by Michael Kelly
The Springboks of South Africa won the Rugby World cup last weekend, beating a very good English team in Yokohama, Japan. Incidentally, one of the players on the Springbok team, Francois Louw (’03) was educated at Bishops School in Cape Town where our current exchange students, Joseph, Pierre and Richard usually plod their weary way. I’m sure that they are very proud of him. Mrs. Scholer (on permanent exchange from South Africa you might say) was also rather chuffed with SA’s lifting the Webb Ellis trophy for the third time. Meanwhile, were there an Olympic event for a stoic attitude, Dr. Boyd and Mr. Morrison (our resident Brits) would have finished second. Great sporting spectacles apart, I think we are all familiar with South Africa’s history of apartheid, its government’s excellent decision to end this practice in 1994, and the country’s courageous attempt to move forward through programs of Truth and Reconciliation. The scars and pain caused by such a practice as apartheid or slavery are hard to heal and the work of healing continues slowly. In the spirit of slow healing, the South African rugby team, previously a bastion of white men, made a powerful statement by having as its captain, Siya Kolisi , the first black African to hold that position. Please see Kolisi’s powerful after-match interview here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoX3KOlJOq0
Such a development by South African rugby was prompted by the embracing of forgiveness, the addressing of the truth, and the moving towards reconciliation. In my own native country such moves are painfully slow, but this poem by Michael Longley (I promise to move away from Irish poets next week) describes wonderfully the humility, and generosity needed for one to forgive. In the poem, Longley describes a meeting between Achilles, hero of Greece, and Priam, father of Hector, the hero of Troy. In combat Achilles kills Hector. The image of “sadness filling the building” and the final line of the poem contrasts powerfully the consequence of violence and the humility of forgiveness.
Ceasefire
Put in mind of his own father and moved to tears
Achilles took him by the hand and pushed the old king
Gently away, but Priam curled up at his feet and
Wept with him until their sadness filled the building.
Taking Hector’s corpse into his own hands Achilles
Made sure it was washed and, for the old king’s sake,
Laid out in uniform, ready for Priam to carry
Wrapped like a present home to Troy at daybreak.
When they had eaten together, it pleased them both
To stare at each other’s beauty as lovers might,
Achilles built like a god, Priam good-looking still
And full of conversation, who earlier had sighed:
‘I get down on my knees and do what must be done
And kiss Achilles’ hand, the killer of my son.’ Michael Longley 1994
In other news, we attended two marvelous events last week: Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner; and the first Community Inclusion Tailgate. The Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner event was graciously hosted by Keith Meacham, Paul & Miky Lim and Clay & Amy Richards at the Lim home. Great food, wonderful conversation and MBA people meeting MBA people all contributed to a marvelous evening. Friday’s Community Inclusion Tailgate had to compete with other gatherings but still many popped in to say hello.
