Proof of apartheid’s deep roots

THE hate-speech letter “Islam and Christianity are different, so why even pray together?” cannot go unchallenged.

Hendrik Verwoerd declared he would plant apartheid so deep no future government would be able to undo it. This letter is another example that he succeeded.

In Pentecostal circles one will often hear (in Afrikaans): “Iemand mag by Stellenbosch gewees het, maar as hy nog nie by die brandende bos was nie, beteken alles waarvoor hy staan niks”, meaning one can be the highest learned being on earth, but if he does not practise the profound teachings of God, all he stands for will come to nothing.

All over the world people of different cultures and beliefs are reaching out to one another, building bridges instead of walls. Examples are the meetings between the American president and the North Korean leader, our own president and the Afrikanerbond.

Where this does not happen, there will always be turmoil, distrust and conflict, which will eventually devour such nations. History taught us that to sow division and separation between people instead of bringing them together will always be the enemy of lasting peace and co-existence.

The gospel of “otheritis” preached by this writer will never succeed in keeping people apart.