Kahlil Gibran once said ‘Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge’. My mission is to dissect, de-construct and redefine any boundary that serves to enslaves the mind of man. Trivialize that which seems offensive, and then after a while it will loose it significance. If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. The once powerful Ku Klux Klan was brought to naught when their secrets were trivialized and infantilized on a radio show called ‘The Adventures of Superman’ by a brave man called Stetson Kennedy.
The genealogy and evolution of the word Aryan is rather fascinating. The word roots from the Sanskrit ‘Arya’, meaning noble. In time and in the hands of insecure, narrow minded nationalistic modernistic philosopher’s combined with the marked influence of Hitler, the designation Aryan race was born. It needs to be noted that at the time, at the turn of the last century, the study of genetics was still in its infancy.
Each and every period in the evolution of man, has it’s own set of values, parameters and opportunities that influence thinking at that specific point in time with consequences to bear. What seemed right, and totally reasonable at any point in time is made trivial and insignificant by new knowledge, new science, new understanding, new insight and new wisdom.
The aryan race came to mean and refer to the search for a pure race and a pure people. Anthropology, Genetics and History intimates that a ‘pure race’ in the narrow minded sense of the word is but a futile dream of entering heaven. The survival of man depends on genetic evolution and adaptation. The only pure race, is a surviving race, and a surviving race is a mixed race, a natural race of and for evolution.
Philosophy is a very interesting, very ubiquitous in truth. What fascinates me more, is the evolution of thinking. How we think today can never be seen in isolation, it is connected to every thing before this moment, during this moment, it is connected to science, to history, to politics, to economy, to everything.
If Aryan is to mean noble and a pure race (redefined of course) then it is high time that we as coloured people step up to the plate. The first step on this journey is education, education, education. At the same time we are education ourself and the people around us, entrepreneurship should become breathing. A people that is educated, is a people empowered.
‘First people’ status is parochial, narrow-minded and definitely colonial thinking. Recriminations, victim mentality and entitlement has never served anyone anyway, it only leads to more war and strife. Thinking out of the box, deconstruction and self-re-definition is the death knell of colonial thinking. For me their is no better way, then to define who I am, where I come from and where I going, by subverting, re-thinking, re-defining, de-constructing and re-constructing the claims and definitions of colonial thinking, or if you like oppression thinking.
Knowledge, understanding and wisdom is like a beautiful red rose. It takes time to germinate, to evolve and to be. Understanding does not always follow knowledge, it takes time. Whatever there is to know, you already know, it is just a matter of time, a little matter called (re) exposure.
Redemption, deliver us from evil. If we are not able to forgive, if we are not able to love then peace and understanding is but a futile dream of entering heaven.
‘I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul
by making me hate, him.’ – Booker T Washington
I will permit no man, word or ideology to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate or refuse him redemption. – Abridged Booker T Washington
>> Ross Rayners <<
2 Comments
I don’t know much about this whole Aryan debate, it sounds interesting, and the article is well written. Yet it only moves my fingers across the keyboard, in a eager manner – wanting purely to respond.
Can we debate, or alternatively state what we need to do about moving forward as a people, what is the ACTIONABLE things you me, and countless other readers can do – to contribute to moving our society forward. Can we please get off this philosophical debate about our roots. Kan ons minder K*K praat…and can we get moving with starting programs, development forums etc. Can we read more about such things PLEAZE.
And when we live in a society that prohibits, limits, sanction, marginalize dogmatize free thinking, the birth of perhaps another holocaust, genocide and apartheid is imminent. To curtail a society from moving forward is a simple exercise of denying education and thinking (a synonym of philosophy). To know where we are going, we need to know and understand where we come from.
So your basic question is what can we do to move our people forward. A famous man, JFK, once quoted “Don’t ask what (the country) can do for you, rather ask what you can do for (the country)” In my opinion if we can focus and improve our education for our people, encourage and promote entrepreneurship, gauge and discourage victim mentality, and root out entitlement and apathy. The basis of a strong community is their level of education, communication, entrepreneurship and kinship. Let’s take responsibility, for it is responsibility that guarantees our freedom.
The more informed you are, the better suggestion you are likely to offer, that may contribute to moving our people forward. The first step in making a difference, is to philosophically inquire who, what, where, when and how. It is obvious that being informed leads to personal empowerment. So what do we do to move our people forward, educate, educate, educate. We should put structures in place that encourages education, set up mentorhood, leadership programs, unite and unionize community programs, initiate an education financial fund and scholarships. In order for us to move forward as a society, as a people, we need to dispel perceptions, stereotypes, history and knowledge that encourages divisive, first people syndrome thinking, philosophy.
Do not ask me to stop thinking, but you are right we need actionable things, and your contribution is just valuable as the next. Their are so many things we can do, so many things you can do. You sitting on a pedestal and asking me what we can do to move our society forward is rich, what is your suggestion, your idea, your plan to move our people forward, share with us, leads and we would be able to make a difference. Wanting you purely to respond, write, make suggestions and share your thoughts is purely and simply one of the aims of this website. I thank thee. The success and longevity of this forum depends on your contribution, therefor I invite you to share your ideas about moving our people forward. The answer to a better world lies within you, share it with world, and the world might just change because you took the time to share and think (or if you like philosophize).