Patience, Suasion in South Africa
James J. Kilpatrick’s column (Editorial Pages, Jan. 16), “Patience and Suasion, Not Ego Trips, Will Help South Africa,” releases another in what I refer to as his “I Am Without a Dream” series! It is riddled with classical narrowness, deliberate distortions, and contradictions. Attempting an intelligent response becomes a trying experience.
He claims that sanctions do not work. Blacks will lose their jobs. Has he not heard the blacks saying they don’t care if they lose their jobs temporarily while on their way to freedom? He claims he is encouraged by P.W. Botha’s apartheid reforms. Does he not know that the blacks are not? Apartheid cannot be reformed--only dissolved! Divestment is the nonviolent reinforcement for change. If reforms are planned, they are not happening because the Afrikaner just developed a guilt trip.
Kilpatrick points his finger at the military response from the oppressed blacks. He decries their violence. We all do. But does he speak of the conscripted South African Defense Force and police who are seen laughing as they murder black men, women, and children in the townships? Blacks are not happy to be violent. It comes about from 333 years of colonial violence, and zero representation--it’s their last resort. He goes on to say we don’t know our own history. Well, Mr. Kilpatrick, exactly how many people perished in the American Revolution, the Civil War, the civil rights struggle, etc.?
He continues to attack those who demonstrate outside the South African Embassy in Washington. He criticizes them for not being outside the the Soviet Embassy. Is that where he is to be found? If he is there, then, by the same token, may I ask why he is not outside the embassy of apartheid?
He is up on one thing, though. He volunteers that South Africa should be resolved from within, and not by the outsiders (us). That’s exactly what 90% of South Africa and the entire international community has been saying. We’ve been waiting a very long time now.
Kilpatrick represents the point of view that, by discussing things nicely with the bad guys, you get them to change. That’s what the apologists for racism always say. I’ve heard it all my life. I say this as an American citizen, and as an ex-South African white.
The Afrikaner is killing blacks and whites alike who protest the violent white domination. Do they look about to hold free elections? Exactly why not? Isn’t it because they are only elected by 10% of the entire populace? Because they are the ninth largest arms producer in the world? Because they are barbaric terrorists?
JEFF A. GEFFEN
Los Angeles
