Missed opportunity for Malema
2009-11-30 08:31
I am extremely disappointed about being let down so badly by Julius Malema, the young communists and half of Parliament who usually delight in playing the race card on even the most blindingly obvious non-racial occasion.
In fact, it's almost become a national sport and one which I enjoy thoroughly and marvel at the ingenuity of these people who blame every single issue from Bafana Bafana's track record to the global recession, on race.
So, I was really disappointed when, in the middle of November, the New Zealand football team qualified for the 2010 World Cup and Julius & Co never said a word.
Not because New Zealand are ranked right down at the bottom of the 2010 log along with North Korea and South Africa, but because the official name of their national team is the All Whites.
Now, how provocative is that, for heaven's sake? A predominantly all white soccer team coming to South Africa and adding insult to injury by calling themselves the
All Whites?
I would have thought that Parliament would at least have had a debate on this and that Julius would have got up on his soap box and had an absolute field day? What's the matter with them? Have they all fallen asleep?
On a serious note however, I must agree with Cosatu boss Zweli Vavi who complained recently that by playing the race card on every occasion and every issue, is devaluing the continuing problem of racism in this country.
He says, quite rightly, that there are still areas of serious racism in South Africa and it is becoming increasingly difficult to try and solve these simply because the whole country is becoming cynical about anyone claiming racism no matter how serious or trivial the incident may be.
The situation has got to the point in this country where playing the race card is very similar to the story of the little boy who cried "wolf". His family and friends got so sick of him screaming blue murder about being attacked by a non-existent wolf with monotonous regularity that one day when a real wolf attacked him no-one took any notice and he got eaten.
Vavi is saying that with Malema and company, along with all those politicians, who play the race card at every opportunity, real issues regarding race will be disregarded and end up eating this country alive.
The eternal optimist in me is hoping that South Africa's trivial use of the race card is wearing off and that nobody would be stupid enough to consider the New Zealanders being racist in their choice of name for their soccer team.
On the other hand I'm willing to bet that some idiot will take my column seriously and start shouting about forcing the All Whites to change their name before coming here next year.
Oh, and I am quite prepared for those who will only read the first few paragraphs of this column and slag me off for playing the race card. I'm used to it.
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