We are in deep Shit

This video of the "Don't touch me on my studio" incident is really scary. Not because of the actual video and the taunting of the white bloke and then the oh I am so innocent look they always have when you confront them, but because of the comments below the video. We have some real hectic people still around in the country and in the world. When will our country ever be a great place again. We are busy killing what our forefathers built up and what Mandela has cultivated.

Our corrupt government strikes again

Well it comes as no surprise that once again the South African government displays it corrupt core, and proves to the world that they, and South Africa is for sale to the highest bidder. We allow people like Robert Mugabe to come and go into South Africa as he pleases, we give asylum to a despots like Jean Bertrand Aristide of Haiti, but we refuse a peaceful, loving, Nobel peace prize winning man of great spiritual wealth to enter the country. I refer, of course, to the Dalai Lama. South Africa has clearly shown its ugly money hungry face. The government is in very lucrative trade deals with China, a country that does not recognise any human rights. This in its self is a strange thing, seeing as the very government that deals with these people, fought for human rights for years.

Now because China is still oppressing Tibet, and they don't want His Holiness to come to South Africa, our government bows so low down to China, that we refuse the Dalai Lama a visa. The excuse is that there is no significant reason for His Holiness to come to South Africa.

The only saving grace is that not every high powered official is this corrupt. The reason why His Holiness was coming to South Africa, was to attend a peace conference along side other Nobel Peace price winners, such as FW De Klerk, and Desmund Tutu. They have now officially refused to attend the conference without the Dalai Lama. Therefore the conference has been cancelled!!! Not that it is going to make a difference, but at least some people stand up to the corrupt few.

The great black (White) hope

It always amazes me how the Americans regard themselves and their country as the only place on earth. Was forced to watch the inauguration of Barak Obama yesterday and some of the remarks that came from the presenters where things like: "this is the first time in history that a black man has taken power in the world...." Have they never heard of a little continent called AFRICA!!!! Or does it just not matter.

And what is this sick obsession of South Africans with the new American president. Do we all want to jump onto the bandwagon and praise the first African president of the USA.... in the words of a very well known TV ad....WE'VE BEEN HAVING IT!!!! Our country and the entire Africa has been having African presidents since forever. Get over it.

A new black American president is going to do nothing for our situation.

Don't get me wrong, I think it is way over due and about time that the US appoints a black man as a president, and the fact that he is an extremely focused and dedicated man with phenomenal vision for the future, is a great bonus. That being said, America is miles away form South Africa and I don't think his appointment will bring huge change to our country like everybody seems to think.

Xenophobia continues

Ok so we are proving to be a very giving and forgiving nation.....NOT. After two weeks of fighting and killing and stressful hiding a fleeing that foreign nationals from all over Africa had to do, they finally all got out of the townships, and hiding in police stations and churches, and settles in makeshift refugee camps. So we all thought it was all over now. These people could finally be helped by other South Africans who are the majority and who don't act like these few rogue citizens in the townships. Well that was what we all thought. Now the issue is with the rich. These camps have been set up in the suburbs of more affluent neighbourhoods, because this is where they will be safe. Now the residents wants them out of there, because they now feel these people who have been in South Africa working hard, and have been forced from their homes, beaten and killed, are going to pose a security threat to them and their children. How bourgeoisie of them. Maybe one day, someone, somewhere will actually extend a hand of peace and help to these poor frightened, unsure, unsafe people of Africa and make them feel welcome. And maybe that hand will come from Zimbabwe, coz it sure ain't coming from South Africa.

Entitlement vs Ownership

I was listening to the radio this morning, and a guy from Ghana phoned in to the show to talk about the Xenophobic attacks. He said he cant believe the mentality and attitude of the South African black people. He said that this is the only African country where the men are very willing to stay at home and do nothing, and depend on the woman to support them. He also said that this is the only place he knows of where the government gives free food, free houses to the unemployed. In his country they have to work for a house, and build it themselves. This is a very interesting point. Where does social responsibility end. Are we as South Africans all participating in social responsibility purely out of guilt for the past, and when are we going to stop feeling guilty. Should we be perpetuating the poverty be giving the poor more crutches to lean on. Give them a house, give them food. Don't teach them to work for anything, coz they can just get it for free. I am not sure where I stand regarding this issue, but I think I agree with the fact that its not very viable to give poor people everything accept the tools and knowledge to work. As a child I listened to many horror stories about how my grandparents had to suffer and work two or three jobs just to survive and feed their families. What is so different from then and now. Why could we as white people, in the apartheid government, have to work so hard and suffer so much, when today, in a democratic and equal South Africa, you can get it all without even trying hard....but only if you are black...and a South African. I think we should stop feeling guilty about apartheid, and start working to get everybody equal and on the same departure point. And I don't think we are going to get there by giving them houses and food. Its not called WORKING towards upliftment for nothing.

Africa Day

What did you do for Africa day today. Did you explore a new African restaurant? Did you watch an African movie on MNET Africa? Did you buy something at one of the African markets? Did you wear your once off African shirt you bought in Zanzibar? Did you feel proud to be African? Did you spare a thought for other Africans being killed and put out of their homes? Did you give support or food or shelter to an African being killed and put our of their home? Did you kill an African on Africa Day?

Xenophobia

As a South African today, I am very worried about the state of our country. These xenophobia attacks that have been happening are busy dragging our country through the mud. As far as I can understand, these attacks are coming from South Africans who are trying to get rid of the foreigners because, according to the south African black community, they are taking their jobs, houses, woman...the problem is however that these foreigners are actually willing to WORK to get get money and so buy all these these houses and woman. The problem as I see it, is that the black South Africans don't want to work, bu they don't want anybody else to work either. They expect to just get things handed to them on a platter. The other issue is when you Google xenophobia, the first hit on Google is 'South African Xenophobic attacks'. Is this the legacy we leave to the world. Coming from being synonymous with apartheid, to synonymous with Xenophobia. Happy Africa day South Africa!!!!

In the Mix

Saw a show last night where the most talented guy I know, and yes he is a friend, plays a middle aged Muslim woman called Haji. It was fun, funny, crass, entertaining, South African, Muslim, Walmer Estate. I laughed till I was crying. Everybody around me had such fun, and I kept on thinking how true this show was. Steye had a good time, but didn't get all the jokes, as he is Belgian, or Dutch, who knows what he is today. None the less, as a South African, and living in a Muslim community, I found it very funny. Its at the BMW Pavilion until 31 May. GO SEE IT!!!