One of my earlier posts included
a reference to Alister Spark’s article on the state of the nation with his
comments and thoughts regarding the #Rhodesmustfall protests at UCT. I
objectively argued that his understanding of the protests were taken out of
context and that it seemed convenient for him and other Rhodes apologists to
brush the issue aside, and label it as trivial
and time consuming. It only took a matter of time for Mr Sparks to reveal his
true colours and show what he really thinks of apartheid South Africa. With almost
sixty years of journalistic activism against the apartheid regime, Mr Sparks
had washed all of that away with a single line expressed in sheer arrogance.
His utterances regarding Hendrik Verwoerd being an intelligent politician and
leader sent shockwaves and disbelief in journalistic circles. His motivations or
reasoning for including Verwoerd in his list of admirable leaders seemed to be
a weak attempt of justification, but the damage was done. Subsequent to his
speech, the question that could not be answered still lurks. How could someone
so intelligent formulate a policy that disadvantages millions of people, and
destroys, instead of builds, relationships between cultures?
As with all other apartheid
apologists and protectors of apartheid privilege, even Mr Sparks with his
glittering career in journalism and his outspoken views against the regime,
cannot contend with or understand the concept of being discriminated
against. The life of privilege which he
led under apartheid can never compare to the life that the millions of his South
African compatriots had to endure during that era. Mr Sparks will NEVER know
what it was (and still is) like to be a black man in South Africa, or anywhere
else in the Western world.
The answer to the question that lurks
is one of pure hatred and bigotry for anyone of a different culture or
persuasion. A case in point is Professor
Anton Stander from the University of Stellenbosch. This is a man with an impeccable
list of academic achievements who is a nuclear physics lecturer. He revealed
his racist bigotry with demeaning text messages to a fellow student on campus. How
stupid can one be to send a sms, and not think that the number can easily be
traced back to him? This proves that racism and bigotry makes the most
intelligent people look like idiots!
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