Why if we as South Africans call ourselves the Rainbow Nation, is there so much racism looming in our government and in our schools and workplaces? What causes a country that arose from a war of oppression and prejudices to continue to hurt itself in such a way we are meant to be saved from? How did it happen that we became so self-inflicting?
Racial discrimination is prejudice and completely unwarranted and destructive on all possible levels. Some people use their race and/or ethnicity to inflate their own self worth and to nullify another. This is an indication of insecurity and low self worth in its rawest form.
People of low self worth usually are very angry or bitter and harbours deep levels of “unforgiveness” within. At the risk of sounding patronising, these characters usually suffer these ill feelings toward others because they have been hurt somewhere along their lives and have not managed to move past the hurt. Hurt people, hurt people.
Why is it that Nelson Mandela could lead a country “post war” into victorious democracy instead of overthrowing a nation? He could do so, because he had found forgiveness in his heart toward his persecutors and perpetrators. We should all have learned from tata Madiba about the importance of forgiveness. Forgiveness does not mean the tolerance of social ills and inhumane and/or unjust actions. We have a voice now and we should use it to speak out against any such injustices.
No more discrimination, no more prejudice, no more looking down on others and no more hurting one person to another. Say no to any form of prejudice. If you hear someone speaking ill of another – speak up. If you see one person discriminating against another – speak up. If you witness any level of racism – stop it by speaking up. Ignorance is a killer and it’s accomplice is undue silence.
Speak up for your sister and your brother. I dare you!
I raise my solute non-racialism and a prejudice free society.
Love and peace
