South Africans, Let’s find our way. Today.
We spend a lot of time thinking about how to make the world a better place. A good starting point is always with ourselves and the question today must be, South Africans, “have we lost our way”? It seems like these days we’re more self-serving, selfish and self-centered than ever, chasing the buck, looking after number one and forgetting all about those around us, never mind those in need. These thoughts may seem negative, particularly from a website that promotes positivity, but we have to be realistic about where we are at, in order to move forward we must stop tip-toeing around issues, face facts , expose and communicate our truth. (For various reasons it is necessary to spell out that our call to action is based largely on the world which we know, which is the pulsing, moving, exciting, edgy, hectic, crazy big African city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Most Represent readers will know that already. Ed) Since when did we stop being AWARE and responsible? When did we stop caring about our human and political rights, about our neighbours, about our future? When did we stop being optimistic, when did we decide that it wasn’t our issue, that we’re prepared to give away our power, give away our rights, give up on our potential, our promise and a bright future for everyone? Why are we so de-politicized, leaving it all up to someone else, choosing to rather be placid, uninvolved and disinterested, then complaining, blaming and pointing fingers at every chance? Why do we accept to live a mediocre life and allow the MAJORITY of our people to continue to live in a horrific trap of poverty, violence and hopelessness? How did we let that happen? We have EVERYTHING we need to make our country the place we want it to be, talent, passion, people, inventiveness, resources, natural beauty, diversity, potential and a great sense of humour – everything we need is here. But we have lost our way. When I look around me at so-called ‘intelligent, educated citizens’ and listen to some of the things that come out of their mouths, I feel like shouting “WAKE UP”! But freedom of expression is a basic tenet of democracy and so I either swallow my frustration or on the odd occasion, when I have the energy, waste some of it challenging them. For I do believe that most people are good, many have had no guidance or lost their way, some have no backbone, no integrity and little vision, but most people are good. The saddest thing for me is to see just how successful the brain-washing tactics...
We will be back!
