Proper English...

One of my favourate songs is a song called “What He means” by Just Jinjer. It is such a powerful song – making you think about the wars we’ve had in the past, that we have now. Not only wars like the holocaust, apartheid, but it also makes me think of wars we have in our daily lifes: wars of pride and prejudice…
Pride in thinking you are better than someone, pride in the advantage your education level gives you, pride in the way you look, the way you think, the way you dress and particularly the way you talk. Isn’t it funny how the general thought is that if you cannot speak english fluently and “properly” you are less intellegent? If for instance a german, or any european person for that matter, speaks english in a german or european accent we do not think they are less intelligent but admire them for being able to speak a second language or then, english, well enough for us to understand them.
When an african person however, speaks english with an african accent we think of them to be less intellegent, just because they cannot speak “proper english” and when they do speak it “properly we comment on how beutifully they speak english. I find this to be a tendancy with a lot of white south africans that I come in contact with, but not only towards black south africans, also towards their “own”. whit e south africans not being able to speak english fluently are commonly thought of as farmers or low class!
Towards black south africans the prejudice is even worse, it is only assumed that you do not know what you are talking about and are less intellegent and if you sucseed to have your listener listen to you (I mean realy hear what you are saying) they are surprised at the fact that you actually know what you are talking about!! It also happens that white south africans imitate the “african english accent” when they speak to black south africans thinking that they will understand them better… or just as a way of talking down to them. Why do we do this? I have to ask myself this as well as this thought also occurs in my mind from time to time if I do not guard against it. This is one little part of the war, but isn’t it a great place to start to change your heart and thoughts against “the other”, people different from yourself?
Here is the words of the song:
What he means – Just Jinjer, from their new album , Just Jinjer

If there is Grace in this world
If there is light on this earth
Let us use it, let us see it… starting right now

Can we be down with ourselves?
Respectful and mindful of one
Of one another, your significant other, your sister or brother?

Peach, love more tolerance.
Faith, hope, trust in the same God in whose name we die for,
Take an innocent life for
Well that’s not what He means…
And it doesn’t matter what Book you read

Is tehr relief up ahead?
Cos Judgmentd and hearing await
A weight on our minds to bear
A shame on our heads to wear

Where is salvation now?
Now that we have what we want
Now that we have our wars…

Peach, love more tolerance.
Faith, hope, trust in the same God in whose name we die for,
Take an innocent life for
Well that’s not what He means…
And it doesn’t matter what Book you read

With a little bit of ease and little bit of calm
Acceptance is the key to all we know
What about a stir of compassion and lenience?
What about some understanding?
What about some sympanthy?

Peach, love more tolerance.
Faith, hope, trust in the same God in whose name we die for,
Take an innocent life for
Well that’s not what He means…
And it doesn’t matter what Book you read