To you whoever it may concern...
I have an ancestor on my mother's side of the family who was a preacher named Ds. Louis Petrus Vorster. After the second war for freedom and independence in 1902 (2nd Anglo Boer War.) union happened and all the separate states in Southern Africa were consolidated into one country under British rule.
When Britain declared war on Germany in 1914 the disgruntled Boer/Afrikaner citizens rebelled against England's demands for an invasion of German West Africa current day Namibia.
The freshly found British state in South Africa was mobilizing recruits and Boer/Afrikaner citizens of the Empire were not all equally enthusiastic about fighting Germany.
Most Boer's did not only have German sympathies, many were German by heritage and blood. This caused quite the dilemma for the government. A few mutinous Boer's refused to fight the enemies of England and saw the war as an opportunity to revolt. This is where the local Church or Churches had to walk a fine line you see...
My great preaching grandfather made a fine speech condemning the government and commending the brave souls who would resist Gen Smuts and Gen Louis Botha who had reformed themselves to become model Englishmen. Gen Smuts detested this fellows (Louis P Vorster) attitude towards the new government and did not appreciate the way he used the power of the pedestal, reaffirming to the people what they already thought and believed in their hearts. They wanted freedom from oppressive Empires and the scars of the second war for freedom (2nd Anglo Boer war.) have not healed well if at all.
My great, great, great...? I don’t remember exactly how great... grandfather was arrested. This was not unexpected. He escaped from the train transporting him to Cape Town but was apprehended as fugitive on a farm in Beaufort-Wes. No charges were ever laid against him and he found that many other respected preachers were imprisoned as well. They were perceived as a threat to the government for their potential to incite insubordination and promote treason to the British Empire. The rebellion in totality was also crushed by small military excursions and the firm hand of English legislation combined with good propaganda efforts. He was released after three months.
So, as lesson in hindsight...
When you hold beliefs dear to your heart... Do you stay silent in the face of a strong opponent who will silence you with his clenched fists should you contradict him?
A resounding NO!
Make your own fist.
Final word...
My bloodline is English. Yet I find time to admire all my ancestors for their admirable qualities. I even find time to learn from their mistakes.
The French, German, Welsh, Scot, Dutch and English. This motley of European admixture is what you can expect to find in the modern white South African.
The struggle for freedom and independence will always drive us on and crypto-currencies throw new tools into that fight... But more on that some other evening.
Good night.
@egoeimitheos Steemit is gonna change lots of lifes, it has changed mine and many others but that is just the beginning. Followed
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