电锯惊魂
前NASA宇航员、阿波罗任务指挥官詹姆斯·麦克迪维特逝世 享年93岁_我的网站
A | Editor's Note:
In an era of profound global shifts and increasingly complex regional dynamics, a proper understanding of the world must be rooted in "grounded experience" and localized insights. Global Times English edition, in collaboration with the Academy of International and Regional Communication Studies, Communication University of China, is proud to launch "Local Insights," an English-language column dedicated to original, field-based observations.
We invite Chinese scholars and professionals who are studying, conducting exchanges, or working outside China, as well as international students and friends living and studying in China who are familiar with the social contexts of their home countries or third countries, to begin from first-hand field experience and engage with social, cultural, and contemporary issues beyond China. In the fifth article of this column, drawing on her on‑the‑ground experience as a Chinese exchange scholar, the author observes a South Africa Freedom Day memorial gathering, revealing how local politics unfolds through collective singing, dancing, and grassroots participation, while also reflecting on the gap between political liberation and economic justice.
As a PhD student, I am currently on an exchange program at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, with support from the China Scholarship Council. Since arriving here, I have developed a habit of stepping beyond campus whenever possible. Community meetings, municipal events and public gatherings have become a vital way for me to engage with local life. This time, a local friend recommended that I attend a memorial event in Kariega, organized by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in honor of its former president, Phumzile John Gomomo. Beyond that, I had little sense of what kind of gathering I was about to enter.
It was on the way that I noticed the streets were unusually vibrant. Groups of people were dressed in colorful attire, with bright Xhosa headscarves and garments bearing political symbols. My friend then reminded me that it was April 27, which is Freedom Day in South Africa. On this day in 1994, South Africa held its first non-racial election, formally ending apartheid and inaugurating democratic rule. Over the past three decades, Freedom Day commemorates political liberation, while also inviting recurring reflection on whether the promise of freedom has been fully realized. In that sense, Freedom Day marks an important moment for observing contemporary South African politics and social sentiment.
From street to hall: Entering Freedom Day
The event was scheduled to begin at 10 am, and we arrived shortly before the hour. Yet there were not many people present. Banners of COSATU, the South African Communist Party (SACP), and the African National Congress (ANC) had already been displayed inside the hall, quietly framing the political context of the gathering. Although my understanding was still limited, I could already sense that their presence mattered. COSATU, SACP and ANC represent key forces in South Africa's political landscape, historically linked through the "Tripartite Alliance" formed during the anti-apartheid struggle and sustained in various forms since 1994. I could see that this was not simply a local gathering, but one embedded within a much longer political tradition.
What struck me first was how different the atmosphere was from what I had expected of a political gathering. There was no sense of urgency or visible tension. My friend introduced me around, and we greeted each other through handshakes, embraces and brief conversations, with a familiarity that suggested long-standing connections. Someone also greeted me with "ni hao." The early autumn wind carried a chill that felt almost like winter. However, the mood was unmistakably different. A sense of warmth emerged from the way people related to one another.
We took our seats in the front row. As I looked around, the hall was gradually filling up. I noticed that people wore headscarves, skirts and short-sleeved shirts layered under heavier coats, with ANC insignia visible in various forms. Every time I made eye contact with someone, they would respond with a warm smile. Even as the only foreign face in the hall, I felt no sense of awkwardness or exclusion.
When music preceded speech
The atmosphere felt far more open than I had imagined. There was no formal signal from a host. Yet, almost imperceptibly, singing and dancing began to fill the space. At first, it was only a few voices. Then others joined. A group of older women stood up, stepping lightly as their bodies moved with the rhythm. Their arms tracing steady patterns in the air, moved with an ease that suggested a deep sense of rhythm. Around them, others began to join in. Someone clapped, someone responded in song, while others stepped forward into the center, aligning themselves with the unfolding rhythm.
Before I fully understood what was happening, someone gently pulled me into the group. I followed, trying to imitate the movements. It didn't take long for me to realize that participation did not depend on learning the steps. Once inside, you were already part of it.
Meanwhile, a more distinct call began to emerge, repeated at intervals: "Amandla" (Power) "Awethu" (To the People). The words rose above the singing and then dissolved back into it. Song, chant and movement overlapped, making it difficult to distinguish where one ended and another began. At that moment, I found myself wondering: was this a political gathering, or a celebration?
It was not until around midday that the event formally began. Speakers gradually took their places, and the hall shifted into a more structured atmosphere. What I did not expect, however, was that the mayor I had followed on social media was among those arriving. Seeing her there came as a surprise. I didn't expect to see local officials there, let alone find myself within what was clearly part of their political life.
The memorial lecture brought together members of the ANC, alliance partners and the broader community in a moment of reflection and renewed commitment. The gathering honored the enduring legacy of Phumzile John Gomomo and his immense contribution to the struggle for workers' rights and social justice.
They reflected on Cde John Gomomo as one of the most dedicated worker leaders produced by the Congress Movement, emphasizing unity, organization and ongoing activism as essential to advancing the goals of the democratic movement. Gomomo was an icon in the labor movement. He devoted his entire life to serving workers and is remembered as a hero of the struggle for freedom, democracy and workers' rights. His contributions were situated within the broader historical moment of South Africa's transition to democracy - a transition whose achievements are commemorated each year on Freedom Day, marking the political liberation attained in 1994.
The lecture also raised a question that resonated widely: when political freedom was achieved, did it also translate into economic freedom? Gomomo's legacy was not only invoked as history, but also a lens through which to examine the present.
Speakers highlighted the ongoing challenges facing workers today, including high unemployment and the rising cost of living, which continue to strain working-class households. Against this backdrop, unity, organization and sustained activism were presented not as symbolic gestures, but as necessary responses.
The themes of the lecture aligned closely with the spirit of International Workers' Day, linking past struggles with present realities and ongoing demands. In this sense, the lecture stood not only as a tribute, but also as a call to action, urging those in attendance to carry forward the values, discipline and commitment that defined his life of service.
After each speaker delivered their speech, people rose from their seats, singing and clapping. The officials on stage joined in as well, blurring the distinction between speaker and audience. The atmosphere remained lively, with an almost continuous sense of energy. Gradually, I began to realize that the event was not simply a commemorative one, but rather a form of political practice.
What stood out to me was that the mayor mentioned China in her speech. She spoke of the strong relationship between China and South Africa, noting the presence of Chinese automotive companies in Nelson Mandela Bay and expressing hope for further cooperation. After her speech, I was invited to take a photo with her. She shook my hand, welcomed me as an international student in South Africa, and expressed her positive view of China.
I also had a brief exchange with Xolile Nqatha, the provincial secretary of the SACP in Eastern Cape. Reflecting on the history of leftist movements in South Africa, he noted that both the SACP and the Communist Party of China were founded in 1921. He also remarked that it remains rare to see Chinese scholars present at such gatherings. I had not imagined that I would be speaking with government officials, which initially caught me off guard. For me, this brief encounter made China's presence in South Africa feel less like a matter of diplomatic language and more like something embedded in local political life.
The event continued until around 3 pm. As I stepped outside, the surrounding streets were noticeably more crowded. The parking area was nearly full. Roadside vendors were selling clothing marked with political symbols, and media crews remained on site, documenting the scene. People left gradually. Many paused to exchange farewells, embracing one another before leaving, as if the rhythm of the gathering had not yet fully ended.
The experience reshaped my understanding of what a political gathering could be. In a global context where political expression is increasingly fragmented, a mode of public engagement built around rhythm and participation offers a different way of understanding political life. Here, politics did not take shape solely through institutions, procedures or formal speech. It could be serious, yet also warm. It could be articulated through language, but it could just as readily take shape through song, movement and collective response.
This year also marks the 32nd anniversary of the end of apartheid. It represents the restoration of dignity, equality before the law and the collective promise that South Africa would never again be a society governed by exclusion, injustice or oppression. In the community, I saw how residents engaged with the local government, participated in decision-making processes and worked collectively to build safer, more inclusive neighborhoods. For me, the gathering became an entry point into contemporary political life in South Africa, revealing something that cannot be fully grasped from a distance.
The author is a PhD student in African Area Studies at the College of Foreign Languages, Zhejiang Normal University
。 麦克迪维特于1929年6月10日出生在芝加哥。他毕业于密歇根州卡拉马祖中央高中，之后在密歇根大学获得航天工程学学士学位，并于1959年以全班第一名的成绩毕业。他于1951年加入空军并以准将军衔退役。他在朝鲜战争期间驾驶F-80和F-86飞机执行了145次战斗任务。他毕业于美国空军实验试飞员学校，并完成了美国空军航空航天研究飞行员课程，并在加利福尼亚州爱德华兹空军基地担任实验试飞员。在他的飞行员生涯中，他记录了超过5000个小时的飞行时间。1962年9月，麦克迪维特被美国宇航局选为宇航员，成为美国宇航局第二届宇航员的一员。1965年6月，他作为双子星座4号任务的指挥官首次飞入太空。麦克迪维特与空军飞行员Ed White一起参加了该计划迄今为止最雄心勃勃的飞行。在双子星座4号任务中，White将成为第一个在飞船外冒险进行正式舱外活动（EVA）的美国人，或者按照现在的说法，是太空行走。在接下来的几年里，这种技能使阿波罗探险家能够在月球上行走，美国宇航员和他们来自世界各地的伙伴能够建立国际空间站。
B | 这次任务的四天时间几乎是NASA宇航员此前在太空中的时间的两倍，此前最长的美国太空飞行是戈登·库珀的34小时水星9号任务。麦克迪维特作为阿波罗9号的指挥官进行的第二次太空飞行对人类首次登陆月球起到了关键作用。
C | 这是全套阿波罗硬件的第一次飞行，也是登月舱的第一次飞行。这次任务于1969年3月3日从美国宇航局肯尼迪航天中心发射，指挥官麦克迪维特、指挥舱飞行员大卫·斯科特和登月舱飞行员拉塞尔-施魏克特。发射后，阿波罗9号进入地球轨道，机组人员对第一个载人登月舱（绰号"蜘蛛"）从头到尾进行了一次工程测试。他们模拟了将在实际月球任务中进行的机动动作。在这次任务中，宇航员与指挥和服务舱以及登月舱一起执行了一系列的飞行任务。首要任务是月球舱与指挥和服务舱的交会对接。
D | 乘员组还对月球舱进行了配置，以支持麦克迪维特和施魏克特的太空行走。在第10个飞行日，即1969年3月13日，阿波罗9号太空舱重新进入地球大气层，并在大西洋上溅起水花，在波多黎各以北约341英里处，在回收船瓜达尔卡纳尔号的视野内。麦克迪维特在太空中停留了超过14天。阿波罗9号之后，他成为月球登陆行动的经理，并带领一个团队规划月球探测计划，重新设计航天器以完成这一任务。1969年8月，他成为阿波罗航天器计划的经理，指导该计划完成阿波罗12、13、14、15和16号。1972年6月，麦克迪维特从美国空军退役并离开NASA，担任Consumers Power 公司的执行副总裁，负责公司事务。1975年3月，他加入 Pullman,公司，担任执行副总裁和董事。
E | 1975年10月，他成为 Pullman Standard 、轨道车部的总裁，后来还负责公司的租赁和工程建设领域。
F | 1981年1月，他加入罗克韦尔国际公司，担任高级副总裁，负责政府业务，以及位于华盛顿特区的罗克韦尔国际公司。他获得的众多奖项包括两枚美国宇航局杰出服务奖章和美国宇航局特殊服务奖章。由于他在美国空军的服务，他还被授予两枚空军杰出服务奖章、四枚杰出飞行十字勋章、五枚航空奖章和美国空军宇航员之翼。麦克迪维特还获得了韩国颁发的Chong Moo奖章，美国空军系统司令部航空航天Primus奖，阿诺德航空协会 JFK奖杯，Sword of Loyola，以及密歇根金刚狼边疆者奖。
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