Eisch…, the language of liberalism, designed to misinform, amongst other things.

“the ANC’s stated dedication”, “Yes, it is still aspirational”, “but hope should spring eternal”.

These phrases carefully camouflage the fact that after almost a hundred years of smoke and mirrors “since the ANCs founding in 1912″, nothing has actually been done. In fact just the opposite, unless of course you think that punitive, racist legislation such as AA, BEE and the 24 other similar legal acts are actually non-racist.

In truth the history that is actually distorted are the massive contributions made IN DEED by the white race in South Africa. Does anyone still know that the ANC is in power because, in reality, they were voted there by white South Africans. That in 1992 we, the white race (yes, I was there) voted with an overwhelming majority of more than 70% to place a black government into power. What could be more non-racist than those deeds. Yet I have never seen those actions acknowledged or even mentioned anywhere, not in political speeches, not in gestures or acknowledgements of gratitude, not even on these blogs.

I will be convinced that the politicians are sincere when they started walking the talk. Talking is cheap.

I wish we could all face reality and admit that there is a hint of racism in all of us. It is somewhat of a natural condition. Wishing it away is a fallacy. Forcing it away breeds resentment.

Some will choose to mix, fine, some will choose to stay separate, fine. It’s a free country… or is it?

Perhaps I myself am in need of ‘Psychological transformation’? Would the author kindly oblige?

We do need the debate and we fortunately do not need the President’s permission to do so. You have started the debate and I have been enriched by your article and the postings above.

One should probably include in the debate what it means to be South African and African?

The debate may also be viewed as a dialogue between people who remain divided? An extension of the TRC Hearings to faciltate healing, understanding and moving forward – together.

Denial is never a good thing. As our previous President taught us.

May the dialogue continue…

And what is your takes on the idea of the South African demographics being represented as they are economically, as I mentioned on my previous post? Would you be ok with that?

Another issue as you would have noticed is that South Africans always talk about Economic representation when an opportunity to talk about racism arise.

I believe we need to address racism and as soon as people are no longer racist they won’t feel the need to defend their privileges as they will believe that the others are also entitled to those, or rather we are supposed to enjoy the same privileges in this democratic country of ours.

What was applied to your posting was in fact the technique which you requested we use, i.e. ‘comparative analysis’, and just look at what emerged. One has to be careful that one does not use big words not actually knowing the meaning thereoff.

I agree with you however, on your other statement, a bridge I will not be able to build, I am not a civil engineer, but as an Industrial en Mechanical Engineer, statistical analysis happens to be my forte.

However, the CA analysis on your posting, although scientifically correct, was actually done tongue in cheek so for anyone to take it seriously really points to a level of intellect of which ………………………

In terms of the doings of the French or the Hawaians or the prostitutes on the Third Rock from the Sun I could not care a hoot. My interest is with SOUTH AFRICA and its citizens and history and anyone trying to convince me that the whites in this country are responsible for the Holocaust because their ancestors came from Germany in the 17th or 18th century would really be a waste of my valuable time.

@ Lyndall Beddy,

Good answer. To lump the Boers and the Brits who actually ended up fighting each other in the Anglo Boer war and who had completely different fighting styles in one basket, for what I believe is termed a “comparative analysis”, would actually be unthinkable to anyone that knew SA history.

More saddening is assumptions like yours who believe that I am opposed to BEE and AA (which is not true) and then make me out to be an Apartheid or white neo-liberal apologist.

I want to debate race because I truly believe in the necessity for broad-based social, economic and psychological transformation.

Within my own party I protested against suggestions to drop BEE and AA, I think it is absolutely pivotal in ensuring broad-based transformation. (the stats are out-dated by a year, available here: http://aapf.org/south-african-news/theres-racism-but-not-in-public-south-africas-apartheid-regime-ended-in-1994/) Please provide me with more recent figures, if you don’t mind.

I will respond, or attempt to respond, more lengthily in a subsequent post, but would like to thank everyone for proving one thing: debating the necessity for a debate on race is pivotal, and it is not the prerogative of the president to give it the green light or not.

They do say that assumption is the mother of all F***-ups.

The clearest example of that is white people. 20 to 25 years ago, when I was a young man, most white people supported NP and when I engaged them in discussion on the terrible apartheid system, they usually had frothies. These days, try and find a white person of that generation who admitted to supporting the NP and even if you do
their views will have softened substantially. Eventually they got it that they were just plain wrong. Millions of them got it. Huge numbers joined the DA where they were effectively reeducated by principled leaders.
A small success story really, but we still have a long long way to go.
Sadly, the biggest battle re racism right now is ridding black people of racism.

You also claim a non-racist would have no interest in a debate on race. That would mean that being a non-racist would require a denial that racism exists or that other humans have defined a category called ‘race’. That means only deluded people could be non-racists by your definition.