PAST HAUNTS US

RACIST utterances are indicative of a fractured, painful past that’s going to haunt us for a long time. The dismantling of the apartheid past does not mean racism is going to disappear. The wounds of the past need to heal before the country can turn to a new chapter. While recent laws may be a deterrent in keeping one’s words in check, it’s fundamentally a change of attitude that makes a difference.

Laws do not bring about conformity. It’s the modalities of thinking and behavioural patterns about different races that can impact positively on this racism debate.

The dialogue around racism needs to emanate from the portals of our homes.

Family structures need to preach the philosophy that there is only one race – the human race. This ideology may seem far fetched from an adult’s perspective.

Children, however, do not see race as a determining factor unless they are indoctrinated at home to do so.

A child’s mind is like a sponge so let’s saturate their brains not to be narrow-minded and concentrate on race or race terminology that is demeaning and denigrating.

If children can be taught to be responsible for their actions, in the future there can be new generations who look beyond race to find solutions for our country.

VIJAY SURUJPAL | Phoenix, Durban