Madam –
I am of the opinion that tolerance starts at home.
There have been numerous stories of racism coming from this country in recent news and I find it shocking that in this day and age, intolerance is allowed to run wild.
What are parents teaching their children at home? We are spreading so much hate and it’s so unnecessary. What will it take from your life to just treat your fellow human beings as equal?
In this town, generally people are kind and decent.
Yet it takes only one small thing for the true colours of people to show. It might be strange looks at mixed race couples, or even a generic statement against certain races when something bad happens on the road, or if a person is the victim of burglary or theft.
That’s when the fractures in our society start to show, and it’s sad for all those involved.
Why does the colour of your skin matter?
Don’t we all bleed red at the end of the day?
The only way a change will happen in this country will be by teaching the younger generations properly.
We, as parents and teachers and role models, as uncles and aunts and grandparents, and even as friends, need to be setting an example for the youth.
We need to remember that our actions have consequences, and our words have the power to make or break a nation. We need to be setting an example through ourselves.
We all need to take a hard look at ourselves, first and foremost, and ask ourselves one simple question: Am I the change I want to see in the world?
F. Beyers
