Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
Melkpie, Stories such as yours cut across all races. I hear what you are saying and I do not discredit it. You are looking at things on a micro level. However, I am looking at things on a macro level where you have to take into consideration, multiplier effects. Pardon my sounding a little bit simplistic here, but hopefully, the following will highlight what I am driving at: If you planted apples yesterday, you are not going to reap oranges today. You are going to reap apples, apples and basketful of apples without the prospect of one single orange. What you did yesterday now has a bearing on your today. Therefore, while it is still today, begin to plant oranges if you desire orange juice for your tomorrow. Pending the harvest of oranges, you are in a TRANSITION. Black RSA is at a point of transition. What they do NOW is very critical. Now, let's go back to your inspiring story. You went through a challenging past. At one point in the past (which was the "present " when you had to live through it)you did what you had to do to create a better future. That is exactly what I am saying now that the majority black population in RSA have this golden opportunity. In spite of their past which ushered them into their present, they must take concrete steps to EDUCATE themselves in order to have a promising future. However, it would be unfortunate, if we devalue our past. Those that fail to learn from history, often repeat it. (Friday Aug 1 | post #621)
Most Lagos girls 'condomising'
That is so oxymoronic. How on earth can a brothel ever be nice and decent? Indeed, we are losing our sense of values as a people. Sad, sad, very sad indeed. (Friday Aug 1 | post #47)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
"Present " not "presence. " (Friday Aug 1 | post #618)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
Agreed that the past is no excuse. However, you cannot discount the influence the past has on the presence. For example, as a man sows (present), so shall he reap (future). There is a connection between past, present and future. Since we are currently located in the present, the solution I have always advocated, at the risk of repitition, is EDUCATION of the black majority and developing a society with BALANCE. (Friday Aug 1 | post #617)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
BFM, Ha ha ha and ha! Thanks for helping me diagnose my condition. Now I know who I am. Since there are a million blabbering fools out there and I am one of them, chances are that you are also among the million. (Friday Aug 1 | post #615)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
Past, present and future make one mighty whole! I do not dwell in the past. But I do realize that the past is a key to understanding the present and what we do in the present reality determines our future and the destinies of generations yet unborn. (Friday Aug 1 | post #614)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
We cannot develop an accurate worldview by assessing experiences in the limited category of black and white. A serious review of world history (that's part of my turf and so I would love to be contradicted here) shows that mass murders and violence have been perpetrated more by white Anglo Saxons than any other group of peoples. Just pick up any elementary book on the history of Europe and you'll get the drift. Research the genocide of native American Indians in the western hemisphere and you'll even get a better drift of what the facts are. The long and short here is that no one can expect to be taken seriously by asserting that one race has a monopoly of propensity toward violence. There are other significant factors of influence that breed violence...for instance, socio-economic conditions as opposed to race or genetic make up. (Friday Aug 1 | post #609)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
Melkpie, Now you are putting words in my mouth! I never justified black or white misconduct in my post. All I argued for was the need to probe deeper and further past the surface. That way, all get a better understanding of the challenges RSA faces in nation building. Interestingly, you have exhibited your frustration at the slow and pitiful progress made in black education. I share the same frustrations and if you read my posts carefully, you'll see that I have always recognized and advocated for qualitative education of the black South African population. I have also strongly advocated, now and in prior posts, that RSA's leadership must be more proactive. We must begin to think outside the box and see the need for the education of the impoverished majority. Furthermore, I have never held that the xenophobic attacks by black RSA is excusable based on their lack of education. All I was trying to say is that when a people have been programmed to THINK ABSURDITIES, they are prone to COMMIT ATTROCITIES. We see this simple social postulation being acted out, for example, in Islamic fundamentalism and in criminals living out their sexual perversions and fantasies. So Melkpie, please kindly tell me the rationale for all your venom...because frankly speaking, I don't get it. Otherwise, be a honorable man and admit that you missed the mark. (Thursday Jul 31 | post #596)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
Perceptions derived from stereo-types are bound to lead you to such conclusions. However, like I have always argued with A4, to get a better understanding, you must always probe beyond the surface and look at some underlying root causes. It would be unfair for instance, for me to expect an uneducated black man to bring to the table, the same level of awareness and reasoning an educated man would bring to the table. Until RSA makes a concerted effort to educate the majority black population, the symptoms of unenlightenment (vandalism, low awareness, etc) would continue to pervade RSA. Remember, there is usually more to it than meets the eye. For decades, leadership (please don't see my use of the word 'leadership' here in terms of color and race) has failed to uplift the black South African. Generally speaking, the majority have not been taught to thinking. Thinking is a process. For instance, men under Hitler could not think for themselves and so, the holocaust. When you see blacks in RSA commit ATTROCITIES it is because they were programmed by failed leadership to think ABSURDITIES. And this does not exxonerate whites as being above board. Let's be matured and take the responsibility, right the wrongs and move forward. (Thursday Jul 31 | post #593)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
Very funny! Hosanna today. Crucify him tomorrow. You guys have to deal with your own "kak." I've got my own kak to handle elsewhere. (Thursday Jul 31 | post #590)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
Banned From Mars (BFM), Once more, we meet again. You are the guy I enjoy picking on because you are content with never rising to a higher level, in spite of all avenues in your environment beckoning on you to do so. BFM, when are you going to start arguing sense so you can be taken more seriously? Like I have always told you, you should also be banned from Earth. The Martians, no doubt, are smarter than we eartlings who continue to accommodate your blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I appreciate the entertainment value you bring to the table. Afterall, clowns are never far away from the circus...and this forum has degenerated to some circus of some sorts. (Thursday Jul 31 | post #589)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
JFT has a valid point here. My prior posts failed to take into consideration the presence of other interests and races in RSA. I focused essentially on the black-white dichotomy. That said, all I am projecting here is the need for "all inclusiveness. " In carrying all along, brainstorming is required to develop a system whereby the progress of one race is not halted in order to enable another race to catch up. Bridging the gap is better achieved by huge investments in areas where there is a deficiency (eg. poor education in black communities). Personally, I believe in MERIT. However, I have also come to appreciate the need for giving others with less merit an opportunity in order to build a stable society. The key again is in striking the appropriate EQUILIBRIUM so that no race feels substantially victimized. (Thursday Jul 31 | post #587)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
Enough of these digressions and diversionary tactics which only blur the real issues at hand. Having said this, the question that now arises in my mind is what exactly are we arguing about on this particular forum? The predorminant issue here is what DRIVES the RELATIONSHIP between whites and blacks in RSA. Why is there so much discontent and lack of trust in RSA? Black anger partly lies in the limitations it has faced in failing to rise above stagnancy, especially since the fall of apartheid. There was so much promise, but little fulfillment. Hence, frustration. Black RSA must search deeply for creative, focused and purposeful leadership for starters. White fears partly lies with the way a corrupt and inept "black" leadership have governed in other parts of Africa. Black majority rule must assuage these fears. The majority should have their way but the minority must be protected and allowed to have their say. It would be foolish for RSA to view its white population as a liability rather than an asset. (Wednesday Jul 30 | post #582)
Nigerian students tell South Africans to leave
My, my, my. These guys have gone beserk. Each one holding on to his own jaded version of reality. A review of the prior postings reminds me of John Godfrey Saxe's Parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant where "the men of Indostan disputed loud and long. Each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong. Though each was partly right, they all were in the wrong." You see, blind men would define an elephant based on what part of its body they feel. To get an accurate depiction of reality, we must look at the animal as a whole. Perhaps, after all these pointless rantings, it is time to raise the bar of this conversation a notch or two. Our varied levels of frustration is not ENTIRELY embedded in RACE as these past postings seem to suggest. Our frustrations partially stem from how resources have been ALLOCATED and UTILIZED in the past to favor one race over another. As a black foreigner (thanks to Janine for Truth's definition),I must say that now that there is majority rule in RSA, black South Africans must AGGRESSIVELY begin to educate themselves. That's the short cut to catching up and overcoming decades of apartheid and centuries of imperialism. For black South Africa, the main focus should be EDUCATION and HARD WORK. For white South Africa, there must be a coming to terms with the fact that RSA is undergoing a radical transformation which unfortunately, would witness a retrogression of sorts as a new class system is being negotiated. The question I have seriously asked myself is why are the whites feeling threatened? Are their fears justified? The answer to this is quite complex. First of all, meritocracy in today's RSA still resides with the whites. Thus, I won't blame whites for feeling threatened if a mediocre assumes a position of significance that otherwise on merit ought to go to a white. While such white apprehension may be justified, the point still remains that RSA must strike a BALANCE to ensure that merit is not sacrificed in the quest for national development. Blacks must be given more opportunities to receive quality education and develop businesses of their own. Forming a peaceful society, after years of struggle, requires a lot of give and take. The problem is that both sides want to take as much as possible and give as little as possible. That in a nutshell is a summary of the complexities RSA has to deal with. (Wednesday Jul 30 | post #579)
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