Jesus, however, stopped the actions of the unruly crowd, saying only those without guilt or fault were allowed to throw the first stone.
Naturally, everybody dropped their stones, because no one was blameless – morally or spiritually.
In this country, it is also time we drop our buckets of paint, our stones and our hatred, because, let us be honest, no one is blameless or guilt-free.
And this goes for all races – we all have the proverbial blood on our hands, because of the actions of our forefathers, and because of our own current, moral, walk-through life.
I am referring to the recent demands in the Western Cape to have the Rhodes statue removed, along with the defacing of the Paul Kruger and Mahatma Gandhi statues.
Sure, Rhodes had his faults, and so did Kruger and Ghandi, but here is the point – we all have our faults and flaws. They may differ in scope and magnitude, but they still exist.
Those who threw the paint, or every person who cast stones or who demands to see a statue removed because of preconceived ideas of justice, here is a news flash – you stand just as guilty as men like Kruger, Rhodes or Ghandi.
None of the men are alive today to defend their actions. And why should they, if those who are judgemental will not justify their own shortcomings?
If there is one thing we have learned over the past 21 years of democracy, it is that racism is very much alive, and so is hatred among races and ethnic groups. Such hatred recently spilled over into the streets in Durban’s xenophobic attacks.
Reasons for the defacing of statues are just as absurd, since Kruger had nothing to do with Apartheid or colonialism.
Apparently Gandhi has been targeted because he was a racist. So tell me, you who threw the paint, are you truly free of racism and hate? If not, get off your high horse.
At least, men like Rhodes, Kruger and Ghandi in their own way, have made substantial and significant strides in paving a way for freedom, justice, liberty, social advancement and economic development. For this reason they find themselves enshrined in history.
This is much more than we can say for those who would rather spend their time defacing statues or arguing over the removal of statues instead of making their own piece of history through constructive efforts.
Defacing statues and spitting on the legacy of men larger than life does not count as making a positive impact – this is simply being childish and judgemental.
Therefore, here is another valuable lesson we need to learn – the importance of not judging others and the power of forgiveness.
Most believers of the Christian faith know the teaching that it is of no use to comment on the proverbial splinter in someone’s eye (thus pointing out mistakes or faults) if you have a splinter in your own eye.
After all, a blind man cannot lead a blind man!
This teaching might as well apply to all mankind – it is of no use to criticise, to blame, to point fingers or to judge when you are also at fault for similar fault and mistakes.
This is why we need to stop judging and forgive, through tolerance and acceptance.
The Chinese proverb goes that one can only know a person if you have walked a mile in his shoes. Who of us have walked a mile in the shoes of Rhodes, Kruger or Ghandi?
No? Then stop judging because the splinter in your eye just digs deeper.
Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma, questioned what SA has become in terms of how many innocent people have been killed, along with cases of xenophobia, racism and continuing violence. So true.
Sadly, we have become what we are today because of pride and ego, thinking we can judge and point fingers, yet it is time that each South African rather looks deeply into the mirror, to first study the image that is being reflected.
