So I see Oscar’s Pa reckons that the Government fails to protect Whites, which is why it was necessary for him and his family to stock up on the odd blunderbuss. They’ve got 56 between the lot of them if News24 is to be believed, bringing their total tally of firearms to just a smidgen below that of the army of the People’s Republic of Paranoia. For protection, you see. Well, ain’t that a knee-slapper. Provided one has knees, of course.
I’m not saying that the guy’s wrong in being scared living in Mzanzi, we should all be scared. This is a dangerous place to live, but hey, you know what uncle? It is far more dangerous to be Black in SA than it has ever been to be White. Ever. Plus, according to many a bumper sticker, you’re always a suspect too. Now I realize that statistics come into play here. When you have a population consisting of 80% Africans vs. 9% Whites, then of course it is more likely that you are going to be shot at in a black skin than in a white one. But tell that to the mother of a 21-year old student who works with my wife. They live in a nice, middle-class “white” neighbourhood and yet her kid got shot up in the local Spar just because he dared to go get a snack at lunchtime. Is it any less gut-wrenching because he happens to be black than it would have been if it was a white mother’s child? Somehow I don’t think so.
Yet that is what is wrong with many a whitey in SA. The idea that somehow, we’re special. That our pain is worse than your pain. That we’re supposed to be treated special because hey, haven’t you heard, we’re God’s chosen people! So this thing where other blokes run up on you to pop a cap in our ass is like, so uncool, you know. So un-South African. Except….with our massive murder rate I’d have to hope that any reasonable person would eventually have to reconsider that belief, because isn’t it exactly a South African thing, then?
So let me rather say that there are many Whiteys who do still espouse that kind of thinking, that idea that we need to be treated special. It seems to me that it’s the Baby Boomers that largely hold this view. The view that they are special because they are white. Okay, so one has to concede that years of privilege under apartheid probably entrenched this view to such an extent that it now forms part of a person’s makeup, but damn, it has been 20 years. Should you not by now have at least learned to keep your mouth shut? Lookit, it was especially interesting for me to read that he said “we have been brought up in a way that we value the lives of others very highly”. Really Oom, everyone’s life? So how then do you justify NOT moaning about how the ANC does not protect Black people either? Why is it only a white issue? When are you going to realize that you’re just one of 50-odd million? That your kid could never have lived in his R 8 Million house and made his R 5.6 million a year if it was not for this little thing called democracy coming to SA? When are our fathers going to get over themselves?
That said, was it really necessary for Jackson Mthembu to then come out and declare that the statement made by Mr. Pistorius was racist? Really, Jackson, racist? So what you’re saying is a statement that equates one race against another in negative terms is racist? Hell, glad you cleared that up for me pal, 300 odd years of entrenched behavior would have never clued me up to the fact that such is racism. Imagine my relief that I now know what it is! Good to know that there a clever chaps like you running the show. I’d not want to find myself in a spot where I’m forced to let go of my share of white-guilt or anything. So it just makes sense then for you to highlight the obvious, then. I just wish you’d have mentioned some other obvious things too. Like the obvious fact that your Government protects none of its people, regardless of race colour or creed. Or the obvious fact that the task of leading this country is simply beyond your capabilities, not because you are black, but because you simply can’t be bothered to actually listen to our pleas for change. Or any of a number of other inescapable facts that show that you too, should really just learn when to shut up.
No worries though, don’t let it weigh you down too much now, see? After all, since you’re black, you’re the victim here, right?
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
