The French philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau brought the world the concept of freedom, equality and brotherhood. What a hash we have made of it!
But then, looking at human nature, no wonder.
This 18th century philosopher said that civilization had corrupted man and that in his 'true state' in nature, man was basically good.
He may have had a point.
In the days before beauty competitions, it was the size of a woman's hips that determined if she would be hit over the head and dragged off to a cave and not the size of her nose!
As somewhat of a plain Jane when it comes to the modern idea of beauty, I was never a candidate for Campus Queen or Miss South Africa.
So much for equality.
But then again, how would the modern day bean stalk models like Kate Moss have fared in the days when we still roamed the plains?
All babies are born cute, but we are all blessed or cursed in different degrees with intelligence, personality, athleticism, caring parents, economic circumstances, rival siblings etc etc.
I was lucky that I received a few grey cells, but did I really have to end up with the schnoz sported by the Du Plessis side of the family? (French Huguenots by the way.)
I would have loved the life of a beauty queen or model. But my looks stood in my way.
So much for freedom - at least in my natural state. When I was young nose jobs were out of the question.
"Lift your head and be proud of your nose - it shows character," was my brain-obsessed family's standard response.
So much for brotherhood.
"Stop it!" I hear my mother say.
"Enough of your silliness. You always mould the past to suit your argument and there's nothing wrong with your nose!"
Yes, mam!
So here goes. Yesterday South Africans celebrated our 22nd Freedom Day, but can we be proud of 22 years of freedom?
As I have nothing new to say about the state of freedom, equality or brotherhood in our beloved country, I leave you with a few quotes by Rousseau that say it all:
"All that we lack at birth, all that we need when we come to man's estate, is the gift of education."
"It is unnatural for a majority to rule, for a majority can seldom be organized and united for specific action, and a minority can."
"It is too difficult to think nobly when one thinks only of earning a living."
"The body politic, as well as the human body, begins to die as soon as it is born, and carries itself the causes of its destruction. "
"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet."
You can see that Rousseau was brilliant, but in a modern world, the American actor, writer and Oscar winning producer, Steven Wright says it best:
"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?"
And my all-time favourite: "I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize."
Hope you had a great Freedom Day, but remember that only those with jobs had the freedom to take a day off.
BY ILSE SCHOONRAAD, GEORGE HERALD EDITOR
