A people who do not know or understand their role in history cannot plan a successful future.
Last Wednesday, [December 18] I visited the Cape Heritage Museum at the Castle of Good Hope, where its founder, advocate Igshaan Higgins has accumulated a remarkable collection of historic memorabilia.
I also met the Editor of the Cape Argus, Taariq Halim, and the Castle CEO, Calvyn Gilfellan.
The exhibition can be described as a labour of love and the efforts made must be recognised and respected.
The Cape Heritage Museum complements the other museums at the Castle and visitation must be essential for high schools. It captures memoirs and reflects what dominant history wants hidden.
The Camissa and World War II museum, including the ceramic art collection, etc, gives a glimpse into history that few know.
It juxtaposes social media today, where people are familiar with the doings of the Kardashians but know little about themselves or their immediate environs.
Part of the colonial and imperial agenda advocates the ruin of others, even when that culture does not threaten the dominant.
Racism is built on the belief that some are superior and power must subjugate everyone and everything.
History contextualises and challenges the mindset liable for racism.
The displays celebrate the desire of the human spirit for freedom, which is a divine God-given right.
Those interested in a deeper understanding of human nature will find the Cape Heritage Museum ironic when compared to its location, metres from where slaves were killed for wanting freedom.
Sadly, history is threatened by utter human vulgarity. Outside the Castle, vagrants have set up camp and use the adjoining water moat as a toilet.
The water from the underground Camissa River that flows into the moat and is pumped into the Castle’s water features and used on the gardens is filthy.
Now, the water features are empty and the grass is pitiful, while the Department of Defence, which is responsible for the occupied land is failing in its duty.
Thousands of potential visitors must move around the filth and poverty, or visitors may just stay away.
Ironically, the sacrifice to record history and the efforts by others to educate, could be ruined by a few vagrants who defecate in the moat while the army based at the Castle does nothing but salute.
* Cllr Yagyah Adams, Cape Muslim Congress.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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