The fact is that what she did was wrong and hurtful, and yes, racist. Now we don't know whether she went home after this to her Hitler shrine, eagerly tearing up pictures of black people whilst wearing a KKK outfit. But for those few moments in that mall, where she said those filthy words, she was a racist. There is no argument otherwise.
What I do find interesting, however, is that one can only be racist if they are white, and racist crimes can only be committed against a black person. I'm not using this particular story as "exhibit A", as such, but it is just somewhat interesting that whilst I was at University, the Dean (a black man) made an official statement in which he referred to the white male students on campus as "wandering around like white baboons". This didn't even make it into the back page of the university rag magazine, let alone cause any sensationalism throughout the country. There is so much racial hatred towards white people, none of which is ever allowed to be considered "racist", we just have to sit back and take it as to say something about it would have them label US as racist. How does that even make sense?
I will not be given a job over a black person. I am a white male and thus I am somehow less able to do my job? Sure we can all sprout "BEE", but the fact is that this has been going on for 13 years now, which means that a generation barely old enough to understand apartheid at the time are being given jobs before me. We have both had the same opportunities in education, so why then should they be given the job over me for being "previously disadvantaged"? I understand the need for affirmative action up to a point. But when the next generation is benefiting even though they weren't disadvantaged in the first place, it has gone too far. I was 7 years old when Apartheid ended, I had no idea what was going on past my Rambo action figurines and my Superman outfit. So all I feel when I lose out on a job because of the colour of my skin is anger, as if I am not good enough for their company just because I am not black. Isn't that a form of racism too?
Take two stories in the news recently; the Paterson family who had their house broken into and were horribly tortured
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=97161
and Marc Ishlove, who killed two hijackers in an attempt to save a woman's life.
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=96912
In the latter, Ishlove is being labeled a racist for killing two black men who were attempting to hijack a woman. He shot them trying to defend her. He is now being labeled a "gunslinging racist" in a wave of media sensationalism.
In the former, the Paterson daughter was raped repeatedly whilst the (black) men raping her were shouting "You f***ing white bitch."
Now my question is how can the former be construed as racism on radio talk shows, magazine articles and the like, whereas the latter, quite obviously a hate crime, is merely mentioned in passing in a news article?
Please don't think I am trying to condone the woman in the supermarket's actions, I am not. I think she is yet another bad apple causing this country to rot.
Racism goes both ways, and it saddens me that it is only noticed when perpetrated by a white person.
