Race and discrimination
I think ordinary South Africans like me and you are learning to deal and accept our differences, but our politicians keep bringing the racial issue to the fore. this in turn makes people to be judgemental of one onother, when interacting because the subject is always blown out of context. how long are we going to be hanging in this racial tension, where do we draw the line and learn to live with our differences and move on to make SA a better country for our future generations.
When do we start a productive life and work together without looking at the colour, age, language, religion and so on. we need one onother. what do u think?
When do we start a productive life and work together without looking at the colour, age, language, religion and so on. we need one onother. what do u think?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Des Squire on -
Hi Robert
My compliments to you for speaking your mind. Coming from the Republic of Ireland as I do, where we had apartheid based on religion, it has taken many hundreds of years to get over the past. So we cannot expect miracles in SA.
I agree it is time we all tried to move forward and all stopped playing the race card.
God created us equal and none are more equal than others. Let' all accept one another, difficult as it might be, and get on with life.
Unfortunately certain of our political friend have their own standards. Race is an issue when it suits them. Ethics and honesty appear to have varying degrees also when it suits them and so on.
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Permalink Reply by Ntokozo Lwandle on -
Hi
My view is that racism is still an issue in our country. TRC was not supposed to be a once off activity, it should have been a government co-ordinated program of reconciliation. I think windowdressing is very much loved in our country. I am saying this from experience, this week I was called a "kaffer" for the first time in Pretoria (though I was not born here), this happened just close to the presidential gust house. Shame I was with two white guys in the car and could feel that they were a bit embarassed.
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Permalink Reply by Robert Sekwele on -
Im so sorry to hear that, but thats what im talking about, when do we draw the line and start living with one onother without seeing the colour or ethnicity.
Ntokozo Lwandle said:Hi
My view is that racism is still an issue in our country. TRC was not supposed to be a once off activity, it should have been a government co-ordinated program of reconciliation. I think windowdressing is very much loved in our country. I am saying this from experience, this week I was called a "kaffer" for the first time in Pretoria (though I was not born here), this happened just close to the presidential gust house. Shame I was with two white guys in the car and could feel that they were a bit embarassed.
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Permalink Reply by Peter John Trollope on -
You put some people together from diverse backgrounds and cultures and racial groups in a sports team and tell them to work together so as to win and they will kill for each other. The other team becomes the enemy. You put some catholics together and tell them that protestants are trying to take over there life and they will kill each other. You tell some white people that the blacks are after them and they will defend themselves. You tell some black people that all white people are...... and you will have trouble.
The problem is all about focus. It is all about boxes and labels.It is all about groups and division. When we focus on common goals, like the sports team, then the conflict reduces.
People fail to try to really understand the other party. Instead they try to defend and justify their position and create more division.I was reading some responses from people to a comment from a black lady on Mweb. WOw, the hatred and pent up anger was mindblowing. The white guy responding refered to "us" the tax paying lot, and the blacks as the non contributors.For a long time apartheid denied blacks any form of success(unless they committed to being a politician in a homeland state), and now we want to say what..... we criticise the masses for not earning as much as we do and therefore paying more tax?.Furthermore he went on to say that it was "us" that really made things happen.WHo is this guy? maybe he is a Railway worker or bus driver? And he compares himself to me, because he has a white skin? What did he ever do apart from earn just enough to pay taxes? Millions of Black guys are now in jobs earning more than he will ever earn and being taxed appropriately and he thinks that he is paying for everything in the country? Maybe he still sees every black as his gardener, or factory labourer?
The same happens from the other side when "whites" are labelled collectively by some angry black oke.
Diversity and variety is not a problem or a threat,it is an opportunity. We need to stop focussing on and fueling our differences, and rather look at the achievement of our common goals and aspirations.
Small stands by individuals, like ripples, magnify and cause change - what jokes did you laugh at the last braai? Are you contributing towards fuelling racialism and division?
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Permalink Reply by Robert Sekwele on
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"We need to stop focussing on and fueling our differences, and rather look at the achievement of our common goals and aspirations"
Well said!
Thats the route we need to follow, and more especially that we the skills universe are in training daily, we need to add that in our training interventions to educate whoever that we train about that.
Peter John Trollope said:You put some people together from diverse backgrounds and cultures and racial groups in a sports team and tell them to work together so as to win and they will kill for each other. The other team becomes the enemy. You put some catholics together and tell them that protestants are trying to take over there life and they will kill each other. You tell some white people that the blacks are after them and they will defend themselves. You tell some black people that all white people are...... and you will have trouble.
The problem is all about focus. It is all about boxes and labels.It is all about groups and division. When we focus on common goals, like the sports team, then the conflict reduces.
People fail to try to really understand the other party. Instead they try to defend and justify their position and create more division.I was reading some responses from people to a comment from a black lady on Mweb. WOw, the hatred and pent up anger was mindblowing. The white guy responding refered to "us" the tax paying lot, and the blacks as the non contributors.For a long time apartheid denied blacks any form of success(unless they committed to being a politician in a homeland state), and now we want to say what..... we criticise the masses for not earning as much as we do and therefore paying more tax?.Furthermore he went on to say that it was "us" that really made things happen.WHo is this guy? maybe he is a Railway worker or bus driver? And he compares himself to me, because he has a white skin? What did he ever do apart from earn just enough to pay taxes? Millions of Black guys are now in jobs earning more than he will ever earn and being taxed appropriately and he thinks that he is paying for everything in the country? Maybe he still sees every black as his gardener, or factory labourer?
The same happens from the other side when "whites" are labelled collectively by some angry black oke.
Diversity and variety is not a problem or a threat,it is an opportunity. We need to stop focussing on and fueling our differences, and rather look at the achievement of our common goals and aspirations.
Small stands by individuals, like ripples, magnify and cause change - what jokes did you laugh at the last braai? Are you contributing towards fuelling racialism and division?
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Permalink Reply by kagiso on
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I agree with you ,but I think we cannot expect the whole colonial experience to just disappear in few years. It will definitely take time. We need to recognise that the scars are very deep;and for the white fellows- it is also very difficult to deal with issues like Affirmative Action because in most companies it is not exercised properly.
We should all work constructively towards building a brighter SA by being open about the past in a more civilised way . That is the only way we can move forward. We cannot sit by the fence and pretend this is not happening.
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Permalink Reply by Steve Foord on -
I think the Government made their biggest mistake when they wrote race into our Constitution. They did exactly what they were fighting against. Only in the old South Africa it wasnt in the Constitution. The next biggest mistake was because of past mistakes and the hatred that went with it lots of Black South Africans voted for people because of their colour. People should get jobs because of their expertise and experience and for no other reason. The country is a huge Bussiness and surely you would want the best CEO and managers you can find running your company.
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Permalink Reply by Helen Williams on -
Like miss congeniality 1 said: "and world peace." If we start here, how's the world going to be?
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Permalink Reply by Marietjie Niebuhr on -
Robert Sekwete for President! Hoorah!
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Permalink Reply by Werner Rossouw on -
Thanks Robert for your post.
i have to agree with you - I was born in 1980. Every time i hear the word 'apartheid' or when something is blamed on apartheid i grinch. I am amazed how we profess that we are now in a democracy but keep running back to dig up our old cows....like a dog going back to it's vomit.
Exactly - Politicians i believe are fuelling the fires for thier own gain. If someone calls you something that is racist - LAUGH IT OFF - be the better person. That person obviously has some issues to deal with and suffers from 'small man' syndrome.
C'mon Guys - let's really get this message out there. LIVE AND LET LIVE!!
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Permalink Reply by Queen Sibinda on
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I agree with you Des it will take time.What I need to understand is what are we doing about it.Do we educate one onather on racial issues or do we complain when we are on the receiving end.I think its time for all South Africans to take it upon themselves to educate their families,friends and children on racial issue.
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Permalink Reply by JOYCE on -
Raciasm is deeply routed in our socities, unfortunately. Studies has illustrated or outlined its effects ects. Its an education matter. How do you change perceptions? Its unfortunate that it meant to destroy our beings and positiveness. Our values, standards, norms and practices has been compromised. Some SA are bitter, how do you change or educate such person/s.
I am of the understanding its still going to take decades to eradicate that, in order for us to live in a free society.
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