If I see hardworking, well-mannered and cultured Ghanians, making and earning a living and contributing to the economy of our country, being verbally abused and ill treated right before my eyes, I weep!
A South African Woman did this and got a way with it…or at least that what she thinks.
If this is the status quo and how others will treat us too when we enter their countries, I cringe to think how the Jamaicans will opt to treat me as an ambassador for my community here in Alberton and country as a whole, when I represent South Africa in their country in September this year. I will be going there for the international crowning ceremony for Mrs UN International.
Dear all in my community and country, I have taken the liberty of looking up the meaning of the word in both English and Afrikaans. Xenophobia is described as the dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries and in Afrikaans as ‘vreemdelingehaat’.
This to ensure that we are all on the same page in terms of what I want to share with the community I have grown to love so much.
Not only as a public figure in our society that you the community has elected me to (Mrs UN SA) but also as a resident, a proud resident here for more than 15 years now!
Similar to that apartheid-vibe we had going on prior to 1994, where segregation, racism and other ugly inhumane “barriers” were erected among ourselves, for ourselves as South Africans, I despise any form of xenophobia.
Whether it is against people from other African or European countries living in ours today, I truly believe that we have to transform our thinking as a community and country in that regard too.
The law of attraction, the law of the universe states that like attracts like as you know, so, suffice to say the more hate we churn out towards other human beings living in and around our spaces, the more hate and conflict we will experience going forward!
Flip the coin and transform your thinking as a resident in this community and country, on how you, at your personal level and in your personal space can contribute to a positive change. You will attract positive energies all round in your life, community and country!
In the end… it is and never will be about colour, race or culture. It is about who we as neighbours/people, a community and a country are at our core, and this is human beings.
Switch, transform your mind and do not conform to the worthless things heard and said everyday.
I wish you all love and light.
Desiree Oliphant, Mrs UN South Africa
