In the past few days, I have seen enough evil to last me a lifetime. I have been so baffled by the events unfolding in South Africa, so much so that I have not been able to write anything much about it.
I have been reading about the heinous acts on one social media or the other. Much as I have tried, I have not been able watch some of the videos and pictures. Any time I try, my stomach churns. Those acts are the height of evil and unfortunately, like everything African, nothing serious is being done.
I move from one social networking platform to the other, reading stories and other peoples comments on this issue, xenophobia, and I am afraid for my continent. People are angry, and rightly so, we all ought to be. Such inhumane atrocities being metered on our brothers and sisters should and must be condemned with no room for any excuse whatsoever. I need not have a family member in that country to feel the pains that these innocent souls are being subjected to because they are humans just as I am.
That not withstanding, I am afraid for most of the comments I read. I understand what we all, especially those with family members in that country, are going through. What I do not get is why people are advocating that we avenge our brothers and sisters in our respective countries on the nationals of this country by treating them in similar vain. It is true that they are from this country but it is not their fault that they are from there. Just as it is no fault of our countrymen to find themselves there, the contrary is also true.
Why then should we also stoop to their level? Besides, if we start practicing the "an eye for an eye" principle, will we not be leaving our continent in a darker place than it already is? If we start treating their nationals in every corner of the continent like they are doing, are we not going to pay a higher price in the end? Two wrongs can never make a right. Let us not resort to their methods.
Instead, let us use diplomacy to let them also have a little 'feel' of all that their countrymen have subjected our brothers and sisters to. Let us not patronize their products; let us not sell to them, let us not wine and with them, let us all treat them like a plague, let us all sabotage their businesses in our respective countries and then, their numerous businessmen around the continent will talk some sense into them from their own losses.
As much as it is tempting, let us not start plucking the eyes of some innocent people all in a bid to release our anger. For all you know, most of the people busily metting these atrocities might have never travelled before and have no intentions of ever stepping out of their comfort zone, which is South Africa, their country.
May God help and protect our countrymen and women in South Africa and may He console those that have lost dear ones even as He gives us discerning spirits to reason.
God bless us all.
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