Ask yourself what your definition of being a DA supporter is? Does it include being a hater, liar, racist, idiot, fake or propagandist? Have you ever considered that you yourself are one and hurting the credibility of the DA?

Do you believe that the crimes of the DA should be excused because of the crimes of the ANC or do you believe, fairly, that both of them committing crimes makes them both wrong?

I believe in justice for all. As i despise the ANC for Nkandla, Travelgate, BEE and the Arms Deal, so i despise the DA in Knysna for the illegal ISDF tender award, the Tourism cover-up, their ridiculous salaries, failure to address growing crime, their refusal to engage meaningfully with us, the public and, on a personal level, for spreading lies about me.

I experience the attacks of nasty people  on a regular basis and, it being election time, the DA is resorting to dirty tactics against me – i will explain this in future blogs over the coming week but today, as a prelude, i highlight Daai Een’s article on News24 called ‘A DA Member’s 10-Step Guide to Handling Criticism’. I don’t know who Daai Een is but she’s done a fantastic job with this one and i’m recommending it as a MUST READ!

Take a deep breath… and another… and another… Now read without bias:

A DA Member’s
10-Step Guide to Handling Criticism

Thank you so much DA supporters for the entertainment you have provided in reaction to my previous post about your ‘anti-racial’ views. Your monotonous, reactionary viewpoints have inspired me to complete two more pieces about the DA.

One might ask why someone who doesn’t care much for the DA’s politics would write so extensively about this party and its supporters. My answer is simple: you are all over the place, you are obnoxious and you claim to be smart and clued-up. In my opinion, smart people should learn how to handle criticism, and should be pushed outside their comfort zones. Truth is, your default responses have become too predictable, and speak of intellectual laziness. Thus, I have taken it upon myself to provide some guidance in 10 steps on things to keep in mind when being challenged. Here goes:

1. All criticism aimed at the DA isn’t meant to sabotage your status in the South African political landscape.
2. All people criticizing the DA are not ANC supporters, so stop resorting to Zuma bashing when being challenged.
3. Countering all criticism directed at the government with a ‘Vote DA’ is opportunistic and annoying. Sometimes people want to discuss issues without being patronized by DA zealots.
4. There is no such thing as an illegal protest in South Africa, so stop automatically viewing protesters as the enemy and stop redefining democracy when it suits you.
5. Although political opportunists tend to hijack protests, it is insensitive, ignorant and dehumanising to brand all people demanding better services in the Western Cape as ‘ANC rent-a-crowd’.
6. Criticism of Cape Town and the Western Cape are not always an attack on the DA.
7. Getting defensive when being challenged without considering or investigating the matter highlighted is a sign of a party that doesn’t take people seriously.
8. The DA doesn’t have the monopoly on ‘informed’ voters, so stop talking about the ‘uneducated masses voting ANC’ as if ‘they’ can’t read. Many of you have a tendency to document your prejudices and ignorance all over the internet without considering that many non-DA voters have internet as well, and can SEE your intolerance.
9. Being ‘better than the ANC’, whatever on earth that might mean, doesn’t make anyone above critique. In fact, being better than the ANC doesn’t necessarily mean up to standard…
10. Calling people who disagree with you things like ‘domkop’, ‘uneducated’ and ‘confused’ only highlights your inability to engage in intelligent debate – hardly characteristic of a movement that values diversity and progress.

Daai Eeen’s article was prompted by the illogical hate she’s received in the comments section below her articles on News24. I experience it too, those who do not comment on my articles but simply use the comment section to express hate. Political racism is at the highest point i can remember. This tendency grows and is a very worrying sign where South Africa is heading. A society that tolerates debate has a better shot at a brighter future.