Comments on: Unlike a rose, ‘kaffir’ does NOT smell the same to black and white

By: kagablog » sandile memela: Unlike a rose, ‘kaffir’ does NOT smell the same to black and white

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:48:46 +0000

[...] this opinion first published by mail & guardian [...]

By: LMG

LMG — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 09:38:55 +0000

I couldn’t have said it better myself! The “brouhaha” that went out only makes me wonder; after 13 years of the You-can’t-use-that-word syndrome, why does this word still cause such a stir? Is it becuase some white (and even coloured) people still use it slanderingly, only under their breaths and not openly?

By: white

white — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 22:37:09 +0000

Brilliant.

I have to agree, often the problem lies in the fact that different people have differant views on a topic, or in this case a word.

Kaffir, as you said, may not mean the same thing to a township black as it does to a white.
As a white I, I say WHITES should not be able to use the word as ,for us, it is a word that implies inferiority, but I have no problem with one black using it on another.

Your articule reminds me of something that happened at work, myself and a black worker got into a heated discussion, which ended with him trying to insult me, a move that backfired.

Fed up with me he turned around and said “you are nothing but a f…ing boer” now in modern SA that is, by many, considered the equivilant to me calling him a kaffir (which I did not, just for the record) how-ever considering that I am of farmer stock, and had family you fought and died in the bore wars, that is nothing more than a statement of fact, you see I am a boer, so I politly thanked him for the compliment and walked away, leaving a very confused man behind.

Maybe its time we all stopped asuming we know what best for each other ans started finding out what the other really wants.

Once again great articule.

By: Consulting Engineer

Consulting Engineer — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:32:30 +0000

@Sad Sack

You are correct. I am remember once when a Black addressed me as ‘Hey White Man…’. I turned around and said ‘Yes Black Man, can I help you…” He looked stunned. I said to him ‘If you address me by the colour of my skin I can do the same’.

Whites don’t take offence at it. Why do Blacks?

By: SadSack

SadSack — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:42:57 +0000

I have to add. I’ve always found it interesting that white people are often able to shrug off racial slurs directed at them whilst black people take it to heart. It’s inevitable given past history but interesting nevertheless. It reminds me of a friend’s son who at a young age was hauled over the coals for calling his black playmate ‘blackie’. When questioned he replied that his friend had called him ‘whitey’ first. You have to smile. They remained the best of friends.

By: SadSack

SadSack — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:27:52 +0000

Difficult one. On the one hand I agree that it should be up to the people affected to judge for themselves. On the other hand silence on the part of whites could also be construed as their general acceptance of the term. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. What’s new?

By: cool down.

cool down. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:09:37 +0000

The word kaffir has lostt it original meaning
and has been assigned new meanings by various race
groups.

I still remember the day my Dad warned myself and my brother not to behave as ‘boerekaffers’ ‘ducktails’ or ‘fietas’,whenever
we were a bit too rowdy to his liking.

I always wondered what made him group those things
together as having the same meaning.

By: Eagle

Eagle — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:06:17 +0000

However, don’t get me wrong Sandile. I hate the liberals as much as you do.

Scourge of our society.

By: Eagle

Eagle — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:03:40 +0000

Yes, by all means lets start using the word Kaffir again. I’m for it. I will try it on the next traffic cop who stops me.

It was actually the Human Rights Commission where the CEO and the majority of staff is black, that made the most noise demanding that Khoza apologized or be prosecuted. But why should we let the facts get in the way if there is an opportunity for a good rant against Apartheid and the Whitey, hey Sandile.

By: Wessel

Wessel — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:14:03 +0000

There you have it. the word “Kaffir” or “Kaffer” just another no-no word by the white bleeding heart Liberals. Blacks don’t take notice of it. At the Company I work for, blacks all the time called each other Kaffer and nobody was offended. Again I think the White liberals must leave the blacks to start thining for themselves. MAY BE just MAY Be will they start learing HOW a county must be run BY All in it.