Yet another serious post... lawd.
Anyway, has to be mentioned, and no one else is doing it. So here goes.
What's the biggest impediment to South Africa today? Money? Jobs? Education? Race relations? All of the above?
Probably.
But more so than all of those is the lack of national identity.
When you walk down the street today, and you see someone of a different colour, you still (even if you consider yourself non racist) categorise them by race, don't you?
This black oke walked into the shop and bought some effing expensive rims ekse.
This white dude was being so bladdy difficult about his cell phone bill.
Sound familiar?
The problem is two fold.
Pre 1994, EVERYTHING was about race in a very ostentatious, look at me I have laws kind of way.
Post 1994, everything is still about race, but in a subtle, under the table, please divulge your race on this form kind of way.
Essentially, we have NEVER been JUST South African. We've ALWAYS been X South African. Black, white, muslim, Indian, coloured. There's always been a prefix.
One day, when politicians stop using race as a political tool (and it's been a bloody long time now boys) we can all look at each other, and see South Africans.
THAT is when the change will happen.
When you look at me and say: I am hungry.
Rather than: I am hungry, and it's your ancestors fault.
When we say: We need to build an economy for everyone.
Rather than: White people excluded us.
Sometimes, it's a matter of finding common ground, and how you say things, rather than what you're saying.
I am not responsible for apartheid. For many factual, chronological reasons.
However, if I am not being blamed for it, I'd be more than happy to help catch everyone up to where they should be.
Division achieves nothing, and there the Nats had it right. Ex Unitate Vires.
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