Good point!The 'younger' generations of differing upbringings (for I now know no race!) have very anti-parallel views about each other. Little knowledge or experience or participation in the PAST is a rather lame excuse for the apathetic engagement in this present time.
That is something we both have in common.I would find it selfish not to prepare the ground whereupon my children are going to engage with other people in the future.
I couldn't agree more!Non-engagement of racial and other segregative and discriminative issues now is only a disaster postponed!
First I need to state that I personally am not affected by AA but that I feel it is a concept that can be improved or a suitable replacement can be found. I am fortunate enough to be in a career that offers very little competition in SA so if I was looking for a job I doubt it would affected me. What I am trying to do is get some kind of debate going in terms of the concept of AA and how it should be improved. At this stage it does contribute to racial divide amongst all races.
However, the speed at which it is being done is not the problem, it is the actual implementation of it. If we look at the serious issues that SA is dealing with in terms of how crime and unemployment can be impacted if the managing of processes was managed correctly. Education processes lack the experience and expertise, nor is it freely available or publicized. Yes there are workshops presented and so forth, but just how much education is being done in the correct manner and how much publicity is given to the topic?
Change ultimately requires a change in culture or the creation of a new culture. By just putting a process together that enables benefits to individuals based on their gender, race or disability means that you can create a monster that can destroy the original intention of the process. Does this now mean that because I am suffered because of apartheid, government now owes me? Does this mean I am special and has allot due to me because I am a product of apartheid? Am I supposed to get all things in life free?
If you look at voting times and comments made by the general public it becomes clear that there is a common feeling amongst South Africans of all race and gender groups that they are owed something by government. If look at the amount of unhappiness day after day, it is also clear. Is it perhaps time that we create a new culture? A culture where we as South Africans educate each other in entrepreneurship and show each other what a difference an attitude change can accomplish? To make each other realize that nothing is for free, nothing is owed and due and that if we work together and hard we can change the future for all of us?
Many white people see AA as reverse racism and blame it for their misery. A natural human reaction when it comes to accountability. It is natural to be in denial for taking responsibility of your own actions and future. But then again what should you feel like if you are ambitious and know you cannot shoot for the top job regardless of what you do because of racial discrimination? Denial of responsibility also seems to be the new culture that has been introduced in SA regardless of race. Perhaps changing the culture by use of the media, advertising, education and team building will accomplish more than AA can.
A culture change can have a great effect on many issues we are facing, including AA. Is there a way we can accomplish this?
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