Blacks love their white people, even if they are racist.
Many of them are.
We blacks have even coined a term of endearment for them: abelungu bethu, which simply means our superior white people.
You see, when you are black and have the confidence and courage to look a white person in the eye, you recognise their humanity and see them as nothing more than simple, ordinary folk who are your equals.
They are not better or superior because of their skin colour. Thus something in you changes.
I, for one, love white people who are comfortable in their own skins and what it represents in terms of our history.
There are still many white people who are in denial about what “white” means — its benefits and consequences — and especially their deep-seated guilt complex.
They will tell you that they did not benefit from dispossession of land, monopoly of wealth, control of the economy and the perpetuation of economic inequality and exploitation.
This we know to be a blatant lie. They know it, too.
I have watched many white people following contributions to Thought Leader explode into anger and frustration when anyone touched on taboo subjects such as white racism, dispossession of the land, economic control and racial inequality.
Many became irrational and condemn the articulation of this problem as the rantings of a black racist.
Even in day-to-day encounters, whites generally avoid eye contact with a black person when we discuss the issue of colonialism, apartheid and what their role was in opposing it, if at all. They will duck and dive or just tell you to shut up because it has nothing to do with them. It belongs to the past.
But some of us love white people who are willing to confess the sins of their ancestors and how these have come home to roost.
These are white people who have matured enough to accept that which can neither be wished nor washed away. It is a history of racist exploitation and oppression that is still with us today. This always comes with self-conscious collective guilt.
This experience has been shared by other black people.
There is something in the acknowledgement, the recognition, the confession and admission of white guilt that washes over your whole body and makes you breathe a sigh of relief.
There is instant forgiveness, an openness of the human spirit, a deep intuitive connection when this happens.
Of course, not all white people, for instance, own large wine farms with black slaves in 2008. Not all white people are CEOs who earn more than R50-million a year for being executive of big, white corporations that are trekking into deeper into Africa for more profits.
Whites are not some homogeneous group who do everything the same way.
In fact, white racist exploiters and oppressors do not exist in the new South Africa. They were wiped off the land with the signing of the 1996 Constitution.
This whole political thing about white racism, land dispossession, economic control and perpetuating inequality is just a remnant of colonialism and apartheid. It is a label to describe a particular white group that may not have changed since 1652.
But many white people do believe in upholding, promoting and preserving the legacy of colonialism and apartheid.
They will, sometimes, glare at you if you are black with a look that radiates superiority, hatred or contempt. You are just another invisible “kaffir”, a thing without any dignity or respect that deserves to be trampled upon, reduced to a pair of hands.
But, of course, there are other whites who are nice. They would not jump out of a swimming pool or move out of a neighbourhood because “it is becoming too black”. These are the sort of whites who allow the black maid to use their cutlery and eat with the family at dinner time, for instance. They even allow the boyfriend to sleep over during weekends.
Or there are some whites who spend their weekends teaching black children mathematics at a squatter camp. They will collect some left-overs, meant for the dustbin, to feed the poor piccaninnies who go to Saturday classes hungry because their parents drank their meagre wages.
These are the nice white people that blacks call abelungu bethu. In fact, their workers speak about them with pride, warmth and love in their segregated, poor and squalid communities.
These are the nice whites who are considerate and understand that colonialism and apartheid were wrong. They continue to benefit from its consequences simply because they are white.
In fact, they do not like blacks who are aware of the historical facts or discuss sensitive issues that threaten to divide us. These are the whites who do not want to rock the status quo because it will just spoil the rainbow-nation “miracle”.
You see, the thing about colonialism is that it is dead and gone.
Well, the other thing is that apartheid was the white law, unjust as it was. People, especially whites, would be sent to prison for challenging authority and betraying their race.
However, these nice white people always sided with the black people. They would be the ones in leadership positions of black organisations, telling blacks how to deal with the effects of colonialism and apartheid.
And black people admired them and respected them for their humanity.
I am one of those blacks who connect with white people who have overcome the past and fear of black people, especially black racists.
You feel that they are part of something new, have transformed and have broken with the past. They are fellow patriots.
We are holding hands and ready to nurture a new spirit of nation-building.
This is what brings us to accept our common bond as people of the same new nation.
There is some mysterious Madiba magic in being able to open your heart to forget the dreadful consequences of almost 400 years of brutal dehumanisation to melt away just like that.
It is a myth that all white people were responsible for racism, dispossession of the land, economic injustice and institutionalisation of racial inequality. Oh no, not all whites are responsible for exploitation and oppression.
We sometimes make the mistake of generalisation that white people alone were responsible for slavery, colonialism and apartheid. This is ridiculous.
There were always some black cohorts who collaborated with them. These black people continue to exist and do not hesitate to perpetuate the silly notion that blacks were born to serve white people.
Nevertheless, it is time that white people got back their groove.
They should regain their confidence to look black people in the eye and tell them: “I am sorry, my friend, but can we move on now because apartheid is dead and gone. You blacks are now in power.”
After all, what is done is done and cannot be undone. All we can do, hopefully, is to learn from the past. History repeats itself because …
White people need to assert their right to participate in this democracy and be regarded as fellow citizens. They can complain about the power failures, for instance.
In fact, they will only be accepted as such when they claim their right to be.
It begins with the Madiba magic to look someone straight in the eye.
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82 Responses to “The Madiba magic to look a racist straight in the eye”
Firstly, congrats - the writing is becoming lighter, brighter and tighter. Well done. Just the facts we’ve still got to work on, not so?
Secondly, this is a rather courageous commentary and offers the olive branch of hope rather than the clenched fist of genocide.
Thirdly, sadly colonialism is not dead. It is alive and well going a hundred-and-plenty kmh in Beemers, Hummers and Chinaeyes from Luthuli House. It is the new colonialism of blind, unthinking, unquestioning loyalty to the hive or colony.
Fourthly, it is still after 14 years almost impossible to get a black person to look you in the eye. And they’re usually the first to look away so you end up like someone who has pressed the wrong button on the mouse and now can’t find your cursor.
Fifthly, this “land dispossession” hobby-horse of yours needs to stop and dump the monstrous load of dung it’s carrying. Most of the land in SA is not owned by whites, but indeed by your own colleagues. You might have a point when it comes to arable, productive land that has been made so by diligent (if exploitative at times) professional farming methods. I know for instance of a cumulative area near Mafikeng of about 90,000ha which was once the envy of the world (even John Wayne used to regularly visit to buy stud Bonsmara cattle and the hyper-nutritive grass seeds they cultivated there). It was taken away as a going extra-productive area and redistributed and is now a barren wasteland good for only goats and a few donkeys. There are hundreds of similar land-grab stories a la Zimbobwe, which far outweigh the few heroic examples that swim against the stream. You sound too often like the sage who would put hostels on Table Mountain or shacks in Maroping.
Not to sound like a TV ad or someone with superior english language capabilities but are you sure that ‘nice’ is the correct word to use to describe this particular type of white people. What about ‘forward thinking’?
You see, to me ‘nice white people’ makes me as a black person sound in need symphathy. The picture that I have of white people who do the good things you speak of, is of a person who wants to create a positive difference to the society around them.
Because being humane is capability on all of us, can we use words that do not make us, as black people, sound in need of symphathy.
Wow, so many twist and turns.Do you have the guts
to look the ‘whites’ in their eyes and say brother
I am really sorry for the muder of Retief and his
men after a Dingane-Retief treaty was signed and
the murders that took place at Weenen (Crying)
in which babies were speared and clobbered to death
against wagon wheels,just to mention a few.
If you really have the guts to do that and we admit
to ours,perhaps there maybe light at the end of the
tunnel. In the meantime get of your high horse
and I will get of mine.
Nice post, thanks, I was feeling quite blue after reading rooinek’s comment on your last post.
I think Kgosi is right though. I don’t think “nice white people” is the best term. For one, it makes me feel insipid. For two, I think he’s right - it makes us sound a bit patronising, almost.
The way I see it, as a white person I can live here because of the graciousness of black people. And that makes me feel pretty humble.
Sandile, u have truly redeemed yourself after your last article.
Good writing, I’m all for the madiba magic ‘look me in the eye’ campaign!!!
@Llewellyn,
i was first introduced to the “look me in the eye” thing when I was 6 years old and that was just weird to me b’coz in my culture we do not look people in the eye(if they are older)because it is disrespectful- be patient with those blacks who make u feel that u’ve pressed the wrong button (especially if they are over 30 years of age)..they grew up with the habit of not looking in the eye…. and old habits to tend to die hard.
Kriel, thank you for trying to save the native from himself. Your white commentary is much appreciated and i will try to refer all black people who wants to civilised and educated like white people. Oh please, please, please allow me to hand over the responsibility of my emancipation to you. When i amn finally emancipated by you, i shall pick up that spade and rake and clean out your garden with great vigour and professionalism. Wanna pat me on my head?
Molo Sandile, great article, I enjoyed reading it, and I got a good vibe from you. Shame my brother, there are so many wrongs in this world, if it’s not racism, it’s corruption, if not corruption is racial cleansing. Even amongst the Zulu’s and Xhosa there is tension, are you not twins, my brothers?
I wish one day we will have a government that aims to be the best they can be, whether it’s DA, ANC, IFP, what ever, you just try and do your best for the country.
a lot of people still have tensions, and hangups, scared to let go of the past, it must be terrible to cling onto something that no longer exists ..
I’m also tired of hearing about apartheid. I think we’re all just scared to admit the we all had a hand in it ..
Here’s to good times Sandile, think positive, think happy, forget about the bad stuff, the nightmare is over, for all of us.
Sandile,
Should we not build a wailing garden somewhere and pass a law forcing all whites to confess and ask forgiveness for colonialism , apartheid and whatever Govt. wishes to blame them for , at least every second year for the next 400 years.
Steve van Niekerk on January 25th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
@Llewellyn, some Zulu manners that were descibed to me by a Zulu. (Zulu’s correct me if I am wrong)
It is impolite to look another in the eye, in fact it is a challenge. A brief glance to acknowledge the other and then when friends don’t worry about it.
It is impolite to question a Boss’s orders. So when the Boss returns and finds the job not done properly it is not the stupid K… who did not understand, it was the stupid Boss who could not explain properly. So remember to always check that the person has understood what is required of them as they cannot ask you to repeat yourself.
Obviously the youth are not as bound to manners as in the past. (All races and cultures) which is a pity.
@Sandile. I still think your almost 400 years is a gross exaggeration. However when I moved to the new SA I tried what you have just said but have found too many blacks stuck in pre 1994 unforgiving mode. Now I just ignore the problems, they won’t go away but I am happy.
@ Liansky (did you know lee-anski is a kind of skinning switchblade gangstas in Noo Orlins use, from the Lansky brand of knives?) I’d love you to come help in the garden - if I had one. I did have one, but like the rest of my worldly wealth, it was repossessed and redistributed to the needy like Yengeni and clan. I can pay you some attention though.
Enjoyed the article very much but must confess to some depression after having been reading the Thought Leader articles and especially the blogs for +- 2 weeks - know it is only a tiny tiny representative of SA society but the venom coming through by Balck and White is corroding to the spirit and very soul of our nation. This plus the terrible tribal blood letting in Kenya makes me think maybe we should all live in our separate neat little uniform boxes only interacting on the larger issues, thus negating what many fine men and women faught and died for; a non racial democratic free SA for everyone. Could everyone just try to talk TO others and not AT then and see what a difference it makes. Maybe being bored in Perth has some merits??????
I know there are some nice white people out there but having grown up as a white person amongst white people I find it a bit of a contradiction of terms. I’ve now moved us all into what was traditionally a black area and what a pleasure to live in this country. We, none of us have a problem looking in each others eyes - as a result we now have a rainbow baby in the family and life is sweet.
Seriously - I love your attitude - but you can keep your nice white people
Weren’t your forefathers themselves prone to practice disposession and exploitation. Isn’t that a very racist notion in itself - that whites are more likely to be exploiters, not because of their organizational and military superiority, but because of some moral deficiency which blacks do not share?
Good piece Sandile. My mentors (in my current profession) were and are all white. And they have coached me as if I was their own. They passed all they knew with no holding back. These are good white people and we need more of them.
My superiors are all white and the majority of them are fair and pass what they know as if preparing us to take over from them, these are good white people and I wish there were zillions of them.
Blacks never had a problem recognizing the goodness in white people. Geeze, the word umlungu (the good one) is hundreds of years old. There are indeed abelungu bethu (our good white people) and we love them deeply.
A Correction:
Your translation of “abelungu bethu” is wrong.
“We blacks have even coined a term of endearment for them: abelungu bethu, which simply means our superior white people.”
Abelungu bethu means - our white people or our good white people if you must. I know, isiXhosa is my language!
Come on now Kwetane…”Umlungu wam” means in simple terms my white boss! So “Abelungu bethu” means pretty much what Sandile has stated.
In fact the term has been extended beyond referring to whites… It’s a norm in South Africa to hear a fellow African call another who is their boss “umlungu wam” irrespective of their skin pigmentation.
Thanks, Sandile. Finally a good piece. Finally a reconciliatory piece. Still obsessed with race, as ever, but at least with a little bit more insight.
@Cool Down: Get over the Voortrekker mythology. Are we really going to debate Retief and Dingaan? Any more recent things springing to mind? Like Ruth First or Dulcie September. Murdered by their fellow whites…
Anyway: Looking each other in the eye will largely depend on whether or not one is able to stand upright. Eye contact from a position of shame (for Apartheid, a crime against humanity as declared by the UN - lest we forget!) or from a position of perpetual anger is going to be difficult. So, unfortunately, the Madiba magic has brought us closer together but sometimes it feels like we are standing facing away from each other.
All that can be asked from Sandile’s generation of all races is to not prevent the young people, the co-educated people, the future people of this country from looking each other in the eye whilst they procreate little brown babies with each other. When Piet starts paying lobola for Nonhlanhla - that’s when things will come right…
Richard Catto,
Nor have I patience with blacks who portray their
history and past as a peaceful coexistence with
neighbouring tribes.If that was indeed the case
Tshaka would not have been called the ‘Black
Napoleon’ of Africa and Idi Amin never harmed a fly.
Sandile – I’ve always hoped that some of what you write is to provoke discussion and keep relevant issues on the agenda.
I think you have just proved it.
“Nice whites” is an insult – how about conscientious citizens or South Africans contributing positively. Isn’t this just the reverse of the “good black” as used by racist whites? Or am I being too cynical here?
Its not at all clear how a white person should take a eyeballed abelungu bethu salutation. A lot will depend on the inflection and tone of voice, expression of the eyes and face, and body language of the exchange.
This is an old debate that was started by Khaba Mkhize - and caused much discussion in the M&G back in 2006. There are some who regard the mlungu to be gods from the sea, while others regard them as conquering oppressors by definition.
Richad Catto
And I have no patience with blacks who portray
Africa and in particular South Africa as a Utopia
in which all the Black tribes lived in perfect
harmony,never even thought about raiding and dispossessing another tribe of land,untill the whites came along and fucked it all up.
No Mr, moderator I see you deleted my previous
post written in similiar disgust perhaps you can
find in your heart to leave this one alone.
Th point I am trying to make here is that if we
don’t acknowledge that no party came to the
negotiating table with lily white hands and do
acknowledge the injustices that we and our forefathers have inflicted on one another this
debate will go nowhere.
I am sick and tired of hearing that in the 350
years whites have been here they killed millions
of people and if you sincerely belief this
utter communist inspired ANC rethoric,you should
be able to take me to the mass graves sites,so that
I and others can pay our respects.
If you can’t stop your utter nonsense and we will
get along just fine.
Nice one, Sandile, even if I don’t agree with all of it.
@Laura - sounds like you’re a humble person with much to be humble about. Don’t grovel. Read Sandile’s piece again.
@ Sandra - sounds like you’ve found somewhere you can fit in at last
Pieces like this make really proud to be South African. There’s so much healing and goodness in your article. You are an amazing writer. We should all work towards looking each other in the eyes.
The truth of the matter is that I have sen very few white people who have really moved over to accept back people without reservation. From what I have seen very few still believe in overt baaskaab , but still quit a lot need to move to an open society, where a human being is a human being. I think the guilt that some people have prevents them from moving into the present. Great article.
Look, to be honest, ALL whites are racist. They just keep it under wraps mate. Some of us are not of the “kill them all” variety but more of the “white man burden” variety, which blacks have no clue about. It is a heavy weight to bear, and something, by definition, that blacks cannot partake in.
Hey Sandile! Your nice white people who still refuse to don the hair-shirt and flagellate themselves and go on bended knee to ask for “forgiveness”?
A million of them have left you to run your own Eskoms and town councils and whatnot. They’re just not THERE to look you in the eye as you guys cope with the meltdown, bru.
And many of the others left behind who candidly looking-in-the eyedly WILL admit to seizing the gap which colonialism and apartheid and all that other stuff only need to look at BEE and AA and rugby quotas and all that carry-on to think : hey, these black guys are doing exactly the same thing straight back at us, so what’s there any reason to apologise about?
So those hair-shirts will forever hang unsold on the rack, Sandile.
I as a white person would feel much more optomistic of our future if all blacks were as well spoken and aware as your are.
Sadly this is not so, and you cannot blame appartheid for it, you see you are living proof that blacks CAN improve their lot in life, that even as an apartheid veteran you are well educated. So if you could do it why not the others, what excuse do you have for the younger generation those that have had accsess to the same schooling and schools as whites, why are they not performing to the same levels.
As for the past well this land no more belongs to you than to me, your ansestors came from the north and violently took the land from its owners the Khio san and the Strand looper, why is it ok for you to take land from others but not so for whites, who in most cases actually barterd for the land.
If you truly wanted to be fair and true to history all of you and all of us would have to give everything back to the bushmen, and they would be the rulers, as they are the true owners of South Africa.
As for accepting resposibility for the past, why should I, I was but a child during appartheid and by the time I was ready for the job market it was the New SA and I could not get a job as I was white so PLEASE PLEASE TELL me how did I benefit? I just got punished, for something I never did.
Cool down, Owen, Steve Van Niekerk, Willy, Jon, JP. Good comments Mense. People like you who refuse to accept being whipped with guilt without a defence are what made this nation great.
Some people will not stand back and have a so called 400 years of ‘dehumanisation’ thrown in their faces. Was 1948 really 400 years ago? I must be aging very fast.
I don’t think we need to prostrate ourselves and beg for an apology, put up shrines, hang our head in eternal shame etc. There seem to be no shortage of liberal whites willing to do it already. Hey, some will even wash feet. What ever makes you happy. For the sake of diversity let us not act the same.
Jon, I’m also not in the market for one of those shirts. T-shirts and Vellies do me just fine. I always thought the Madida shirt was appropriate wear here. It is West African in origin and The Nguni peoples are migrants from West Africa that started colonizing in SA a few hundred years ago. They should celebrate the culture of their Homeland, like we should be allowed to celebrate ours.
Nkosana,Strange that that if the shoe does not fit
you and others, don’t like to go back to the atrocities inflicted on whites,and refer to them as myths, but if it suits you and others you add another fifty years to so called white oppression and colonialism.
It is that typical indoctrinated attitude and
ignorance to accept that even in history there are
two sides,and more, that sets the African continent ablaze.
Wake up Dude before it is too late,the commies
and their allies are doing far to good a job to
my liking to distort and twist history as they
want to see it and you to believe it.
Even convinced themselves that they won the war in
Angola!!
Do you ever think about your scribbling.
“I as a white person would feel much more optomistic of our future if all blacks were as well spoken and aware as your are.”
How about:
I as an African would feel much more optimistic about the whites man’s future in South Africa if “ALL” whites were as well spoken as Trevor Manuel and the likes!
Sadly, it is not so. Given the white man’s past privileged education and all, if Trevor and other self-respecting intelligent white people could do it despite BEE and AA, why couldn’t you?
JP’s crew and others like them are fuming because despite all the privileges they’ve enjoyed at the expense of the African in the past regime, they’re still in the dark about how to go about making real success of their careers and life. It seems all they were taught is how to unfairly trample on an African to falsely claim superiority and success…
Here’s my advice “Belungu Bethu”! Quit the fuming, it will never get you anywhere worthwile. Apply your time, talent (if you have any) and energy on making yourselves and this your country work well for all human-beings who live in it irrespective of race. Feed your minds a better diet than racist thoughts… and you’ll also reap a rich and abundant future as does Trevor Manuel and other smart white people who’ve not made BEE and AA their excuse. You reap what you sow gentlemen… a simple law of nature.
Hate to burst your bubble but Trevor Manuel is not White. He is Coloured. If he could achieve this during Apartheid why can’t you with all the advantages of BEE, AA, HDI and all the other racist anti-white programmes?
I hear Zuma wants to get rid of Meneer Manuel; he is too efficient and stands in the way of corruption and mismanagement.
I don’t need to feed my mind with a diet of racism. The ANC dishes it out everyday, telling us what they think of whites. Sorry, I don’t eat junk food. I am strictly a braaivleis man.
Have we met? You seem to know what JP and the rest of us do, lack of careers etc.
Consulting Engineer on January 29th, 2008 at 10:19 am
@ Meneer Mokoetle
You seem to like throwing the racist tag. Liberal believe all races are equal, hence Black failure is always written off as white racism. Hence PC columns like Friedman always blame whites. Even if whites can find in their hearts no desire to oppress blacks, yesterday’s whites must have oppressed them. If whites do not consciously oppress blacks, they must oppress them Unconsciously. Since The ANC is failing so terribly, there must be millions of white people working day and night to keep blacks in misery. Black failure is always an indictment of white people. White society must be riddled with hatred. All lack of success is by definition, due to whites thwarting and oppressing them.
What appears to be non-white racism is understandable and forgivable, hence an act of racism depends on the race of the racist.
If 60 percent of the white voters vote for a white candidate, and 95 percent of the black voters vote for the black opponent, it is white who are accused of racial bias. All white institutions must be integrated, but not Black ones.
Blacks can agitate openly for racial preferences that can come only at the expense of whites. They can demand preferential treatment without it being “anti-white.” Whites need only object to be called haters. To say I want my white children to marry whites and have Blonde hair and green eyed children like my mother and my son and their ancestors makes me the worst type of racist.
You expect whites to encourage, even to subsidize, the displacement of whites. You expect whites to be bent on self-destruction and to hand over land and power to whomever shows up and asks for it. Whites have let themselves be convinced that it is racist merely to object to dispossession, much less to work for their own interests. Never in the history of the world has a dominant people thrown open the gates to strangers, and poured out its wealth to others. Never before has a people been fooled into thinking that there was virtue or nobility in surrendering its heritage, and giving away to others its place in history.
Of all the races, only whites have been tricked into thinking that a preference for one’s own kind is racism. Only whites are ever told that a love for their own people is somehow “hatred” of others. All healthy people prefer the company of their own kind, and it has nothing to do with hatred. All men love their families more than their neighbors. Whites who love their racial family need bear no ill will towards non-whites. They only wish to be left alone.
What whites are being asked to do is therefore utterly unnatural. They are being asked to devote themselves to the interests of other races and to ignore the interests of their own. This is like asking a man to forsake his own children and love the children of his neighbors, since to do otherwise would be “racist.”
What then, is “racism?” It is any opposition by whites to official policies of racial preference for non-whites. It is any preference by whites for their own people and culture. It is any unwillingness to be pushed aside. It is, in short, any of the normal aspirations of people-hood that have defined nations since the beginning of history - but only so long as the aspirations are those of whites.
Consulting Engineer on January 29th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
@ Consulting Engineer…and crew!
I guess you, JP and the rest of your crew have met “All” African people, that is why you know so much about “All” of them across the continent.
Perhaps you and I have really met CE, since you also seemingly know my past achievements or lack thereof! And you list a few of my expectations too!!! Hehehe, you’re dis-eased my friend, you need urgent help. I suggest you seek help soon for the sake of your own health.
Do the sons bear the sins of their fathers? You bet! You fellows are living proof. Whether you should or shouldn’t is another story… Nature has its way with life I tell ya… and it’s above devilish hearts and mentalities.
By the way, since we’re into bursting bubbles… Has it ever occurred to you and your crew that my name does not make me who I am! I’m not my name broer!!! Yeah go on, scratch your head “mlungu wam”!
You’re not interested in the truth C.E JP and the crew, you’re ONLY interested in fueling the racial fires within and spreading them to other “weaklings”.
I’ll keep throwing my kind generous positive advice for your consumption though. Hopefully some day soon you folks will realize that time is running out and you’ll awaken. And you’ll start living and stop killing your souls with negative thought! You’ll awaken to realize that just because you happen (by some odd chance of nature) to be born with your skin pigmentation, the creator doesn’t view you with any special set of glasses, and neither should your fellow human beings afford you any more than they’d humanly afford another.
AA and BEE are fair strategies if run for a determined length of time. They’re instruments of necessity and one of the best ways to balance the scales given our horrific history. And I’m very sure those who finally arrived at AA and BEE as the way forward did consider the fact that there will be undesirable casualties… But consequences from the alternatives didn’t bode well either! They may not be the best strategies, unless someone comes with a better strategy to balance the spoils, it MUST remain. AA & BEE were not put in place to deliberately inflict pain on anyone, they were put in place to transform a nation just out of turmoil. And if you can’t get that through your skulls… it’s a shame!
I eagerly await the day your type “Consulting Engineer”, thinks carefully before using words like “ALL”, “ALWAYS”, “EVERYONE”, etc…
Perhaps that’ll be the day you’ll begin to spit some sense out of that foul mouth of yours!
So again, quit moaning apartheid!!! Go to work! And don’t just do your work and no more. But throw a little more than is expected for the lavishing sake. Throw all your might as God has given you and the sky will clear. And if you suffer as you might, and if you doubt as you might…do your work. And out of your very doubt and suffering, will be born the supreme joy of life. For you too my dear white friend/s ;), will reap a rich and abundant harvest, much to the marvel of your fellow South Africans.
As soon as a person begins to changes, his/her surroundings begin to change. And it works like this… Great attitude, great results. Good attitude, good results. Fair or average attitude, fair or average results. Poor attitude, poor results.
So each of us shapes his/her own life despite their skin pigmentation. And to an all together unexpected extent, the shape and texture, the quality or the lack of quality of our life is determined by our habitual attitude.
The South Africa will give you back what you put out in the way of attitude. No less and no more. Human beings can alter their lifes, by altering their attitude of mind. It’s up to us! If we expect warmth from a fire-place, we must FIRST put in the wood…There’s no point going to the fire-place and asking, “please give me warmth, then I’ll give you some wood”!
So sons bear the sins of the fathers? OK then, can we expect reparations for Dingaan’s kraal and Weneen anytime soon? This after signing a treaty of peace and committing these atrocities will any court find otherwise? Can we whine about how this Black oppression is responsible for the social ills of whites? It is the resulting migration that caused the Boer War, the killing of white women and children, and the extinction of the Great Auk etc. For all this historic suffering Black people must hang their heads in shame for eternity.
You want truth about why we prefer to live apart? You don’t provide facts, just rants and the world as you would like it to be. Your afro-optimism has not produced success in Africa. Just an unending crime wave. Here are facts:
The fact is that poverty does not explain crime.
Black violent crime rate is about ~5 times the non-black crime rate. Poverty didn’t work as variable X to link poverty and crime. The best explanation was IQ and MAO promoter polymorphisms. (The Colour of Crime report on FBI Statistics)-
Other researchers note that while there is a strong relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and violent crime rates for the general population, the relationship is not necessarily the same for Blacks (Messner and Rosenfeld, 1999).The notion that disadvantage is a weaker predictor of violent crime in black communities has been interpreted as a challenge to liberals and the theory and the general assumption of racial invariance. Research finds that the prevalence of violent crime in Black society is due “moral poverty,” not economic deprivation. (Bennett et al.,1996; Banfield, 1990).
The proportion of blacks and Hispanics in an area is the single best indicator of how dangerous it is. The racial mix is a much better predictor of crime rates than poverty, unemployment, and dropout rates combined.
The ‘poverty causes crime’ is a liberal canard. Does it explain Islamic violence; Hispanic gang violence; and white collar crime? There is no correlation between poverty and crime. The arrogant Marxists have it precisely backwards. Crime causes poverty. Crime is a derivative of a failed culture and personal frailties, not of income status.
As Thomas Sowell the eminent Black economist wrote, ‘In area after area - crime, education, housing, race relations - the situation has gotten worse after the bright new theories were put into operation. The amazing thing is that this history of failure and disaster has neither discouraged the social engineers nor discredited them.’ The chattering Marxists confuse fantasy as fact and contort bizarre theories to justify social engineering. The cry that poverty causes crime is no exception – and a convenient lie for more redistribution, more politicians, more programs and more bureaucracy which can ‘normalize standards’.
In fact the lie is taken to extremes by liberals, socialists and Marxists. It is used to justify an anti-capitalist, anti-white, anti-market philosophy. In this anti-reality world view, poverty causes crime, and since poverty is generated by an uncaring, White dominated capitalist system, it the structure of the existing system which needs modification or perhaps even destruction. If capitalism can be replaced by communalism, the earth cult or some elite managed Marxist program than poverty will disappear. Or so the fantasy goes.
The wet coal story is another ANC canard. ESKOM hoses down their coal before burning it. The lack of coal is due to the fact that due to BEE contracts for delivery of coal from mines to ESKOM was given to BEE contractors, who promptly took the money and went bankrupt. Why don’t Black people just work harder as you as of us?
Is this fueling racial fires or truth you prefer to deny? In fact the social model of the ANC and their BEE policy is leading us to disaster. The fact is that you refuse to face these truths and hide behind ‘why don’t we all change our attitudes and be positive and it will be better’ . The positive attitude of the ANC does not stop crime nor generate power.
AA and BEE are fair strategies? You call racial discrimination fair? Those who finally arrived at AA and BEE only considered enriching themselves. The remainder of the Black and White did not enter the equation. Hence the small fraction of Blacks that got rich from it. AA & BEE were put in place to transform a few bank accounts, as is the way in Africa.
Regarding your fireplace, the new SA expects whites to only procur wood from BEE suppliers, we must pay for it, and everyone gets the fire while we are pushed to the rear.
Consulting Engineer on January 30th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Hi Mr Engineer
Just some thoughts in response to your comment… For the record, I am white, anti-communist and anti-socialist!
1. I read the transcript of that Carte Blanche episode about Eskom (I don’t have M-net to watch it!) and I didn’t come away from it thinking BEE was the problem. The way I read it, Eskom was just to snoep to pay the BEE companies enough to make it viable for them, and was difficult about road conditions and that sort of thing. Heck, the guy who was spokesman for those transport companies was white (I think he was, wasn’t he?).
2. The whole poverty/crime thing. For sure its a complex topic, I’m sure their are tons of factors involved in it and I’m not going to pretend to be a social scientist and know what they mean by things like “traditional social disorganization theory” and so forth.
But just from my own anecdotal evidence - I know a kid who just finished matric at a township high school. He did pretty well in his class but not really well enough for university (which he doesn’t have money for anyway, but we could always hope for bursaries) which is a real pity because he is a bright hard working kid, I’ve tutored him for a couple of years so I know he is. So he could go to college but I live in a smallish town and the college we have only offers a couple of courses, none of which are really along his line - he’s into accounting and maths. And we have something like a 70% unemployment rate here, so there is not much hope in that direction.
So what is he to do? Now I’m not saying he’s going to start breaking into people’s houses, I’m sure he isn’t. But if I just think how very many kids must be in his position, I can see how crime becomes a way to live…
3. I know these sortof topics can get so heated and we get defensive and feel attacked and so forth sometimes. And I feel silly offering such trite advice, but I think its a good thing to try understand people, even if you don’t end up agreeing with them… And for me a really useful thing has been reading to try see what South Africa feels like from the other side, from the side that isn’t my white middle class side. Books like Fred Khumalo’s autobigraphy, for example. Just a thought.
Jon “cool down” Consulting Engineer! He’s burying himself under his own derelict of dialect.
Belungu bethu, it is apparent that you can’t handle the truth. You are bent on attempting to obscure it with your so called “facts”!!!
You want facts, I’ll give you facts. Hopefully you’ll handle them better than your lousy grasp of the truth.
FACTS:
1. All citizens of South Africa enjoy the same freedoms as stipulated in our constitution. This here is the MOST IMPORTANT fact. For one it has allowed you to continuously publicise your remorse for the death of your fore-fathers aborted regime!
2. South Africa has serious challenges (wink!wink!) to overcome. I doubt there is a sensible soul that will deny that. However, problems are part of life. Always have been, always will be! What makes the difference between the successful and the not so successful is not the amount of problems at hand, it’s the attitude adopted in facing the problems and finding resolutions. And contrary to your hopes and prayers, we shall always overcome. We’ve done it before, and will do it again! Ask your “smart” fore-fathers…they’ll tell ya that they too once upheld delusional beliefs like you currently hold about race, superiority and intelligence. Much to the demise of their grandeur!
3. If you apply your consulting “superior intelligence” a little here…You will acknowledge that Bush is lightly pigmented. I believe Hitler was too. And so was Jack The Ripper…and the list goes on!!! You need to be careful what you read and whose conclusion you adopt my friend. As a matter of “fact”, I could bravely state as “fact” that your kind is responsible for more crime against humanity around the globe. It has been that way since time in memorial, and still is!!! Say all you want, the fact remains. It’s an uncomfortable truth! Sure mlungu wam, mhlaba jikelele!!!
I, unlike you “Consulting Engineer”, believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. That myth is more potent than history in influencing positive outcomes for our country. That my dreams are more powerful than your lousy facts in helping South Africa become a successful country. That hope always triumphs over experience. That laughter is the cure for grief… And that love, that which you need to find within yourself Consulting Engineer, is stronger than pride.
Stop reacting to stimuli. That is NOT thinking. Spitting your kind of malice does not take thought. Quit seeking support from people who don’t know anymore than you do. Turn on your own thinking apparatus.
Let us all help South Africa become a prosperous country for all who live in it.
J. Napo Mokoetle
The constitution contains many provisions.it inter alia states in Chapter 14.’Self determination’
The right of the South Afican people as a whole to
self-detemination,as manifested in this Constitution,does not preclude,within the framework of this right,recognition of the right
of self-determination of any community sharing a common cultural and laguage heritage,with in a territorial entity in the Republic or in any other way,determined by national legislation.
Nice words,had I written these words,this blog
would have exploded in outbursts of racism.
If you mention this to any ANC loyalist he is
bound to have an heart attack.If you ask him what
the ANC is doing to promote this you’re are
likely to be labelled insane and be charged with
high treason.
You see sir I used this as an example, what is written and contained in the constitution is useless and meaningless if those in whose power it
is to make it a reality only implement what furthers their course and suits their interpretation.
Die volgende artikel het in die Beeld van 30 Junie
in Sake 24 verskyn.
Defekte kos Eskom in 2 dae 15,7% kragvermoe.
Die artikel is te lank om in sy geheel aangehaal te word dus enkele hoogte (lae) punte?
DEfekte in turbines het die afgelope twee dae ‘n verlies van 6185 MW of 15.7% van Eskom se totale opwekkingsvermoe veroorsaak.
Sulke defekte het in die tyd by 11 van Eskom se 13 steenkoolkragsentrales ontstaan.
Daar is swak instandhouding en ‘n gebrek aan onderdele.
Gister was 8 turbines buite werking. Die defekte..is stoomlekkasies by Hendrina en Camden. Die Arnot kragstasie het feitlik geen steenkool nie.
Twee turbines by Majuba werk onder hul vermoe weens tegniese probleme.
ESkom het onderneem om nou meer op instandhouding
te fokus.Tien jaar gelede het elke kragstasie genoeg onderdele op die perseel aangehou om minstens een volledige eenheid bestaande uit ‘n stoomketel en opwekkingsterbune heeltemal te kon herbou .DIE STOORKAMERS MET DIE ONDERDELE IS EGTER
TOT NIET GEMAAK.
Die instandhoudings personeel is meestal afgedank en die funksie van onderhoud gesentrliseer.Die instandhouding word sedertdien deur Rutek.’n tegniese filiaal van Eskom in Pretoria en twee
Duitse maatskappy behartig.
Many times the fallacy of the ANC’s policy to
centralise everything,a remnant of communist ideolgy, been debated on various blogs.
The results of these policies have no been clearly
demonstrated. Shame on you Eskom do the decent
thing and refund your undeserved bonusses,restock
the storerooms,Get of your ass and put things back
in working order!!
@Sandile: “…Or there are some whites who spend their weekends teaching black children mathematics at a squatter camp. They will collect some left-overs, meant for the dustbin, to feed the poor piccaninnies who go to Saturday classes hungry because their parents drank their meagre wages.
These are the nice white people that blacks call abelungu bethu. ”
mmm… would that be the people like Amy Biehl?
I’ve never felt so patronised in my life!
@ J. Napo Mokoetle
“As soon as a person begins to changes, his/her surroundings begin to change. And it works like this… Great attitude, great results. Good attitude, good results. Fair or average attitude, fair or average results. Poor attitude, poor results.”
So that explains why everything important seems to be going to shit in this country! It’s related to the government’s attitude! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
@JN Mokoetle — your “facts” #2 and #3 aren’t facts at all. They’re just your opinions. And a bit of a wish-list.
And “fact” #1 is wrong. On paper everyone is “equal” but in practice government policies like AA and BEE mean that, like in Orwell’s “Animal Farm”, some are more equal than others.
Before the BEE contractors were appointed, the previous company had no problem with the roads or rates. There is always an excuse for BEE failure. And always some white puppet who will be prepared to be window dressing.
There are also plenty of poor white boys whose parents cannot afford university. Because they are white they cannot get bursaries under the racial discrimination legislation made by the ANC. Bursaries go to HDIs who never lived under Apartheid.
Why you do not show concern for poor whites? In Pretoria west some whites live 40 in a house. Those poor whites are far less likely to turn to crime, yet because of the colour of their skin they are denied anything. They want jobs and work hard. They don’t want high flying BEE posts to suit on their bums in a suit.
Sister, first look after your own family, then your people and racial family, then worry about the rest. Will you care for the neighbour’s kids before looking after your own? There is no shame in looking after our own first. You need not bow your head and feel the guilts liberals try and impose on you.
Consulting Engineer on January 31st, 2008 at 8:27 am
@Mokoetle
I see no facts, just just your hopes, imagination and spin:
A fact is Knowledge or information based on real occurrences, as I presented to you.
All citizens of South Africa enjoy the same freedoms as stipulated in our constitution: Then why does BEE make some more equal than others and give Blacks preference?
South Africa has serious challenges to overcome: This is because the mess the ANC has made of things. It will not be spin that solves these problems but people grounded in facts and reality with real skills.
Bush and Hitler: What is the point of bringing them up? Are we out to prove the credentials of every white man? But if you want to think, consider the fact that your are following just one view presented by the jewish media. For example, if Hitler is only bad why did a whole nation rally behind him and fight so hard? Are they all evil? Try get another view or real accomplishments: www.adolfthegreat.com
Imagination: I know you believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge. Hence you bombard us with what you wish to be rather than reality
Love: I have plenty; for my children and my people.
Consulting Engineer on January 31st, 2008 at 8:40 am
J Napo Mokoetle
Dear Sir
Were you subjected to some sort of Pavlov’s experiment that you keep on repeating the same
nonsense over and over again.
Have you really been brainwashed to such extent that you believe the ANC propoganda, which now wants us to thank them for the speedy interference
in the Escom crisis?
Under the ANC Escom assets have been neglected
and have been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that we now face a serious crisis with
disatrous economic consequences.
Me think you should rethink the thinking process,
because you can no longer trust the truth in which
you have put your trust.
them
Hehehe!!! Baas Jon, Consulting Eng…cool down. You folks must be on some cheap drug!
Much of what you see today here on Earth, was first an imagination, an idea, a dream. It didn’t just fizzle into “reality”. Nature just doesn’t work that way folks. “Imagination” has the upper hand to knowledge fellows, for only in imagination lies the seeds for manifesting reality.
I thought it was just the truth your crew can’t handle, it’s clear facts elude you too!
There is just no way you can be capable of ‘loving’ anyone when you lack love for yourself Consulting Eng. Your claiming you love your family and “your people”, is like one stating they’re getting heat from a block of ice at zero kelvin! Being it that you’re choking in your own vomit, I’m not surprised you don’t realize that (or are in your habitual state of denial) your ignorant generalizations about race reflect the confused state of being going on within yourselves. Your daily scribbling on this and other blogs only serve to give away the conflict buried beneath your lightly pigmented skin. You’re at war with yourself and it’s frustrating the hell out of your souls. You are driven by memory (hence your doing to your children and families what your fathers did to you) rather than engaging in active creative thought hence all you can spit is your forefathers dead superficial philosophies about race.
“Self-determination” is not for you lost souls who feel they can drive our nation backwards to fulfil your mindless ends. So ‘cool down’ before you go about referencing chapters from the constitution in the hope of supporting your old pathetic ideologies about race. You’ll enjoy self-determination as soon as you ‘determine-yourselves’.
It is apparent that your crew Consulting Eng. argues merely to “win”, and perhaps fuel your hatred of others who by natures way don’t match your skin pigmentation. On the contrary, I and many other sober souls argue and discuss to learn and teach knowledge calculated to positively benefit the human species here in our beloved country South Africa, and beyond.
You can carry on groping in darkness and looking for more of it from other like souls to support your doom fulfilling prophecies, or opt to wise up and pick up the torch and spread the light. God willing, you will in time make the right choice.
I think I’ve written enough to ‘cool down’ your inner fires in times of need as they now-n-then flame out of hand. So whenever you feel the blaze is too great for your souls to bear, feel free to re-visit my scribblings on this blog for a fix.
Baas Jon, Cool down, eagle, JP and others of ‘the crew’
You also groping in darkness? Guess you were also load shedded.
I heard another once said ‘ i have a dream….’ Till they caught him involved in all sorts of sin and illegalities. They all seem to have dreams, just no implementation.
Speaking of fires and blazes, guess a braai would be lekker with such a group of fine intelligent gentlemen!
Consulting Engineer on January 31st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
@ Engineer
“Before the BEE contractors were appointed, the previous company had no problem with the roads or rates…”
How do you know this? It didn’t say so in the programme transcript… we don’t even know what the previous contractors were paid. And petrol has gone up a lot lately too so that might have been a factor, who knows. Unless you have information the program didn’t tell us. I really don’t think the program showed that BEE was the problem. I think you can only arrive at that conclusion if you throw in a whole lot of assumptions, which isn’t fair.
I thought about what you were saying about “first look after your own family” this morning.
First, maybe I should say that there is no way I could have afforded to study at university without financial aid and I’ve been on bursaries since my first year. I’m still on financial aid now.
I’m not quite sure what to say about “poor whites.” I pondered this morning if I should somehow feel more sympathy for and solidarity with poor white people. Hmmm when I think about it, I feel most sympathy for and desire to help poor people I come into contact with, people from my town and my community. And a large number of those people are black. And I think thats ok. My family is first of all my natural family, and my close friends. And then its the people in my community, who I walk past in the streets and stand in queues with in the shops. Some black, some white, some coloured, indian, whatever…
I think that there are bonds of maybe culture and history with people from the same racial group as me. But I don’t think those bonds are strong enough to automatically put all white people high up on the “family” list.
More could be said of course, but I’m trying not to make this comment too long!
Beacuse I drilled on some of the strategic coal reserve stockpiles to get samples to check leachate. All the contractors that delivered coal were then white and the stock piles were huge. Now The piles are gone and the contractors are Black.
Ergo… the conclusion is…. since the Black contractors took cover, many go bust due to poor cash flow management, and ESKOM has no coal. Why were unsuitable contractors appointed? BEE procurement policy.
I feel a kinship with other whites. Watching them retrenched due to the colour of their skin, their children being denied jobs due to their whiteness etc.
Think back to what your ancestors went through to get you here. They were united as a people. Not all whites are your blood family in the traditional sense. Obviously family comes first. When you say you are Afrikaans, Scottish, english etc you are expressing a racial pride or affiliation based on origin. This is extended. When you travel you will naturally tend to associate with other white south africans, afrikaans or english. In africa other whites no matter what nation etc.It is natural. They are your extended family. You will help each other overseas and bond. If you emigrate other white saffers will help you. Therefore there is a loyalty to your people. Why not help them here? Whites survived as they always helped each other. In SA English and Afrikaans, we face the same threats and must stand together. Why not? Blacks did it.
To not assist your fellow whites means as a group we go under. Our people are under siege by declining birth rates, crime and race mixing. If no one cares whites will disappear. In europe already whites are below replacement level.
I do not know you, but if I see you on the road in need of help I will help you as we are one people. Its about time we stand as one.
Consulting Engineer on January 31st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
@Laura
Something else to contemplate. The future and affinity for your own kind.
We will use my son as an example. He has Blonde hair and green eyes, disciplined in a germanic way. They like traditional european folk music etc. Its in their blood. Typical characteristics.
Let us say, God Forbid, he marries a Black over my dead body. His offspring will never have these traits again. Nor their descendants. Gone forever.
Let us say 100 000 years of his ancestors had those traits. In one foolish choice he has destroyed all that and all the history of his ancestors is gone. Sacrificed on the alter of Liberalism.
In the same way, if his ‘wife’ is Zulu, the kids will never be Zulu.
They will be Coloured and have a totally different culture, unique to Coloured people. They will feel no affinity to their european/english/afrikaans origin. There will also be less white children from which your children will be able to select a husband/wife.
It is damaging to both cultures.
The choices you make have implications far beyond yourself. So be proud of your people sister. Think of our history as a unique people.
Consulting Engineer on January 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
J Napo Mokoetle
Good heavens,where were you schooled,your vivid
imagination allows you to put so much trash
together,that you’re unable even to grasp the
most basic concepts.
I am asking myself why I bother even to reply
and shudder to think that South Africa must be
left in the hands of a person like yourself.
Look at your opening statement,imagination and dreams are worth nothing if they are not based on
solid foundation of education in which the basic
knowledge required to fire your imagination and
dreams are taught.
Your lack of grasping the basic of the economic disaster that is taking place right under your
nose is astounding.
It is clear that all the knowledge you’re referring
and you confess to possess and in your wisdom have
departed with was not enough to keep even one
power station going.
I now do understand that with your fashion it
is easy to destroy even the most robust economy.
The ancient people build on top of destroyed cities,please inform me when you’re ready to do the
same or is there still too much standing to your
liking.
I do not need to find myself,thank you sir,before
you were even a twinkle in your eye I was quite
capable of managing the financial and Administrative Affairs of a an engineering department employing close to 1500 people and engaged in all aspects of Engineering,from Roads.sewers,water,water disposal works,draughtmen
to artisans,from planners to inspectors, clerks to
typists,controlling multi-million Rand projects,
served on a number of committees during the transition period,so unlike you my friend I do know a little of what I am talking about.
I merely referred you to certain provisions in the
constitution to illustrate that not everthing
contained therein comes to fruition and if the ruling party has no desire to implement certain
provision it is like talking to a rock and that
is precisely the impression you are leaving me with.
Consulting Engineer on February 1st, 2008 at 9:09 am
@cool down
I can imagine what an englishman felt like in 1948. Much like whites in 1994: This country will go to ruin, those racist uneducated Afrikaners in charge etc etc. By 1962 they would be suprised to see SA as one of the power houses of the world: 1st world infrastructure, safe, strong currency and economy etc. They would have to admit the new government succeeded.
Now in 2008 we are still offered only dreams and spin. Give us another 300 yrs in power etc.. paradise is coming. Dreams are appropriate while we sit in darkness. We have crime, infratsurcture decay, 30% of the top structure are convicted felons. And worse is still to come.
Get on board the Titanic people. Life jackets and life boats not required. The ship is unsinkable. At least the Titanic went down with the lights on.
Consulting Engineer on February 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
J Napo Moektle
I have one final question to which I would like
you to apply your self confessed superior insight,
taking all the atrocities colonial powers have
inflicted on all the indigenous people of South Africa, in to account how the population of an estimated 1.3m in 1868 still managed to grow to an estimated 48m in 2008.
I am sincerely looking forward to your usually well founded explanation, if you please,sir.
I find it amazing how easily we want to display the apartheid era’s “1st world infrastructure, safe, strong currency and economy etc” forgetting the fact that these gizmos only benefited a very small persentage of the SA population while most South Africans were forced to live in very squalored conditions deprived of the basics of life.
The answer to your question. “That is the miracle for which we thank the almighty. So much against us were the odds. Nobody has an answer to that question, only god knows.”
AK
I think that somehow the arrival of western medicine,doctors and hospitals also played a role.
You see the Almighty did not create us as passive
beings,like little birds waiting to be fed by their parents,but as active beings engaged in the
betterment of mankind and not seeking its destruction.
So a word of thank you to God that eventually
the fruits of modern medicine arrived
in South Africa,I reckon would not be out of place.
I would have thought the answer to the question you asked me is obvious for your smart kind.
Answer:
If dinosaurs once ruled the world, just how did they become extinct? Ok Ok Ok!!! Before you scratch your skull to oblivion…Let me help you out.
My friend, survival is not guaranteed by one’s physical might and evil intent, it’s guaranteed by a strong sense of character and goodwill. It may not seem that way in the short-term (especially to weaklings), but it is simply that way in the long-run. We are living example to that fact. With Mandela being the epitome…A living embodiment of that timeless truth about life.
@ Consulting Engineer
Thanks for the ocean front property. I’m truly enjoying it…Hehehe!!! I see you learn fast boet. Take it easy though, don’t rush, let the lessons settle into your mind for they’re at this point foreign to you by your own admission.
Odd how you super men can blow your horns on being superior beings, and yet be so uncomfortable in your own skin! Ironic ain’t it!!! The very thing you claim exalts you above others, brings fear in your soul. Torments you!
It’s not too late “crew”, you too can change for the better. You too can make a positive difference towards your life and that of those the Most High affords you an opportunity to interact with in his creation. You need only work on your mindset and beliefs, the rest will follow.
Unlike you, the laws of nature don’t discriminate. They don’t care who you are, where you come from, what skin pigmentation chance provided you. As long as you understand and work with them, they’ll reward you in wonderful ways. And if you work against them, you will be rewarded accordingly just the same! Call it the miracle of nature.
“You may say I’m a dreamer. But I’m not the only one. Maybe some day you will join us. And the world will be as one…” - J. Lennon
Being kind and caring to humanity at large without regard to how one reflects light relative to the other, means no loss of individuality. For we’re more than we can see.
How did you know I am unfortable in my skin? You see I had a potjie at home this weekend and lay out in the sun by the pool for too long, so am I bit burnt. Its the problem with white skin, but I am glad I have it. Thank you for your concern about my discomfort. So you see Nature discriminates based on skin colour.
By the way, it was not chance that gives me my pigment. You see at some stage in the past my ancestors and their kind could not tolerate what was going on (probably some pre-historic crime spree or AA programme of your ancestors)and emigrated to Europe. Subsequently my ancestors chose to selectively breed with other whites, a process I plan to continue, as do my children, to perpetuate our people.
I know how much you want to mix with us, and I can see why. But I am sorry. Our generosity extended to handing over control of the nation to your people, and in return they chose to make a mess of it. Handing over our genetic material is just asking too much, don’t you think?
I do not like John Lennon nor that degenerate genre of music called rock or pop that idolises drugs, race mixing, infidelity, loose living, and clothing best worn on street corners. I prefer Afrikaans music, german soldatenleider und volskleider, marches and classical. Good european music. If you tune in to Radio Pretoria you will hear some. Better for the soul than that drug addict Lennon. Why would we pay attention to words coming from a drug addled brain?
Consulting Engineer on February 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Cool Down,
Um tired, have been educating the likes of you. i do need a break. But kindly note that we have spent many many thousands of year before the arrival of White people. I am sure you must have had that many people of koisan ethnicity died of imported TB.
You know that no man would leave his father land and go to the unknown. there must be something pretty bad in your own country to take a raft and throw yourself into the sea, turn your back to your kith and kin.
You are talking rubbish my man, you actually contribute a lot to lowering the standard of the debate that goes on here.
and when the fruits of racism dangle so gloriously from your watered three, you will right a public letter to Thabo, complaining about his allowing black people to kill the poor whites.
My man, let not your racism be so pervasive as to rob you of a chance of seeing the beauty of the sky above.You are actually helping those Africans who are beginning to think they are White to see South Africa for what it is. You embarrass us as far awy as the corners of the world. And people simply wonder, what kind of animals some White South African are. And e simply say; you see
Yeah I’m back…by popular demand…Hehehe! Black by God’s will. And proud by my own conviction.
Dude! That your parents conceived a child may not be that much of a chance depending on their sexual appetite and maturity. That your soul was given the body they conceived is pure chance. Swallow that boet!
That you charred your skin in the sun proves nothing about nature’s discriminative sense. If I had a potjie with you by your pool nature would have subjected me to the same forces. It’s not the sun, it’s your skin’s reaction that makes the difference.
The paranoia you spread with your scribblings is all based on your discomfort with your own skin. You lack innovative thinking, all you keep endlessly repeating is what your forefather’s preached that led to your current dilemma (I pity your family…It is unfortunate that they’ve to be subjected to your ill-motivated thinking on a daily basis!) and many of the problems we have to work on overcoming. You utterances make it obvious that you’re uncomfortable about the perceived misfortunes your pigmentation seems to bring your kind. Mind you, every time I state “your kind”, I’m not talking about white folks in general, I’m talking about those people who abuse thought energy as you do.
Perhaps some prehistoric crime spree in Europe caused your forefathers to emigrate to Africa! In any case, who cares!!! South Africa is what it is today due to a great deal of past factors that need not hinder our progress in making the country a success for ALL who live in it irrespective of their race, gender, creed or social standing.
And again, who cares whether you like John Lennon or not…Or what kind music you prefer? Not me for sure. What I care about is that you go out there and apply yourself positively to help South Africa prosper and stop moaning. What I care about is that you find ways to escape your dull thinking brought about by years of conditioning by your forefathers and start to experience freedom from your self-imposed inner shackles.
Your genes my “old” friend, are good for nothing worthwhile in their current state. Listen to your thoughts, you’ll catch my drift. Nobody in their rightful state of mind would wish to taint their gene with your kind. So step off that castle in the air I say! Nobody is asking you to mix with anyone, at the I’m not asking you to do that. I’m just merely saying that you should provide mutual respect. When you commit to preserving your culture, do it in such a way that you don’t unnecessarily alienate others, in a way that doesn’t undermine the existance of others who are not in your circle.
Let not your ego rule your thinking, allow your spirit to take over. You ego keeps you trapped into “thinking” what you’ve seen and see is all there is. Help yourself to change for the better by allowing the spirit to have the upper hand in sourcing and managing your thoughts. As you change the way you think, the world around you will change accordingly. That is as definite as the rising of the sun.
The past is gone, the future is not here. The only reality is this moment, make the best of it by being kind to your fellow beings. Adopt an all encompassing positive attitude every moment in all you get involved in, and you’ll get to do less and accomplish more. Afford mutual respect to others and you’ll gain power.
I am glad to hear you call yourself Proud and Black. That means you are happy in your skin, as I am in mine! So why is it if I am proud it is a problem for you and i must be uncomfortable?
Your potjie analogy is unlikely to happen. But if you in
If you don’t like Lennon, why do you quote him to me? Undisciplined drug addicts are not people I turn to for life advice.
My genes cannot be altered by any education. They are high demand and I have children and other women have wanted children with me. You see they are successful and my kids always get called very attractive. It is the beauty of our race. If it is envy, hatred, a desire to disrupt us or whatever that makes you promote multi-cult it won’t work.
I cannot see how my views can undermine your culture, unless you are so unsure that my views can make you change yourself.
I am always kind to my fellow beings, hence both Black and White come to me for help. Now tell me why Blacks come to a ‘racist’ for help and don’t go to the liberal next to me? Is it because they want abuse or that they know that the ‘racists’ have good hearts and are not patronising? Nor do we want to change them.
I have a great sense of humour and everyone around me always laughs. Its a bit off colour and of the type commonly called Black Humour he he! Even Blacks laugh around me.
Do not jump for joy. I did not get it from a previous race mixing ancestor. ha ha! Now repeat after me my friend: ‘White Pride!”
It seems your people have a sense of humour as well. It is only the white PC liberal that is lacking this trait. Maybe they are ashamed of their race or something and are full of self hate.
Consulting Engineer on February 6th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
AK needs a break. Good, try a Kit-Kat, helps
to sooth your already strained nerves. Recommended
for J Napo.M as well, it must be tiring to exercise
the grey matter to emerge with some new evidence
instead of the old fashioned cliche.
Mark my words the State President’s speech will
include phrases like ‘ the remarkable progress
we have made since apartheid’ and some vague
reference that we have problems and acknowledgements of their mistakes will also be
included.
Now need to upset the nation by telling them the
truth, because any good plitician has the inborn
ability to send you to hell in such a convincing
manner that you actually look forward to the trip.
This reminds me much of an earlier incident.
One chap used to follow a wellknown politician
from meeting to meeting.
It is a known fact that politicians amend their speeches to suit their audiences. Nobody wants to listen to bad luck stories,not good for the morale.
So during question time this chap got up and said
‘ Exuse me Sir, that is not what you told us,last night.Are you lying? The politician replied ‘ No sir, I am not, I lied last night, but tonight I am
telling you the truth!!’
Thank god! I’ve been waiting for Memela to tell me I’m OK and nice all my life! What a relieve.
No, seriously, I’m disappointed to see that Consulting Engineer is a serious white supremacist. Sometimes before on Thoughtleader, I liked his input because we need that particular brand of conservative rasionality to have balanced debates. But I’m very disappointed to see the Nazi bullshit.
This is the problem with the right wing in South Africa. Conservative intellectuals have so much to offer, but unfortunately the right had been hijacked by jackasses for decades. What a pity.
Ali that is not a nice thing to say because a
jackass is a male donkey or wild ass,or it
is informal an insulting word for a stupid person,
I presume you refer to latter,if that is the case
is the left hijacked by idiot savants who in a
moment of inspired brilliance decided that in order
to get cleverer we all should go to bed earlier?
I take your point. Absolutely. The left haven’t been covering themselves in glory whatsoever. But, somehow, I think the left is more tolerant of diverse opinion and I think it is generally accepted that no one opinion represents The Left. Patriotism, after all, is not a leftie idea.
With rightwing opinion in South Africa, it is somehow different. It has lost a lot of credibility because of past policies and absolutely idiotic positions. It is a pity.
Perhaps you equate the right wing with the Boep en brandywyn brigade. Some of us are highly succesful, have good businesses and are well educated.
I even work internationally. And you?
Its the people who have to resort to name calling that are the real intellectually challenged. I have never insulted anyone. If you don’t agree with what I say, then prove me wrong. But I am proud of who I am. I am involved with the right wing all over the world: Croatia, USA, UK, Germany, Russia etc. They have one hell of a lot more brain power than these liberals spouting cliches. Try read Dr David Duke sometime, or a few other brilliant right wingers i can recommend.
Consulting Engineer on February 14th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
oh man I was enjoying this article and the comments and then when I scrolled down I saw that old Consulting Engineer has landed here again… Dude, do you ever do any work!
@Brent
Yeah the blogs are kind of depressing but also very enlightening. I think this kind of dialogue is exactly what we all need though. Get it out there and hear what others have to say. Just wish we could rather do it down at the pub…
Sandile, I’m what you would describe as one of your ‘nice white people’ to my husband’s eternal embarrassment (he has no interest in politics).
My father, a civil engineer was murdered in his home in 2004. We had always argued he and I about SA politics. Me trying to teach him what I learnt at Rhodes University (I was the first white chick to invite a black man as my date to a ball in 1989 - poor guy got it from the Black Student Movement for that. They trashed his car. We didn’t know he was forbidden to attend). Anyway my father was a good old Nat party supporter through and through but he’d worked on the mines and spent a lifetime working with black people in the rural areas of South Africa building townships, laying pipes etc. And he was the one who told me when I was young that ‘This white skin of yours means nothing - things are going to change’. I just wanted to say that with his murder by four young black boys (I say boys because they didn’t steal his car - probably because they couldn’t drive yet) for R3000 and a watch, I feel that my family have paid their debt to black South Africans. A portion of his estate went to the government as inheritance tax too.
I have been a victim too and I will continue to do everything I can to empower the black woman who works for me and her family. Not because of guilt but because she is my friend and the nanny to my child. She is teaching him isiXhosa. We have started a small business in iKasi together.
And I acknowledge that I have benefitted from apartheid and continue to do so, albeit because I inherited money from my murdered old man. But I’m not feeling guilty anymore because as far as I’m concerned my father paid the debt for all of us. I hold all black South Africans responsible because they condone vicious crime against whites with their deafening silence. We know that you think we deserve it as payback for the past. And many of you continue to teach this hatred to your children who then feel vindicated in their crimes. And what about the black people buying stolen goods in the townships?
So I’m looking you straight in the eye and telling you that I forgive you for the senseless murder of my father and please in return forgive me for the atrocities of apartheid.
I would think Sandile Memela is partly right, but also wrong. Last time he wrote that whites should not apologize for apartheid, forgetting the Carl Niehaus and others initiative that went belly-up. Viwed againt the idiocies of UFS students’ video, we have a larger problem than we aknowledge. And in this matter, I believe Neville Alexander is exemplary in his analyis of ZA today (read ‘The “Moment of Manouvre”: “Race,” Ethnicity, and Nation in Postapartheid South Africa’). At the best of times we have whites who wish to apologize but are not given the opportunity, and then we do have the virulent strain of racism clothed in liberalism as displayed in the Employment Equity debate in the Cape Times recently. Ayone who believes in the students’s UFS story, Memela, is your target.
I am a white/asian/portuguese okhuluma isiZulu ngokuba bengihlala KwaZulu Natale eNgotshe. I have seen many different South African’s from different backgrounds and I must say one of the frustrating things is how much of what is happening is made a racial issue. This present government is not the ‘Black’ government. It is the ANC which has a huge Communistic contingent to it. When the present government is criticised by whites it is criticised because ‘it is black’ rather than on the basis of its policies and implementation or lack of implementation of its proposals. If we just stuck to policies and proposals we might see a reason for black and white to bat on the same team for or against the present Government. I think it is such a shame that the ANC had such a great opportunity to bridge the gap between white and black but has missed the opportunity by habouring on the past. But I suppose it was inevitable considering the grievances. May I suggest that, rather than eradicating Afrikaans or European place names they might have done what they did with the 2 places of KwaZulu and Natal. Instead of wiping out one name over the other they joined the two together. I seriously doubt the term umlungu referred to the white scum on the surf of the sea. The word for scum is (um)engulo which is not similar to (um)lungu. I am not saying I am a hundred percent right in this. But whether or not it started as a negative label for white people it is not so today and so what is the big deal? In fact there doesn’t seem to be anyone with an etymological explanation of which word exactly it came from. The word ‘lungu ‘ actually has to do with peeping. But one thing we should all learn from this is that no nation or tribe is without its dirty laundry. Us Brits put the Afrikaans in concentration camps. The Akfrikaans and Europeans treated the blacks as animals or at the best, noble savages. The Xhosa stole and killed from the Boers, the Zulus persecuted other black tribes. In mid africa blacks sold blacks into slavery, Arabs had their fair share of slave selling and of course there are the unspeakable horrors of the white slave ships. We are all equally sinners in need of a saviour. We think we all have ubuntu but look inside and we will see we all have ububi in the pit of our souls.
More black people are victims of violent crime than white people, the media just reports more crimes against white people thus the misconception that crime against whites is race-based.
I am a great lover of black people and I take a stance against white generalisations about black people with the stereotypical branding that if a person is black, therefore they must be treated with suspicion of being a potential murederer, thief or rapist. I have many friends who are black. But saying that, how can South Africans say that crimes purpotrated against blacks by whites are racially motivated but when it is the other way round it is not racially motivated? How can we say that black peoples have not been racially motivated when the whole xenophobic attacks by a section of black South African society was drawn on racial lines. It wasn’t only the indians, zimbabweans or Mozambiquans but also South African Shangaans too. It is no use pretending that racial discrimination or racially driven actions are a thing of the past. They are still alive and well in both white and black circles. Let us stop blaming apartheid or the black problem and move on.
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Sandile Memela grew up in Soweto where he was groomed to live 'the life of the mind.'
He believes in freedom of expression and respects the right of those who do not agree with him.
He has worked as an editor, journalist, columnist and advertising strategist.
At the moment, he is a government funk.
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Lovely piece Sandile
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