The rainbow diversity

di·verse

 adjective \di-'v?rs, d?-', 'di-?\

: different from each other

: made up of people or things that are different from each other

It’s 1995, and South Africa has just won the Rugby World Cup !  What a joyous celebration by all members of the Rainbow Nation.  The State President wore one of the previously hated emblems of apartheid - the Springbok rugby jersey – and the whole nation was united behind “their” team.  All colours, all religious denominations, all genders, all sexual orientations – what a wonderful and diverse Rainbow Nation.

Fast forward 5 or 10 years, or 15.  Or even to today.  South Africa is still a Rainbow Nation of diversity. 

·         The victims of rape are diverse in age – from a 7 month old baby to an 87 year old grandmother – it really doesn’t seem to matter

·         The victims of rape are diverse in colour – black, white, coloured, Indian – it really doesn’t seem to matter

·         The victims of robbery are diverse – black, white, old, young, male, female – it really doesn’t seem to matter

·         The thieves themselves are diverse – from uneducated and unemployed to the highest politician, anyone can be a thief – it really doesn’t seem to matter

·         The victims of murder, and the murderers themselves,  are diverse – black, white, old, young, family, strangers – it really doesn’t seem to matter

In fact, the diversity of the South African Rainbow Nation is displayed in almost every facet of life in South Africa.  And, if the majority are to be believed, we all have one thing and one thing only to thank for our 20 years of diversity – Apartheid.

So what has happened to the “Rainbow” part of the Nation ?  Where is the pot of gold ?

It appears that they have both been stolen.

And no arrests have been made.

But that really doesn’t seem to matter – it’s normal.