Coloured Gedagtes
August 17, 2009 in Die Yard by Mulla (Sergei Müller)
Note from The Kak Duidelik Crew
The following article is taken directly from the Beyond Identity website with full permission from Mr Ross Rayners.
Hope yous enjoy it. Feel free to comment about what you think.
Check out the Beyond Identity website for more interesting articles.
In general, the conception of a colored man is based on numerous and inadequate generalizations stemming from human hypocrisy and slave trade; and eventually institutionalized in 1948 with Apartheid, a National Party philosophy, in South Africa. The National Party’s brutality and immorality wrought immense human havoc to the non-European communities which was evident in their displacement and violation of political rights, their basic human rights. In no uncertain terms non-whites where reduced to no more than slaves in their country of birth.
So, what does it mean to live as a colored or if you like in South Africa? It meant to be subjected and cajoled to the bitter taste of Afrikaner racism. It meant to live in a society martyred by hypocrisy in a state of identity psychosis. It meant an exposure to a social bigotry, a social insecurity underpinned by ignorance, fear and vulnerability. Out of this, certain perceptions and stereotypes, called ‘Colored’ naissanced, still lived today. This nuisance evolved and over time became known as the Colored Commandments or Gam Gedagtes:
- I believe that I am the best in the street where I live. Anyone who lives in a bigger house, drives a better car or whose kids attends a more expensive school is liable to receive some unfair treatment, harassment or verbal slurs from me. I believe that I am better than anyone else, and the minute that I see another colored excel, I will suppress, oppress and undermine their achievements. Even my own children.
- I believe that when I am in need, then the neighbor is obliged to give me whatever I need (like sugar, rice or even a few rands), otherwise that neighbor is not fit to be regarded as a friend or acquaintance.
- I believe that I am compelled to obtain new possessions as determined by the rate at which my neighbors or work colleagues acquire new possessions. I am entitled to have the loudest musical system, the biggest satellite dish and the most expensive clothes on the market (all clothes should be designer-labeled). Should I not be able to afford this, I am entitled to sink my heavy ass into debts that I know I will not be able to pay.
- I believe that I have the right to afford my children education on the basis that I can boast about their achievements like it was my own. I retain the right to assess scholastic progress better than the drunken teacher. Education has not worked for me; so it will work for them as long their education do not surpass mine, as I made them. My children will work for me once they have completed their studies. My children are not to think for themselves.
- I believe that I may call black people ‘kaffirs’, white people ‘whities’; asians ‘coolies’ and other coloreds ‘hotnot’, ‘gam’ or if you like. In addition, I believe that I am better than anybody is and nobody may address me as any of the above because it is politically incorrect to label me as such. Such slander is a direct violation of my basic human rights but not yours.
- I believe that all white and black people are racist. I believe that I am racially tolerant by not allowing my children to play with black children because black people slaughter animals in their yards and believe in the tokolosh. I reserve the right to protect my children against the onslaughts of the white man’s way of living, allowing their offspring economic freedom. I believe, in addition, that my child should never be independent of me otherwise I have not been a good parent.
- I believe that I am not African. I am born on the South African continent. My narrow-mindedness is more than a vice and it does indeed surpass my intellect, don’t you forget that.
- I believe that my social constitution and laws are governed by what people think of me. The perception of what other people will say determines what I believe. A proud draadsitter.
- I believe that the government owes me a house and an education due to the inequities of the past. Why should I work for what I want, as my drinking time will be cut in half and besides, the government owes me.
- I believe that all other religions are an abomination of my religion and belief in God. May they have a happy journey to hell, God bless them. My authority should not be questioned because I have the Church by my side. At least I am saved.
- I believe that once I get elected to office or any committee, as it is due to me, I will turn my back on those idiots that elected me for that position. As long as I earn a good salary, I will not do anything to uplift my community, I don’t owe them anything.
Breaching any of the commandments will afford you extra-special names like ‘coconut’, ‘traitor’ or even ‘gatkruiper’. A first offence, in most cases, will be forgiven. After that, any act shall be scrutinized and deemed suspicious. You are warned. The truth or validity of the colored commandments depends on you.
Although there are plenty of talented people in colored communities, advancement are hampered by in-fighting, bigotry and blind recourse in the colored commandments. Frankly I do not belief or adhere to The Colored Commandments, as it is nothing but perceptions and stereotypes born out of a people that were not allowed to develop their own identity. It was stunted. Now is the time for change.
Let us change the way we look at life and ourselves. Let us have Colored Gedagtes.
- Ross Rayners
ek soek me mense, waar is hulle?
op die vlaktes, vergete en verlore,
waar is ons leiers ??
die is verniel en sonder siel….
waar is ons kinders?? die leiers van more?
op die strate, verlore in ‘n lolly.
waar is my mense, waar is hul trots en krag??
verlore, vergete,verduister ….
ek staan en wag, vir my mense…
Staan op van die lange nag van depressie en laat die siel vlam vat, en laat ons brand soos geen ander mense kan.
It is said that you are the sum of your experiences, if this be the true, we as a people in need of some serious introspection, reflection, tears and greater understanding who we are as a people.Only armed with the above revelations will we be able to burn together, and be that flame that no one can put out.
I have to be in agreement with some of the sentiments of the above entry…but in the same breath, there must be a greater understanding, as to why we have become this fractured people , that we are ,and more importantly….how we can recover from this state and reach our full potential.
Hi, Coloured Klong
Please leave your comment on the http://www.beyondidentity.co.za site
As to the sentiment expressed at the end of your comment, the purpose of Beyond Identity and even Kak Duidelik is to look at these questions and to try and address them. Through discourse like this, we are are forever ebbing closer to understanding us as a people better that can take up our rightful place in society.
check, die ding is, ek is beter as julle almal want ek is n lig van kleur klora. en as ek soes hulle praat dan is ek n wit mens. ek is dan definitief beter. is it dan nie???
naai, seriously, i must agree with only a few of the above points. there are three big really big problems as far as i see it, in terms of a group thinkin(culture??): culture of 1-entitlement; 2-lawlessness; 3-apathy
people on the vlakte for some reason accept, for themselves and their kids, that its okay not to educate themselves cause they won’t find a job anyway. who the fuck thinks like that!!!!!!!!!!?????????!!!!!!!!!!! cept us of course.
and then why should i work when they(government) owe me shit. thats just craziness.
but it is true. we like to drag our own people down. when they do well and move outta the hood then we call them names like verlaters or naaiers, more often, and don’t give them the props they deserve.
and we kak racist. still. very much so. but thats another issue
Hoekom is ons mense so obsessed met die word Coloured. Dit is die kakster word in die dictionary want al die coloureds suip, steel en bedrieg hul eie mense. Kom hou by die word Bruin dit is lekker en dit gee my geen pyn maar coloured – ag sis. Coloured printer, coloured pencil, coloured curtains – dit is nou ‘n klopm kak. Geen wonder want ons mense nie voorentoe kan beweeg nie. Let’s get rid of this name for God’s sake and become put of the majority and not the minority.
Ek was opsoek na iets op die web toe ek toevallig op die artikel afgekom het. As middeljare blanke man en bedreigde spesie in SA, was ek aangenaam verras en tog geskok oor die artikel.
Ek is geskok dat ons as ‘n blanke gemeenskap in so in isolasie leef. Dit wat in die arikel ter sprake kom, kon net sowel die blanke afrikaner gewees het. Ons is ook op moed verloor se vlakte en behalwe vir rugby, is SA maar k@K en is dit ooral in die wereld beter as hier.
Alles word blameer en beskuldig (hier is ‘n effe van ‘n verskil, want apartheid is wat ons betref DIE standaard); maar om jouself te ondersoek en jouself te verbeter, sonder om ander af te trek kom nie eers in ons gedagtes op nie.
Na die lees van die artikel was ek aangenaam verras en bemoedig, want dit is duidelik dat ons hier aan die onderpunt van Afrika, het baie meer in gemeen as wat ons dink en wil besef. Die redes en oorsprong mag wesenlik verskil, maar die resultaat op die ou einde is ewe self vernietigend.
Maar dit maak my ook sad, want onderliggend aan die artikel (soos in baie SA gemeenskappe) speel kleur ‘n rol. Ons as blankes het probleme wat in belangrikheid troon bo ander rasse groepe. Die swartes, kleurlinge en koelies se probleme is nie so erg nie, dit is net van sleg wees. Maar ons, ons het nou eers probleme.
Die bottom line is, as ouers is ons almal bekommerd oor die crime, werkloosheid, struikelende opvoeding sisteme en ons kinders se toekoms. Maak nie saak of jy ‘n wit, swart, lig bruin, geel of donker bruin ouers is nie, ons sit almal met die soortgelyke bekommernisse, wat is besig om te word.
Ek sou graag die artikel wil copy, die taal so effe wysig en en gee aan ‘n paar stoere, bier drinkende rugby aanhangers (nie net mans nie). ‘n Tipe van eksperiment, want ek is seker hulle gaan – in die algemeen – saamstem met hoe waar en van toepassing dit is op ons.
Dan wil ek hulle na die website stuur… dalk, net dalk besef hulle miskien dat ons eerder moet saamstaan en ophou hamer op ‘n eie grond gebied en afskeiding. Ja, apartheid het ons dalk finansieel baie bevoordeel; maar ons gees het “gevrek” en al stuiptrekkings wat nog oorbly is ‘n arrogante en verwaande verlange na die verlede toe alles nog goed was… veral vir ons.
Soos die coloured people sit met ‘n identiteits krisis (volgens die artikel) so sit die blankes ook met een van waar hoort ons nou eintelik. So, wat is die verskil?