A Tribute to Mrs. Suzman
Firstly, happy New Year to everyone involved with this great website. New Year’s Resolution- fit a little time in the busy nature of life in disability advocacy to post here.
Hope everyone’s holidays have been good? I have really enjoyed taking time out and recharging the batteries with my family here in Blenheim. But in truth, my New Year has started with a bit of sadness. One of my heroes, Helen Suzman, M.P has died. It’s a funny feeling as I never met Helen Suzman (she was a South African M.P) but I’m sad just the same. Let me tell you briefly why.
Helen Suzman was an M.P in the South African Parliament during 36 years of the most challenging times in that country’s history- namely, the Apartheid era. And what was so special about Mrs. Suzman was that for 13 years, she and the party she founded, the Progressive Party, were the only opponents to that system in the South African Parliament. Helen Suzman was very much ‘on her own’ as she opposed apartheid, and other members abused her and told her she was wrong to do so.
But she carried on. The thing I most like about Helen Suzman’s approach to opposing apartheid was that she realised that ANY issue was an apartheid issue (partly because many African people who could not vote would come to her and ask her to ‘put their case’ in Parliament.) She would speak on the vast majority of ideas put before Parliament- often as the only one with her liberal point of view. And she did it because she believed in universal human rights for people.
Helen Suzman retired in 1991, by which time South African’s were starting to make changes in their society to make sure that the values Helen Suzman stood for: non discrimination, autonomy, human rights, were being brought into society.
You might wonder what this person has to do with autism? For me, Helen Suzman is a fine example of how a consistently powerful message, delivered by one or two people, CAN make change. She also is a fine example for me of how we should listen to and value the perspectives of ALL people, as the ‘one person giving a diverse view’ may be right. She also epitomises what people in authority and leadership (especially in places like Parliament) should do and be in my view- principled and pragmatic. Her work, which she undertook forcefully and ‘In No Uncertain Terms’ (this is the title of her autobiography which I recommend) is an example to everyone- and this is why she is a hero for me. Her leadership example is certainly one I try to follow.
Rest in Peace, Mrs. Suzman.