-----Original Message----- From: Boingotlo Nthebe Sent: 20/05/2011, 19:50 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [YCLSA Discussion] The "Non - White" Vote
Thats well said mchana,thats why ur a communist! Boingotlo On Friday, May 13, 2011, Tshidiso Nkhahle <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Well argued…congratulations and thanks, Our Own Dear Yershen!!! > > > > > > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mafika Damane > Mndebele > Sent: 13 May 2011 11:38 AM > To: yclsa-eom-forum; yclsa-press > Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] The “Non – White” Vote > > > > > > The “Non – White” Vote > > > > In a paper produced for a SASO > leadership training course in December 1971, Steve Biko presents a definition > of black consciousness and what it means to be black. In his presentation, he > emphasizes that “being black is not a matter of pigmentation - being black is > a > reflection of a mental attitude.” (Biko, 1971) He furthermore makes a > distinction between ‘blacks’ and ‘non – whites’ arguing that if one aspires to > being ‘white’ espousing ‘white’ values, principles, mannerisms and attitudes > then that person is a ‘non – white’. This could not be further from the truth > in present day society. In fact, had he been alive today, Biko would have > certainly emphasized his striking point that ‘non – whites’ do exist and will > continue to exist for quite along time to come. > > > > Like the ‘non – whites’ of > yesteryear, the ‘non – whites’ of today feel no association to the ANC and its > alliance partners. Recent claims that voting patterns amongst ‘black’ > households are changing with the younger ‘black’ generation choosing > alternatives > to the ANC led Alliance, if there even exists such, is not exactly true, or > may > be contested if we follow Biko’s conceptions of ‘black’ and ‘non – white’. > Yes, > ‘Black’ households are becoming more critical of the ANC led Alliance but to > suggest that this is translating into the ballot is dubious. What could be > mistaken for shifting patterns in the ‘Black’ vote may actually be > misconstrued > for ‘non – whites’ or a post 1994 breed of ‘non – whites’ now having the > opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote. A democratic right > that > was fought for and achieved by the very ANC led Alliance they detest. So the > voting patterns may not be necessarily be new or unique or shifting, it may > just be a new breed of ‘non – whites’ voting against the ANC led Alliance as > their predecessors did prior to 1994, well without the ballot back then. > > > > So you see, not much has changed. > However, trying to understand why being black is a reflection of a mental > attitude in the current conjuncture may lead us to class - based motivations > rather then racial underpinnings. By this we mean that perhaps as the General > Secretary of the SACP, Cde. Blade Nzimande pointed out in Parliament that ‘one > can never understand where the word ‘darkie’ comes from unless you grew up in > the > township’. Or perhaps aspiring to be ‘white’ is associated with real wealth or > control of the wealth and resources of the country since the majority of our > economy is controlled by white monopoly capital. Perhaps aspiring to > ‘whiteness’ means aspiring to be the ‘real rulers’ knowing that those who > control the wealth are the real controllers of the State – white monopoly > capital. > > > > The claim that many ‘Blacks’, > ‘Indians’ and ‘Coloureds’ are finding an alternative home in parties like the > DA must be refuted. The truth is that the DA has become a home for ‘whites’ > and > ‘non – whites’ not for ‘Blacks’, ‘Indians’ and ‘Coloureds’ or progressive > white > democrats for that matter who continue to find a home in the alliance. Let’s > take the ‘Coloured’ population in the Western Cape where the DA claims to have > delivered. The majority of the ‘Coloured’ population in the Western Cape which > remains predominantly poor and working class, have not benefitted at all. > Communities continue to be ravaged by alcohol and substance abuse, deepening > poverty and rising inequalities. In fact, some academics argue that Cape Town > is one of the most unequal cities in the world. So who have benefitted from > all > that growth and prosperity that we’ve been hearing so much about? The white > madam > and a few ‘non – whites’ of course. > > > > Falling prey to the propaganda of > blaming the ANC for every problem in society will blind us from the inevitable > truth. Let’s take unemployment for example, almost every academic agrees that > unemployment in South Africa was a problem since the 1970’s before the ANC > came > into power. The problems that we face are not new or unique to the ANC led > government. What we should be doing is playing more of an active part in > shaping the growth and prosperity of our communities. This of course starts by > going out to the ballot boxes and voting, exercising that hard earned > democratic right to vote. > > > > During an interview in 1968, Dr. > Yusuf Dadoo, former Chairperson of the South Communist Party, is confronted by > a question on whether Indian people in South Africa as a minority group would > be no better off under African rule then they are under white rule. Dr. Dadoo > responds, “It is the argument of agent provocateurs in our midst who > deliberately try to provoke hostility between African and Indian, African and > Coloured, to convince each other that their grievances are not the fault of > the > oppressors, but of another oppressed group. It must be understood that the > fundamental of the liberation struggle is first and foremost the liberation of > the African people, and that it is unthinkable that there could be liberation > without African majority rule.” > > > > A South African “non – white” > would never understand this. He or she could never understand this. Why? > Because it means that the white madam is not necessarily always right, It > means > the white madam is not necessarily all – knowing, It means the white madam is > not always first in line, It means that it is not only possible, but very much > probable that a black democracy can succeed and deliver a better life for all! > > > > I’m sure Dr. Dadoo would have > been quite critical about the present day ANC led government but like myself, > I’m sure he would have voted it back into power with the understanding that > much more needs to be done and the issues of the poor must be elevated to the > top of the priority list. Why such faith in > the ANC led alliance you ask? Yes there may be challenges in the ruling > party, but we have more opportunities now then > our mothers and fathers had prior to 1994. Whether we take those > opportunities or not is a matter for another discussion. Bottom line, I'd > rather vote for the political party that brought me freedom and > sacrificed so much during the tough times then the one that wants to benefit > only when times are good. Why? Because I’m black! > > > > Yershen Pillay > > YCLSA National Chairperson > > -- > You are subscribed. This footer can help you. > Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this > message. > You can visit the group WEB SITE at > http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum > for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. > To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . > You > don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to > put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to > this address (repeat): [email protected] . > > > > > > > > > > -- > You are subscribed. This footer can help you. > Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to > this message. > You can visit the group WEB SITE at > http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery > options, pages, files and membership. > To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . > You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put > anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this > address (repeat): [email protected] . > -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
