June 16, 2013
June 16th is a public holiday in South Africa; while I will take any and all holidays I can get (and go to Drakensburg, as the case would be), this is a very significant day for a number of reasons. June 16th is Youth Day; it commemorates the start of the Soweto school riots of 1976, and is now a day where South Africans recognize the role of youth in the liberation of South Africa from Apartheid.
When we toured Soweto back in April we learned that on this day crowds gather at the famous Hector Pieterson memorial in the centre of town, young and old dressed in traditional school uniforms, to remember Hector Pieterson and the other youth that lost their lives in their fight for equality. Here is a shot of the square I took on our initial visit:
When we toured Soweto back in April we learned that on this day crowds gather at the famous Hector Pieterson memorial in the centre of town, young and old dressed in traditional school uniforms, to remember Hector Pieterson and the other youth that lost their lives in their fight for equality. Here is a shot of the square I took on our initial visit:
Hector Pieterson memorial, Soweto
While without question a somber day, the fact that this day is now recognized as a public holiday is monumental in representing how far South Africa has come and how much has changed since 1976.
June 16th also happens to be Father's Day this year. While we couldn't be there in person, both M and I are thinking of our Dads today, on Youth Day. We love you!
June 16th also happens to be Father's Day this year. While we couldn't be there in person, both M and I are thinking of our Dads today, on Youth Day. We love you!
Very nice touch!
ReplyDeleteSurprised to see the "Dads".
I am sure it brought a smile :0)