We can’t continue playing ignorant amid country’s destruction
OPEN LETTER: My opinion on the state of our country, by a 16-year-old.
People of South Africa – may you be black, coloured, Indian, Asian or white…
It does not take a very high IQ level to see that our beloved country is in a state of crisis.
In this post-apartheid time I was blessed enough to be born into, I am a free South African woman.
My right to freedom of speech was fought for by people already gone and people still in our midst today. But you see, South Africa, I do not know when we as a country will realise that the right to say what we wish comes with the responsibility to ensure that what we utter does not degrade, discriminate, disrespect or offend anyone who will come into contact with our words.
It fascinates me that there are people living in this country today who have the audacity to utter the words: “Forget about apartheid already. It’s in the past. Just move on.”
To that South African citizen, I say: if you are not ashamed of this country’s history and do not have the burning urge to amend the brutality of the past, you very obviously do not know your history well enough.
It is our duty as sons and daughters of this land to demonstrate the spirit of ubuntu and the motto on our coat of arms, “Diverse people unite.”
It is a privilege to be exposed to the diversity this country has to offer, and it is something that should be respected.
I have encountered and have been witness to some sickening comments, both in real life and via social media over the course of this last week.
I have had to hear that hairstyles should be race-specific and that black people look better with their heads shaven. It apparently looks neater and “suites black people so well”. I have had to hear that white people look funny when they braid their hair in cornrows or any other hairstyles similar to that because “it does not suite the texture of their hair”.
I have been witness to horrific racial slams about the #FeesMustFall campaigners being “a bunch of apes”.
Our biggest failure and injustice that we are serving our country is that we are not looking at the holistic picture. We are failing to listen more each and every day. We do not listen when an issue on the cost of universities is raised peacefully.
No, we as South Africans only realise there is a problem when poo hits the fan. We are so caught up in our thoughts and opinions that we cannot fathom the idea of someone having a different opinion to us.
We have become masters at justifying our actions.
It is time we consider making a mind shift in the statements we make. Whether it be around the dinner table, on the way to school, a club or even just in the classroom.
Discussions are so vital in the shaping of our youth. I consider myself lucky to have parents who were activity involved in the Struggle, and who have physically fought for the freedom we all have today.
I have been privileged enough to have a brilliant English teacher earlier this year who believed in current affairs discussions. I pity the young South African citizen who justifies their words and actions because “my parents are racist, so yeah bruh”.
Where is the urge to be a part of a beautiful change? Together we can, a lot of us just don’t want to. We are the children of the future and we deserve to be led by open-minded, wise adults.
My children and their children’s children deserve better than this, and for that reason, I will not be silent.
I am appealing to you, South Africa… Think. Listen. Think. Think. Think and think some more.