My reaction to the documentary was utter surprise and sadness. I was unaware of the severity of the pre-election so it left me shocked. I felt sorrowful for everyone who lost their lives or was affected. It is saddening to know that there were so many lives lost and the majority would not be recognized or acknowledged individually. The documentary, however, did leave me with hope that this country, can overcome such difficulties. Certain scenes, such as the bombings, will stick with me because of how gruesome it was. If the third force had succeeded, South Africa might have had worse discrimination. They would have caused severe damage to the country, which was already at a fragile stage and this could have led to South Africa falling apart beyond rescue. South Africa might have been stuck in poverty and there would still be conflict. This would mean the bond with other countries would be weakened.
In the past, discrimination
was vast and people were oppressed. The impact was so bad that people had to fight for basic human rights. It deprived many South Africans of color of education, freedom, and opportunities. It made white people feel superior to others and this caused injustices. In the present, discrimination is a delicate topic. This causes small incidents to become bigger issues because of the repressed anger and hurt that discrimination causes. The generation after apartheid carries the anger of their parents, which leads to indirect feelings of anger and hurt. This causes an underlying separation between races. In the future, the ideal South Africa would be one that appreciates the constitution and does not discriminate against it since the rights are there but not acknowledged. In the future, there will be no underlying anger and discrimination. People will accept one another as they are. Every person would feel safe to be who they are.