South Africa, let’s look at the glass half-full

Lately there has been a lot of political upheaval here in South Africa again. Ol’ Julius Malema has been making a proper arse of himself nationally and internationally. First it started with his singing of the so-called “ANC freedom song”, “shoot the boer” and then the other night he chased an international journalist out of a press conference because the guy pointed out how he contradicts himself. And then the right wing party, AWB’s leader, Eugene Terreblanche was brutally murdered on his farm over a so-called “wage dispute”.

To put it mildly, it feels like things are on thin ice, as South Africa’s political status as far as race is concerned has never been a very bright one.

But now lets be optimistic and look at the glass half-full instead of half-empty.

We here in South Africa have come a very long way politically. With the release of Nelson Mandela and then him becoming president, there has been a lot of positive change in South Africa. Hey, we’re the “Rainbow Nation” after all. Now with the FIFA World Cup right around the corner, things are really coming to a climax. South Africa is under the looking glass, so to speak.

Is this not our hour of truth. What happens next would determine whether we’ve passed the test and have finally matured as a nation. Someone like Julius Malema who is still clinging to the old racial crap is not a good ambassador for our country, but seeing the reaction from other politicians sure does give a glimmer of hope.

This morning I was invited to a Facebook group called, “Malema, a Love Letter“. This group was started by someone who very clearly looks at the glass half-full. The whole point behind her view is, don’t fight fire with fire, lets douse the fire and educate at the same time. Everyone should write a letter to Julius Malema detailing their hopes and dreams for our nation. It is meant to serve as an eye opener. At the moment everyone is attacking him which clearly is not helping and the only thing it’s good for is to fuel the fire.

The guy is ignorant. He needs to be educated. He is only reacting the way he does due to his ignorance. He does not know better. He is still living in the dark ages of racial divide. It is very clear from his statements and also by a statement made by one of the members of the Facebook group that some black people still go around with the idea in their heads that white people are being brought up to believe they cannot trust black people and that all black people are criminals. This is ridiculous!! And then in the same instance they say that South Africans need to stand together. How can we stand together when this is the crap that are being fed to the ignorant. It’s like the blind leading the blind. It’s a recipe for disaster.

The Facebook group will lead you to this article, Malema, a love letter. There it will give you details on how to publish your letter. Lets show the world that we have stood the test of time and that we have now matured into a true Rainbow Nation.

In: Rants & Raves

Tags: 2010 World Cup, FIFA World Cup, South Africa, South Africans