Let the next generation know love

DAILY, we experience unpleasant comments about our race. Our first instinct is that of inferiority and subservience. We’ve had racial challenges pre-1994 and these seem to continue post-democracy.

South Africans are a nation revered for our ability to live together in spite of our our diverse cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Hate is not a trait we are born with – it is a culmination of the process of socialisation, psychological conditioning and events. Racial utterances by our politicians are tantamount to hate speech and are not helping to eradicate the scourge of hatred. It is about scoring political points.

Racial hatred against Indians always seems to raise its ugly head – the 1949 Durban riots, the 1985 Inanda unrest and anti-Indian rhetoric. Allegations of sinister forces provoking racial tension are questionable.

Our children should be the next generation to embrace our diversity. They should be taught the one unifying human value: love. At home and in school, it must be paramount that children are educated in human values.

Swami SSS says: “Instead of relying on worldly power, man can rely on the fundamental powers of human life – truth (love in speech), love, peace (love in thought), right conduct (love in action), non-violence (love in understanding).” Rondebosch East