In response to the article – if one can call it that – from Attie Bekker Snr that I’ve just had the misfortune to read, ostensibly about brandewyn and coke, Afrikaaner men and that idiot Lulu Xingwana, I would like to comment as follows:
Firstly, Attie, you are a disgrace to all South African men, of all races, for hanging your dirty washing out in public. That is something only peasants do and you have now lowered yourself to their level. I hope you are proud of yourself.
Secondly, you have done nobody any favours with your ill-mannered rant, merely reinforced the perception of many that South African men are boorish, ill-tempered and uncouth. Thanks for nothing.
If we as a nation – of South Africans – can for once let go of all that has happened in the past – to all of us – we still have a chance of creating something worthwhile here. We have never before stood together, for anything, and it’s about time we now did.
None of us are blameless and none of us are better than any other and it will not help if we continue blaming, or demeaning, one another for what happened.
We handed the country over to the ANC, as they and the rest of the world demanded, in order to prevent a civil war which would have destroyed us all and even though the ANC are doing a shoddy job of governing we at least did our part and stuck with the deal we made.
It is now up to us to continue with this process and finish what we began, even if we do not succeed, as that is what we undertook. This is the honourable thing to do and at the end of the day our honour is all that we have.
I understand that many are disillusioned, as I too am, but it will do no good to create more tension, more hatred and more anger. Let us leave that up to the narrow-minded individuals in the ANC leadership who eventually will also live to rue their actions and have to deal with their consciences.
For our part - whilst we have the right to free speech - we need to criticize that which we feel to be wrong, support that which we feel to be constructive and above all work together to create a better system and country for all.
If, however, you feel you cannot continue to live in this great land then please feel free to leave, anytime, for anywhere you believe that you will be accepted.
Oh, and lay off the brandewyn and coke, it severely inhibits the thought process and does even worse for ones writing capabilities.
Regards from a fellow South African, of mixed stock – Dutch, German, Swedish and Afrikaans – who regards himself not so much as an Afrikaaner, or an Engelsman, or an uitlander, but as a South African who also did the hard yards in uniform fighting for what he too believed was right, at the time. What lies in the past is better buried there with many of our comrades, friends and enemies.
At the end of the day, my friend, it’s about survival – not blame - a lesson we all need to heed if our children are to have a future on this continent.
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