports. I guess you could say that we could take’em or leave’em. We’re indifferent at best.
But this article intrigued even us non-sprots fans.
According to a Wall Street Journal study, the average amount of time the ball is in play in a typical NFL football game is ONLY 11 MINUTES!!!!
In other words, if you tally up everything that happens between the time the ball is snapped and the play is whistled dead by the officials, there’s barely enough time to prepare a hard-boiled egg. In fact, the average telecast devotes 56% more time to showing replays.
You can read the whole article here
A Guest Post By Bruce and Alison Barr
Josh and I were able to see Invictus last week and walked out of the theater with an array of emotions. When we got home and tried to type out our thoughts on the movie for this blog, we just felt like posers. So, our good friends Bruce and Ali were kind enough to write out their thoughts of the movie. They have a unique and powerful perspective, having lived through the events depicted in the movie, and having beaten Matt Damon in a bike race while he was in Cape Town filming the movie! Enjoy the movie review, but whatever you do, don’t miss this movie!
Hi, we are Bruce and Ali; friend of Josh and Bri’s from Cape Town. We were asked by the Westburys to write a guest post for the blog giving our take on the movie from our South African perspective.
So there’s been a lot of hype about the movie, and the media over here is buzzing with discussion about Invictus. Since we sighted both Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman in town earlier this year we figured it was high time to check out the movie for ourselves. Considering that the memorable part of both of our upbringings spanned the end of Apartheid into post-Apartheid South Africa, it was great to be able to watch a historical movie that both of us could actually relate to and identify with, both the events and the places.
Since the end of Nelson Mandela’s presidency, we mostly remember and honour him for the transformation that he encouraged and started during this time, but a lot of the finer details of his many attempts to touch the lives and change the hearts of individual citizens have grown a little hazy as time has marched on and subsequent politicians have muddied the waters with personal agendas.
Invictus is the closest factual representation that any reproduction of South Africa’s past could hope to achieve without being a documentary, and all of the characters depicted in the movie are true. The lengths that the producers went to in recreating the historical footage early in the movie impressed us. The fact that this was included in the movie show a great commitment to the accuracy of the story and the importance of the political context prevailing in the country at the time. It reflects the attitudes of the many different cultures that had to face their enemies, learn to work with them, and ultimately – for some – realize that they needn’t be enemies after all.
The 1995 Rugby World Cup is one of those events that most South Africans remember very clearly, with the South Africa vs. France semi-final during the massive deluge and, of course, the South Arica vs. New Zealand final being particularly vivid memories for both of us. The final in particular is one of those occasions where most South Africans can recount exactly where they were and what they were doing when the final whistle went. It was the moment our healing nation knew that we could actually be the best in the world at something. This was the fresh sniff of hope that a new South Africa needed.
But more than being about a country and it’s painful past, Invictus shows a largely unknown side to the unique and inspiring man, Nelson Mandela, who endured 30 years of imprisonment before becoming a president who could face his former captors without any bitterness or spite. Instead, he used his hardship to gain wisdom beyond the bounds of a foolish political regime and dedicated the rest of his working life to helping people understand the foolishness of hatred and segregation.
Invictus is heart-warming and leaves one inspired by how much of an effect a humble, positive person can have on the attitude of millions. Irrespective of one’s nationality or past, Invictus is thought provoking and one can’t help but try and change one’s outlook on life. It leaves one feeling empowered, inspired and challenged to be a better person.
Walking out of the cinema, we were again proud of our country and it’s heritage; we may have many problems as a nation, but if you consider the change that happened in the few short years around this story it is a stark reminder of the power of positivity. We can’t change the past but we can make a difference in the future. We are all accountable for our attitudes and actions in life. I guess the movie made its point.
‘I am the master of my destiny. I am the captain of my soul’ – Nelson Mandela
If that’s too deep, read Bruce’s layman summary below:
The movie was good, go see it. Everything is true.
Robben Island is a popular tourist spot for the same reason the rugby team went there; however, there are no actual holograms of people hammering rocks.
While South Africa has an official state helicopter, it’s no ‘Marine 1’.
Oh, our President really did go walking at 4 in the morning. And yes, we do have some security guys that look like that, although most have a worse accent.
The rugby scenes were all real. Guys do really get smashed that hard, without body armor and helmets… and they do get up and walk away afterward, most of the time.
Remember, this film show our 3rd world country 15 years ago, so if it resembles what Captain Cook found when he landed in America for the first time that is why.
Both Matt and Morgan get the accents right, but they are pros so don’t try it at home (you might end up sounding Australian…).
But whatever you do, go and watch the movie. It’s really brilliant.
I (Bri) thought after all my years of face painting experience, I was a pro. So, when asked to help with face painting at the Kayamandi Creche end of year picnic I was pretty confident I would have the kids lining up around the block. In fact, I was starting to pity the other face painters and their soon to be empty lines.
But, what that old saying? Something like “pride comes before the fall”?
Turns out the tikes here don’t really go for a butterfly on the cheek or even a extra glittery flower. No, they want tribal. Perhaps, dare I say, modern tribal? (the most demanded was by far spider man!) They want their whole face covered with paint. I had to quickly turn in my brush and let the REAL pros do their jobs. I obviously still have a lot to learn in this arena (and many others).
I think it was all for the best, I am really an excellent swing-pusher/mud-pie maker and was definitely able to show off my skills there. It was really a fun day, and I think the kids really had a great time. I have some video from the day, maybe some day I will have enough internet power to load them … until then, I hope this suffices:
Oh yeah, we forgot to mention in our last post that earlier this year we made an attempt to become extras in the filming of Invictus here in Cape Town. We got word that they were filming portions of the Rugby scenes in a large Rugby stadium in Cape Town. So, after learning that our Cricket match was sold out, and left with time to kill, we (along with our friends Bruce and Ali) made a mad dash to try and get our 15 minutes of fame. Unfortunately, we could only get close enough to get a few glimpses of some the make-up trailers. Oh well… 
From director Clint Eastwood, “Invictus” tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela (Morgan Freeman) joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar (Matt Damon), to help unite their country. 
Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match.
Josh and I are entering our 11th month here in Stellenbosch and recently realized we have acquired a whole new vocabulary. Below is our South African/ Texan dictionary. Any input and additions from our South African friends is greatly appreciated. Also, please forgive my spelling, some words I have heard but never seen written, so I am being a bit creative.
Boot- Trunk of your car
Sweetie- Piece of candy
Pudding- Dessert (any kind, even cake or pie)
The Bib- The library
Now Now- Later
Stop Street- Street with a stop sign (used when giving directions)
Robot- Traffic light
Spun Spec- Cantaloupe
“Fetch You”- pick you up (in a car)
Rubbish Bin- Trash Can
Sort- Figure out (also used as “sorted” for “figured out”)
Keen- Like (I know this is used in the states, but not as much and not in the younger generation)
Braai- Grilling/ Cook Out
“Pleasure”- “You’re Welcome”
More (sounds like “mora”)- Morning, a casual greeting when passing someone on the street
Chinas- Friends
Pavement- Sidewalk
Buckee- Truck
Biscuits- Cookies and Crackers
Scones- Biscuits (like the kind you would have for biscuits and gravy)
Pancakes- Crepes
Chips- French Fries
Cackies- Markers
Lekker- Good/cool
SMS- Text Message
“Kind Regards”/ “Warm Regards”- Most used way to sign off an email
Sister- Nurse
Chemist- Pharmacist
I am sure there other words that I will think of and I just use without thinking. This happened without me knowing with “fixin” after moving to Texas. I would have sworn that I NEVER used such a country phrase, that is until I did and was busted by some South African friends…
