Damn, today has been weird.
I woke up this morning: Happy
I sat in SHOCKING traffic needing the toilet for 45 minutes: Angry
Got to work and did some constructive problem solving: Happy
Read a story on News24 which made my heart smile: Happy
Heard about bitter, angry, racist bigots who are turning this country into a hateful place: Angry
Realised that it’s only our blinded perceptions that make us think that everyone feels the same: mmm…Middle of the Road
Realised that we can make a difference in this country, regardless of our skin colour, by building relationships, one at a time: Happy!
Things in South Africa can be fixed, and here is Brian Huckfield’s step by step guide how:
1. White people need to accept the fact that there are many black people who don’t trust, like or want to be around them because of the past of this country.
2. Black people need to realise that most white people do not like Khaki shorts and horses. We don’t want the AWB here, we don’t want strife, we don’t want war, we don’t want segregation and fear. We want to live our lives, happy, safe and comfortable. Just like you do.
3. White and Black people need to realise that there are racists in all forms in this country. Accept it, it’s not going to change, and you are wasting your time trying to change the thought processes of someone who has spent their lives being taught to hate those that are different to them.
4. Accept one another’s cultures. Realise that what you consider manners, or what you consider barbaric, is not the same to another person, no matter which colour they are. That does not make them bad, or evil, or dumb, or barbaric, it makes them different.
5. Get the CHIP OFF YOUR SHOULDER! White people, drop the white guilt if you are not guilty of perpetuating violence or hate toward another race of people. Black people, realise that white people do not want to try to save you from yourselves. You are free to do that yourself. Realise that sometimes white people are actually nice and have no hidden agendas to bring back Apartheid. If black and white people continue to carry that chip it will taint their thoughts and decisions forever.
6. EVERYONE stop being a victim! Oops, that was controversial. But hear me out. I think that too many people play the Apartheid card too often. Yes, it caused this country to fall to pieces, but together we are picking those pieces up (or do I live in a fool’s paradise?), and through policies like BBBEE and AA, we are trying to address the imbalances of the past. This is not easy, and will take a long time, and I for one am willing to do what I can to help pick up the pieces. My reason for saying what I said now, is that sometimes, I feel that people use it as a crutch, rather than looking into themselves to see if there is not something that they have failed in, something that they could have done to fix their own lives. Sometimes we should stop acting like a victim, and work extra hard to get where we want. Your circumstances create opportunities if you want them badly enough.
7. STOP TELLING ME THAT I AM NOT AN AFRICAN! If you were born in Africa, you are an African. My skin colour does not define my blood. I have African blood. I am here to stay! My children are African, and I hope that one day their children will be African too.
8. Stop limiting yourself. The sky is the limit people. You have only yourself to blame if you don’t achieve your dreams. Time and time again I hear people saying, “I can’t” or “I tried, but it’s useless”. Rubbish, that’s just an excuse. I tell my children all the time, the only thing you can’t do, is fly. Everything else is possible if you have a burning hunger to do it. We are a nation of entrepreneurs, we are a nation of action. So APPLY THAT ACTION to your life. Don’t sit around waiting for your dream to find you. This goes for fixing this country too. We can only get there one step at a time, but if we sit around lamenting about racism and the past, we will NEVER have a future. I have such a passion for this country, and I know that we have the potential to be the shining beacon of Africa for the achievements we can attain. This country needs a nation of “do’ers”, people who WANT to succeed, people who WANT to make a difference, against all odds. All of us can do it, in one way or another. So whatever your niche is, DO IT DAMN IT!
9. Stop taking your forefathers for granted: They built this country, and created everything around us. All the good, all the bad. SO! Learn from the mistakes of your forefathers, learn how to change things. Learn that not everything is set in stone, and history is there to help us learn lessons. Then, don’t take the blood, sweat and tears that they spent making this country for granted. The battles fought, the adversity overcome, the sheer bravery of some of those men and women is staggering. DON’T TAKE THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE FOR GRANTED!!!!
10. Start learning about one another: Learn why lobola is used. Learn why cattle are slain. Learn why some of us drink brandy and coke. LEARN DAMN IT! We are all so different, and if we understood one another’s idiosyncrasies, we would better understand how to work together. Learn a South African language, teach it to your children.
OK, so that’s not a complete guide, but it’s a damn good start. I am not trying to be some motivational speaker, or someone who makes it out to be easier than it is. I know it’s not, it’s DAMN hard, but this is the playground kids. This is what the previous generations left us, and like it or not, we have to live with the swings and roundabouts. But we can start making life easier in this country by doing things one step at a time, and slowly, this country, Yours and My South Africa will turn into the powerhouse that it’s destined to be. But WE have to do it, WE have to make the changes, WE have to be responsible. Otherwise…one day, my son will write this very same story, and your children may have to endure the same soppy drivel.
we don’t want that now, do we?
Take care of yourselves.
I woke up this morning: Happy
I sat in SHOCKING traffic needing the toilet for 45 minutes: Angry
Got to work and did some constructive problem solving: Happy
Read a story on News24 which made my heart smile: Happy
Heard about bitter, angry, racist bigots who are turning this country into a hateful place: Angry
Realised that it’s only our blinded perceptions that make us think that everyone feels the same: mmm…Middle of the Road
Realised that we can make a difference in this country, regardless of our skin colour, by building relationships, one at a time: Happy!
Things in South Africa can be fixed, and here is Brian Huckfield’s step by step guide how:
1. White people need to accept the fact that there are many black people who don’t trust, like or want to be around them because of the past of this country.
2. Black people need to realise that most white people do not like Khaki shorts and horses. We don’t want the AWB here, we don’t want strife, we don’t want war, we don’t want segregation and fear. We want to live our lives, happy, safe and comfortable. Just like you do.
3. White and Black people need to realise that there are racists in all forms in this country. Accept it, it’s not going to change, and you are wasting your time trying to change the thought processes of someone who has spent their lives being taught to hate those that are different to them.
4. Accept one another’s cultures. Realise that what you consider manners, or what you consider barbaric, is not the same to another person, no matter which colour they are. That does not make them bad, or evil, or dumb, or barbaric, it makes them different.
5. Get the CHIP OFF YOUR SHOULDER! White people, drop the white guilt if you are not guilty of perpetuating violence or hate toward another race of people. Black people, realise that white people do not want to try to save you from yourselves. You are free to do that yourself. Realise that sometimes white people are actually nice and have no hidden agendas to bring back Apartheid. If black and white people continue to carry that chip it will taint their thoughts and decisions forever.
6. EVERYONE stop being a victim! Oops, that was controversial. But hear me out. I think that too many people play the Apartheid card too often. Yes, it caused this country to fall to pieces, but together we are picking those pieces up (or do I live in a fool’s paradise?), and through policies like BBBEE and AA, we are trying to address the imbalances of the past. This is not easy, and will take a long time, and I for one am willing to do what I can to help pick up the pieces. My reason for saying what I said now, is that sometimes, I feel that people use it as a crutch, rather than looking into themselves to see if there is not something that they have failed in, something that they could have done to fix their own lives. Sometimes we should stop acting like a victim, and work extra hard to get where we want. Your circumstances create opportunities if you want them badly enough.
7. STOP TELLING ME THAT I AM NOT AN AFRICAN! If you were born in Africa, you are an African. My skin colour does not define my blood. I have African blood. I am here to stay! My children are African, and I hope that one day their children will be African too.
8. Stop limiting yourself. The sky is the limit people. You have only yourself to blame if you don’t achieve your dreams. Time and time again I hear people saying, “I can’t” or “I tried, but it’s useless”. Rubbish, that’s just an excuse. I tell my children all the time, the only thing you can’t do, is fly. Everything else is possible if you have a burning hunger to do it. We are a nation of entrepreneurs, we are a nation of action. So APPLY THAT ACTION to your life. Don’t sit around waiting for your dream to find you. This goes for fixing this country too. We can only get there one step at a time, but if we sit around lamenting about racism and the past, we will NEVER have a future. I have such a passion for this country, and I know that we have the potential to be the shining beacon of Africa for the achievements we can attain. This country needs a nation of “do’ers”, people who WANT to succeed, people who WANT to make a difference, against all odds. All of us can do it, in one way or another. So whatever your niche is, DO IT DAMN IT!
9. Stop taking your forefathers for granted: They built this country, and created everything around us. All the good, all the bad. SO! Learn from the mistakes of your forefathers, learn how to change things. Learn that not everything is set in stone, and history is there to help us learn lessons. Then, don’t take the blood, sweat and tears that they spent making this country for granted. The battles fought, the adversity overcome, the sheer bravery of some of those men and women is staggering. DON’T TAKE THE WORK THEY HAVE DONE FOR GRANTED!!!!
10. Start learning about one another: Learn why lobola is used. Learn why cattle are slain. Learn why some of us drink brandy and coke. LEARN DAMN IT! We are all so different, and if we understood one another’s idiosyncrasies, we would better understand how to work together. Learn a South African language, teach it to your children.
OK, so that’s not a complete guide, but it’s a damn good start. I am not trying to be some motivational speaker, or someone who makes it out to be easier than it is. I know it’s not, it’s DAMN hard, but this is the playground kids. This is what the previous generations left us, and like it or not, we have to live with the swings and roundabouts. But we can start making life easier in this country by doing things one step at a time, and slowly, this country, Yours and My South Africa will turn into the powerhouse that it’s destined to be. But WE have to do it, WE have to make the changes, WE have to be responsible. Otherwise…one day, my son will write this very same story, and your children may have to endure the same soppy drivel.
we don’t want that now, do we?
Take care of yourselves.
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