Der Hamburg Süd in Südafrika

• Abrie Joubert

There are those who may convincingly argue that the core business of a kitesurfing kite is to enable the release of adrenaline while the core business of a freight ship like the Hamburg Süd is well business… They would be wrong! Their core business is to be silhouettes for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #62: Silhouettes theme to which Patti of the esteemed Lens Artists quartet invites us to explore.

CORE BUSINESS

The Rebel and the freight ship – Mutiny on the Bounty?

An equilibrium of work and leisure

I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky

Black bird and boat

Light-ly silhouetted Robben Island

It is becoming autumn in Europe and migration of human and bird is about to begin. While these photos were taken in January this year at Table Bay, South Africa, it is possible that both the black bird and the Hamburg Süd hail from Germany. But the migratory method of the bird is more majestic. It believed it could fly and turned its belief into flight. Both the bird and the boat has freedom to propel themselves without man made barriers blocking the way.

In the last photo a tower beams its light from Robben Island. Once Nelson Mandela was that light which shone from there. His light and unfortunately also what he believed in has faded, but the run of the mill human also has the ability to be a light and that has become very important in South Africa, no make that the world!

Today in two months time (9 November) will be the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. I am reminded of the speech of Ronald Reagan which he gave in front of the Berlin wall of which the core was:

Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate.

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall

Later in the speech he remarked: “As I looked out a moment ago from the Reichstag, that embodiment of German unity, I noticed words crudely spray-painted upon the wall, perhaps by a young Berliner, This wall will fall. Beliefs become reality. Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.” End quote

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5

 

35 thoughts on “Der Hamburg Süd in Südafrika”

  3. Perfect in every way. I love the Mutiny on the Bounty caption and the way you have captured movement and light in these images. Beautifully done.

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  6. Beautiful post Abrie – quite serious for you I must say! Really loved all of your images but especially loved your closing comments about Mandela and Reagan. Would that we had some leaders with such vision these days. We visited Robbins Island during our SA trip. Loved that some of the tour guides were former prisoners. Until then (as I was younger and very far away) Apartheid was not something I knew much about. Thank goodness the world has become a much smaller place with the expansion of information availability. Too bad we have to work so hard to separate the truth from the fiction!

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    1. Unfortunately there were xenophobic attacks this week in South Africa reverberating through Africa.
      There was also series of gender based violence against woman which is very tragic

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  7. Loved this post of yours – as always, but special this time. I so much remember the Berlin wall falling, and I have a piece of it here in my room – a peace of it. I too wish for more peace and understanding.

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    1. Wow Anne-Christine (that is a first up to now I have been calling you Leya), that is certainly special. A peace on the wall!! Sometimes thinhs need to go to pieces for peace to rise up and you own the proof. And I thought I was special because I own a piece of moon rock (no I don’t 🙂 ). But I do own kryptonite just in case Superman’s morals go bad so that I can be peacemaker!

      On more serious note, I heard an audio clip of Reagan’s speech this week and it really touched me. Staying in Europe the fall of the wall must have been inspiring I would think invigorating even

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      1. Thank you for your deep thoughts, Abrie – and the humorous ones as well! Doesn’t kryptonite work on presidents’ bad morals as well? I wish. Now that you have a remedy and all!

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    1. Dankie Dries my kwas werk nie – my lens darem met tye. Ek was mos ‘n tyd lank nie aktief op die blogospere nie (en is steeds afgeskaal).
      Ek sien nou jou blog se toekennings!! Namens almal by Abriie dink hardop (uh m.a.w. Abrie) baie geluk vir 2 jaar in ‘n ry vir Reis – maak dit ‘n driekuns!!! Asook vi die ophardloper (ek dink ek het pas nuwe word geskep) vir Omgewing!!

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    1. Kameel ek gaan nou eerlik wees met jou en ek weet dit is net ‘n seisoen, op die oomblik glo ek wat jy beleef ook vir myself, maar ek sukkel om dit beleef. Ek weet en glo steeds dit is waar maar omm dit met ander te deel wat sinies geword het is nie meer vir my so eenvoudig nie.

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  11. Wonderful post, Abrie, both in terms of your images and your words. I too share your dream that the value of freedom predominates, but sadly that value is being battered and challenged around the world. It’s important to remember the words of freedom fighters like Mandala. Their vision still inspires and transforms us. As for your images, I am drawn to the para-sailor. Your composition highlights his rapid movement and grace. Well done! The equilibrium shot also is framed so well. A great contrast!

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    1. Thanks for the remarks about my photos Patti.

      “I am fundamentally an optimist. Whether that comes from nature or nurture, I cannot say. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed toward the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lays defeat and death.”
      ― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: Autobiography of Nelson Mandela

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      1. I’ve read a marvelous essay about Mandela’s choice not to be bitter when he was released from prison. He was a remarkable man to overcome the very human emotions of bitterness and despair. In a smaller scale, I also aim for that in my life. Thanks, Abrie for that reminder. Bitterness and defeat are poisons.

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