Culture and Interpretation

In S.A. there's 3types of people:black,coloured(i.e. half-caste) +white. It doesn't seem to be derogatory at all to refer to people's colour. There's also 11 official languages (though there are people who speak another language which isn't one of these) +there's also many different cultures within S.A.

So far at COTT we've had a Eucharist service wholly in Xhosa, Zulu+Afrikaans. When in Xhosa+Zulu,the Bible readings,Psalm +page numbers were announced in English(the language all understand)+the sacrament was administered in English too. BUT when we had the Afrikaans service,nothing was in English. This wouldn't have bothered me at all,if it hadn't been for the fact the others had included English. Those who were leading the service (as Afrikaans is their natural language) were coloured+white,though several of the 'coloured' people are no darker than I! Consequently I felt behind this was a statement that 'we(i.e. non-black) people are doing it right+you better conform to us(i.e.speaking Afrikaans)'.

Also,during peace in Xhosa+Zulu,most black people(who speak a variety of languages) worked out what 'peace be with you' was in Xhosa+Zulu+said that,while most white+ coloured people didn't bother making any effort+still said it in English. Yet,during the peace in Afrikaans,all said 'peace etc' in Afrikaans.

All in all,putting it mildly,the whole thing really annoyed me.