Freedom of hate speech?

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I love my country for the richness we have in races, cultures, beliefs and just the diversity. I love that we braai and watch rugby, that we have things like Heritage Day. I love the fact that we have Human Rights and the fact that we have Freedom of Speech.

But when did our Freedom of Speech become freedom of hate speech? How can you hate people so much, just based on their race, religion or culture? Why can't you let go of the past. The past that already made history books. It's so 20 years ago, bru!

Yeah, before I was born I stood in front of a machine, telling it which race I wanted to be and how I wanted to look. But with choosing a race I would either be stupid and good for nothing or I would be the boss of everything and the most clever race there is...

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There is a celebrity here in South-Africa making a big noise on social media about Apartheid. Here is the article, if you want to read it:

Hofmeyr faces Twitter backlash after apartheid post

The singer, Steve Hofmeyr, said that black people were the architects of Apartheid. This really infuriates me. In what century is he living? Apartheid has been over for 20 years. Who gives a rat's ass, who the architects of Apartheid was? I believe that he is one of the architects of Apartheid, especially if he can't leave Apartheid where it is: In history books. Where it belongs. But he keeps bringing it up, because he can't let go of his hate for other races. He told the media that he is not racist, but actions speak louder than words, my friend. 

I am 21 years old and Apartheid is just another story in the history books to me, but luckily my mom also raised me to respect EVERYONE and that no one is inferior to another.  THANK YOU, MOM!

Sexy Karabo and me!

Some of my best friends are black and coloured. If I was a racist, I would've missed out on all these amazing friendships. That would've been a shame! I would like to say to Steve that he is really missing out and that he is boring, because he only knows his own race and culture. 

Me, Granville, Margerethe, Martin and JJ

Me, Suvahn and her bf

I have always been a very curious person about other people's beliefs. I find it most interesting to learn about all the religions, cultures and races. I once wrote a blog post about working in a shoe shop, here I learned that they have very funny perceptions of  white people, but I absolutely loved it and corrected them on those perceptions, but if we never try to learn from them, how will we ever know? 

All I want to say to people, who hate so much: 

You are missing out. You are the dumb one, move on and go sit in the hate corner with all the other losers. The only hate you have, is the hate for yourself! 

AND YOU ARE MISSING OUT! STOP BEING A LOSER, LOSER! 

We are one species

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

I saw this quote on a wall at Maropeng: Cradle of Humankind.

Human populations appear to be different in terms

of colour, body size, limb proportions, hair texture

and other physical attributes.

Beneath the surface, we are all virtually identical.

There is no genetic boundary for race.

We are one species.

Open your mind a bit!

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Every once in a while, I get on my Soapbox and tell people what I really think.

I want to tell people to get with the program! I live in South-Africa and it is infamous for Apartheid that ended 20 years ago. I am 20 years old. Meaning that Apartheid wasn't even part of my life. But what irritates me the most, is people who can't move past it. Every part of their lives that don't go according to plan, is blamed on Apartheid.

If they can't get jobs, Apartheid's fault. If they struggle with education, it's Apartheid's fault... Yes, it happened and it was a bad and awful idea, but to keep holding on to the past, only makes that the past still has the power over you. You have not beaten the past, until you leave it, where it belongs... IN THE PAST!! What baffles my mind more is people the same age as me, who talk about Apartheid, as if they were there. You had half a brain at that time. So, I blame the parents for reliving the past, also for making their past, their children's present and future.

I thank my mom for raising me correctly and teaching me that everyone is equal. She raised me to be open-minded, to be understanding and to leave judgement to others.

No one has a choice of what race they will be. There is no menu for picking what you will look like, but you have a choice of you will become and be. No matter what circumstances you grew up in or how you were raised, you can choose who you become.

Everyone, including me, should stop judging and open our minds more to the Rainbow Nation that we should be.

How can you have so much hate for people, because of their skin color and the claim that you love others?

Gay, straight, black, white and whatever else there is, they are perfect just the way they are. How boring would life be if everyone thought, looked and did the same. I think it would be so boring that we would die at an early age.

To all those who are different in some sort of way.. GOOD FOR YOU!!!

"Why try to fit in, when you were born to stand out?" -Anon.