Johannesburg
8.81
Dear Mum,
This is
a very interesting country. A historical aberration undergoing rapid change.
It’s far more complicated than you think with many exceptions and
abnormalities. i.e. The blacks hate the Indians much more than the whites.
W.r.t. whites half the whites in Joberg are Jewish and RSA and Israel have very
strong ties partly due to their being internationally isolated.
Several
articles in the newspapers about racism in Australia which the Afrikaners love.
But there are major differences between institutionalized and legalized racism
and what occurs in Australia. Here the problems are clearly defined, easily
identified and everybody knows they exist and that things are changing. The
main change is in the work place with black trade-unions and shortage of
skilled white labor forcing changes.
Some people think a black middle class will act as a buffer
against change but I doubt it. The only interesting thing is how quickly will
the Afrikanners adapt and change and will it be enough to prevent violence.
Some of the Afrikanners have been in Africa for hundreds of years with their
own history, culture and language and they are going down fighting. Fighting
for time and more time.
In Soweto all the nurses and patients are blacks. Some of
the nurses are really incredible speaking four languages fluently. They have a
lot of pride and spirit and continually chatter away. They ask what Australia
is like. I say it’s different and they
can’t comprehend such a thing. Some of the blacks are very obsequious, like in
the good old days, some are very aggrieved while most are easy to get on with.
Could you please send over my driving license or see if you can get an
International driving license at the Footscray Branch of the RACV.
Thank
you Alan
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