THE BIGGER PICTURE
Isaiah 28:14-16
Luke 14:28-30
"One who trusts will not panic."
"First sit down and estimate the cost."
Given
all that is happening at the universities, to say nothing about the amazing
cricket win against Australia last night, you might have missed another
remarkable news item. South Africa's
MeerKAT radio telescope has now released its first image showing 1,300 galaxies
in the distant universe. This is far
more than was previously thought to be the case, and it is only the beginning. Sometime within the next decade when the SKA
or Square Kilometre Array telescope reaches completion, astronomers we will have
a picture of the universe that is more immense than we could ever have
imagined. This is the bigger picture
within which the earth exists as a tiny blob on a distant horizon. But, of course, those of us who live on this
tiny blob might well wonder what is so important about this cosmological
discovery and why we should spend so much money on exploring outer space. I don't actually know the answer to that. I simply
assume we need to know all we can about the universe in which we live for some
good reason..
But
there are other big pictures that are of more immediate concern. I refer to education in South Africa brought
into sharp focus by the #Feesmustfall protests.
If education is a priority matter for the well-being of society, if
there are injustices in the system that need to be dealt with, and if lives and
property are at risk, then we must as Christians, be concerned, become informed,
and respond. But in responding nobody should lose sight of
the bigger picture. It is easy to make
assumptions, form opinions on hearsay or media reports, or make unhelpful
pronouncements. It is also easy to get
into panic mode, take rash decisions, and act in ways that are
counter-productive. The need for urgent
action, and we do need urgency, is not helped by panic reaction in this matter
as in life more generally. The issues
are complex, and there are no short-cut easy fix solutions. So we need to get some perspective. Let me offer some thoughts that might be
helpful.
Firstly
the basic demand of the students for a free education for the poor in South
Africa is right. This is the corner
stone of their protest and we must not lose sight of it amid all the other
stuff that is going on. It is central to
the bigger picture. But this requires
that the government re-think its spending priorities, not at the expense of
health, housing and other basic needs, but by cutting back on projects that are
sucking our economy dry and dealing more energetically with corruption. Government funding of tertiary education is
woefully inadequate. But we also have to
ensure that those who attend university have received a quality school education
that equips them to succeed. Those in
authority certainly to sit down and count the cost involved in funding free
education, but they also have to count the cost of not doing so. So the battle on the campuses is part of a
political struggle about what the government does with our taxes. Of
course, there are other political agendas at play in the protests. The fight being waged in parliament, between
the EFF and ANC, is the back story to much that is happening on the campuses.
Secondly,
non-violent protest is a constitutional
right. Students have a right to engage
in protest on the campuses, and they can do so as energetically they see the
need. Students have done this through
the ages, and have done so in South Africa many times before now.
And often their causes have been just and proved right in the end. But acts of violence are illegal and
counter-productive. None of us, and I
think the vast majority of protesting students and their leaders, do not want
to destroy buildings and the rest. They
know that these belong to them and future generations. But in the bigger picture, violent action is
indicative of the pent-up anger and frustration among many back students even
if, and we have no way of knowing, there might be some criminal elements among
them. It is true that the law must take
its course to prevent anarchy. But excessive
police force and even brutality is a sign of panic and bad training, and only
makes things worse. In the bigger
picture negotiation is the key, however difficult that is. You can be sure that every effort is being
made to do this. I know personally know some of those involved. They need our prayers and support.
Thirdly,
it is vital that the universities get back on track as soon as possible, but
also in doing so that they put in place mechanisms that will deal adequately
and as speedily as possible with the grievances of the protesting
students. University administrators know
this and they are doing everything humanly possible to make it happen. They know only too well that, we cannot
afford preventing doctors, educators, scientists, and others that society so
desperately needs, from graduating this year.
They are desperately needed. But
we also know that it is equally important that all who qualify to become
university students and therefore future leaders in society, should have the
opportunity to achieve their potential.
It is not just this year's students that matter; it is this and the
coming generation that matter as well.
Solutions to the current situation must be long-term. That is why we have to count the cost of
funding education and not make rash decision, but we also have to count the
cost of not doing so adequately.
I
have not said everything that needs to be said, or everything that I would like
to say, but I I ask you to take to heart the words of the prophet Isaiah:
"One who trusts will not panic!"
If we really believe that God is
at work in the struggles for justice for the poor; if we really believe in the
integrity of those who are giving everything of their time and energy and skill
to deal with the problems in ways that will bring healing; if we really do
believe that times of crisis are also times of God-given opportunity in which
transformation and renewal can take place, then we will not panic. But we will certainly pray and seek to do
what is right where we can, and do so with urgency. We will also do everything we can to ensure
that the present and the coming generations of young people can achieve their
potential. That is why Volmoed is committed
to the Volmoed Youth Leadership Training Programme and supportive of the
Sparklekids initiative. All this is part
of the bigger picture of which we are a part.
It may only be but a small part of the bigger picture of our ever
expanding universe, but it is our part.
"One who trusts will not panic." That is the Word of God!
John
de Gruchy
Volmoed
6 October 2016
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