I always hold my breath when horizons open up

In his column recently (14/4), Kizza Magendan called for “intergenerational solidarity”. He identifies two fundamental evils that impede this solidarity: “the tyranny of the present” and “our pure groupthink”. is not it? It seems to me that at least the recent past plays a very important role in the thinking and behavior of most Westerners, as well as many others (think Putin, think Xi). Moreover, the greatest massacres of the 20th century, which are by no means childish in this respect, were committed precisely in the name of a bright future (equality, fraternity, the USSR, the People’s Republic of China, Cambodia’s Pol Pot). The columnist believes we should be mindful of animals, nature, and future generations. Eurocentrism must end. We need to “look and hear about Africa more often”. But Africa is a huge and diverse continent – certainly not one without bloodstains. Magendane bases his argument on the work and understanding of Achille Mbembe’General cosmology’: a way of thinking that reminds us that the world is much bigger than man. We are just the inhabitants of that world. For its sustainable survival, we have a moral obligation to care for and repair it.” Restore Nature! Save Planet A! That will sound like music to the ears of many D66 and GroenLinksers. Pink.Two questions arise in my mind: What price will we pay for this and what pitfalls will we face?But yes, I studied history in the distant past, and it is a realistic education.

Hans Aniba

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