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Helmar Rudolph: My Blog :: South Africa
Monday, 30 August 2004
Where does racism come from?
This morning Benedict Maaga was hosting the Tim Modise Show on 567 and 702. He brought up the issue of racism after an encounter in a bar where someone "who has never voted for the Nats" after a few beers uttered some racist slurs. Chris, a frequent caller, then phoned in. Chris asked where racism comes from. One of his suggestions was fear. Fear, however, is only a symptom, not the root cause.
The root cause lies in the illusion of separation. We become fearful of others because we falsely believe we are different from them. If you follow my book recommendation (Jeffrey M. Solomon's "Playing in the Mind of God"), you will understand why.
Through the millenia (also courtesy of our religions) we've been made to believe that we are different and thus separate from others, and that this separateness is justification for murder, domination, manipulation and indoctrination.
We've tried to convert "non-believers" and "infidels". When this failed, we killed them - to this day. We've sown hate rather than love. As a result life manifested itself the way we experience today. This is why Whites (not only in South Africa) believe Blacks can't run countries, and Blacks (not only in South Africa) don't trust Whites, because in the past their experience with them wasn't one of love and peace, but one of domination, colonisation and indoctrination.
The moment we start realising that we are all connected, that whatever we do to someone or something else, we do to ourselves, we will change our mind about others - irrespective of colour of life form. However, it requires a person to accept that they are part of "God", that they are divine, connected to everything, and that the Truth lies within them rather than outside. This obviously challenges not only religion per se, but also present forms of government and business.
For many this would constitute a complete mindshift. As improbable as it sounds to most, the good news is that it's possible, because you create your own reality every single moment. Nothing prevents you from thinking differently about something - your reality will manifest itself accordingly.
So, if you -as a White- think that Blacks are inferior and unable to run a country, or you -as a Black- think Whites are all dominant racists, then this is your reality. If you think and believe we are all connected, and that we can't do without another, and that the help we extend to others will manifest in a better life for all, so be it - in the truest sense of the word.
Through the millenia (also courtesy of our religions) we've been made to believe that we are different and thus separate from others, and that this separateness is justification for murder, domination, manipulation and indoctrination.
We've tried to convert "non-believers" and "infidels". When this failed, we killed them - to this day. We've sown hate rather than love. As a result life manifested itself the way we experience today. This is why Whites (not only in South Africa) believe Blacks can't run countries, and Blacks (not only in South Africa) don't trust Whites, because in the past their experience with them wasn't one of love and peace, but one of domination, colonisation and indoctrination.
The moment we start realising that we are all connected, that whatever we do to someone or something else, we do to ourselves, we will change our mind about others - irrespective of colour of life form. However, it requires a person to accept that they are part of "God", that they are divine, connected to everything, and that the Truth lies within them rather than outside. This obviously challenges not only religion per se, but also present forms of government and business.
For many this would constitute a complete mindshift. As improbable as it sounds to most, the good news is that it's possible, because you create your own reality every single moment. Nothing prevents you from thinking differently about something - your reality will manifest itself accordingly.
So, if you -as a White- think that Blacks are inferior and unable to run a country, or you -as a Black- think Whites are all dominant racists, then this is your reality. If you think and believe we are all connected, and that we can't do without another, and that the help we extend to others will manifest in a better life for all, so be it - in the truest sense of the word.
Posted by Helmar on 30 August 2004
5942 Views | Score: 4.3 | 4 Comments
Helmar Rudolph: My Blog :: South Africa
5942 Views | Score: 4.3 | 4 Comments
Helmar Rudolph: My Blog :: South Africa
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Hello, my name is Lydia Sizer and I am working on a thesis through Brown University in the United States looking at blogs. I am looking at how blogs affect mutual understanding among people of different ethnic backgrounds and I was wondering if you would be willing to take a survey I have prepared for my research. This research would give you a voice in determining whether blogs would be useful in aiding global security. If you are interested, don't hesitate to email me at Lydia_Sizer@brown.edu. Thank you so much for your time. For convenience, please enter "thesis survey" as the subject of your email as I will not know who is writing to me. Thanks again and happy holidays!--Lydia Sizer
Lydia Sizer, Providence, RI, USA
22 December 2006 @ 06:22 | Score: 3
22 December 2006 @ 06:22 | Score: 3
where does racism comes from
racism comes from the different between classical and neo-liberalism. if you can know how europe has developed, it's through racism. blacks were used as slaves. so blacks were the property of the slave master during the pre-industrial period. then, when neoliberalism came into existence , it said that people have the rights to own the means of property and then the propety of slave masters were black people (slaves), then racism comes from classsical and neo-liberalism. classical liberals said that black people were disadvantaged because the don't like schools and they like to be musicians, expecially rap.letseku, University of Limpopo student
24 July 2006 @ 03:02 | Score: 5
24 July 2006 @ 03:02 | Score: 5
Helmar replies: To me racism comes mainly from a lack of understanding, especially the understanding that we're all connected, irrespective of our current social, racial and individual state of evolution. Racism also comes from an inferiority complex of sorts, because in order to portray a superior demeanour, you've got to be pretty insecure and lacking self-worth to begin with.
The issue of slaves isn't a white vs black one at all - it's much older than that. Also, as much as it's easy rant against 'the whites', it shouldn't be forgotten that those disadvantaged or underprivileged keep aspiring to a western lifestyle - which is pretty much white. I find it somewhat strange that those who bore the brunt of Western or any other kind of exploitation over the last centuries now have nothing better to do than to become part of the system that has make the abuse and maltreatment possible in the first place.
Am I the only one disappointed by the seeming lack of the previously 'oppressed' to create their own identity and socio-economic system? First they fight the system tooth and nail, then they've got nothing better to do than to become like those they fought. And lo and behold, as has been the case over the millenia, only a few 'succeed', while the majority stays down-trodden. But if you always emulate others rather than figuring out and living your own system, then perhaps you deserve exactly what you get: racism, manipulation, exploitation, bad food, bad drinks, bad entertainment, bad education, in other words "all the things that keep your body and your spirit supressed", holding you firmly in place - right at the bottom.
Perhaps, especially in Africa, it's time for a collective wakeup.
The issue of slaves isn't a white vs black one at all - it's much older than that. Also, as much as it's easy rant against 'the whites', it shouldn't be forgotten that those disadvantaged or underprivileged keep aspiring to a western lifestyle - which is pretty much white. I find it somewhat strange that those who bore the brunt of Western or any other kind of exploitation over the last centuries now have nothing better to do than to become part of the system that has make the abuse and maltreatment possible in the first place.
Am I the only one disappointed by the seeming lack of the previously 'oppressed' to create their own identity and socio-economic system? First they fight the system tooth and nail, then they've got nothing better to do than to become like those they fought. And lo and behold, as has been the case over the millenia, only a few 'succeed', while the majority stays down-trodden. But if you always emulate others rather than figuring out and living your own system, then perhaps you deserve exactly what you get: racism, manipulation, exploitation, bad food, bad drinks, bad entertainment, bad education, in other words "all the things that keep your body and your spirit supressed", holding you firmly in place - right at the bottom.
Perhaps, especially in Africa, it's time for a collective wakeup.
Hatred...?
Thanks for an interesting article!I guess that fear is definitely the keyword there. Still, some people experience hatred and envy due to foreigners, who "take their jobs" etc. etc. Certainly, it is absurd but foreigners are always good scapegoats.
However, for my part, I wouldn't claim that European racism today is extremely dangerous. Since we experience several problems with our social state and the state itself isn't able to do what it used to - some extremes are to be expected. However, it's just my opinion.
With warm greetings from Germany,
Vitaly Friedman,
<a href=http://www.alvit.de/vf>http://www.alvit.de/vf</a>
Vitaly Friedman, Germany, Saarbruecken
10 April 2005 @ 06:22 | Score: 4
10 April 2005 @ 06:22 | Score: 4
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Racism Debate
The racism debate will never end. We only have to look within ourselves to realize that we are indeed different and that we need to keep culture and separate identities alive. However ! We need to realize that despite the differences we all have one thing in common, we are human and all things human apply to all of us. We cannot continue with life believing that one way is the best. Compromise is what make everything in life work. Think of it like the oil of a society. Every race thinks they are the best thing since slice bread but unfortunately we all need each other. And like the parts of a motor car, all the parts are made of the same metal. It is the oil that allows them to work together seamlessly. But we also know that despite the oil the metal still suffers some damage over time. And so we must all compromise, and yes loose a bit of ourselves, for the greater good of humanity. I personally despise what the apartheid regime did to our people, but we need make sure that any future generations will go out and buy all the oil needed to make our society, run like a smooth society we NEED it to be.23 January 2010 @ 10:26 | Score: 5