Let ’ s embrace diversity
WHAT does the burning of a Somali shop in a township have to do with segregation in a fancy private school?
Everything. They both point to the inability to accept diversity as a given, as an advantage, and something that can make South Africa an example to the world.
The best opportunity for conveying this lesson is in our homes.
Children ’ s minds are fertile ground for instilling and shaping belief systems. Because the process often originates in our homes, there isn ’ t a better place to start discussing diversity.
The first step is to teach children that without understanding diversity we would live in a conflicting world; to encourage them to be aware of diversity and appreciate it for the opportunity it presents.
Shaping young minds in this way encourages them to explore worlds that are foreign to them, it inspires creative thinking and plays a role in transforming perception along culture and race lines.
We ought to encourage children to see colour instead of telling them to pretend it doesn ’ t exist.
This approach limits the possibility of discrimination or prejudice as influential factors through their lives.
It also gives them solid ground on which to base their decisions when confronted with such situations.
As a society that is still trying to manoeuvre itself out of its apartheid legacy, it ’ s understandable how this task could be difficult for many. The trick to overcoming this is putting ourselves as adults to the test.
Let ’ s challenge our understanding of differences based on culture, nationality, gender and skin colour.
Let ’ s monitor our response to comments or actions that may be offensive to others and ask ourselves if we harbour discriminatory ideas because these influence our actions.
Our children will be in a better position to appreciate their own peers who look different, speak a different language and have different religious beliefs.
In short: South Africa is a diverse country. Let ’ s see the differences, accept and embrace them and focus on a way forward.