South African’s show the way
Let’s face it, South Africa has had and continues to have her fair share of problems, like any other country. But one thing that we do seem to be moving towards getting right (in general – there are still places that aren’t quite g…
etting it) is learning to get along with each other. There is no question that we have accepted a multi-cultural society in Greater Johannesburg, however as soon as you head into the Bundu’s and even to other cities like Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban, you are faced with those same old images of inequality and racist mentalities and behaviour.
In general we can agree that we have accepted the concept of a “multi-cultural” society, but we still have a long way to go to put those words to action. We look to the untainted youth as they will show us the way. Shift your minds people. Come on.
Thanks to “SA’s premier good news portal” for this article on Multi-culturalism in South Africa. CLICK HERE to go to SAGOODNEWS.CO>ZA:
In an address to the joint sitting of South Africa’s Parliament this week, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan praised South Africans for showing the world a new way. Rather than being imprisoned by a history of bitter conflict, South Africans are embracing their diversity and are working together to build a common future.
In a world “seething with resentment based on past and present injustice and with misunderstandings based on differences of culture and belief”, South Africa had shown that the way to a better balance “lies through dialogue, and the establishment of mutual trust.”
Recently, many countries have been dealing with the issue of multiculturalism, of how to manage cultural diversity in a multi-ethnic society. At the end of last year, France was consumed with civil unrest as disenchanted ethnic minorities took to the streets to protest against the social discrimination and racism they claimed to be pervasive in their adopted land. Similar scenes were experienced in Britain in 2001. Anti-immigrant race riots in Sydney hit the headlines three months ago.
Historically, the populations of France, England and Australia have been relatively homogenous. In recent times, the influx of immigrants has forced these nations to come to terms with multiculturalism. As evidenced by the riots, the progress from uni-culturalism to multiculturalism has proven to be difficult.
South Africa, by contrast, has been a dealing with multiracial and multi-cultural society for centuries.
Since the signing of the Freedom Charter in 1955, South Africa has been forging a powerful non-racial and multicultural movement. We have moved from a race-obsessed society to one of multi-racialism and we are heading inexorably towards becoming a fully non-racial society, where all South Africans are recognised as citizens of a single rainbow nation. Multiculturalism and non-racialism are becoming a way of life in South Africa, the norm, despite the best attempts of apartheid to sow the seeds of separation and distrust.
In our first ten years of democracy, we have made considerable progress towards building a nation based on acceptance, tolerance, respect and trust. As Smuts Ngonyama said in our book South Africa 2014: the Story of our Future, “South Africans are overcoming the boundaries of race.”
Indeed, South Africa’s diversity extends beyond race. South Africa also enjoys remarkable inter-religious tolerance. In a post 9/11 world, says South Africa’s Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein, where many people regard religious commitment as a threat that must be contained to prevent it from destroying human civilization, South Africa is showing the world another way: that religion can be a force for abundant good.
According to Rabbi Goldstein, South Africa is unique in that it brings together all religious movements and communities in the country under one official banner: the National Religious Leaders Forum (initiated, incidentally, by Nelson Mandela).
South Africa’s motto “!ke e: /xarra //ke ” (written in the Khoisan language of the /Xam people) literally means unity in diversity. This, says Goldstein, is a manifestation of South Africa’s appreciation of the awesome divine potential within each human being.
“Our differences do not merely co-exist in an uncomfortable and barely tolerable combination but combine dramatically to make our rainbow profoundly beautiful and significant,” he says.
The scars of apartheid run deep, and we still have a long way to go. However, says Annan, “South Africa has become a beacon of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect between people of different races, languages and traditions.”
Annan quoted from Nelson Mandela’s valedictory address to Parliament in 2004: “The memory of a history of division and hate, injustice and suffering, inhumanity of person against person should inspire us to celebrate our own demonstration of the capacity of human beings to progress, to go forward, to improve, to do better.”
“Indeed, my dear friends,” said Annan. “I believe it has inspired you, and you in turn have inspired Africa and the world.”
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