The "De La Rey debate" has reached the United States' shores.
The New York Times published a front-page report under the heading "Song wakens injured pride of Afrikaners".
The newspaper followed singer Bok van Blerk to Orania, and used photos of him and H F Verwoerd's statue in the "Volkstaat".
The report also refers to the difficulties Afrikaners experience in fitting into the new South Africa.
It seems the American interest was prompted by an article in the British newspaper, the Guardian, which also ran a report on the "war song" this week.
National debate
The NY Times writes that De La Rey has become a vehicle for the desires and fears of the Afrikaners, who are uncertain about their identity as a group.
The song has become the object of "a caustic, often racially tinged, national debate", says the newspaper.
Van Blerk says in the report it's "totally ridiculous" to say that people can interpret the song as a call to arms.
"I'm not clever enough to read coded language in a song," he said after a concert in Orania.
"It's a very sensitive subject.
"You say 'Boer', and everyone immediately asks 'What is this now?'
"It's directly connected to people getting ideas and pictures in their heads - that a Boer is a rightwing person with khaki clothes who wants to murder black people."
NY Times journalist Michael Wines says such right wingers do exist in the form of the Boeremag, who wanted to overthrow the South African government by force.
'Not everything was wrong'
He writes that it seems most Afrikaners are searching merely for their own space in a society with a black government, and that they haven't found it yet.
Wines says in his article that it's difficult to be a proud Afrikaner these days, and quotes Orania leader Dr Carel Boshoff, who says: "Not everything we did in our history was wrong and bad and despicable.
"There's also a history of a hundred years ago, which is represented by this song."
shame, die arme siel. enige donasies vir sielkundige hulp vir die ou?? omdat die mense (wat tien teen een onder die invloed was) nou saam staan en die song lekker uit volle bors sing, is daar nou ewe skielik n nuut gevinde held. dis n song, en dit sou net n song gebly het as die media nie die ding gaan staan en oordoen het nie.
In their post-apartheid equal opportunity homeland they suddenly feel the urge to live in a black and white world with right, wrong, left, right and no quota systems in their favourite pastime: rugby on TV.
Dit som dit op 101%
Ek sing nog steeds die oud volkslied die hardste. Die nuwe dele klink uit plek...
Niemand se iets as die spoor generasie se Sokkie Jol volume 123124 op die rakke le en verkoop soos koeksisters nie, maar die oomblik wat iemand 'n oorspronklike song uitbring oor 'n boere leier dan bekak die land hulle.
maxxis wrote:Die **** maak my goed die bliksem in.
Niemand se iets as die spoor generasie se Sokkie Jol volume 123124 op die rakke le en verkoop soos koeksisters nie, maar die oomblik wat iemand 'n oorspronklike song uitbring oor 'n boere leier dan bekak die land hulle.
8O
die mense kan seker nie die waardheid handteer nie!
Ironman SA 2011 Finisher - 15h10min
3.8km swim, 180km cycle & 42.2km run
Dis so waar J, ek is net pissed off as die manne dit wil gebruik om rassisme te bevorder, dit is nie n song oor apartheid nie, dis oor die pommies en ons
Dit is die hele punt. As die educated morone in ons land maar net aan iets kan gryp om ons afrikaners te kan blame dat ons rasisties is. Hel alleen weet wat van ons land gaan word as dinge so aangaan.
WILLR2020 (4 hours ago)
It is helpful to notice that Boers, Brits and other Europeans are illegal immigrants in South Africa.
Africans are the people commonly known as blacks.
Africans were the ones being murdered by Europeans who were freeloading in Africa (N and S America, Australia, Hong Kong, China, etc) until their free ride was exposed. Ultimate squatters.
(Reply)
WILLR2020 (4 hours ago)
That is ridiculous !!! Boers and the British both stole land and massacred the people who defended their land from pillage and plunder. The entire population of "colored" grew from actual rapes and psychological assaults by Europe on indigenous people. If Europeans had a conscience - they would have shame. Pathetic history of a horrible crime. As it stands, Afrikaner, Boer or Brit - face facts, each is a South African disease inflicted on the African peoples and others.
Aaaah, yes... This sounds like our arts&culture minister.
Edit:
WILLR2020 (6 hours ago)
Too bad they do not have more laws to undo some of the horrible and murderous policies of the minority white demon laws that enslaved millions and enriched whites beyond imagination. Africans have been swindled by Europe for centuries...eviction is the answer of the Afrikaaner breed and his ilk.
Awww.... That makes me feel sick. This sounds like an ANC youth member...
maxxis wrote:Dit is die hele punt. As die educated morone in ons land maar net aan iets kan gryp om ons afrikaners te kan blame dat ons rasisties is. Hel alleen weet wat van ons land gaan word as dinge so aangaan.
Sal nie sommer beter word nie. nie om negatief te wees nie
ek glo nie an propaganda nie ek is soos saul barnard van krinnge in die bos. (Martiek voorgeskrewe boek)
ek het n nuwe woord geleer.
as iemand my **** gee dan die eerste woord wat ek gebruik is
"You racist"
