Question:

Ask anyone. Education is the answer. That is how to provide children with the ability to reconcile opportunity in this once legally segregated nation (this meaning South Africa, and really pretty much every other nation in this big blue puzzle). But what the hell do we do with the adults?

A freedom fighter has no other option, because of the education he was legally limited to in Apartheid, but to serve as a tour guide at the same prison where he was a political prisoner. Count the days in a prison, knowing that you are there for a just cause…get out when the good fight is won…breath the fresh air of freedom…look around…and slowly realize that you can go wherever you want, but you are still in prison. It may not be called Aparthied, but ask the guard on Robben Island if the fight is over.

Africans in the slums cannot get jobs because they do not have the education or skill sets to compete. But it is not because they are lazy. Africans were not allowed, until only fifteen years ago, to have the skills to compete in the market. Yes, send the children to school. But with what money?

I thought that the townships and cities were too great of a contrast of wealth to handle. Then we drove to the Cape of Good Hope. There is an interesting law in South Africa. If you can live on public land for twenty four hours without being removed, that land is yours. Across the street from the most beautiful chateaus I have ever seen (and I have been to Bel Aire (sp?)) were hundreds of little shacks. I am not privy to the interaction between the interactions between the wealthy white and destitute blacks in this area. But if I had to bet, the kids of Dr. Mydadwaswaytoorich and Mr. Iwasnotallowedaneducation do not go to school together.

What steps are being taken to remediate the effects of four racial groups, taught since they were innocent children that they are not meant for equal work? Because the children of Bantu, colored, and white educations are the workforce now. They are the ones who are vying for the best education for their children. Ill give you two guesses on who will win and be able to keep their kids in the privileged circle of academia-- but if you need more than one, we cannot be friends anymore. If we want a world were black and white children can respect each other as individuals whose opinions, though maybe different, are equally important, then having little black children going to bed and praying that they wake up white children cannot be a step in the right direction.

So what does South Africa, or any nation for that matter, do to encourage adults manipulated by the evils of discriminatory fear to pursue and education advanced to the one they were limited too as children? I am talking about all colors of people too. Let us not forget that whites were taught that they were superior. How do we teach them that they are not, so that they do not teach their children to think the same thing? After all, our parents are educators.

Yes, Education is the answer. Teach children of all color and creed that if they can believe they can achieve...tacky as that sounds. Only, realize that in educational terms, all individuals of a transitory society are children in terms of idea. Implement educational infrastructure for adults. They were cheated by the sins of a few—don’t let this cycle be perpetuated.

Oh, this is a rambling ideal. I know it. But what else can be done? Please tell me. Can you?