The South Africa I Live In
The South Africa I live in is not only the one portrayed in the media. Far from it.
My daily life has nothing to do with Julius Malema and Eugene Terre’blance and the minorities they represent. All I see or hear of them is through the media. And most days I don’t even have time to watch or read the news.
Or maybe I would rather watch paint dry than be inundated with the garbage the media puts out as news.
Middle of the road South Africans I come into contact with every day barely speak about politics or race relations. Most people think Julius Malema isn’t worth the newspaper space he takes up. Many believe Terre’blanche’s murder was a criminal act – not a political statement.
In the country I live in I deal with work stress, I try to find ways to balance studies, friends, family, romance, hobbies,work and everything inbetween. I worry about whether my nieces and nephew are adequately protected from crimes and drugs. As people in other parts of the world I’m sure do too.
I barely even have time to think of whether singing about killing the boer is a literal call to kill farmers.
In a normal week I probably spend about 1 hour thinking, talking or even writing about politics.
Yes, I do have my moments.
I think racism is a live and flourishing, but not only in South Africa. Although we seem to think we hold the exclusive rights to racism. Just read the US section of the Google News and see how their Republican party react to their president and other black people.
The US have even more Julius Malema’s than we could come up with in a million years. Check out Sarah Palin if you’re looking for stupid getting airtime. Not to mention some of their tv and radio commentators.
In the South Africa I live in, most people I come into contact with is excited about the Soccer World Cup! Although one or two have reservations about new stadium in Green Point becoming a white elephant after the tournament.
We are more concerned about whether the Stormers will continue winning matches or who will win the English Premiership than in the next election.
Yes, in the South Africa I live in we have problems below the surface that keeps cropping up because we refuse to deal with it. And yes the AWB and the Malemas live here too.
But we are much more than just our politics. We have lives beyond politics.
6 Responses to “The South Africa I Live In”
By Claudine on Apr 12, 2010 | Reply
Very well said! (Although if the Stormers move from Newlands to Green Point I’ll boycott them!)
By Anju on Apr 13, 2010 | Reply
Very interesting post. Even if am not a south african, i completely agree with that.
By Abigail Abrahams on Apr 16, 2010 | Reply
Thank you Anju. People all over the world have basically similar desires to live fulfilling lives. Politics sometimes gets in the way, but it’s not our entire universe.
By Abigail Abrahams on Apr 16, 2010 | Reply
LOL Claudine, really? I won’t mind the Stormers moving. I live close enough to Newlands to get affected by traffic on game days!
As for the cricket…NO WAY can they move!
BTW the Stormers are doing great at the moment 20 -3 against the Chiefs. Unfortunately can only follow them online as I’m at work.
By Claudine on Apr 16, 2010 | Reply
Newlands has such charm. I just cannot imagine them playing in any other venue! I really miss going to the games there. We’d park at the church parking area just up the road from the stadium and walk the rest of the way.
You missed a phenomonal game! They played like they should always play, like we all know they can. It was awesome to watch. Now the Bulls must just lose without scoring a bonus point and the weekend’s sports will make me very happy!
By Abigail Abrahams on Apr 16, 2010 | Reply
I guess it will eventually be charm vs money and we both know who’s going to win that tussle, regardless of what the WP rugby board says now.
Oh, I thought I was the only one who wished the Bulls no good luck at all LOL. We supposed to support our local teams, but I only support one. Shame on me and you