I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Africa. Show all posts
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Is it because I'm white???
I hate living in a country that will forever be obsessed with race. No matter where you go, people will say that they aren't racists but everything they do relates back to the racial ideologies that have been conditioned into us simply because we live in South Africa, even if we grew up in the post-democratic version of it.
We had a house meeting tonight with the Vice Chancellor of Rhodes because of our naming issue. I'm assuming you want the short story to this saga. So, in 2009 this residence was opened as New Residence 2 and the students have the privelege of suggesting a name for the res to the Naming Committee. The name the students back then came up with was Jean Sinclair (click on her name if you know nothing about her). She was basically against any form of oppression against a certain group of people ("non-whites" and women) during apartheid (click on that word if you live under a rock and don't know what that means). So, she rocked. But the naming committee rejected our name because they want more diversity in the names of buildings. Which is all good and well. So we had the VC telling us all this tonight. But we are still without a name.
Rhodes was one of those universities that only accepted white students during apartheid and is known for that. This is not the case anymore though and that reputation of "the white university" is slowly starting to fade. So most of the buildings names are named after white people who did good in the country and helped develop our country and lead us out of apartheid. But this is a "problem" because there aren't any black hero buildings. Except Chris Hani house and Nelson Mandela hall. No Indian or Coloured people who did good. No black people.
And I understand that we need more diversity in the naming of our buildings but it bugs me so much when you realise how much race actually matters to people. Race is not meant to exist. Your culture exists and that is what is meant to matter to you. It's like the crap that happened during apartheid is being cast on this generation to fix and I know that what happened back then was ridiculous and that it should never have been tolerated AT ALL. I am glad that I was not around during apartheid because I would've hated my counrty so so so much and would have tried to assassinate people or some such thing. It was a sick place to be. The thought that someone could believe that just because you had more pigments and maybe believed different things than you that they could be regarded as the scum of the earth.
I want to cry every time I think about it and I'm ashamed to be associated with the group of people who implemented this system. It is disgusting.
I hope I am alive to see the generation that is not concious of "race" and that a hero is a hero and the race of that hero doen't have to be considered. Black or white, Indian, coloured, Chinese or Spanish. Male or female.
We had a house meeting tonight with the Vice Chancellor of Rhodes because of our naming issue. I'm assuming you want the short story to this saga. So, in 2009 this residence was opened as New Residence 2 and the students have the privelege of suggesting a name for the res to the Naming Committee. The name the students back then came up with was Jean Sinclair (click on her name if you know nothing about her). She was basically against any form of oppression against a certain group of people ("non-whites" and women) during apartheid (click on that word if you live under a rock and don't know what that means). So, she rocked. But the naming committee rejected our name because they want more diversity in the names of buildings. Which is all good and well. So we had the VC telling us all this tonight. But we are still without a name.
Rhodes was one of those universities that only accepted white students during apartheid and is known for that. This is not the case anymore though and that reputation of "the white university" is slowly starting to fade. So most of the buildings names are named after white people who did good in the country and helped develop our country and lead us out of apartheid. But this is a "problem" because there aren't any black hero buildings. Except Chris Hani house and Nelson Mandela hall. No Indian or Coloured people who did good. No black people.
And I understand that we need more diversity in the naming of our buildings but it bugs me so much when you realise how much race actually matters to people. Race is not meant to exist. Your culture exists and that is what is meant to matter to you. It's like the crap that happened during apartheid is being cast on this generation to fix and I know that what happened back then was ridiculous and that it should never have been tolerated AT ALL. I am glad that I was not around during apartheid because I would've hated my counrty so so so much and would have tried to assassinate people or some such thing. It was a sick place to be. The thought that someone could believe that just because you had more pigments and maybe believed different things than you that they could be regarded as the scum of the earth.
I want to cry every time I think about it and I'm ashamed to be associated with the group of people who implemented this system. It is disgusting.
I hope I am alive to see the generation that is not concious of "race" and that a hero is a hero and the race of that hero doen't have to be considered. Black or white, Indian, coloured, Chinese or Spanish. Male or female.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Dreams, storms and walks along the beach..
What a weekend :)
Had such a great time with my boyfriend and his family in East London and haven't touched a book or a pc this whole weekend and as I type now, my fingers are like WTF are you doing woman???!!!
Was so nice to get away from res for a change and have a bit of "home-time". It's not at my home but it's at a home none the less.
That's what I've discovered is really valuable is that time away from res and the whole set up is really good for me. Not that I hate res, just that I do get chlostrophobic here sometimes.
We had a beautiful view of the sea and woke up to the smell of it in the air. I missed that. I had THEE best milkshakes in THEE world!! If any of you ever go to East London, find Friesland. Double thick chocolate malt (I think). Do it. You will not regret and it's worth the calories or whatever it is you worry about.
I love the rain \m/
We left Grahamstown late on Friday night and ended up driving through a HUGE storm. The rain was beautiful and I haven't felt that safe in a car in a storm before. Don't know why, but I'm going to say it's because I feel safe whenever I'm with Jarrod in whatever circumstances because that's what I like to think xD :P
Walking along the boardwalk at the beach today, I was so at peace, I felt like anything in the world could happen right then and it wouldn't matter. Was so nice to just dawdle with my hand in the love of my life's hand.
Random tangent: People think that saying the "love of my life" is very pretentious and is stupid because we have so much of our lives left and we're so young and we should enjoy ourselves. Well. I'm young and I still enjoy my life in all fields and don't think that having an amazing guy in my life is going to make me stop enjoying it. In fact, I'll enjoy it more, because if you're not enjoying yourself then you should not be in a relationship in the first place. He is it. If you don't like it then that's a pity. I know he's all there is and will be from now on and that's all that matters.
Random not, I know, but it cheeses me off when I hear, "How can you be so narrow-minded and naive?? You're so lovey-dovey, it's not healthy." Bully-bully-bullshit. It's unhelathy to hate on someone else's happiness.
The sound of the waves, rain on your windscreen, chocolate milkshakes, the sand between your toes, his sleeping head resting in your lap.
The little things are the only things that should count because thay are the things that will make you smile, and a smile can always be the source of your joy.
Had such a great time with my boyfriend and his family in East London and haven't touched a book or a pc this whole weekend and as I type now, my fingers are like WTF are you doing woman???!!!
Was so nice to get away from res for a change and have a bit of "home-time". It's not at my home but it's at a home none the less.
That's what I've discovered is really valuable is that time away from res and the whole set up is really good for me. Not that I hate res, just that I do get chlostrophobic here sometimes.
We had a beautiful view of the sea and woke up to the smell of it in the air. I missed that. I had THEE best milkshakes in THEE world!! If any of you ever go to East London, find Friesland. Double thick chocolate malt (I think). Do it. You will not regret and it's worth the calories or whatever it is you worry about.
I love the rain \m/
We left Grahamstown late on Friday night and ended up driving through a HUGE storm. The rain was beautiful and I haven't felt that safe in a car in a storm before. Don't know why, but I'm going to say it's because I feel safe whenever I'm with Jarrod in whatever circumstances because that's what I like to think xD :P
Walking along the boardwalk at the beach today, I was so at peace, I felt like anything in the world could happen right then and it wouldn't matter. Was so nice to just dawdle with my hand in the love of my life's hand.
Random tangent: People think that saying the "love of my life" is very pretentious and is stupid because we have so much of our lives left and we're so young and we should enjoy ourselves. Well. I'm young and I still enjoy my life in all fields and don't think that having an amazing guy in my life is going to make me stop enjoying it. In fact, I'll enjoy it more, because if you're not enjoying yourself then you should not be in a relationship in the first place. He is it. If you don't like it then that's a pity. I know he's all there is and will be from now on and that's all that matters.
Random not, I know, but it cheeses me off when I hear, "How can you be so narrow-minded and naive?? You're so lovey-dovey, it's not healthy." Bully-bully-bullshit. It's unhelathy to hate on someone else's happiness.
The sound of the waves, rain on your windscreen, chocolate milkshakes, the sand between your toes, his sleeping head resting in your lap.
The little things are the only things that should count because thay are the things that will make you smile, and a smile can always be the source of your joy.
Clouds in the sky, but that's okay.
Clouds in the sky, been there all day.
Stars in your eyes, been there always.
My heart with yours, not just a phase.
All the world might never know,
Might never hear,
But I don't care.
Its you, my dear.
The clouds might burst
And shed their sadness,
The world
Won't know
My secret
Of the stars
In your eyes,
My love. -by me
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
Wet shoes
So I got caught in a torrential downpour.
Story of my life.
My shoes got soaked and thank god I had an umbrella with me.
Was bitching about wet shoes.
Then went to Journ class and we were talking about the impoverished people in the country.
My wet shoes aren't so bad.
I now have my feet warm and dry and encased in boots.
I am lucky.
Story of my life.
My shoes got soaked and thank god I had an umbrella with me.
Was bitching about wet shoes.
Then went to Journ class and we were talking about the impoverished people in the country.
My wet shoes aren't so bad.
I now have my feet warm and dry and encased in boots.
I am lucky.
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