Letters - Briewe

To the "Inkommers"

Shortly after moving to Prince Albert seven years ago my eldest son Stuart, who was then two, became critically ill. While it was a terrible time for us it was an opportunity for us to experience the unbelievable support of the local community in this incredible village.

It is with this in mind that I write an open letter to "inkomers" especially English-speaking foreigners who have recently moved into our community.

South Africans, black and white, English and Afrikaans have lived through humbling social change since 1994. We have learnt about equality, respect and human dignity and, for those of us who have embraced this change, it has been a time of deep personal growth.

We are proud of our country, we are proud of our different languages and most of all we are proud of our ability to live alongside each other peacefully.

New arrivals in our country appear to love this hard won freedom, but unfortunately, not all leave their archaic ideas about class and race in the old country when settling among us.

It is for this reason that I appeal to new people settling in Prince Albert, especially those from overseas, to treat the locals with respect. You might have been Lord and Lady back home but here you are just another pair of strange faces. Try to be less pumped up with your own ego in dealing with the existing inhabitants. We might not all be Oxford educated but our economy was doing fine before you bought property in our town.

Instead of strutting the streets with chest puffed out why not keep quiet for a little while, get to know who we are and what we are about. Maybe, if you are lucky, you'll learn humility before you return to your cold, dark winters when the heat and drought here become too much.

Carol Campbell


Die "Taalkwessie"

Toe ek in 1994 die eerste en 1995 die tweede keer na Prince Albert gekom het, het almal in Prince Albert net Afrikaans gepraat. Daar was niemand of een of twee miskien wat net Engels gepraat het nie. So was dit vir my natuurlik, om Afrikaans te leer. As ek op die 6. 4. 97 na Suid Afrika immigreer het, het ek reeds die eerste woorde van die taal van Prince Albert gepraat.

As ek nou die "Karoo Mermaids" in SABC 2 gekyk het, het alle Prince Alberters Engels gepraat. Binne tien jaar het die dorp hulle eie taal verloor. So iets kan tog nie waar wees nie en as dit waar is, is dit baie seer vir die mense.

Ek ken Afrikaners in ons dorp, wat glad geen Engels kan verstaan nie en ek ken Engels sprekende mense in ons dorp, wat Afrikaans nie wil en/of nie kan verstaan nie.

Hoekom word in die Prince Albert Vriend nie elke berig in bede twee tale geskryf nie? Gee asb. tog elkeen in ons dorp die kans, om ons klein mooi koerant te lees.

Aan die verkope kan vasgestel word, hoe suksesvol die PA vriend is. Laat tog asb. alle lesers weet: Hoe was die verkope van ons koerant in die laaste 10 jaar? Hoeveel koerante word in elke jaar verkoop? Die inwoners van Prince Albert het toegeneem. Het die verkoop van die PA vriend ook toegeneem? Indien nie, hoekom nie?

Bodo G. Toelstede

Die Skending van ou Bome

Dit gee my groot tevredenheid om ook my stem te voeg by die persone wat daarteen is dat die pragtige ou bome van hul natuurlike prag ontneem word.

Ek is beslis daarteen en wens dat Mnr Forbes liewer ander stompe vir hom sal gaan kry om op te kerf.

Die toegewing wat Mnr John Whitton maak is nie nodig nie, daardie pragtige ou stam het vele herinneringe vir die baie mense van die dorp.

Vriendelike Groete
Mnr C.J Jooste


Editorial Comment - Redaksionele Kommentaar

Hierdie maand publiseer ons verkorte weergawes van twee briewe waarin die skrywers hul kommer en ontevredenheid uitspreek oor ‘n aantal aan-geleenthede.

Ons wil ons lesers graag inlig:

· Ons publiseer artikels in die taal waarin ons dit ontvang. Ons het nie die manne-krag, die spasie of die geld om elke artikel te vertaal nie. Ons onderneem om die voorbladartikel voortaan afwisselend in Afrikaans en Engels te publiseer, sowel as die redaksionele kommentaar.
· Ons sirkulasiesyfer wissel van maand tot maand, maar het verseker gestyg die afgelope twee jaar. Sedert die heruitgawe van die Vriend en vir die daaropvolgende paar jaar, is dit gratis uitgedeel, maar dit is nou net nie meer moontlik nie. Om die oplaag toe en nou te vergelyk, sal dus geen doel dien nie.
· Tans is ons maandelkse oplaag 600 – en as die neiging tot vehoogde verkope bly styg, sal ons die oplaag moet verhoog. Die Vriend word gelees deur die gemeenskap wat ons dien, intekenaars, en plaaslike en oorsese besoekers.
· Die Vriend word hoofsaaklik behartig deur vrywilligers, wat almal elke maand baie hard en nog langer ure werk om ‘n professionele produk op straat te kry.
· Ons hoop om in ons blad ‘n lewendige, gesonde debat te voer - wat verskillende gesigspunte sal uitlig en lei tot insig aan beide kante van die spektrum. Ons gaan nie plek afstaan aan afbrekende, verdelende en kwetsende briewe of artikels nie.
· Lesers is, in hierdie gees van opbouende kritiek, welkom om hul opinies te lug (in die taal van hul voorkeur) betreffende die gepubliseerde briewe en enige ander saak wat hulle na aan die hart lê. Terselfdertyd wil ons ons lesers se aandag vestig op die redaksionele riglyne wat op ons Briewe bladsy verskyn.
Redakteur
oOo

This month we print a shortened versions of two letters in which the writers express their concern and dissatisfaction on a number of issues.

We would like our readers to know that:

· We print articles in the language used by the writer. We do not have the manpower, space or the resources to translate every article. We undertake that the front page article, as well as the editorial comment, will be published alternatively in Afrikaans and English each month.
· Our circulation varies from month to month but has definitely increased in the last two years. When the Vriend was relaunched and for a number of years thereafter, it was distributed for free and even if we had the time and inclination to do so, any comparison would be meaningless.
· We currently have a print run of 600, and if the trend of better sales continues, we will have to increase that. The paper is read by the community we serve, subscribers and South African and international visitors.
· The Vriend is run largely by volunteers, who work hard and very long hours to deliver a professional product.
· We aim to foster healthy, constructive and vigorous debate on various issues that lead to better understanding of different points of view. We will not provide space for divisive or destructive invective and personal attacks.
· In that spirit, we invite our readers to send us their opinions (in the language of their choice) on the substance of the letters printed this month or any other matter that concerns them. In doing so, we remind readers of the editorial guidelines that appear on the Letters page.
Editor