being in south africa is weird.

there is definitely change, but the same forces that were in competition
with each other during apartheid are still battling it out. this time,
the battle is in more subtle ways, and there are new participants.

how rainbowey is the rainbow nation? well, the youth are more together
than the adults...they are more opened-minded; there are still a lot
of racist parents miss-guiding their children, and other people who
still hold old grudges

we have a long way to go here in south africa...but things have gotten
better and will keep getting better. this thread welcomes all
sincere discussion related to South Africa, or Africa for that matter

NelsonR said:

I would say that rings true here in the US as well. I think things improve with each generation, but there's still a struggle.

I don't know a whole lot about South Africa, though I'd love to visit someday.

CarrieMpls said:

it's frustating though, but yes...the youth are the guiding light.
i wish we could get over the negativity...

i do think the USA is ahead in open-mindedness though;
people are still closed to new experiences and interactions here.
"inter-racial' couples are also in abundance there...they say SA is
always 30 years behind the US in social developments.
[Edited 2/26/10 16:10pm]

NelsonR said:

Yes, but when you think about it, 30 years isn't that long. It's not even a lifetime. My parents were alive when blacks used different water fountains than whites, when they were made to sit in the back of the bus, or give up their seat for a white person. Of course, that's just the tip of the ice burg, but it boggles my mind. It really and truly wasn't that long ago. But on the other hand, you can look at how far we've come in a relatively short amount of time. Not far enough, mind you. We've got a long way to go and I wonder if we'll ever truly be healed. But you can still see the progress.

Although there are still a lot of issues that need to be addressed in South Africa, I can't think of a more beautiful place on earth.

My first time there was over three years ago and I immediately fell in love with the country. My boyfriend is South African and he left the country 10 years ago for numerous reasons. Like a lot of his friends did.

At the time when they left, they never thought they'd ever go back to live there again permanently. This seems to be changing though.

I think this country has great potential, and I would not have to give it a second thought if my boyfriend would ask me to go and built a life there.

Thanks for this thread. I'd love to learn more.

CarrieMpls said:

i must say i appreciate your positive outlook...thx.
there are forces that want people to be divided, and
sensitive people are aware of them. but caring and loving
people are even more conscious, because they have the power
to overcome such negativity with a word called 'love.'

with that being said, SAfrica is a much better place than
it used to be, with many opportunities and potential. good
things will still come from here, and i hope that our
development can spread throughout the whole African continent.

Had the chance to visit this beautiful country last year.


racism is still very alive there.

beautiful country though.

NelsonR said:

I say...let's get into some serious debate
and don't let it after tomorrow abate
but, rather, let us effectuate
the decisions we will make to once and for all exterminate
that which we have allowed for so long to dominate: Hate.

Let's talk about life
and its senseless loss
Is there anything else that has
a higher value or cost?

In this day and age
how come poverty is still the rampant rage?
Isn't a leader's mind in a more restful state
knowing that today he has done all the good he could
for the betterment of mankind?

If that's not the policy -- and this holds true for leaders worldwide --
then your regime is a hypocricy
and you are practicing lunacy
you know nothing about community
and you haven't even yet begun to understand the
meaning of compassion
the importance of charity.

And, yes, let the discussion always end
with the topic of Love
this is mankind's only evolutionary resolve
ways to make it better
methods to spread it farther
designs on how to show it more
and how to manufacture it in galore
this is the only true rewarding allure.