South Africans and Racism
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herbertanchovy — 17 years ago(December 06, 2008 12:32 PM)
Everyone seems to be missing the fact that this film was released 19 years ago, when apartheid was indeed the SA way of doing things. whereas today its gone full circle and if you're a white south african you are considered as being the "wrong" colour and likely to be treated as second class.
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jeffhughes — 17 years ago(December 24, 2008 11:44 PM)
It has NOT gone full circle. That is misleading nonsense. I live in South Africa and although the political power is majority black (reflecting the population), the economic power rests largely with the white minority. Whatever people say, one is statistically far better off in SA if born white. It is true that there is economic reform to attempt to redress the balance and that is necessarily a lengthy and difficult process. Lots of white people in SA complain that they cannot get a job because of "affirmative action", but unemployment amongst white people remains (even in percentage terms) a tiny fraction of unemployment amongst black people.
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jeffoneonone — 16 years ago(November 18, 2009 09:56 AM)
"Whatever people say, one is statistically far better off in SA if born white."
Until they get shot in the face for no other crime other than being white. But I suppose that's "justice" isn't it?
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herbertanchovy — 15 years ago(November 20, 2010 07:15 AM)
I have a south african mate, who is pretty racist. He was talking about the state of the country and how it has suffered under the ANCI asked why they kept voting for them then. he said "never underestimate the stupidity of a K*fir"
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smirre44 — 14 years ago(February 01, 2012 06:14 AM)
Well, that's fine. I see your friend, and raise you two white South African friends of mine who are not. Racist people exist in all layers of ethnic groups and societies. You're likely to run into some at some point.
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StuSenrab — 17 years ago(February 05, 2009 03:00 AM)
"real life was worse"Have you seen the current state of South Africa. Apartheid, is a walk in the park compared to what is happening and what is still going to happen in South Africa.
You should see the amount of people that come knocking on our front doors everyday begging for food, money, clothes etc.
People are worse off today than what is was under apartheid, yet they will still continue to vote ANC.
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Yalmuk — 16 years ago(July 21, 2009 11:35 PM)
Look what kinda place has South-Africa become since. President accused of rape in a country whats capitol city is also known as "rape capitol of world".
And lets not forget that it was last year when South-African goverment finally announced that AIDS is real disease. -
psdhart — 14 years ago(August 20, 2011 02:01 PM)
President accused of rape
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Zuma_rape_trial
"During the trial, Zuma admitted to having unprotected sex with his accuser but claimed that he took a shower afterwards to cut the risk of contracting HIV."
also in SA
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/6580031-albino-girl-beheaded -in-south-africa-for-witchcraft
"Albino girl beheaded in South Africa for witchcraft." -
atari_saturna — 14 years ago(February 04, 2012 01:25 AM)
I don't get the poster. SA was extremely unfriendly towards black people in the apartheid era and a minority white regime dictated. Only whites where allowed to vote. The Rika girls is SA and Riggs doesn't hate her for that. The other SA goons are obviously evil and for example uses the name Kaffer. BTW every russian is not evil as well even though like 90% of 80's action movies portrays them so, just so you know
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Bhaviq — 12 years ago(April 04, 2013 11:26 AM)
I'm a South African born after Apartheid and I have no right to be racist. And seeing how this film portrayed South Africa at that time was quite necessary in my opinion. Because like any person on Earth who did not experience Apartheid - but to know of it and what it leaves behind, is something that isn't polite at all.
Honestly, to see Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci actually LAUGH at the South African Immigrations Officer when he stated that he was black showed just how pathetic racism is. But the use of the word "Kaffir" repeatedly is quite offensive but the movie turned this around by showing that the word was ineffective in another country.
I remember seeing a picture saying "help end Apartheid" or something on Roger's fridge in the first Lethal Weapon.
I think it was really good that they raised awareness of Apartheid in South Africa and of the way they portrayed South Africans in this film. I get kinda excited to see South African Mercenaries and bad guys or when famous Hollywood actors portray South Africans lol like in Blood Diamond (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Invictus (Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman)
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Royalcourtier — 10 years ago(April 11, 2015 12:29 AM)
The deliberate comparison of South Africa with Nazi Germany is particularly ridiculous and offensive. The South African government was not racist, and Apartheid was not based on White supremacy. It was originally based on the idea that races had to be allowed to have their own nations - to avoid any one (e.g. Whites) being overwhelmed. Separate but equal, if you like. The reality may not have been equality, but it was not based on the notion of White supremacy. Only the most extreme and fringe groups in South African ever espoused White Supremacy - such groups were more popular in the USA. The reality is also that by the 1980's apartheid had ended. The process of creating an inclusive body politic dragged on for years because the ANC preferred violence to negotiations, and Mandela in particular refused to be released from prison to engage in talks.
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onechinnerdonch — 10 years ago(August 01, 2015 12:01 PM)
South Africa deserved the negative publicity in this film because of what was happening at the time. Funny how when the boot is on the other foot - so many people feel upset about negative portrayals.
You can't have a country with laws like South Africa had with Apartheid and expect not to be condemned for it. Yes - almost every colony from European imperialists had a system like that - the problem with South Africa was that they clung to they oppressive regime long, long, long after it was considered to be an outrage - and other places had outlawed such practice. Blame the Nationalist Party of South Africa for this publicity.
BTW - of course not every white South African approved of the system - the problem is that enough of them voted the party back in to power time after time in consecutive elections. It's funny to hear other groups complain that the actions of a few people does not represent their whole group yet they are so quick to condemn the whole minority races over the actions of a few. How very hypocritical! Not saying that YOU are necessarily one of those, but I am saying that it happens too damn often.