The myth of the Rainbow Nation created by Nelson Mandela was a necessary invention. Today’s revisionists are either too young, or have bad memories, and so they fail to understand how and why it came to being.Following the death of apartheid, SA needed a new and common vision that incorporated its people on both sides of the oppression divide. And it needed it quickly. The National Party had left the government coffers empty, institutions were in flux, and a brain drain of white skills could have crippled the economy. South Africans needed to feel they were part of a common future in the midst of a fog of uncertainty.When white racists let down their guardA myth was cobbled together to win over hearts and minds. Mandela, the great reconciler, took the nation to his bosom. A new rainbow flag and anthem — everyone knew about half of the lyrics — was hauled out at sport events.South Africans began fantasising that they were one big happy family, and pretending that there was no strife...
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