shitona stick
Cousin Kim is back and in South Africa
03/12/1999
To begin to tell the story of today would be to never end it, so I am going to do my best to describe the emotional and spiritual magnitude of a day that I will never forget. 6 am woke me to a Cape Town ready for a legion of spiritual and religious leaders and their followers conjoining in the city to address the world on the spiritual importance on the eradication of world hunger, HIV/AIDS, world poverty and marginalization of all people across the globe. As the sun rose over Table Mountain, we headed for Company Gardens, where a platform had been erected for Ma to address the WORLD in kicking of the last Parliament of world Religions Gathering off the millennium with her message of hope and peace for all citizens of the planet, and bring about a call to action for the fight against HIV. Our walk over to the gardens was glittered with red ribbons as far as the eye could see, cloth ribbons, beaded ribbons, ribbons 7 stories tall on the sides of buildings and hotels. The message was out. There was not an individual as far as I could see without a message of hope on their bodies. Within an hour the platform was readied, and Ma's followers were in position to unfold the myriad of colors and images that make up panels of the AIDS memorial quilt. Cleve Jones, the mayor of Cape Town, several religious dignitaries from all faiths were gathered to kick off the ceremonies. Hundreds of photographers and press gathered about waiting to hear the message of hope. People cheered and screamed as the ceremony began. Every color known to human kind was represented in skin tone, fabrics and beads; it was a sea of colors and cultures. As the ceremonies began all of the speakers addressed the crown with the particular concerns of their people in respect to HIV and the eradication of the virus. When MA spoke, her voice reverberated throughout the buildings and mountains surrounding Cape Town. We heard from Muslims, Seiks, African religious leaders, rabbis and priests. Towards the end of the speeches, we presented each religious leader with a panel from the memorial quilt, and started on our march. We marched thousands strong through the streets of Cape Town, singing and chanting messages of peace and hope. Ma led the procession with a torchbearer and a secured van with armed guards. People danced and held hands as the sun scorched our skin and the dust filled our eyes. Littered along the sides of the road were the few non-believers and those without hope. Those with signs saying Satanists go home, the PWR is the work of Satan and such ridiculous thoughts, but none of that affected the unity of our marching. And we marched all the way to the infamous district six, where a stage was erected for more speeches. Hundreds strong, there was such an overwhelming air of unity and solidarity, and hope for the people of the world affected by such a horrible disease. African leaders spoke of the tragedies of rape, stemming from the belief that sex with a virgin girl can cure the virus, they spoke of the governments resistance to AZT and other prohibiters that would help to contain the spread of the disease, and the poor conditions the children who barely live with the disease must face. Without the proper nutrition and water, children die before the age of 5. But hearing the word spoken in Cape Town, where not even ten years ago many of the people walking besides us were silenced and even forbidden to participate in such a day, showed hope. Then we marched to convention hall, where we were bottlenecked, thousands of us, into an area to have the official ringing in of the ceremonies. After 3 hours of speeches by every type of religious leader you can think of, the ceremonial gong was rung (is a gong rung or is it gonged? I don't know) It vibrated throughout the area and all of our bodies. I will never forget today. My body and soul will never allow it. This week I will have many experiences that will change my life, and hopefully the lives of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the world. Plus I got to sit next to Arlo Guthrie! YIPEE. I miss everyone so much already and wish that everyone could have the experience that I am having now, and my one prayer is that Angela and I are able to bring this message back in our hearts and convey it properly in our community. Marc Cohen was a much needed and well-missed presence amongst this crowd of greatness. - Kimberly
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