In front of this distinguished audience, we commit the new South Africa to the relentless pursuit of the purposes defined in the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children. The reward of which we have spoken will and must also be measured by the happiness and welfare of the mothers and fathers of these children, who must walk the earth without fear of being robbed, killed for political or material profit, or spat upon because they are beggars. They too must be relieved of the heavy burden of despair which they carry in their hearts, born of hunger, homelessness and unemployment. The value of that gift to all who have suffered will and must be measured by the happiness and welfare of all the people of our country, who will have torn down the inhuman walls that divide them. These great masses will have turned their backs on the grave insult to human dignity which described some as masters and others as servants, and transformed each into a predator whose survival depended on the destruction of the other.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The new South Africa pledges to prioritize the welfare of children and their parents, ensuring safety from violence and relief from despair caused by poverty.
- In plain terms
- We promise to protect children and help their parents live without fear or hunger.
- What can you take from it?
- True progress is measured by the safety and happiness of families.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we measure the success of a nation?
- What burdens do parents carry in struggling societies?
Another view
The quote assumes political commitment will directly translate to material improvements.
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