New democracy in old room

"It is actually amazing that I am sitting here", the parliamentary journalist of Indian decent says.
The place: the Old Assembly in the South African Parliament.
The event: a committee meeting on a pending strike of immigration officers*.
The Old Assembly Room is the room where during the apartheid years the plenary meetings of parliament were held.
“Do you think about it a lot, that only 12 years ago no coloureds, no Indians and no blacks where allowed in here?” I asked her. Today most people present are black or coloured, one or two white faces can be seen.
“To be honest; never", she says a little bit embarrassed and adds that she never thinks about the struggle anymore.
For decades people have been fighting against apartheid and now, twelve years down the line, it has become as normal as breathing for most people.
It is ironic: with freedom comes also the freedom to forget the pain of the people who fought for that freedom.

*= the MP's express their concerns South Africa's image. Queues of people waiting to get past passport control and in to the country are the last thing the host of the World Cup Soccer in 2010 needs.