In response to > http://voices.news24.com/bonga-dlulane/2013/05/only-the-right-kind-of-black/ and comments:
All this talk of enlightenment, tolerance vs prejudice; glowing 'reviews', Oprah-style back-slapping and smug self-righteousness. And then a barrage of admonishments directed towards someone who has an opinion different to yours? Or is his the wrong kind of opinion, a white person commenting about black culture?
Is it enlightened to tolerate only those ideas that make you feel okay? In this politically correct, contemporary self-esteem culture of ours, the answer is mostly yes, and heaven help anyone who even makes a remark that may be construed as discriminatory and is wearing the wrong color birthday suit.
Back to the story...Person X was expressing his opinion, his idea based on what he understood...not enforcing a prescribed definition on this tender ideologue at gunpoint. There is no need to get on a high horse and start screaming for the PC police to come and rescue this virginal soul from X and his X-rated opinions. Instead, would it not be more enlightened to engage X on the issue, assuming that there was no other reason not to remain friends? Does X's opinion, or their 'friendship', even matter...does it have any value other than editorial? I somehow doubt it.
But I digress. My drinking buddy is Fanie, a private school educated, 25 year old Blue Bulls Rugby fanatic, and that in a Sharks Province, nogal!.
He is working on a degree, and is more middle class than I ever was. He is a wit of note and doesn't back down for anyone. I am a typical fat, bald, middle aged smart-ass wading through mid-life crisis. We should have nothing in common. However, Fanie and I like beer, singing karaoke (awfully) and talking rubbish (enthusiastically, especially when we don't agree and end up almost moering each other) at our local dive.
I admire him for one thing, though.
The local black 'in-crowd' look down on him. I have witnessed several heated conversations where they taunt him, sometimes surrounding him, with the alcohol flowing and the danger of blows ever present. They talk down to him because he associates with me and people like me, and because he has no politics, except rugby and his beloved Blue bulls. I have noticed that sometimes, he tries to 're-integrate'...he leaves his 'white friends' at the table to wander and mingle with the locals 'in-crowd' to try and lessen the negative vibes, and abate the stigma he obviously feels. To them, HE is the wrong kind of black. Or does the fact that it is his 'own kind', exhibiting their own brand of prejudice, trying to force their politics and cultural beliefs on him, make it okay?
All this talk of enlightenment, tolerance vs prejudice; glowing 'reviews', Oprah-style back-slapping and smug self-righteousness. And then a barrage of admonishments directed towards someone who has an opinion different to yours? Or is his the wrong kind of opinion, a white person commenting about black culture?
Is it enlightened to tolerate only those ideas that make you feel okay? In this politically correct, contemporary self-esteem culture of ours, the answer is mostly yes, and heaven help anyone who even makes a remark that may be construed as discriminatory and is wearing the wrong color birthday suit.
Back to the story...Person X was expressing his opinion, his idea based on what he understood...not enforcing a prescribed definition on this tender ideologue at gunpoint. There is no need to get on a high horse and start screaming for the PC police to come and rescue this virginal soul from X and his X-rated opinions. Instead, would it not be more enlightened to engage X on the issue, assuming that there was no other reason not to remain friends? Does X's opinion, or their 'friendship', even matter...does it have any value other than editorial? I somehow doubt it.
But I digress. My drinking buddy is Fanie, a private school educated, 25 year old Blue Bulls Rugby fanatic, and that in a Sharks Province, nogal!.
He is working on a degree, and is more middle class than I ever was. He is a wit of note and doesn't back down for anyone. I am a typical fat, bald, middle aged smart-ass wading through mid-life crisis. We should have nothing in common. However, Fanie and I like beer, singing karaoke (awfully) and talking rubbish (enthusiastically, especially when we don't agree and end up almost moering each other) at our local dive.
I admire him for one thing, though.
The local black 'in-crowd' look down on him. I have witnessed several heated conversations where they taunt him, sometimes surrounding him, with the alcohol flowing and the danger of blows ever present. They talk down to him because he associates with me and people like me, and because he has no politics, except rugby and his beloved Blue bulls. I have noticed that sometimes, he tries to 're-integrate'...he leaves his 'white friends' at the table to wander and mingle with the locals 'in-crowd' to try and lessen the negative vibes, and abate the stigma he obviously feels. To them, HE is the wrong kind of black. Or does the fact that it is his 'own kind', exhibiting their own brand of prejudice, trying to force their politics and cultural beliefs on him, make it okay?
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