Retired lady of leisure from Witpoortjie writes:
I would like to share my thoughts with you on the Editor’s Note that I read in last week’s edition of the Roodepoort Record.
Firstly, I really loved every word you wrote, and commend you.
Secondly, I was appalled to hear what had been written about James Small as well as Hansie Cronjé, Joost van der Westhuizen and Tertius Bosch after their deaths. I am not a great sports fan, and did not really know too much about James Small, but I was one of Hansie’s fans. When he died, I watched his funeral on TV and since then I have read his book and purchased the DVD on his life.
While I have to admit that he did things that were not right, he was a good person and who are we to judge him? The same applies to everyone else on our planet.
Your comments on all this really touched me, as you hit the nail on the head when you said, “Why did the publication feel the need to mar his memory by publishing these ‘facts’.” Is it to make them feel better about themselves?
I have a quote that I would like to share with you, as it speaks to those who feel the need to do this:
“Before you speak, THINK. (Is it True?, Is it Helpful?, Is it Inspirational?, Is it Necessary?, Is it Kind?)
If we all thought before we spoke, we wouldn’t find a need to be unkind.
Thank you for your really inspiring thoughts.
